IIM Ahmedabad Cut-off 2026
IIM Ahmedabad's MBA admission process is more than just a CAT percentile cutoff. For the 2026–28 PGP batch, IIMA uses CAT 2025 scores along with academic performance and its Application Rating/Composite Score to shortlist candidates for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI).
The official minimum CAT cutoff for General/EWS candidates is 95 percentile, but the actual percentile of candidates receiving calls can be lower or higher depending on academic category, profile and the composite-score route used for IIM shortlisting.
IIM Ahmedabad Admission Process 2026
IIM Ahmedabad's 2026 admission process has two broad stages. First, candidates undergo preliminary CAT screening and are considered for the AWT-PI shortlist through different academic-category and category-wise routes. After AWT and PI, final admission is based on the Final Composite Score.
For CAT applicants, the process can be simplified as:
IIMA also considers candidates from different academic backgrounds and has separate shortlisting mechanisms for exceptional performers across academic disciplines.
IIM Ahmedabad overall cut-off 2026
The official minimum overall CAT cutoff for the 2026–28 PGP batch is 95 percentile for General/EWS non-PwD candidates. The requirement is lower for NC-OBC, SC and ST candidates, while PwD candidates have separate thresholds.
Category | Overall CAT Cutoff | Sectional Cutoff |
General/ EWS | 95 | 85 each |
NC-OBC | 90 | 80 each |
SC | 85 | 75 each |
ST | 75 | 65 each |
General/ EWS | 85 | 75 each |
NC-OBC | 80 | 70 each |
SC | 75 | 65 each |
ST | 65 | 55 each |
These are minimum preliminary screening cutoffs, not guaranteed interview or admission cutoffs. Candidates must also obtain a positive raw score in every CAT section.
IIM Ahmedabad Stage-1 Academic cut-off 2026
Academic performance plays a major role in IIMA's shortlisting. Under the ACRC route, candidates must meet minimum Class 10–12 average requirements depending on their stream and category.
Class 12 Stream | General/ EWS | NC-OBC | SC | ST |
Science | 80% | 75% | 70% | 65% |
Commerce | 77% | 72% | 67% | 62% |
Arts & Humanities | 75% | 70% | 64% | 59% |
IIMA also applies a bachelor's-degree cutoff based on the 80th percentile of marks within the relevant academic-category applicant pool. For 2026, the cutoffs vary considerably by academic category and reservation category.
For example, the General/EWS bachelor's cutoffs were 69.50% for AC-1 Part II, 81.25% for AC-3, 84.90% for AC-4 and 80.57% for AC-5.
This is why IIMA cannot be judged on CAT percentile alone. Academic category and past academic performance can materially influence your shortlist chances.
Previous Year Lowest Percentile for Interviews
RTI data gives a useful picture of the actual CAT percentiles at which candidates reached the IIM Ahmedabad interview stage. For the 2025 admission cycle, the lowest reported CAT percentiles among shortlisted candidates varied substantially by category.
Category | Lowest CAT Percentile for PI Shortlist |
General | 84.12 |
EWS | 96.71 |
NC-OBC | 77.53 |
SC | 72.77 |
ST | 69.07 |
PwD | 73.25 |
These numbers should not be interpreted as safe CAT targets. They represent the lowest reported percentile among shortlisted candidates and reflect IIMA's composite, academic-category and profile-based selection process.
For General-category candidates in particular, targeting only the historical lowest figure would be risky. A strong CAT percentile combined with strong academics remains the safer strategy.
Also Read: Minimum Percentile Required for IIM Admission 2026, RTI Data
IIM Ahmedabad Category-Wise Final Cut Off
IIM Ahmedabad does not publish a simple “final CAT cutoff” in the same way many colleges do. The final admission decision is based on a Final Composite Score, which includes CAT, Application Rating, AWT and PI.
RTI-based data from the Batch of 2025-27 admission cycle gives the following minimum CAT percentiles among candidates who ultimately joined:
Category | Minimum CAT Percentile Among Joined |
General | 90.98 |
EWS | 97.30 |
NC-OBC | 77.53 |
SC | 85.39 |
ST | 73.14 |
PwD | 73.25 |
These figures are useful for understanding historical outcomes, but they are not guaranteed 2026 final cutoffs. The applicant pool and selection scores change every year.
IIM Ahmedabad Previous Year Cutoff Analysis
The historical RTI data shows that IIMA's actual admission percentiles can fluctuate considerably even though the published minimum CAT cutoff remains relatively structured.
Admission Batch | General Minimum CAT Percentile Among Joined |
2025–27 | 90.98 |
2024–26 | 93.76 |
2023–25 | 87.10 |
2022–24 | 93.90 |
2021–23 | 88.32 |
2020–22 | 85.93 |
The variation demonstrates why there is no single CAT percentile that guarantees IIM Ahmedabad admission. Academic background, CAT score, Application Rating and performance in AWT/PI all influence the final outcome.
For General-category candidates, a 99+ percentile is generally a much more competitive target, but even a very high CAT percentile does not compensate for every profile weakness.
IIM Ahmedabad Composite Score Cutoffs RTI Data
IIMA uses a Composite Score (CS) for the category-wise Stage 2 shortlist. For 2026, the CS is calculated using 35% normalized Application Rating and 65% normalized overall CAT score.
Category | Minimum Composite Score | Candidates Selected |
General | 0.605604 | 193 |
EWS | 0.529701 | 56 |
NC-OBC | 0.511349 | 174 |
SC | 0.453585 | 99 |
ST | 0.382786 | 69 |
PwD (General) | 0.467209 | 16 |
PwD (EWS) | 0.365250 | 1 |
PwD (NC-OBC) | 0.318960 | 11 |
PwD (SC) | 0.275773 | 6 |
PwD (ST) | 0.588713 | 1 |
A total of 1,308 candidates were called for AWT-PI in the 2026 process, including 564 General, 63 EWS, 336 NC-OBC, 186 SC, 109 ST and 50 PwD candidates.
For final selection, IIMA gives 50% weight to PI, 10% to AWT, 25% to CAT and 15% to Application Rating.
Final Selection Component | Weight |
Personal Interview | 50% |
CAT | 25% |
AWT | 10% |
Application Rating | 15% |
Total | 100% |
This makes one point very clear: getting the IIM Ahmedabad interview call is not the end of the competition.
IIM Ahmedabad Cut off 2026: Conclusion
The IIM Ahmedabad Cut Off 2026 is only the starting point for admission. General/EWS candidates need at least 95 percentile overall and 85 percentile in each CAT section under the preliminary screening criteria. However, meeting these thresholds does not automatically result in an AWT-PI call because IIMA also evaluates academic performance, Application Rating and the candidate's Composite Score.
Candidates should therefore avoid treating the minimum IIM Ahmedabad CAT cutoff as their target score. A stronger CAT percentile, consistent academics and effective AWT-PI preparation can significantly strengthen the overall profile. Ultimately, IIM Ahmedabad admission depends on performing well across the complete selection process rather than clearing a single CAT cutoff.
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