IIM cut offs for admission to MBA/PGP programmes of top institutes are generally between 98 to 100 percentile. The IIM cut off for MBA 2024 admission are as expected high. Check here previous years' and expected CAT cut off for IIMs (general and reserved) categories.
IIM cut off is the main criterion for selection of candidates for admission to India's premiere MBA institutes – the Indian Institute of Management. Selection of candidates for admission is done on the basis of the minimum percentile that a candidate has to score in CAT exam. The minimum score fixed by IIMs, for shortlisting of candidates for MBA/PGP admission is referred to as IIM cut off. These cut offs vary category wise. IIM cut offs are higher for General category candidates, than Reserved category candidates.
MBA aspirants who score 98+ percentile in the CAT 2024 exam can meet the minimum IIM CAT cut off requirement. The CAT cut offs will be released prior to the second stage of the IIM admission process 2025 i.e. Written Ability Test/Personal Interview (WAT/PI) round. The CAT cut off for IIM is released individually by each campus for the screening of candidates for admission. CAT test takers are invited for WAT/PI round only if they have scored as much or above the minimum IIM cut off percentile in CAT exam set by the admission cell of the institutes.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Q: How much CAT score is required for MBA at IIM Ahmedabad?
IIM Ahmedabad considered two kinds of CAT scores for MBA admission - Qualifying and Final score. After qualifying CAT score, the minimum sectional and overall CAT score is used to shortlist students for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. The overall CAT qualifying cutoff for 2023 admission at IIM-A stood at 99 for General category candidates, while the final cutoff is considered to stand between 99 and 100 percentile, for other category candidates. Check out more details on IIM-Ahmedabad Cutoff here.
Q: How much percentile is a good score in CAT exam?
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to various management programs offered by top business schools in India. The percentile score in CAT exam is based on the relative performance of the test taker compared to all the other test takers.
The cutoff percentile for admission to top business schools varies from year to year and also depends on factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. In general, a percentile score of 90 or above is considered a good score and can help you secure admission to some of the top business schools in India. However, to increase your chances of admission to the top-tier business schools, a percentile score of 95 or above is preferred.
Q: What is sectional cutoff in CAT exam?
Sectional cut off in CAT exam refers to the section wise percentiles required by the candidate for making it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut offs are lower than overall cut offs of any institute. To understand better, check the table below for sectional CAT cut offs for IIM Ahmedabad:
Category | VARC percentile | DILR percentile | QA percentile | Overall percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
NC-OBC-Transgender | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
PwD (General, NC-OBC-cum-transgender, SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
PwD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
For sectional cut offs of all IIMs, check this article – IIM shortlist and selection criteria
Latest: CAT 2024 result out, download scorecard - live updates
CAT 2024 toppers - 14 candidates score 100 percentile, 29 score 99.99 percentile
IIM cut off for MBA is always higher than other top B-Schools. In this article, we will provide all the information related to the IIM cut off for MBA admission, such as:
- What is IIM cut off?
- IIM call cut off vs shortlist cut off - what is the difference?
- IIM cut offs of previous years
- Expected CAT cut off for IIM
- IIM selection procedure and admission criteria
- IIM parameters for final selection and their weightage
- Campus wise IIM cut off, shortlist and admission criteria
What is IIM Cut Off?
IIM cut off refers to the minimum CAT percentile a candidate has to get as CAT score to be eligible for WAT/PI round of the institutes. The IIM cut offs are different for different categories of students. While the minimum CAT cut off for IIMs for General category is usually 95-100, the cut offs for reserved category students is 85-95. The CAT percentile for IIM admission vary campus wise. However, if your academic record is exceptional, CAT score lower than 95 may get you an IIM.
For IIM Ahmedabad, the cut off for General category was 99-100 percentile in CAT 2023, CAT 2022, CAT 2021, CAT 2020, CAT 2019, CAT 2018 and CAT 2017. For IIM Calcutta, it was around 92-99 percentile (category-wise). The CAT cut offs for IIMs vary slightly every year. Some of the determining factors that decide IIM CAT cut offs are:
- Difficulty Level of CAT exam – If the standard of the test is difficult then the cut off percentile for that year will be comparatively lower. This happens because of the lower average scores in the examination.
- Number of students who took CAT – The final CAT cut off percentile for IIMs would also depend on the number of students appearing in CAT. Higher the number, higher will be the qualifying CAT cut off, and vice versa.
- Number of seats available – The number of available seats in a particular IIM can vary annually. Any increase or decrease in the number of available seats will directly reflect on the cut-off percentile required for IIM.
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Q: What is the minimum percentile required for IIM Trichy?
IIM Trichy accepts minimum CAT percentile for shortlisting candidates for the Personal Interview round. For IIM Trichy MBA admission 2024, the estimated overall CAT cutoff for the General category students is 92 percentile. Candidates can refer to the table given below to check out the section-wise minimum CAT percentile required for various categories:
Category | PVRC | PDILR | PQA | Overall percentile rank (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 92 |
NC-OBC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 74 |
EWS | 40 | 40 | 40 | 70 |
SC | 35 | 35 | 35 | 54 |
ST | 25 | 25 | 32.5 | 40 |
DAP | 25 | 25 | 32.5 | 40 |
Q: What is the cut off CAT for IIM Shillong?
IM Shillong admission process is conducted in two phases. In the Phase 1, candidates are shortlisted for Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI). In Phase 2, based on the Past Academic Performance, Performance in GD and PI, Performance in CAT, total work experience, and gender, the final merit list is prepared for offer of admission to the PGP batch. It is the phase 2 which is the deciding factor for any candidate's admission to IIM Shillong.
Candidates who have opted (as per the CAT application) for the IIM Shillong PGP 2024-26 batch are eligible for consideration in Phase 1. The minimum requirement of marks in various sections of CAT for candidates across different categories to be considered for shortlisting for the PI process is tabulated below:
| Category | CAT 2023 Percentile (VARC) | CAT 2023 Percentile (DILR) | CAT 2023 Percentile (QA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DA (D) | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| ST (T) | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| SC (C) | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| EWS (E) | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| OTHERS (OT) | 75 | 75 | 75 |
Q: Are CAT cut offs announced along with the CAT result?
Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIM Ahmedabad?
Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow?
For 2024 academic session, selection rounds of IIMs and top B-schools will begin in January 2025. The institutes will select candidates on the basis of their CAT 2024 score and academic record.
Also read:
- CAT Score vs Percentile 2024: Know the difference
- Understanding IIM Eligibility Criteria
- What is IIM CAP 2025? Know process, criteria and participating IIMs
IIM Call Cut Off vs Shortlist Cut Off – What is The Difference?
IIM aspirants must understand that the institutes release two cut offs for admission to a particular academic year. First IIM cut off is released as part of IIM admission policy. This CAT cut off is referred to as CAT qualifying cut off or shortlist cut off, as it is meant for shortlisting candidates for WAT and PI. In other words, a candidate must meet the shortlist cut off or the minimum CAT score fixed by an IIM in order to be eligible for WAT and PI rounds. Clearing the shortlist cut off doesn't mean that you will be called for WAT and PI. Your interview call will depend upon whether you meet the IIM call cut off which is always higher than the shortlist cut off and released after the declaration of CAT result. For example, for CAT 2021, IIM Ahmedabad's shortlist cut off was 80 percentile while its interview call cut off was 99-100 percentile. For CAT 2023, the IIM Ahmedabad qualifying cut off was 80 percentile and the final cut off was around 99-100 percentile.
IIM CAT Cut Offs
The final IIM cut offs are not released public ally by the institutes. Given below are estimated CAT 2024 cut offs for IIM admission 2025-27. The actual cut offs may be higher. Nonetheless, candidates can use this table as a reference point to plan their MBA admission.
| IIM campus | Expected CAT Cut Off 2024 (in percentile) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | IIM Bangalore | IIM Calcutta | 99-100 |
| IIM Lucknow | IIM Indore | IIM Kozhikode | 97-98 |
| IIM Amritsar | IIM Nagpur | IIM Sambalpur | 95-96 |
| IIM Trichi | IIM Raipur | IIM Ranchi | IIM Kashipur | 94-95 |
| IIM Vizag | IIM Udaipur | IIM Bodhgaya | 92-94 |
| IIM Shillong | IIM Sirmaur | 90 |
IIMs with Lowest Cut Offs
In newer IIMs, the CAT cut offs are lower as compared to rest of the campuses. Given below are IIMs with lowest cut offs.
- IIM Ranchi - 92+ percentile
- IIM Raipur - 90 + percentile
- IIM Kashipur - 90+ percentile
- IIM Udaipur - 90+ percentile
Even for Reserved category students, the IIM cut offs don't drop. Which is why it is imperative to score 90+ percentile in CAT for IIM admission.
IIM Cut Offs of Previous Years
Those who shall have an idea of their performance in the CAT exam and know the expected score, they can guess which IIMs will take them in. The knowledge of CAT cut off for IIM is of great help in this process. It allows students to make an informed decision when the application window for WAT and PI rounds opens. In case you want to calculate your expected CAT score, use this CAT Percentile Predictor by Shiksha. Download Institute and category-wise CAT cut off PDF
IIM Cut Off 2024
Given below are the qualifying CAT cut offs and final cutoffs (estimated) of all IIMs, for 2024 batch. IIM cut offs for 2025 batch are expected to be same.
| IIM |
Qualifying CAT Cut Off for IIM |
Final CAT Cut Off for IIM (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| 80 |
99-100 |
|
| 85 |
99-100 |
|
| 85 |
98-99 |
|
| 90 |
97-99 |
|
| 90 |
97-98 |
|
| 85 |
97-98 |
|
| 75 |
90 |
|
| 92 |
92-94 |
|
| 95 |
96-97 |
|
| 80 |
94-95 |
|
| 93 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 85 |
94-95 |
|
| 90 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
95-96 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 85 |
95-96 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
|
| 92 |
94-95 |
IIM Cut Off 2019 (Bodh Gaya)
Of the 20 IIMs, IIM Bodh Gaya released official CAT 2019 cut offs publicly. Check the tables below for section-wise cut offs for male and female candidates.
| IIM Bodh Gaya cut off for male candidates |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category |
Overall |
QA |
DILR |
VARC |
| General |
91 |
80 |
80 |
80 |
| EWS |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| NC-OBC |
73 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| SC |
50 |
45 |
45 |
45 |
| ST |
38 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| PWD |
35 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya cut off for female candidates |
||||
| Category |
Overall |
QA |
DILR |
VARC |
| General |
88 |
75 |
75 |
75 |
| EWS |
70 |
55 |
55 |
55 |
| NC-OBC |
70 |
60 |
60 |
60 |
| SC |
50 |
43 |
43 |
43 |
| ST |
35 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
IIM Cut Offs 2018
| IIMs |
CAT cut off 2018 (in percentile) |
|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad |
98 |
| IIM Bangalore |
99 |
| IIM Calcutta |
98 |
| IIM Lucknow |
97 |
| IIM Indore |
92 |
| IIM Kozhikode |
95.5 |
| IIM Rohtak |
94 |
| IIM Kashipur |
93 |
| IIM Shillong |
92 |
| IIM Trichy |
93 |
| IIM Udaipur |
94 |
IIM Cut Offs 2017 and 2016
| IIM | CAT cut off 2017 (in percentile) | CAT cut off 2016 (in percentile) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 100 | 100 |
| IIM Bangalore | 90.72 | 92.48 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 95.16 | 94.82 |
| IIM Indore | 90.05 | 90.01 |
| IIM Trichy | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Raipur | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Udaipur | 95 | 96 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 95 | 81.23 |
| IIM Nagpur | 90.09 | 90.08 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 90.09 | 90.02 |
| IIM Amritsar | 94.76 | 94.9 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 95 | NA |
*These cut-off scores have been obtained by Shiksha through Right To Information Act.
IIM Selection Procedure and Admission Criteria
The three main criteria for selection are CAT score, WAT/GD-PI, academic record. IIM admission process includes selection in three phases. Check below:
- First phase: Shortlisting of candidates on the basis of CAT score
- Second phase: Conduct of WAT and PI
- Third phase: Final selection on the basis of performance in CAT exam, WAT-PI, academics, etc.
Also Read:
- Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 50 to 60 percentile
- Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 60 to 70 percentile
- Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 70 to 80 percentile
- Colleges Accepting CAT Score Range 80 to 90 percentile
FAQs on IIM Cut Offs 2024
Q: What is IIM cut off?
A: IIM cut off refers to the minimum CAT percentile required by a candidate in order to get shortlisted for further selection process for MBA admission, which is Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI).
Q: Who determines IIM CAT cut offs for MBA admission?
A: Each IIM determines the cut off for MBA admission individually. The cut off is fixed based on previous years’ highest score, number of seats, number of applicants, average score of applicants and difficulty level of CAT exam.
Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIMs (top 5)?
A: The CAT cut off range of top IIMs namely IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow and IIM Kozhikode is between 99-100 percentile for General category candidates. For, SC/ST/PwD candidates the cut offs are lower, in the range of 90 percentile.
Q: What is the CAT cut off range of newer IIMs?
A: CAT cut off range of newer IIMs is 90-95 percentile for General category candidates. For Reserved category candidates the cut-off range is much lower around between 85-80 (estimation). However, the selection committee lays more emphasis on the academic record of students for PI shortlisting.
Q: How can I find out final IIM CAT cut offs?
A: The IIMs do not release the final cut off officially. The CAT cut off is speculated basis the scores of candidates selected for WAT/GD-PI. If anyone wishes to know the final cut off, they can file an RTI for the information.
Q: Are the IIM CAT cut offs same for every student?
A: No. The CAT cut offs vary for each category across the IIMs. The CAT cut off for candidates belonging to reserved categories is lower than that for general category candidates. CAT cut off for IIM for general category is between 98-100 percentile.
Q: What is the difference between qualifying cut off and final cut off?
A: The qualifying CAT cut off refers to the minimum percentile that the candidates have to meet to be eligible for WAT-PI round. Final CAT cut off is the minimum percentile that the candidates have to meet to be selected for WAT-PI round.
Q: Does a candidate require to clear cut off fixed for each section of CAT too?
A: Yes, it is mandatory to clear sectional cut offs, too. Shortlisting of students for WAT-PI is done on the basis of overall CAT cut off as well as sectional CAT cut offs for each category. Those who do not meet the any of the two cut offs, are not shortlisted for the WAT-PI round.
Q: If I clear the overall cut off but not the sectional cut off, will I still be shortlisted for WAT/GD-PI?
A: No, it is mandatory to clear both overall and sectional cut offs to get shortlisted for WAT and PI round. If a candidate doesn't clear any of the four cut offs, they will not be shortlisted.
Q: If I meet qualifying cut off but not the final cut off, will I still get interview call from IIMs?
A: If a candidate meets the qualifying cut off percentile of a particular IIM but not the final cut off, they will not be called for WAT/GD-PI round. It is mandatory to clear all the cut offs.
Q: Is there cut off for Executive MBA admission too?
A: No, there is no cut off parameter for Executive MBA admission at IIMs. For Executive MBA admission, more emphasis is given to Personal Interview and work experience of the candidate rather than the exam score.
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Mba? And is CAT is mandatory and I know about fee and when admission is going?