IIM Ahmedabad Tightens CAT Cut Offs for PGP 2026–28: A 15 Point Percentile Surge

In a strategic move to sharpen its academic quality, IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) has significantly raised the minimum CAT percentile required for shortlisting candidates into its flagship Post Graduate Programme (PGP) 2026–28 batch. This makes the admissions process more selective—especially for aspirants from the top percentile pool.

A New Threshold for CAT Aspirants

For the General and EWS categories, the bar has been raised from an overall 80th percentile to a demanding 95th percentile, with sectional cut-off demands elevated from 70th to 85th percentile across Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). This represents a steep 15-point hike—a move rarely seen in IIM-A's admission history.

What the Revised Cut-Offs Look Like

These new thresholds make it far more challenging to secure a place in the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI)

Two-Stage Selection Process: Weightage Breakdown

IIM?A continues to use a robust two-step selection model:

Stage 1 – Shortlist for AWT & PI

• 65% weight assigned to CAT performance (meeting new percentile thresholds and raw score >0 across all sections)
• 35% weight derived from Application Rating (AR)—a composite score based on:
  • Academic credentials: Class 10, Class 12 (stream-wise), Bachelor's degree (AC-wise)
  • Work experience
  • Gender diversity score (E = 3 for non male applicants

Stage 2 – Final Admission Decision

• 50% weight: Personal Interview (PI)
• 10% weight: Analytical Writing Test (AWT)
• 25% weight: Final CAT score
• 15% weight: Application Rating (AR)

Why This Matters for Aspirants

• Sharper Selectivity: The raised cut-offs ensure only elite performers make it to the shortlist—raising the intellectual bar for incoming batches.
• Balanced Assessment: High CAT scores are more critical than ever—but equally important are stellar academic records, solid work experience, and gender diversity factors under AR.
• Strategic Focus: Aspirants must now combine bulletproof CAT preparation with strong academic credentials and professional experience to stand out.

Key Dates: CAT 2025 & Registration Window

• CAT 2025 is scheduled for 30 November 2025, to be held in computer-based mode across approximately 170 cities in India.
• The registration window is open, with the deadline set for 13 September 2025,

Final Thoughts

IIM Ahmedabad’s decision to elevate the CAT cut-offs for the PGP 2026–28 batch reflects a strategic intent to attract only the most capable and well-rounded candidates. This recalibration raises the standard across performance metrics—from CAT scores to academics, work experience, and personal interviews.

Aspiring candidates must tailor their preparation accordingly—strengthening their conceptual clarity for CAT, polishing their overall profiles, and ensuring they navigate the layered selection process with diligence.

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