IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027: CAT Percentile Rule Changed, Check New Criteria
Gujarat : A high CAT score has always been important for IIM Ahmedabad aspirants. But for the 2027–29 PGP batch, the institute has changed how CAT performance is used during the admission process. The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) has revised its PGP admission policy for the upcoming batch.
The major change is straightforward but significant: CAT 2026 percentile will now be used instead of the normalised CAT score for shortlisting candidates for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview. That does not mean academics have disappeared from the equation. In fact, the revised framework continues to combine CAT performance with the candidate's academic profile.
What Has Changed in IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027?
Under the revised policy, IIMA will calculate a Raw Composite Score for shortlisting candidates for AWT and PI.
The formula gives:
- 65% weightage to CAT 2026 total percentile
- 35% weightage to the normalised Application Rating (AR)
The resulting raw composite score is then normalised according to the candidate's undergraduate discipline. This is the key change aspirants need to understand. Earlier, IIMA's framework used the normalised CAT score along with the Application Rating. The new policy specifically uses the CAT percentile component in the shortlisting formula.
IIM Ahmedabad CAT 2026 Cut-off: Has It Increased?
Interestingly, the minimum qualifying CAT cut-offs have not changed from the previous admission cycle. For candidates without benchmark disabilities, the minimum overall and sectional requirements are:
|
Category |
Overall CAT Percentile |
Sectional Percentile |
|---|---|---|
|
General/EWS |
95 |
85 |
|
NC-OBC |
90 |
80 |
|
SC |
85 |
75 |
|
ST |
75 |
65 |
For PwD candidates, the minimum overall cut-offs are 85 for General/EWS, 80 for NC-OBC, 75 for SC and 65 for ST. The corresponding sectional cut-offs are 75, 70, 65 and 55 respectively. But there is an important catch: meeting the minimum CAT percentile does not guarantee an AWT-PI call. Candidates still have to compete through IIMA's composite shortlisting process.
What Happens After CAT Shortlisting?
IIM Ahmedabad's admission process has two broad stages.
Stage 1: AWT and PI Shortlisting
Candidates are first screened using the applicable CAT cut-offs and the revised composite methodology involving CAT percentile and Application Rating. Shortlisted candidates then proceed to the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview.
Stage 2: Final Selection
For the final selection, IIMA uses a Final Composite Score (FCS) comprising:
- 50% Personal Interview
- 10% Analytical Writing Test
- 40% Normalised Composite Score
Thus, the PI remains the single largest component of the final admission decision.
Does Your Academic Profile Still Matter?
Yes. IIMA's official admissions information states that selection considers applicable CAT/GMAT performance, past academic performance and performance in the AWT and PI. The PGP also attracts candidates from varied academic backgrounds, including arts, commerce, science, engineering, technology and medicine.
Therefore, the revised CAT rule should not be interpreted as an admission system based solely on entrance-test performance. For aspirants, the practical message is sharper: CAT percentile can get you into the shortlisting race, but your academic record and performance in the later selection stages still matter.
What Should CAT 2026 Aspirants Do Now?
With CAT 2026 scheduled for November 29, 2026, aspirants should focus on maximising their percentile rather than treating the published minimum cut-off as a target. A 95 percentile threshold for General/EWS candidates is only the minimum eligibility benchmark. It is not an assurance of an AWT-PI call.
Students should therefore prepare with two objectives: secure a strong CAT percentile and ensure that their academic and profile information is accurately represented in the application.
IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027: The Bigger Change
The revised policy makes the CAT percentile more directly visible in the shortlisting formula, while retaining academic performance and profile factors. For students from different academic disciplines, the discipline-wise normalisation of the composite score adds another layer to the process.
The final selection, meanwhile, continues to place the greatest weight on the personal interview. So, the headline change may be about CAT percentile, but getting into IIM Ahmedabad remains a multi-stage evaluation, not a one-number admission process.
FAQs
Q1. Has IIM Ahmedabad changed its CAT criteria for MBA Admission 2027?
Yes. IIMA will use CAT 2026 percentile and not the normalised CAT score for AWT-PI shortlisting under the revised PGP 2027–29 policy.
Q2. What is the CAT 2026 cut-off for IIM Ahmedabad?
The minimum overall cut-off for General/EWS is 95 percentile, 90 for NC-OBC, 85 for SC and 75 for ST candidates without benchmark disabilities.
Q3. How much weightage does CAT 2026 carry for IIM Ahmedabad shortlisting?
CAT 2026 percentile carries 65% of the Raw Composite Score while the normalised Application Rating carries 35%.
Q4. Does meeting the IIM Ahmedabad CAT cut-off guarantee an interview call?
No, meeting the minimum percentile only makes a candidate eligible for consideration and also shortlisting depends on the applicable composite criteria and profile factors.
Q5. What is the weightage of PI in IIM Ahmedabad final selection?
Personal Interview accounts for 50% of the Final Composite Score while AWT has 10% and normalised composite score carries 40%.
Q6. When is CAT 2026 scheduled?
CAT 2026 is scheduled to be held on November 29, 2026.
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