Every CAT aspirant dreams of securing admission to the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIM-A), the country’s top management institute.
Consistently ranked No. 1 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), IIM-Ahmedabad has long been considered the pinnacle of management education in India. However, gaining admission to IIMA has never been easy, and the institute has now made its selection process for the PGP (MBA) 2026-28 batch even stricter.
According to the latest notification, the minimum cut-offs for CAT 2025 have been raised. For General and EWS category candidates, the overall cut-off has been set at the 95th percentile, with a mandatory sectional cut-off of the 85th percentile in VARC, DILR, and QA.
The cut-offs have also been increased across other reserved categories. NC-OBC candidates must score at least 90 overall and 80 in each section; SC candidates 85 overall and 75 in sections; ST candidates 75 overall and 65 in sections. For PwD candidates, cut-offs are aligned with their respective categories. The selection process at IIM Ahmedabad involves multiple stages:
CAT Cut-offs (Overall + Sectional)
Candidates must first clear the minimum overall and sectional percentiles. Failing to meet either disqualifies them from shortlisting.
Composite Score (CS)
Shortlisted candidates are evaluated on a composite score, where 65% weightage is given to the normalised CAT score and 35% to the Application Rating (AR). AR considers Class 10, Class 12, and graduation performance, along with work experience and gender diversity.
Graduation Cut-off
Candidates are also required to meet the 80th percentile cut-off in their respective academic categories, ensuring academic diversity.
Final Selection (WAT & PI)
The final selection is based on a Final Composite Score (FCS) comprising:
Personal Interview (PI): 50%
Written Ability Test (WAT): 10%
Normalised CAT score: 25%
Application Rating (AR): 15%
Placement And Packages
Beyond academics, IIM-Ahmedabad is equally renowned for its placement record. In 2023, the average package crossed Rs 35 lakh per annum, with some candidates receiving offers exceeding Rs 1 crore. Top recruiters include global giants such as Google, Microsoft, and leading consulting firms.
