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CAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria
Are you planning to appear for CAT 2027? Do you know the CAT minimum eligibility criteria? If you are going to be in the final year of graduation by November 2027, no need to worry; you are completely eligible to apply. But ensure you can have your graduation certificate by the time of joining your dream MBA college. First, if you belong to the General, EWS, or NC-OBC categories, you must have a minimum of 50% graduation marks. While SC, ST and PwBD candidates need 45%.
What Qualification Is Required for CAT 2027?
To appear for the CAT 2027 exam, you must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA from a recognised university or institution. Or, if you are in your final year as of November 2027, then your Marks must be above 50%.
For candidates belonging to the SC, ST and PwBD categories, the minimum requirement is 45%. You can also apply if you have completed a recognised professional qualification such as:
- Chartered Accountancy (CA)
- Company Secretary (CS)
- Cost and Management Accountancy (CMA)
- Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of India (FIAI)
The professional qualification must meet the CAT 2027 applicable minimum percentage requirement.
If your university awards grades or CGPA instead of marks, your percentage will be calculated according to your university's conversion rules. If your institution does not have a CGPA-to-percentage conversion formula, the CAT rules state that the percentage can be calculated by dividing your CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying it by 100.
Documents Required for CAT 2027?
The CAT 2027 registration is expected to begin on 1 August 2027. So, whoever is either a final-year UG student or a working professional must keep the following docs ready.
Document | Why Is It Required? |
Recent Photograph | Used for candidate identification and application |
Signature | Required for authentication of the application |
Class 10 Marksheet/Certificate | To verify date of birth and school qualification |
Class 12 Marksheet/Certificate | To verify Class 12 academic details |
Graduation Marksheet/Degree Certificate | To verify graduation qualification and marks |
Final-Year Certificate | Required if you are still pursuing graduation |
Professional Degree Certificate | Required for eligible CA/CS/CMA/FIAI candidates |
Category Certificate | Required for candidates claiming SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS reservation |
PwBD Certificate | Required for candidates claiming PwBD benefits |
UDID Card | Can be uploaded by PwBD candidates, where applicable |
Candidates applying under reserved categories should keep their relevant certificates ready.
- The official CAT eligibility rules require SC/ST/NC-OBC/EWS/PwBD certificates to be uploaded during registration.
- For SC/ST candidates, the caste or tribe must be included in the applicable Government of India schedule.
- The certificate should also contain the required details, including the caste/tribe name and the relevant government schedule.
- PwBD candidates can also upload their UDID card, where applicable.
- Keep your documents handy while filling the CAT 2027 form.
- A mismatch in category details or failure to provide the required certificate can create problems during the selection process.
Is a Graduation Percentage Required for CAT 2027?
Yes. You need to meet the minimum graduation percentage requirement to be eligible for CAT 2027.
Category | Minimum Graduation Percentage |
General | 50% |
EWS | 50% |
NC-OBC | 50% |
SC | 45% |
ST | 45% |
PwBD | 45% |
The percentage must be calculated according to the rules followed by your university or institution.
Aspirants should also understand the CAT 2027 target score for IIM colleges, as the score required for admission can vary by institute and category.. Each IIM has its own admission policy and may consider CAT performance, academics, work experience, diversity factors, interviews and other components while selecting candidates.
CAT eligibility gets you into the examination, but IIM admission depends on the individual institute's selection criteria.
Can Final-Year Students Apply for CAT 2027?
Yes. Final-year graduation students can apply for CAT 2027. Candidates who have completed all degree requirements but are waiting for their results can also apply.
If you receive an IIM offer while your graduation result is still pending, admission may initially be provisional. You may have to submit a certificate from your university's Principal or Registrar confirming that you have completed all requirements for the degree.
So, if you are going to be in the final year of your bachelor's degree, you do not need to wait for your final result before applying for CAT 2027. You can also learn how to prepare for CAT 2027 while in college to balance your graduation studies and CAT preparation effectively
Is There Any Age Limit for CAT 2027?
There is no upper age limit for appearing for CAT. Working professionals, graduates who completed their degree several years ago, and other eligible candidates can apply, provided they satisfy the educational requirements. Eligible candidates who are starting their preparation can first understand how to prepare for CAT 2027 and build a strategy according to the time available.
CAT also does not require you to have work experience. A fresher who meets the graduation eligibility criteria can appear for the examination.
Therefore, your age or lack of work experience does not prevent you from taking CAT 2027.
CAT 2027 Eligibility for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwD
CAT provides category-wise eligibility and reservation provisions. The minimum graduation requirement is 45% for SC, ST and PwBD candidates and 50% for General, EWS and NC-OBC candidates.
The reservation provisions specified in the latest official CAT eligibility information include:
Category | Reservation in IIMs |
SC | 15% |
ST | 7.5% |
NC-OBC | 27% |
EWS | Up to 10% |
PwBD | 5% |
For NC-OBC reservation, the candidate must belong to the non-creamy layer and satisfy the applicable central government requirements.
The category certificate is important during the application and admission process. Candidates must upload the required certificate during registration and may need to produce the original certificate and submit a copy during the later selection stages.
The applicable Central Government list on the last date of CAT registration is considered for reservation purposes. Also, once CAT registration is completed, changes in category are generally not entertained.
CAT 2027 Eligibility Criteria: Conclusion
The CAT exam is expected on 28 November 2027. Focus first on meeting the basic graduation requirement, then check the individual IIM admission policies because their shortlisting criteria can differ significantly. Gather all the required documents ahead of time and register for CAT 2027 smoothly, so that you can give 100% effort to your preparation. Once you confirm your eligibility, choosing the right CAT 2027 study material can help you start your preparation with the appropriate resources. Before starting topic-wise preparation, go through the CAT 2027 syllabus PDF to understand the important topics across VARC, DILR and Quant.
