Archive · 7 Oct 2026
IIM Ahmedabad Revises CAT Criteria for 2027 MBA Admissions
IIM Ahmedabad has updated how it will choose students for its 2027–29 postgraduate management programme.
For shortlisting, it will use CAT percentiles instead of the normalized CAT score used before.
Applicants must meet minimum CAT cut-offs, which differ by category and disability status.
The institute also considers academic records and other parts of its Application Rating when preparing the shortlist.
Shortlisted applicants take an Analytical Writing Test and a Personal Interview.
In the final decision, the interview counts for half of the score.
The writing test counts for 10%, and the normalized composite score counts for 40%.
CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026.
IIM Ahmedabad revised its admission policy for the two-year PGP 2027–29 batch, using CAT 2026 percentiles instead of normalized overall CAT scores in shortlisting.
The first-stage shortlist for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview combines the CAT component with the Application Rating.
Minimum overall and sectional CAT percentile cut-offs vary by category and benchmark-disability status; non-PwD overall thresholds range from 95 for General/EWS to 75 for ST candidates.
Final selection weights the normalized Personal Interview score at 50%, the Analytical Writing Test at 10%, and the normalized composite score at 40%.
CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026; admission status is expected in the second week of April 2027, with offer formalities due by the first week of May.
- Who
- IIM Ahmedabad and applicants to its two-year Post Graduate Programme.
- What
- IIM Ahmedabad revised the CAT-based shortlisting criteria and outlined selection and final-score requirements for the 2027–29 batch.
- When
- For the 2027–29 admission cycle; CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026.
- Where
- IIM Ahmedabad, India; CAT 2026 will be held at examination centres across India.
- Why
- To shortlist applicants for the Analytical Writing Test and Personal Interview and determine final admission offers.
Previous shortlisting measure
Revised shortlisting measure
CAT measure used
Previous shortlisting measure
The previous approach used the normalized overall CAT score alongside the normalized Application Rating.
Revised shortlisting measure
The revised approach uses the overall CAT percentile alongside the normalized Application Rating.
- Programme
- Two-year, full-time Post Graduate Programme, 2027–29 batch
- Entrance exam
- CAT 2026
- Shortlisting change
- CAT percentile replaces normalized overall CAT score as the CAT measure for shortlisting
- Non-PwD overall cut-offs
- General/EWS: 95; NC-OBC: 90; SC: 85; ST: 75 percentile
- PwD overall cut-offs
- General/EWS: 85; NC-OBC: 80; SC: 75; ST: 65 percentile
- Shortlisting weights
- CAT component: 65%; Application Rating: 35%
- Final selection weights
- Personal Interview: 50%; Analytical Writing Test: 10%; normalized composite score: 40%
- Key dates
- CAT 2026: November 29, 2026; admission status: second week of April 2027; offer formalities: first week of May 2027
