Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
(IIM Ahmedabad)Last Updated: Jun 08, 2026
Established
1961
Campus Size
106.00 Acres
Total Students
1,200
Faculty
130
Student-Faculty
9:1
IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff Percentiles and Admission Criteria
Disclaimer: Cutoff data is compiled from official IIM admission documents, RTI data, and verified sources. Qualifying cutoffs are minimum thresholds - actual shortlisting cutoffs are significantly higher. Always verify from the official IIM website before making admission decisions.
IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff 2023
IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) is widely regarded as the most selective business school in India, with CAT cutoffs among the highest nationwide. The Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at IIMA follows a rigorous multi-stage admission process combining CAT percentile, academic profile, work experience, and a personal interview. Below is the complete cutoff data for IIM Ahmedabad across programmes and categories.
CAT Cutoff Percentiles - IIM Ahmedabad PGP 2023
| Category | Overall | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| EWS | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| OBC-NCL | 75 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| SC | 65 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| ST | 55 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
| PwD | 55 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
These are qualifying cutoffs for CAT 2024 (PGP 2025-27 batch). Meeting these cutoffs does not guarantee a WAT-PI call - IIMA uses a composite score (65% CAT + 35% Application Rating) to shortlist approximately 1,200 candidates from 24,000+ who clear the qualifying percentile.
Programme-wise Cutoffs and Admission Routes
IIM Ahmedabad offers multiple programmes, each with distinct admission criteria:
| Programme | Seats | Exam | Cutoff | Selection | Weightage / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PGP (MBA) | ~414 | CAT 2024 | 80 (Gen) | AWT + PI | 65% CAT + 35% Profile → 50% PI + 25% CAT + 15% AR + 10% AWT |
| PGP-FABM | ~46 | CAT 2024 | 80 (Gen) | AWT + PI | Same as PGP; agriculture/rural background preferred |
| PGPX (1-Year MBA) | ~160 | GMAT/GRE | GMAT 680+ | Interview | 4+ years work experience; avg GMAT ~710 |
| PhD/FPM | ~25-30 | CAT/GMAT | Varies | GD + PI + AWT | Master's degree preferred; fully funded |
Selection Process and Weightage - IIMA
IIMA's selection process for PGP is a two-stage evaluation:
Stage 1: Shortlisting for WAT-PI
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| CAT Score | 65% |
| Application Rating (AR) | 35% |
| AR Breakdown - 10th Marks | Scaled score |
| AR Breakdown - 12th Marks | Stream-adjusted score |
| AR Breakdown - Graduation Marks | Discipline-adjusted |
| AR Breakdown - Work Experience | 0.20 × (months − 11), max 5 pts |
| AR Breakdown - Gender Diversity | 3 pts (non-male), 0 (male) |
Stage 2: Final Selection
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Personal Interview (PI) | 50% |
| CAT Score | 25% |
| Application Rating (AR) | 15% |
| Academic Writing Test (AWT) | 10% |
Year-wise CAT Cutoff Trends (General Category)
| Year (CAT) | Overall | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2022 | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| CAT 2023 | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| CAT 2024 | 80 | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| CAT 2025* | 95 | 85 | 85 | 85 |
*CAT 2025 cutoffs (for PGP 2026-28 batch) show a dramatic increase - General qualifying cutoff jumped from 80 to 95 percentile, the largest single-year hike at any IIM. This signals IIMA's intent to reduce shortlisting volume and focus on higher-quality PI interactions.
How to Check IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Take the CAT exam (held in late November). Results are declared in January. |
| Step 2 | Check your CAT scorecard at iimcat.ac.in for percentile and sectional scores. |
| Step 3 | Compare your scores against IIMA's qualifying cutoffs (category-wise). |
| Step 4 | If you meet qualifying cutoffs, wait for IIMA's shortlist announcement (February). |
| Step 5 | Shortlisted candidates attend AWT + PI (March-April) at designated centres. |
| Step 6 | Final merit list is published on the IIMA website by May-June. |
Cutoff Comparison - Top 5 IIMs
| IIM | CAT Cutoff (Gen) | Seats (PGP) | Selection Focus | Unique Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 → 95 (2025) | ~414 | PI-heavy (50%) | Highest PI weightage among top IIMs |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 | ~544 | Balanced PI + CAT | Largest PGP batch among ABC |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 | ~462 | PI + CAT (86%) | Highest controllable factor weight |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 | ~436 | PI-heavy (40%) | Highest qualifying cutoff (stable) |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 | ~580 | WAT-heavy (20%) | Highest WAT weightage in final selection |
IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff (2023)
| Year | Branch / Programme | Category | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Round 1 | General | 99.50 |
| 2023 | Round 1 | OBC-NCL | 98.50 |
| 2023 | Round 1 | SC | 95.00 |
| 2023 | Round 1 | ST | 90.00 |
| 2023 | Round 1 | PWD | 85.00 |
Frequently Asked Questions - IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff
Q: What is the CAT cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad 2025?
For the PGP 2025-27 batch (CAT 2024), IIM Ahmedabad's qualifying cutoff was 80 percentile overall with 70 sectional for General category. However, for the 2026-28 batch (CAT 2025), IIMA has dramatically increased the cutoff to 95 percentile overall and 85 sectional - the largest single-year hike at any IIM.
Q: What CAT percentile is needed to get a call from IIM Ahmedabad?
While the qualifying cutoff is 80 percentile (CAT 2024), merely clearing it does not guarantee a WAT-PI call. IIMA uses a composite score (65% CAT + 35% Application Rating) to shortlist candidates. Typically, General category candidates need 98-99+ percentile with a strong academic profile and work experience to receive an interview call.
Q: How does IIM Ahmedabad select candidates for PGP?
IIMA follows a two-stage process. Stage 1: Shortlisting based on 65% CAT score + 35% Application Rating (academics, work experience, gender diversity). Stage 2: Final selection based on 50% PI + 25% CAT + 15% Application Rating + 10% AWT. The Personal Interview carries the highest weight in the final selection.
Q: What is the GMAT score required for IIM Ahmedabad PGPX?
IIM Ahmedabad's PGPX (1-year MBA) requires a minimum of 4 years of work experience and a competitive GMAT/GRE score. The average GMAT score of admitted students is typically around 710, with a range of 680-770. PGPX also accepts GRE scores.
Q: Is work experience mandatory for IIM Ahmedabad admission?
Work experience is not mandatory for PGP admission, but it provides significant advantages. IIMA's Application Rating awards up to 5 points for work experience (calculated as 0.20 × months − 11, for 12-36 months). The 2025-27 batch had 73% students with work experience and an average of 25 months of experience.
Q: What is the acceptance rate at IIM Ahmedabad?
IIM Ahmedabad has one of the lowest acceptance rates among Indian B-schools. With approximately 3.5 lakh CAT applicants, ~24,000 meeting IIMA's qualifying cutoff, ~1,200 receiving WAT-PI calls, and ~414 seats in PGP, the effective acceptance rate is roughly 1.7% of those who clear the qualifying cutoff.