Getting into one of the top Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, or IIM Calcutta, is a dream for many MBA aspirants. These prestigious institutions are known for their rigorous admission process, and scoring high in the Common Admission Test (CAT) is crucial. But how much percentile do you actually need to get into these top IIMs? Let’s explore the percentile requirements for each.
IIM Ahmedabad: CAT Percentile Requirement
IIM Ahmedabad, often regarded as the best management institute in India, demands a high CAT percentile. While the actual cutoff percentile may vary slightly each year, based on several factors like the number of applicants and difficulty level of the CAT exam, the general category candidates typically need to score above 99 percentile to stand a strong chance of securing an interview call. However, it’s not just the overall percentile that matters; IIM Ahmedabad also gives weightage to your sectional scores, academic profile, and work experience.
Category wise cut-off for academic year 2023-24 (MBA-PGPM)
General |
EWS (Economically Weaker Section) |
NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Other Backward Class) |
SC (Scheduled Caste) |
ST (Scheduled Tribes) |
DAP (Differently-Abled Person) |
99 |
85 |
85 |
75 |
70 |
70 |
The cut-offs indicate the minimum percentile required for candidates to advance to the next stages of the admission process, including the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).
IIM Bangalore: CAT Percentile Requirement
IIM Bangalore also maintains a high cutoff percentile for admissions, though it slightly differs from IIM Ahmedabad in its selection criteria. The institute focuses on holistic evaluation, including academic performance, work experience, and extracurricular activities.
For the general category, a CAT percentile of 99 is usually required to receive a call from IIM Bangalore.
Category wise cut-off for academic year 2023-24 (MBA-PGPM)
General |
EWS (Economically Weaker Section) |
NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Other Backward Class) |
SC (Scheduled Caste) |
ST (Scheduled Tribes) |
DAP (Differently-Abled Person) |
99 |
85 |
85 |
75 |
70 |
70 |
The cut-offs indicate the minimum percentile required for candidates to advance to the next stages of the admission process, including the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).
IIM Calcutta: CAT Percentile Requirement
IIM Calcutta is another top-tier B-school that attracts some of the highest CAT scorers. The percentile required for the general category is usually around 99-99.5 percentile.
Category wise cut-off for academic year 2023-24 (MBA-PGPM)
General |
EWS (Economically Weaker Section) |
NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Other Backward Class) |
SC (Scheduled Caste) |
ST (Scheduled Tribes) |
DAP (Differently-Abled Person) |
99 |
85 |
85 |
75 |
70 |
70 |
The cut-offs indicate the minimum percentile required for candidates to advance to the next stages of the admission process, including the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI).
Additional Considerations
While achieving a high CAT percentile is necessary for admission into IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta, it’s not the only factor that determines success. These institutes also consider:
- Academic Background: Consistency in academic performance throughout 10th, 12th, and graduation is crucial.
- Work Experience: Applicants with relevant work experience often get extra points during the selection process.
- Diversity Factors: Many IIMs are making efforts to include a diverse set of students, so applicants from non-engineering backgrounds or female candidates may have slightly lower cutoff percentiles.
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