All 21 IIMs Official Minimum CAT Percentiles & Shortlist Weights
Published CAT 2026 admission-policy minimums where released, with each remaining IIM shown from its official CAT 2025 admission policy or RTI/shortlist disclosure.
“Table 1: Minimum Eligibility requirements for the MBA batch of 2026-2028 Category Quantitative Aptitude (Percentile) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile) Verbal & Reading Comprehension (Percentile) Total (Overall Percentile) ... General 80 75 80 90”
Location: MBA admission policy 2026-28 (version dated 14-October-2025), point 8, Table 1
“Table 1: Minimum Eligibility requirements for the MBA batch of 2026-2028 Category Quantitative Aptitude (Percentile) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile) Verbal & Reading Comprehension (Percentile) Total (Overall Percentile) ... General 80 75 80 90”
Location: MBA admission policy 2026-28 (version dated 14-October-2025), point 8, Table 1
“Table 1: Minimum Eligibility requirements for the MBA batch of 2026-2028 Category Quantitative Aptitude (Percentile) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile) Verbal & Reading Comprehension (Percentile) Total (Overall Percentile) ... General 80 75 80 90”
Location: MBA admission policy 2026-28 (version dated 14-October-2025), point 8, Table 1
“Table 1: Minimum Eligibility requirements for the MBA batch of 2026-2028 Category Quantitative Aptitude (Percentile) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile) Verbal & Reading Comprehension (Percentile) Total (Overall Percentile) ... General 80 75 80 90”
Location: MBA admission policy 2026-28 (version dated 14-October-2025), point 8, Table 1
“ANNEXURE I Cut-offs for the batch of 2026-28, based on CAT 2025 Minimum Percentile requirements for the first shortlist* CATEGORY Section 1 (VARC) Section 2 (DILR) Section 3 (QA) Aggregate ... General 80 75 75 85”
Location: p.4, Annexure I (in the 2027-29 document)
“ANNEXURE I Cut-offs for the batch of 2026-28, based on CAT 2025 Minimum Percentile requirements for the first shortlist* CATEGORY Section 1 (VARC) Section 2 (DILR) Section 3 (QA) Aggregate ... General 80 75 75 85”
Location: p.4, Annexure I (in the 2027-29 document)
“ANNEXURE I Cut-offs for the batch of 2026-28, based on CAT 2025 Minimum Percentile requirements for the first shortlist* CATEGORY Section 1 (VARC) Section 2 (DILR) Section 3 (QA) Aggregate ... General 80 75 75 85”
Location: p.4, Annexure I (in the 2027-29 document)
“ANNEXURE I Cut-offs for the batch of 2026-28, based on CAT 2025 Minimum Percentile requirements for the first shortlist* CATEGORY Section 1 (VARC) Section 2 (DILR) Section 3 (QA) Aggregate ... General 80 75 75 85”
Location: p.4, Annexure I (in the 2027-29 document)
“The weights for different components at the pre-PI stage are as follows : CAT = 55 , 10th board score = 10, 12th board score = 10, Bachelor's score = 10, Work experience / Professional course = 10, Gender diversity = 5.”
“The following percentile cut-offs have been used to invite candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for admission through the Common Admission Process (CAP 2026) ... CAP-MBA-GN-Cutoff Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) %tile; General 65 65 65 90”
Location: p.1, 'Cut-off for MBA-Gender-Neutral', CAP-MBA-GN columns; dated 21/01/2026; via CAP
“The following percentile cut-offs have been used to invite candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for admission through the Common Admission Process (CAP 2026) ... CAP-MBA-GN-Cutoff Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) %tile; General 65 65 65 90”
Location: p.1, 'Cut-off for MBA-Gender-Neutral', CAP-MBA-GN columns; dated 21/01/2026; via CAP
“The following percentile cut-offs have been used to invite candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for admission through the Common Admission Process (CAP 2026) ... CAP-MBA-GN-Cutoff Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) %tile; General 65 65 65 90”
Location: p.1, 'Cut-off for MBA-Gender-Neutral', CAP-MBA-GN columns; dated 21/01/2026; via CAP
“The following percentile cut-offs have been used to invite candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for admission through the Common Admission Process (CAP 2026) ... CAP-MBA-GN-Cutoff Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) %tile; General 65 65 65 90”
Location: p.1, 'Cut-off for MBA-Gender-Neutral', CAP-MBA-GN columns; dated 21/01/2026; via CAP
“The criteria for preparing the final merit list will be as follows: CAT Score: 50% Personal Interview: 25% Profile: 25% ... IIM Bodh Gaya will use CAT 2025 score (scaled score, not the percentile) Overall CAT score”
“Table 2: Parameters and corresponding weights for deriving composite scores for PI and WAT ... CAT 2026 Score* | 56 | (A/B) x 56 ... Class 10 marks | 10 ... Class 12 marks | 15 ... Gender Diversity Factor | 4 ... Total | 85”
“Cut-off percentile for PI of Common Admission Process 2026 ... 3 participating IIMs (IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Sirmaur) for the MBA Program. Category VARC DILR QA Total Percentile; General* 65 65 65 90 ... *Includes male and gender-neutral candidates.”
Location: p.1, CAP 2026 cut-off table, '*' rows (male and gender-neutral); via CAP; file linked as 'CAP 2026 - PI shortlisting criteria' on https://www.iimj.ac.in/programs/post-graduate-program-pgp/admission-policy.php; signed CAP 2026 Coordinator, Admission Office, IIM Jammu, 20 Jan 2026 | CAP portal has a self-signed certificate (not bypassed); read from its Wayback copy, byte-identical (same sha256) to the copy linked on iimj.ac.in.
“Cut-off percentile for PI of Common Admission Process 2026 ... 3 participating IIMs (IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Sirmaur) for the MBA Program. Category VARC DILR QA Total Percentile; General* 65 65 65 90 ... *Includes male and gender-neutral candidates.”
Location: p.1, CAP 2026 cut-off table, '*' rows (male and gender-neutral); via CAP; file linked as 'CAP 2026 - PI shortlisting criteria' on https://www.iimj.ac.in/programs/post-graduate-program-pgp/admission-policy.php; signed CAP 2026 Coordinator, Admission Office, IIM Jammu, 20 Jan 2026 | CAP portal has a self-signed certificate (not bypassed); read from its Wayback copy, byte-identical (same sha256) to the copy linked on iimj.ac.in.
“Cut-off percentile for PI of Common Admission Process 2026 ... 3 participating IIMs (IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Sirmaur) for the MBA Program. Category VARC DILR QA Total Percentile; General* 65 65 65 90 ... *Includes male and gender-neutral candidates.”
Location: p.1, CAP 2026 cut-off table, '*' rows (male and gender-neutral); via CAP; file linked as 'CAP 2026 - PI shortlisting criteria' on https://www.iimj.ac.in/programs/post-graduate-program-pgp/admission-policy.php; signed CAP 2026 Coordinator, Admission Office, IIM Jammu, 20 Jan 2026 | CAP portal has a self-signed certificate (not bypassed); read from its Wayback copy, byte-identical (same sha256) to the copy linked on iimj.ac.in.
“Cut-off percentile for PI of Common Admission Process 2026 ... 3 participating IIMs (IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Sirmaur) for the MBA Program. Category VARC DILR QA Total Percentile; General* 65 65 65 90 ... *Includes male and gender-neutral candidates.”
Location: p.1, CAP 2026 cut-off table, '*' rows (male and gender-neutral); via CAP; file linked as 'CAP 2026 - PI shortlisting criteria' on https://www.iimj.ac.in/programs/post-graduate-program-pgp/admission-policy.php; signed CAP 2026 Coordinator, Admission Office, IIM Jammu, 20 Jan 2026 | CAP portal has a self-signed certificate (not bypassed); read from its Wayback copy, byte-identical (same sha256) to the copy linked on iimj.ac.in.
“Table 1: Minimum Sectional and Total Cut-off Percentile for Shortlisting for WAT- PI Stage Category MBA MBA-ABM MBA-SM VARC DILR QA Total ... General 85 85 85 90 80 80 80 85 80 80 80 85”
“Table 1: Minimum Sectional and Total Cut-off Percentile for Shortlisting for WAT- PI Stage Category MBA MBA-ABM MBA-SM VARC DILR QA Total ... General 85 85 85 90 80 80 80 85 80 80 80 85”
“Table 1: Minimum Sectional and Total Cut-off Percentile for Shortlisting for WAT- PI Stage Category MBA MBA-ABM MBA-SM VARC DILR QA Total ... General 85 85 85 90 80 80 80 85 80 80 80 85”
“Table 1: Minimum Sectional and Total Cut-off Percentile for Shortlisting for WAT- PI Stage Category MBA MBA-ABM MBA-SM VARC DILR QA Total ... General 85 85 85 90 80 80 80 85 80 80 80 85”
“Stage I: Minimum CAT percentile cut-offs along with sectional cut-offs to be considered for PI ... Table 1: Minimum requirements of CAT percentiles for Stage I Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) Overall Percentile; OPEN 80 80 75 85”
“Stage I: Minimum CAT percentile cut-offs along with sectional cut-offs to be considered for PI ... Table 1: Minimum requirements of CAT percentiles for Stage I Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) Overall Percentile; OPEN 80 80 75 85”
“Stage I: Minimum CAT percentile cut-offs along with sectional cut-offs to be considered for PI ... Table 1: Minimum requirements of CAT percentiles for Stage I Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) Overall Percentile; OPEN 80 80 75 85”
“Stage I: Minimum CAT percentile cut-offs along with sectional cut-offs to be considered for PI ... Table 1: Minimum requirements of CAT percentiles for Stage I Category (VARC) (DILR) (QA) Overall Percentile; OPEN 80 80 75 85”
“Table 7: Parameters and weights for calculation of Composite Score for final selection of the MBA (General Management) Programme Parameters Weights CAT 2025 Score 60 Personal Interview (PI) 20 Academic Performance & Work Experience Score 20 Total 100”
“The CAT cut-off percentile scores for consideration for admission to IIM Ranchi is mentioned in Table 1. ... Category Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Total (Scaled Score, Percentile) ... General >0 75 >0 75 >0 75 >0 95.25”
“The CAT cut-off percentile scores for consideration for admission to IIM Ranchi is mentioned in Table 1. ... Category Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Total (Scaled Score, Percentile) ... General >0 75 >0 75 >0 75 >0 95.25”
“The CAT cut-off percentile scores for consideration for admission to IIM Ranchi is mentioned in Table 1. ... Category Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Total (Scaled Score, Percentile) ... General >0 75 >0 75 >0 75 >0 95.25”
“The CAT cut-off percentile scores for consideration for admission to IIM Ranchi is mentioned in Table 1. ... Category Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Ability, Total (Scaled Score, Percentile) ... General >0 75 >0 75 >0 75 >0 95.25”
“A weight of 60% will be assigned to the CAT Percentile. A weight of 20% will be given to the Personal Interview Score. Further, a weightage of 20% will be given to Academic diversity and Gender diversity.”
“Table 1: Minimum percentiles applicable to CAT 2025 for IIM Sambalpur MBA 2026-28 ... Category Overall; General 90# (# For male candidates having at least one year of relevant work experience, and for all the female candidates, the minimum overall percentile in the General Category will be reduced to 85)”
“a Pre-PI Score will be calculated out of 75 as follows: CAT score = 40 Class X = 3 Class XII = 3 Graduation = 4 Work Experience = 20 Gender Diversity = 5”
“The table below outlines the minimum performance required for candidates to be shortlisted for the PI. ... CATEGORY VARC DILR QA Total ... GEN 75 75 75 95.25”
Location: MBA Admission Policy: PGPM 2026-28 Batch, section A table
“The table below outlines the minimum performance required for candidates to be shortlisted for the PI. ... CATEGORY VARC DILR QA Total ... GEN 75 75 75 95.25”
Location: MBA Admission Policy: PGPM 2026-28 Batch, section A table
“The table below outlines the minimum performance required for candidates to be shortlisted for the PI. ... CATEGORY VARC DILR QA Total ... GEN 75 75 75 95.25”
Location: MBA Admission Policy: PGPM 2026-28 Batch, section A table
“The table below outlines the minimum performance required for candidates to be shortlisted for the PI. ... CATEGORY VARC DILR QA Total ... GEN 75 75 75 95.25”
Location: MBA Admission Policy: PGPM 2026-28 Batch, section A table
“B. Criteria for Final Admissions 52% CAT Percentile 20% Personal Interview 10% Work Experience 2% Normalized Score in 10th Standard 3% Normalized Score in 12th Standard 5% UG Performance 6% Gender Diversity 2% Academic Diversity”
Location: Section B. Criteria for Final Admissions
“The cut-off percentile marks for eligibility to participate in the PI process ... Category Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Overall ... General 75 75 75 94”
Location: MBA Admission Policy (16th MBA Batch 2026-28), Step-1 table
“The cut-off percentile marks for eligibility to participate in the PI process ... Category Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Overall ... General 75 75 75 94”
Location: MBA Admission Policy (16th MBA Batch 2026-28), Step-1 table
“The cut-off percentile marks for eligibility to participate in the PI process ... Category Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Overall ... General 75 75 75 94”
Location: MBA Admission Policy (16th MBA Batch 2026-28), Step-1 table
“The cut-off percentile marks for eligibility to participate in the PI process ... Category Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Overall ... General 75 75 75 94”
Location: MBA Admission Policy (16th MBA Batch 2026-28), Step-1 table
“Normalised CAT Score*: 55% weightage Personal Interview (PI): 25% weightage Profile: 20% weightage *CAT Score of the candidate divided by maximum CAT Score among candidates who have applied to IIMU and attended PI.”
• Announced minimums are eligibility floors to enter an IIM’s shortlisting pool; actual composite-score calls depend on academics, work experience, diversity weights, and candidate pool.
• Institutes marked "Registration floor" publish only the minimum CAT percentile needed to register for their CAP/SAP or institute portal, without publishing the final shortlist percentile.
Official CAT Candidate Volume, Attendance & 100-Percentilers (2023 → 2025)
Figures published in official IIM CAT post-exam and result media releases, ordered oldest to newest.
Location: p.1 to 2, tables "Percentile score: Number and gender" and "Discipline and Percentiles" (text layer out of order; splits add up to the totals)
Location: p.1 to 2, tables "Percentile score: Number and gender" and "Discipline and Percentiles" (text layer out of order; splits add up to the totals)
Location: p.1 to 2, tables "Percentile score: Number and gender" and "Discipline and Percentiles" (text layer out of order; splits add up to the totals)
Every question below demonstrates MockTestZone’s live exam interface: a built-in In-Test AI Hint (Level 1 Nudge) that unblocks you without spoiling the answer, a Setter-Trap Diagnostic showing why the top wrong option lures test-takers, and an exam-hall shortcut. Strictly sampled from standalone topic drills (+3.00 correct · -1.00 negative (MCQs) · 40 min sectional lock) — never from ranked full mocks.
Q1 of 5Quantitative Ability (QA)·Arithmetic — Time, Work & Alternating Efficiency
+3.00 / -1.00Target: 75sMEDIUM
Pipes A and B can fill an empty cistern in 12 hours and 15 hours respectively, while Pipe C can empty the full cistern in 20 hours. If all three pipes are opened together for the first 6 hours and Pipe C is then closed, how many MORE hours will Pipes A and B take together to fill the remaining part of the cistern?
In-Test AI Hint · Level 1 NudgeConcept Nudge (No Spoiler)
Take Total Capacity = LCM(12, 15, 20) = 60 units. Re-read the final question phrase carefully: does it ask for total time or additional time after hour 6?
Setter-Trap Diagnostic (Why Option B Traps Aspirants)
Total Time vs "How Many MORE Hours" Stem Trap
In CAT QA, solving the math right and still losing 4 net marks (+3 lost, -1 penalty) happens when you miss the word "MORE". 60 - 36 = 24 units left; at 9 units/hr, extra time is 24/9 = 4/3 hrs (1 hr 20 min), not 6 + 4/3.
Correct Answer: Option A · Exam-Hall Shortcut
LCM(12,15,20) = 60 units. Rates: A = +5, B = +4, C = -3 (Net = +6/hr). In 6 hrs: 36 filled, 24 left. C closes ⇒ A+B = +9/hr ⇒ 24/9 = 4/3 hrs = 1 hr 20 min.
For real numbers x > 1 and y > 1, what is the minimum possible value of log_x(y²) + log_y(x⁸)?
In-Test AI Hint · Level 1 NudgeConcept Nudge (No Spoiler)
Pull out the exponents using log(a^k) = k·log(a), then set t = log_x(y). Since x > 1 and y > 1, t > 0.
Setter-Trap Diagnostic (Why Option C Traps Aspirants)
Symmetric Plug-In (x = y ⇒ 10) Trap
Many test-takers plug in x = y = 2 to get 2 + 8 = 10 and pick Option C. But the expression is 2t + 8/t, which reaches its minimum when 2t = 8/t ⇒ t = 2 (i.e., y = x²), giving 4 + 4 = 8.
Correct Answer: Option B · Exam-Hall Shortcut
Rewrite as 2·log_x(y) + 8·log_y(x) = 2t + 8/t (with t > 0). By AM-GM: 2t + 8/t ≥ 2√(2t · 8/t) = 2√16 = 8.
Q3 of 5Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)·Critical Reasoning — Flaw in Causal Argument
+3.00 / -1.00Target: 70sMEDIUM
Argument: "Municipalities that installed smart LED streetlamps over the past three years reported a 22% drop in nighttime traffic collisions. Clearly, the narrower spectral glare of smart LEDs directly improves driver reaction times at night."
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the author’s conclusion?
In-Test AI Hint · Level 1 NudgeConcept Nudge (No Spoiler)
The author leaps from a city-level correlation (LED rollout → fewer crashes) to a single cause (spectral glare). Look for a confounding change bundled with the rollout.
Setter-Trap Diagnostic (Why Option D Traps Aspirants)
Scientific-Jargon Distractor Trap
CAT VARC setters craft one option with clinical terminology ("pupil constriction differs by < 4%") to lure test-takers away from the classic confounding variable in Option B (intersection redesign + speed cameras).
Correct Answer: Option B · Exam-Hall Shortcut
Causal pattern: X (LEDs) correlated with Y (22% drop). Best weakener introduces Z (mandated speed cameras & intersection redesigns) that occurred alongside X and causes Y.
In a 16-player single-elimination knockout tennis tournament with an open draw (Seeds 1 to 16 may be placed in any initial bracket slots, no ties), an "upset" occurs whenever a numerically higher seed-number defeats a lower seed-number (e.g., Seed 9 beats Seed 4). If Seed 6 wins the tournament title and Seed 1 reaches the Semi-Finals before losing, what is the MINIMUM possible number of upsets in the entire 15-match tournament?
In-Test AI Hint · Level 1 NudgeConcept Nudge (No Spoiler)
Seeds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are all seeded ahead of Seed 6 and must all be eliminated. To minimize upsets, let Seed 1 and Seed 2 eliminate Seeds 3, 4, and 5 in normal (non-upset) matches!
Setter-Trap Diagnostic (Why Option A Traps Aspirants)
Single-Upset Tunnel Vision Trap
Since Seed 1 loses in the Semi-Final (not the Final), Seed 1 cannot eliminate Seed 2 in the Final. Thus both Seed 1’s half and Seed 2’s half must produce a finalist, requiring at least 2 upsets to eliminate all five seeds ranked above 6.
Correct Answer: Option B · Exam-Hall Shortcut
Put {1,3,4,5} in Q1 (won by Seed 1, 0 upsets) and {6,7,8,9} in Q2 (won by Seed 6, 0 upsets). SF1: Seed 6 beats Seed 1 (Upset #1). Put Seed 2 with {10..16} in Half 2 (won by Seed 2, 0 upsets). Final: Seed 6 beats Seed 2 (Upset #2). Minimum = 2.
“In order to ensure fairness and equity in comparison of performances of candidates across different test sessions, the scores of candidates shall be subjected to a process of Normalisation. The Normalisation process shall adjust for location and scale differences of score distributions across different forms. After normalisation across different forms, the scores shall be further normalised across different sections. The Scaled Scores obtained by this process shall be converted into percentiles for purposes of shortlisting.”
“Step 1: Calculate the total number of candidates (N) who appeared for CAT (i.e. including morning, afternoon and evening sessions). Step 2: Assign a rank (r), based on the scaled scores obtained in the QA section, to all candidates who appeared for CAT. In the case of two or more candidates obtaining identical scaled scores in the QA section, assign identical ranks to all those candidates.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an IIM announced minimum percentile and an applied shortlist cut-off?+
An announced minimum (such as 95 overall for IIM Ahmedabad General or 85 overall for IIM Calcutta General in their 2026 policies) is the eligibility floor printed in the IIM admission policy to enter the shortlisting pool. An applied cut-off is the lowest percentile that actually received a WAT-PI shortlist call in a completed cycle.
Why do both overall and sectional CAT percentiles matter for IIM calls?+
Almost every IIM checks four gates simultaneously: VARC percentile, DILR percentile, QA percentile, and Overall percentile. Falling below even one sectional minimum disqualifies a candidate from that IIM’s shortlist pool regardless of how high the overall percentile is.
How many candidates appeared in CAT 2025 and how are CAT percentiles calculated?+
According to the official CAT 2025 result media release, 2,58,000 candidates appeared across the three sessions. Raw scores in each section are equated across sessions into scaled scores, summed for the overall scaled score, and converted into percentiles rounded to two decimal places.
Is there negative marking on TITA (non-MCQ) questions in CAT 2026?+
No. Under the official CAT 2026 marking rules, multiple-choice questions (MCQs) award +3 marks for a correct answer and deduct 1 mark (-1) for a wrong answer, whereas typed non-MCQ (TITA) questions award +3 marks for a correct answer and carry 0 negative marks.
Every figure above links directly to the original government or institute document below. MockTestZone never re-hosts conducting-body PDFs; SHA-256 digests record the exact file read on the date shown.
[1] IIM Ahmedabad: admission policy for PGP 2027-29 (CAT 2026)Read 9 November 2026
