What is the CAT 2026 cut-off?

There is no single official CAT cut-off. Each IIM and business school sets its own overall and sectional percentile requirements after the result, and these differ by institute, programme and category.

Is there a sectional cut-off in CAT?

Many IIMs apply sectional cut-offs in VARC, DILR and QA along with the overall percentile, so a weak section can reduce your chances even with a strong total.

Are expected CAT cut-offs official?

No. Cut-off figures published before the result are estimates by coaching and education websites. Official requirements appear only in the institutes' own shortlisting criteria.

How can I set a target percentile?

Check the shortlisting criteria of the institutes you want, add a safe margin to the percentile they have used before, and keep your sectional scores balanced. Use full-length mock scores to track your progress.

Management Entrance

CAT 2026 Cut-off: How Percentile Cut-offs Work and How to Set Your Target

CAT has no single pass mark. The CAT 2026 cut-off that matters to you is the one set by each IIM or business school after the result, and it is expressed as a percentile, not as a raw score. The exam is conducted by IIM Indore on 29 November 2026, and the result is tentatively expected in the first week of January 2027.

This page explains how CAT cut-offs work, what affects them and how to set a realistic target. We have not listed institute-wise percentile figures, because IIMs do not publish fixed cut-offs in the CAT notification and the figures that circulate before results are estimates. Any number you see before the official shortlists should be treated as a guess, not as an official cut-off.

How CAT Cut-offs Work

Type	What it means	Who sets it
Overall percentile	Minimum overall CAT percentile needed to be considered	Each IIM or institute
Sectional percentile	Minimum percentile needed in VARC, DILR and QA separately	Each IIM or institute
Composite score	A weighted score that mixes CAT with academics, work experience and diversity	Each IIM or institute
Category cut-off	Separate, usually lower, percentile requirements for reserved categories	Each IIM or institute

The CAT scorecard shows your scaled score and percentile for each section and overall. A percentile of 95, for example, means you scored better than about 95% of the candidates who took the exam. Institutes use these numbers to shortlist candidates for the written ability test and interview.

What Affects the Cut-off

Paper difficulty: A harder paper lowers raw scores but percentile cut-offs tend to stay high, because everyone scores lower together.
Number of candidates: More competition for the same seats pushes percentile requirements up.
Seats and programmes: Cut-offs vary by programme and institute, and a newer or smaller institute may use lower thresholds than an older one.
Selection formula: Weightage for academics, work experience and diversity changes the CAT score you need.

Cut-offs change every year with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants. Treat last year's figures as a benchmark only, and aim for a clear margin above them rather than a bare pass.

How to Set Your Target

Pick institutes first: Read the shortlisting criteria in each institute's admission brochure and note both overall and sectional requirements.
Aim above the benchmark: Add a safe margin to the percentile you need, because the cut-off can move.
Protect your weakest section: Many institutes apply sectional minimums, so balance your preparation across VARC, DILR and QA.
Track mock scores: Use full-length mocks to track accuracy, attempts and sectional scores, and compare them against your target percentile range.

check iimcat.ac.in for official updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to practice? Explore CAT Exam mock tests from top educators.

Browse CAT Exam Mock Tests