MBA ExamUpdated 2026

CAT 2026 — IIM Admission
Complete Guide

IIM cutoffs by section, WAT-PI process, composite score formula, non-IIM options with better ROI — everything you need for MBA 2026.

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3.29LCAT 2025 Candidates

21IIM Institutes

5,000+MBA Colleges

NovCAT 2026 (tentative)

3Sections (VARC+DILR+QA)

IIM Cutoffs

IIM Cutoffs 2025 (Sectional + Overall)

Minimum percentile required in each section + overall for shortlisting. Clearing cutoffs only gets you to WAT-PI — not admission.

IIM	Overall %ile	Verbal	Quant	DI&LR	Fees (2yr)	Batch
IIM Ahmedabad	99+	90+	90+	90+	₹24L	385
IIM Bangalore	99+	90+	90+	90+	₹24L	412
IIM Calcutta	99+	85+	85+	85+	₹27L	480
IIM Lucknow	97+	80+	80+	80+	₹19.5L	483
IIM Kozhikode	96+	75+	75+	75+	₹22L	420
IIM Indore	97+	80+	80+	80+	₹21L	550
IIM Shillong	96+	75+	75+	75+	₹15L	180
IIM Rohtak	95+	70+	70+	70+	₹17L	240
IIM Trichy	95+	70+	70+	70+	₹16L	300
IIM Udaipur	94+	70+	70+	70+	₹16.5L	240

Hidden Gems

Non-IIM MBA Colleges Worth Targeting

Colleges with exceptional ROI, lower fees, or niche specializations that beat several IIMs on placement quality

XLRI Jamshedpur

XAT

Cutoff: 95+ percentileFees: ₹23L

◆ HRM & BM programs

FMS Delhi University

CAT

Cutoff: 98.5+ overallFees: ₹1.96L

◆ Highest ROI MBA in India

MDI Gurgaon

CAT

Cutoff: 95+Fees: ₹23L

◆ Strong corporate connects

SPJIMR Mumbai

CAT

Cutoff: 90+Fees: ₹20L

◆ PGDM with industry immersion

IMT Ghaziabad

CAT/XAT

Cutoff: 85+Fees: ₹15L

◆ Strong placement record

NITIE Mumbai

CAT

Cutoff: 96+Fees: ₹8.5L

◆ Operations & supply chain

JBIMS Mumbai

MH-CET

Cutoff: 99.9+ MH-CETFees: ₹4.5L

◆ Mumbai finance network

IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)

CAT

Cutoff: 98+Fees: ₹9L

◆ IIT brand + MBA

After CAT

WAT-PI Process — What Happens After CAT?

Shortlisting via Composite Score

IIMs use a composite score: CAT score (~55–60%) + Class 10 & 12 marks (~15%) + graduation marks (~10%) + work experience (~5%) + diversity bonus (~5–10%). High CAT alone doesn't guarantee call.

Written Ability Test (WAT)

15-minute essay on a contemporary topic. Tests clarity of thought, structure, and language. Old IIMs give it higher weightage than newer ones. 150–200 words is ideal.

Personal Interview (PI)

30–45 minute deep dive into your profile: academic performance, work experience, career goals, current affairs, HR questions. IIM-A and IIM-B are especially academic; newer IIMs are more HR-focused.

Final Composite Score

After WAT-PI: CAT ~50% + Academic profile ~20% + WAT-PI ~25% + Diversity/work-ex ~5%. IIM-A weights work experience very highly for their PGP-FABM.

Conversion & Waitlist

Offer → Accept within deadline (usually 7 days). Waitlists at IIM-L, K, I move significantly — sometimes 50–80 positions by June. Accepting a lower IIM doesn't block you from a higher one.

Predict Your IIM

Enter your CAT percentile to see which IIMs and top MBA programs you can realistically target.

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CAT 2026 Timeline

CAT 2026 Notification

Aug 2026

Registration Opens

Aug 2026

Registration Closes

Sep 2026

Admit Card Release

Nov 2026

CAT 2026 Exam

Nov 30, 2026

Result Declaration

Dec 2026

IIM Shortlist Announcement

Jan 2027

WAT-PI Process

Feb–Apr 2027

Quick Links

All MBA Colleges→IIM Rankings & Fees→Education Loan for MBA→Compare MBA Programs→Exam Calendar→

IIM Cutoffs 2025 (Sectional + Overall)

Minimum percentile required in each section + overall for shortlisting. Clearing cutoffs only gets you to WAT-PI — not admission.

IIM	Overall %ile	Verbal	Quant	DI&LR	Fees (2yr)	Batch
IIM Ahmedabad	99+	90+	90+	90+	₹24L	385
IIM Bangalore	99+	90+	90+	90+	₹24L	412
IIM Calcutta	99+	85+	85+	85+	₹27L	480
IIM Lucknow	97+	80+	80+	80+	₹19.5L	483
IIM Kozhikode	96+	75+	75+	75+	₹22L	420
IIM Indore	97+	80+	80+	80+	₹21L	550
IIM Shillong	96+	75+	75+	75+	₹15L	180
IIM Rohtak	95+	70+	70+	70+	₹17L	240
IIM Trichy	95+	70+	70+	70+	₹16L	300
IIM Udaipur	94+	70+	70+	70+	₹16.5L	240

Non-IIM MBA Colleges Worth Targeting

Colleges with exceptional ROI, lower fees, or niche specializations that beat several IIMs on placement quality

XLRI Jamshedpur

XAT

Cutoff: 95+ percentileFees: ₹23L

◆ HRM & BM programs

FMS Delhi University

CAT

Cutoff: 98.5+ overallFees: ₹1.96L

◆ Highest ROI MBA in India

MDI Gurgaon

CAT

Cutoff: 95+Fees: ₹23L

◆ Strong corporate connects

SPJIMR Mumbai

CAT

Cutoff: 90+Fees: ₹20L

◆ PGDM with industry immersion

IMT Ghaziabad

CAT/XAT

Cutoff: 85+Fees: ₹15L

◆ Strong placement record

NITIE Mumbai

CAT

Cutoff: 96+Fees: ₹8.5L

◆ Operations & supply chain

JBIMS Mumbai

MH-CET

Cutoff: 99.9+ MH-CETFees: ₹4.5L

◆ Mumbai finance network

IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)

CAT

Cutoff: 98+Fees: ₹9L

◆ IIT brand + MBA

WAT-PI Process — What Happens After CAT?

Shortlisting via Composite Score

IIMs use a composite score: CAT score (~55–60%) + Class 10 & 12 marks (~15%) + graduation marks (~10%) + work experience (~5%) + diversity bonus (~5–10%). High CAT alone doesn't guarantee call.

Written Ability Test (WAT)

15-minute essay on a contemporary topic. Tests clarity of thought, structure, and language. Old IIMs give it higher weightage than newer ones. 150–200 words is ideal.

Personal Interview (PI)

Final Composite Score

After WAT-PI: CAT ~50% + Academic profile ~20% + WAT-PI ~25% + Diversity/work-ex ~5%. IIM-A weights work experience very highly for their PGP-FABM.

Conversion & Waitlist

Offer → Accept within deadline (usually 7 days). Waitlists at IIM-L, K, I move significantly — sometimes 50–80 positions by June. Accepting a lower IIM doesn't block you from a higher one.

CAT 2026 — IIM AdmissionComplete Guide

IIM Cutoffs 2025 (Sectional + Overall)

Non-IIM MBA Colleges Worth Targeting

WAT-PI Process — What Happens After CAT?

Predict Your IIM

CAT 2026 Timeline

Quick Links

CAT 2026 — IIM AdmissionComplete Guide

IIM Cutoffs 2025 (Sectional + Overall)

Non-IIM MBA Colleges Worth Targeting

WAT-PI Process — What Happens After CAT?

Predict Your IIM

CAT 2026 Timeline

Quick Links

CAT 2026 — IIM Admission
Complete Guide

CAT 2026 — IIM Admission
Complete Guide