CAT Score Weightage in IIMs 2026
CAT score weightage plays a major role in the IIM Admission Criteria but it is not the same across all institutes. Each IIM follows its own admission criteria, with CAT carrying different weightages during pre-PI shortlisting and final selection. While some IIMs assign around 25–30% weightage to CAT in the final selection, others give it 50% or more. Understanding the CAT weightage in IIMs 2026 can help aspirants evaluate their admission chances and target institutes more strategically.
CAT Weightage in IIM Selection Criteria
The CAT score can have a very different impact depending on the IIM you are targeting. According to the attached data, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore give 25% weightage to CAT, while IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow give 30%.
At the other end of the spectrum, IIM Ranchi gives CAT a 65% weightage, while IIM Rohtak and IIM Mumbai give it 60%. This shows why candidates should check the individual admission policy of every IIM instead of assuming that CAT carries the same importance everywhere.
IIM-Wise CAT Weightage 2026:
IIM | CAT Weightage in Pre-PI / Shortlisting | CAT Weightage in Post-PI / Final Selection |
IIM Ahmedabad | 65% | 25% |
IIM Bangalore | 55% | 25% |
IIM Calcutta | 56/85 points ≈ 65.9% | 30% |
IIM Lucknow | 60% | 30% |
IIM Kozhikode | 50% | 35% |
IIM Indore | 55% | 40% |
IIM Mumbai | No separate fixed %; CAT-led shortlisting | 60% |
IIM Shillong | 65% | 40% |
IIM Udaipur | CAT cutoff/shortlisting; no fixed pre-PI % | 55% |
IIM Raipur | JAP CAT-based shortlisting; no fixed % | 50/150 = 33.3% |
IIM Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) | JAP CAT-based shortlisting; no fixed % | 52% |
IIM Ranchi | JAP CAT-based shortlisting; no fixed % | 65% |
IIM Rohtak | CAT-based PI shortlist; no fixed composite % | 60% |
IIM Kashipur | JAP CAT-based shortlisting; no fixed % | 41% |
IIM Nagpur | CAT eligibility → Shortlisting Score; no simple fixed CAT % | 45% |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 50% | 25% |
IIM Amritsar | 50% | 35% effective CAT contribution |
IIM Bodh Gaya | CAT-based PI shortlisting | 50% |
IIM Jammu | CAT/CAP-based PI shortlisting | 42% |
IIM Sambalpur | 40/75 points ≈ 53.3% | 40% |
IIM Sirmaur | CAT/CAP-based PI shortlisting; no fixed % | 35% |
IIM Guwahati | CAT eligibility | 65% |
Note: The percentages above are taken from the attached reference image. IIMs can revise their admission policies every year, so candidates should verify the applicable admission policy on the respective IIM's official website. For example, IIM Ahmedabad's current 2026–28 policy uses CAT differently at different stages of selection, while IIM Calcutta's 2026–28 policy also distinguishes between shortlisting and final selection.
Which IIMs Give the Highest Weightage to CAT Score?
Based on the attached data, IIM Ranchi has the highest CAT weightage at 65%. IIM Rohtak and IIM Mumbai follow with 60% each, while IIM Udaipur gives CAT a 55% weightage.
These IIMs therefore place comparatively greater emphasis on the CAT score in their selection formula. A strong CAT performance can have a substantial impact on the overall score at institutes where the CAT component carries such a high percentage.
Rank | IIM | CAT Weightage |
1 | IIM Ranchi | 65% |
2 | IIM Rohtak | 60% |
2 | IIM Mumbai | 60% |
4 | IIM Udaipur | 55% |
5 | IIM Tiruchirappalli | 52% |
6 | IIM Bodh Gaya | 50% |
7 | IIM Nagpur | 45% |
8 | IIM Jammu | 42% |
9 | IIM Kashipur | 41% |
10 | IIM Indore | 40% |
10 | IIM Shillong | 40% |
10 | IIM Sambalpur | 40% |
Which IIMs Give the Lowest Weightage to CAT Score?
Among the IIMs listed in the attached data, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Visakhapatnam give the lowest CAT weightage at 25%. IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow follow with 30%.
A lower CAT weightage does not mean that CAT is unimportant. CAT remains essential for getting shortlisted, and the percentile required to receive a call can still be extremely high. The key difference is that the CAT score contributes a smaller proportion to the final composite score.
IIM | CAT Weightage |
IIM Ahmedabad | 25% |
IIM Bangalore | 25% |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 25% |
IIM Calcutta | 30% |
IIM Lucknow | 30% |
IIM Raipur | 33.33% |
IIM Kozhikode | 35% |
IIM Sirmaur | 35% |
Pre-PI Shortlisting Criteria Weightage in IIMs
Pre-PI shortlisting criteria determine which candidates are called for the Personal Interview stage at IIMs. Each institute assigns different weightages to factors such as CAT score, Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation score, work experience, and diversity factors. While CAT usually carries a major share, several IIMs also place significant importance on academic profile and candidate background. Understanding the pre-PI shortlisting weightage in IIMs helps aspirants evaluate their chances of receiving an interview call.
IIM | CAT Score | Academics Score (10th + 12th + Graduation) | Diversity Points (Gender + Academic) | Work Experience |
IIM Ahmedabad | 65% | Part of same 35% AR* | Part of same 35% AR* | Part of same 35% AR* |
IIM Bangalore | 55% | 30%: 10th 10% + 12th 10% + Graduation 10% | 5% Gender Diversity | 10% |
IIM Calcutta | 65.9% (56/85) | 29.4% (25/85): 10th + 12th | 4.7% (4/85 Gender) | 0% |
IIM Lucknow | 60% | 20%: 12th 10% + Graduation 10% | 10%: Academic 5% + Gender 5% | 10% |
IIM Kozhikode | 50% | 35%: 10th 15% + 12th 20% | 10% Gender OR 5% Academic Diversity | 5% |
IIM Indore | 55% | 35%: 10th 10% + 12th 25% | 7% | Up to 3% |
IIM Mumbai | CAT-led shortlisting; no fixed public % | No separate fixed % published | No separate fixed % published | No separate fixed % published |
IIM Shillong | 65% | Part of 35% Normalised Application Rating Score (NARS)* | Gender/academic discipline considered in shortlist construction; no separate fixed % | Part of same 35% NARS* |
IIM Udaipur | CAT considered; no fixed pre-PI % disclosed | Considered in profile; no fixed % | Considered; no fixed % | Considered; no fixed % |
IIM Raipur | CAT/JAP-based PI shortlist; no separate composite % | No separately weighted pre-PI score | No separately weighted pre-PI score | No separately weighted pre-PI score |
IIM Tiruchirappalli | CAT/JAP-based PI shortlist | No fixed weight | No fixed weight | No fixed weight |
IIM Ranchi | CAT/JAP-based PI shortlist | No fixed weight | No fixed weight | No fixed weight |
IIM Rohtak | CAT-based PI shortlisting; no fixed composite % | No separate pre-PI weight | No separate pre-PI weight | No separate pre-PI weight |
IIM Kashipur | CAT/JAP-based PI shortlist | No separate pre-PI weight | No separate pre-PI weight | No separate pre-PI weight |
IIM Nagpur | CAT eligibility followed by Shortlisting Score; no simple fixed CAT % | Included in Shortlisting Score | Included in Shortlisting Score | Included in Shortlisting Score |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 50% | 30%: 10th 10% + 12th 10% + Graduation 10% | 10% Gender Diversity | 10% |
IIM Amritsar | 50% | 25%: 10th 10% + 12th 10% + Graduation 5% | 10% Gender Diversity | 15% |
IIM Bodh Gaya | CAT-based PI shortlisting; no independent fixed composite % | No separate fixed pre-PI % | No separate fixed pre-PI % | No separate fixed pre-PI % |
IIM Jammu | CAT-based PI shortlisting | No fixed pre-PI % | No fixed pre-PI % | No fixed pre-PI % |
IIM Sambalpur | 53.3% (40/75) | 13.3% (10/75): 10th + 12th + Graduation | 6.7% (5/75 Gender) | 26.7% (20/75) |
IIM Sirmaur | CAT-based PI shortlist | No separate weighted score | No separate weighted score | No separate weighted score |
IIM Guwahati | No PI stage; CAT eligibility is used before final selection | N/A for PI shortlisting | N/A | N/A |
Post-PI / Final Selection Criteria Weightage in IIMs
Post-PI or final selection criteria determine which candidates receive the final admission offer after the interview stage. IIMs assign different weightages to components such as CAT score, Personal Interview (PI), academic performance, work experience, and diversity factors. While some IIMs continue to give significant importance to CAT, others place greater emphasis on PI and overall profile. Understanding the final selection weightage in IIMs helps candidates assess how each component impacts their admission chances
IIM | CAT Score | PI Score | GD/WAT Score | Profile Weightage (Academics + Diversity + Work Experience combined) |
IIM Ahmedabad | 25% | 50% | 10% AWT | 15% Application Rating |
IIM Bangalore | 25% | 40% | 10% WAT | 25%: Academics 15% + Work Experience 10% |
IIM Calcutta | 30% | 48% | 8% WAT | 14%: Academic Diversity 6% + Work Experience 8% |
IIM Lucknow | 30% | 40% | 10% WAT | 20%: Academics 10% + Diversity 5% + Work Experience 5% |
IIM Kozhikode | 35% | 35% | 20% WAT | 10% Resume Score* |
IIM Indore | 40% | 45% | 0% | 15%: Academics 10% + Diversity 5% |
IIM Mumbai | 60%* | Current domestic breakup not publicly specified | Current domestic breakup not publicly specified | Current domestic breakup not publicly specified |
IIM Shillong | 40% | 40% | 0% | 20%: Application Rating 10% + Gender Diversity 10% |
IIM Udaipur | 55% | 25% | 0% | 20% Profile |
IIM Raipur | 33.3% (50/150) | 26.7% (40/150) | 0% | 40%* (remaining profile-related points in 150-point scheme) |
IIM Tiruchirappalli | 52% | 20% | 0% | 28%: Academics 10% + Work Experience 10% + Diversity 8% |
IIM Ranchi | 65% | 15% | 0% | 20%: Academics 10% + Work Experience 10%; +5 gender-diversity bonus* |
IIM Rohtak | 60% | 20% | 0% | 20% Academic/Gender Diversity |
IIM Kashipur | 41% | 25% | 0% | 34% total*: 32% academics/diversity/work-ex + 2% professional qualification |
IIM Nagpur | 45% | 25% | 0% | 30%: Past Academic Performance 6% + Work Experience 9% + Academic Diversity 5% + Gender Diversity 10% |
IIM Visakhapatnam | 25% | 48% | 0% | 27%: Academics 12% + Diversity 5% + Work Experience 10% |
IIM Amritsar | 35% effective | 21% effective | 0% | 44% effective* |
IIM Bodh Gaya | 50% | 25% | 0% | 25% Profile |
IIM Jammu | 42% | 30% | 0% | 28%: Academics 10% + Work Experience 10% + Gender Diversity 8% |
IIM Sambalpur | 40% | 25% | 0% | 35%: Academics 10% + Work Experience 20% + Gender Diversity 5% |
IIM Sirmaur | 35% | 20% | 0% | 45%*: Academics 15% + Work Experience 20% + Gender 5% + Trailblazer Score 5% |
IIM Guwahati | 65% | 0% – No PI | 0% | 35%: Academics up to 30% + Work Experience up to 5% |
CAT Weightage Across IIMs: At a Glance
The attached data shows a significant variation in CAT weightage across IIMs. The CAT component ranges from 25% to 65% among the institutes for which a direct percentage is provided.
This means there is a 40-percentage-point difference between the lowest and highest CAT weightage. Aspirants should therefore look at the individual selection criteria of their target IIMs rather than relying on a single general CAT-to-IIM admission formula.
CAT Weightage Range | IIMs |
25% | IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Visakhapatnam |
30–39% | IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Raipur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Amritsar |
40–49% | IIM Indore, IIM Shillong, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Nagpur, IIM Jammu |
50–59% | IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Udaipur |
60%+ | IIM Rohtak, IIM Mumbai, IIM Ranchi, IIM Guwahati |
CAT Score Weightage in IIMs 2026: Conclusion
CAT Weightage in IIMs 2026 differs significantly across institutes and even between the pre-PI and post-PI stages. While some IIMs rely heavily on CAT scores during shortlisting, others reduce the CAT component during final selection and give greater importance to PI, academics, work experience and diversity. Therefore, aspirants should not judge their IIM admission chances based on CAT percentile alone. Check the latest selection criteria of each target IIM and understand how CAT contributes to both shortlisting and final admission. A strong CAT score opens the door, but your complete profile ultimately determines your chances of converting an IIM call.
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