IIM Ahmedabad Raises CAT Cut-off for 2025 and Tightens MBA / PGP Selection Criteria for 2026
The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has significantly raised its Common Admission Test (CAT) cut-off scores for the 2025 exam and revamped its selection process for the PGP (Post Graduate Programme) batch of 2026-28, heightening the competition for aspiring MBA candidates.
Substantially Higher CAT Cut-offs
IIMA has set a steep rise in percentile thresholds for both overall and sectional performance:
| Category | Overall Cut-off (2024) | Overall Cut-off (2025) | Sectional Cut-off (2024) | Sectional Cut-off (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 80 | 95 | 70 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 75 | 90 | 65 | 80 |
| SC | 70 | 85 | 60 | 75 |
| ST | 60 | 75 | 50 | 65 |
These updated thresholds mark a significant increase across all categories and sections, reflecting a tightening of the entry-level criteria.
Revised Two-Stage Selection Process
IIMA continues to follow its dual-stage selection model but with more rigorous screening:
Stage 1: Shortlisting for WAT & PI
Candidates must meet minimum CAT cut-offs as detailed above.
Shortlisting will be based on a composite score (CS) combining 65% weightage to normalized CAT performance and 35% to Application Rating (AR)—which takes into account academic records (Class 10, 12, graduation), work experience, and gender diversity.
Stage 2: Final Admission Decision
Final composite scores will be calculated using:
50% Personal Interview (PI)
25% CAT score
10% Written Ability Test (WAT)
15% Application Rating (AR)
While weightages remain unchanged, the raising of cut-offs means fewer candidates will make it past Stage 1, increasing competition at every level.
Implications for Aspirants
Higher performance bar: General category candidates now must score in the 95th percentile—or above—in CAT overall and sections to even be considered, a steep climb from the previous 80th percentile overall and 70th in sections.
Less leeway for strong profiles: The increased threshold reduces the advantage of candidates with excellent academics or work experience but less-than-cutting-edge CAT scores.
Reserved-category competition intensifies: Though cut-offs have risen for NC-OBC, SC, and ST categories, candidates across these segments now face stiffer hurdles.
What Changes Mean
Only a smaller, more elite competition pool makes it to the next rounds.
Overall, performance in each section matters more than ever.
Application Rating components (academics, diversity, work experience) are still valued, but without high CAT percentiles, their impact is significantly reduced.
