CAT 2026 result is expected in the first week of January 2027, as per IIM Indore’s official Information Bulletin. IIM Indore is the convening institute for this cycle, and the exam is scheduled for November 29, 2026 across three sessions in around 170 cities. About 2.84 lakh candidates registered for CAT 2026. Once declared, you can download your scorecard from iimcat.ac.in using your registered User ID and Password.
Your scorecard will show your scaled score and percentile for each of the three sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — along with your overall percentile. IIMs and over 1,200 other B-schools use these figures as the first filter for their admission process. The scorecard is valid until December 31, 2027.
| Direct Link to Check CAT 2026 Result and Scorecard (Soon) |
- CAT 2026 result expected in first week of January 2027, per IIM Indore’s official Information Bulletin; scorecard available at iimcat.ac.in
- Exam is on November 29, 2026 — three sessions in approximately 170 cities across India
- Scorecard shows scaled score and percentile for VARC, DILR, and QA, plus an overall percentile
- Each IIM announces its own shortlist independently, 1–4 weeks after the result
- Category-wise minimum qualifying percentile floors (IIM Ahmedabad, previous cycle): 80 overall for General, 75 for NC-OBC/EWS, 65 for SC, 60 for ST — other IIMs have their own thresholds
- Scorecard is valid until December 31, 2027; cannot be used for 2028 admissions
IIM Indore releases the CAT 2026 result on behalf of all 21 IIMs. Each IIM then independently shortlists candidates based on its own composite scoring formula — your CAT percentile is one part of that formula, not the only factor.
Key Summary
- CAT 2026 result expected: First week of January 2027 | Official website: iimcat.ac.in
- Conducting body: IIM Indore | Exam date: November 29, 2026 (3 sessions)
- Scorecard contains: Section-wise scaled scores + percentiles (VARC, DILR, QA) + overall percentile
- Scorecard validity: Until December 31, 2027
- After result: IIM shortlists (Jan–Feb 2027) → WAT-PI rounds (Feb–Mar 2027) → Final offers (Apr–May 2027)
What is CAT 2026 Result?
The CAT 2026 result is the official score report that IIM Indore publishes on behalf of all 21 IIMs after the exam, normalisation, and answer-key finalisation are complete. It tells you how you performed relative to every other candidate who appeared — not just your raw marks, but your percentile rank, which is what B-schools actually use for admissions screening.
CAT — the Common Admission Test — is India’s most widely accepted management entrance exam. Over 1,200 MBA and PGDM programmes take CAT scores. The exam tests three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Your result card carries both scaled scores and percentiles for each section, plus an overall percentile that most IIMs treat as the starting benchmark for shortlisting.
Getting the result does not directly admit you anywhere. It is the first step in a multi-stage process: result → IIM shortlist → Written Ability Test and Personal Interview (WAT-PI) → composite scoring → final admission offer.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Full Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) 2026 |
| Conducting Body | IIM Indore (on behalf of all 21 IIMs) |
| Official Portal | iimcat.ac.in |
| Exam Date | November 29, 2026 (Sunday, 3 sessions) |
| Candidates Registered (2026) | ~2.84 lakh (approximate) |
| Expected Result Date | First week of January 2027 (per official bulletin) |
| Result Mode | Online only — no physical mark sheet or SMS delivery |
| Scorecard Validity | Until December 31, 2027 |
| Sections and Question Count | VARC (24 Q), DILR (20 Q), QA (22 Q) — 66 questions total |
| Score Type | Scaled Score (normalised across sessions) + Section-wise and Overall Percentile |
| Accepting Programmes | All 21 IIMs + 1,200+ MBA/PGDM colleges across India |
| Post-result Process | IIM shortlist → WAT-PI → Composite scoring → Final admission offer |
CAT 2026 Result: Important Dates
The table below covers the full CAT 2026 timeline. Upcoming events appear first, in the order they will happen next; dates that have already passed as of October 28, 2026 are listed at the bottom. Dates marked "expected" are based on IIM Indore’s official Information Bulletin and previous-year patterns — confirm final announcements on iimcat.ac.in.
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Admit Card Release | November 4, 2026 (expected) | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Exam | November 29, 2026 (Sunday, 3 slots) | Upcoming |
| Response Sheet Release | December 1, 2026 (expected) | Upcoming |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | First week of December 2026 (expected) | Upcoming |
| Objection Filing Window | December 2026 (expected, ~3 days) | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Result / Scorecard | First week of January 2027 (expected, per IIM Indore bulletin) | Upcoming |
| IIM Shortlist Announcements | January–February 2027 (expected) | Upcoming |
| WAT-PI Rounds at IIMs | February–March 2027 (expected) | Upcoming |
| Final Admission Offers | April–May 2027 (expected) | Upcoming |
| CAT 2026 Notification Released | July 25, 2026 | Over |
| Registration Opens | August 3, 2026 | Over |
| Registration Closes | September 15, 2026 | Over |
| Form Correction Window | October 2026 | Over |
In the 2025 cycle, IIM Kozhikode declared the result on December 24, 2025 — earlier than the "first week of January" the bulletin suggested. IIM Indore may follow a similar pattern. The January 2027 estimate is the outer bound from the official bulletin; the actual date could arrive a week or two earlier.
Ques. When will the CAT 2026 result be declared?
Ans. The CAT 2026 result is expected in the first week of January 2027, per IIM Indore’s official Information Bulletin. The exam is on November 29, 2026, and IIMs typically declare the result 5–6 weeks after the exam. In 2025, IIM Kozhikode released the result on December 24, so IIM Indore may also declare it in late December 2026. A confirmed date will appear on iimcat.ac.in once finalised.
Ques. Will IIMs release their shortlists right after the CAT 2026 result?
Ans. No — each IIM announces its own shortlist independently, usually 1 to 4 weeks after the CAT result. If the result comes out in early January 2027, expect IIM shortlists to start appearing from late January through February 2027. Each IIM posts its shortlist on its own official website; there is no single portal listing all 21 IIM shortlists at once.
CAT Result Previous Year Statistics
Participation in CAT has followed a strong upward trend since the post-COVID rebound, peaking at 3.29 lakh registrations in 2024 before easing slightly in 2025 and 2026. The table below covers five completed cycles and the ongoing 2026 cycle.
| Year | Conducting IIM | Candidates Registered | Candidates Appeared | 100 Percentilers | Result Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | IIM Indore | ~2.84 lakh | To be updated | To be updated | First week of January 2027 (expected) |
| 2025 | IIM Kozhikode | ~2.95 lakh | ~2.58 lakh | 12 | December 24, 2025 |
| 2024 | IIM Calcutta | ~3.29 lakh | ~2.93 lakh | 14 | January 8, 2025 |
| 2023 | IIM Lucknow | ~3.28 lakh | ~2.88 lakh | — | January 4, 2024 |
| 2022 | IIM Bangalore | ~2.55 lakh | ~2.23 lakh | — | December 21, 2022 |
| 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | ~2.31 lakh | ~1.92 lakh | — | January 3, 2022 |
Registrations climbed from 2.31 lakh in 2021 to 3.29 lakh in 2024 — roughly 42% growth in three years — before easing to 2.95 lakh in 2025 and ~2.84 lakh in 2026. The mild recent drop may reflect post-peak normalisation after the sharp rebound following the pandemic years. Despite this, CAT remains the most competitive management entrance test in India; the no-show rate on exam day typically runs between 10 and 15%.
100 Percentile Trend: In CAT 2025, 12 candidates achieved a perfect 100 percentile and 26 scored 99.99 percentile. Non-engineers dominated: 9 of the 12 perfect scorers had non-engineering backgrounds — reversing the long-standing trend from earlier cycles. CAT 2024 had 14 candidates at 100 percentile. The year-to-year variation shows that the number of perfect scorers depends on how normalisation plays out across three sessions — a tightly matched difficulty spread can push the 100-percentile count higher.
100 Percentile and 99.99 Percentile — Recent Trend
| CAT Cycle | 100 Percentile Scorers | 99.99 Percentile Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | 12 | 26 |
| CAT 2024 | 14 | ~29 |
| CAT 2023 | — | — |
| CAT 2022 | — | — |
| CAT 2021 | — | — |
Result Declaration Timing: Over recent cycles, IIMs have declared the result anywhere from 3.5 weeks after the exam (CAT 2025, December 24) to about 6 weeks (CAT 2024, January 8). The timeline depends on how quickly IIM Indore resolves answer-key objections after the provisional key is released — there is no fixed formula.
How to Check CAT 2026 Result Online
The CAT 2026 result will be available exclusively on iimcat.ac.in. There is no offline delivery, no SMS notification carrying the scorecard, and no authorised third-party portal. You log in with the same User ID and Password you used during registration. Follow these steps on the day the result is declared:
- Step 1: Open your browser and go to iimcat.ac.in.
- Step 2: Click on the "CAT 2026 Result" or "Scorecard" link that appears on the homepage after declaration.
- Step 3: Enter your CAT 2026 User ID and Password on the login page.
- Step 4: Your scorecard opens on screen — check your section-wise scaled scores, section-wise percentiles, and overall percentile carefully.
- Step 5: Download the scorecard as a PDF and save it in multiple locations. You will need it when applying to IIMs and non-IIM B-schools.
The portal can be slow immediately after result declaration because hundreds of thousands of candidates try to log in at the same time. If the page does not load, wait a few minutes and try again. The scorecard will remain accessible on the portal through December 31, 2027, so there is no urgency to download it in the first hour.
If you have forgotten your login credentials: Use the "Forgot Password" option on the iimcat.ac.in login page before the result date. You will need your registered email ID or mobile number. Sort out your credentials now, before result day, so you are not locked out when the scorecard goes live.
Ques. What login details do I need to check the CAT 2026 result?
Ans. You need the User ID generated at the time of CAT 2026 registration and the Password you set during the application process. These are the same credentials you used to fill the form, book your exam slot, and download the admit card. Keep them saved somewhere accessible — the portal sees its heaviest traffic in the first hour after results drop.
Ques. Will IIM Indore email the CAT 2026 scorecard directly?
Ans. No. IIM Indore only makes the scorecard available on the iimcat.ac.in login portal. You may receive a notification email telling you the result is live, but the actual scorecard must be downloaded by logging in. IIM Indore does not email PDF scorecards to individual candidates.
CAT 2026 Scorecard — What It Contains
Your CAT 2026 scorecard is a single document that carries everything an IIM or B-school needs to evaluate your CAT performance at the shortlisting stage. Here is exactly what appears on it:
| Field on Scorecard | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Candidate Name | Your full name as entered in the CAT 2026 application |
| CAT 2026 Registration Number | Your unique application ID assigned at registration |
| Photograph | Your uploaded photo from the application form |
| VARC Scaled Score | Your normalised score in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
| VARC Percentile | Percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below you in VARC |
| DILR Scaled Score | Your normalised score in Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning |
| DILR Percentile | Percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below you in DILR |
| QA Scaled Score | Your normalised score in Quantitative Aptitude |
| QA Percentile | Percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below you in QA |
| Total Scaled Score | Sum of normalised scores across all three sections |
| Overall Percentile | Your percentile rank based on the total scaled score across all appeared candidates |
| Scorecard Validity | Until December 31, 2027 |
The scorecard does not carry a rank number. IIMs work from percentiles, not ranks. Your overall percentile is the figure you quote when applying to B-schools — it shows what percentage of candidates you outperformed. For example, a 99 percentile means you scored better than 99 out of every 100 candidates who appeared.
Each IIM sets its own minimum sectional and overall percentile cutoff. Clearing those floors makes you eligible to apply. Whether you get an interview call then depends on the IIM’s composite scoring formula, which also weighs your Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation GPA, work experience, and gender diversity.
CAT 2026 Score Calculation and Percentile
CAT 2026 runs in three different time slots on the same day, each with a different question set. Since difficulty can vary across slots, IIM Indore uses a statistical normalisation process to make scores from all three sessions comparable before computing percentiles. Understanding how this works helps you interpret your scorecard accurately.
How your raw score is calculated:
- Each correct MCQ answer: +3 marks
- Each wrong MCQ answer: –1 mark (negative marking applies)
- Unattempted MCQ: 0 marks
- Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions — correct: +3 marks; wrong or unattempted: 0 marks (no negative marking for TITA)
- Maximum possible raw score: 198 marks (66 questions × 3)
How normalisation works: Once all three sessions close, IIM Indore calculates the mean and standard deviation of raw scores within each session, then applies an equating formula to adjust for difficulty differences. The result is your "scaled score" — what appears on the scorecard, not your raw marks. Two candidates who answered the same number of questions correctly but sat in different slots can end up with slightly different scaled scores if one slot was harder. Normalisation corrects for that difference, ensuring fair comparison across sessions.
How your percentile is computed: Your percentile equals the percentage of candidates whose scaled score is equal to or below yours. The formula is:
Percentile = ((Total candidates appeared – Your rank) ÷ Total candidates appeared) × 100
Sectional percentiles use the same formula applied independently to each section’s scaled scores. With roughly 2.84 lakh candidates registered for 2026, a 99 percentile means you outperformed approximately 2.79 lakh candidates. The final percentile calculation uses the actual appeared count, which is typically 10–15% lower than registrations.
The table below shows approximate scaled score ranges and corresponding overall percentile bands, based on patterns from CAT 2024 and 2025. Actual figures for 2026 will depend on exam difficulty and the final appeared count — use these as planning reference ranges.
| Scaled Score Range (approx., out of ~198) | Expected Overall Percentile (indicative) |
|---|---|
| 160 and above | 99.9 and above |
| 145–160 | 99 – 99.9 |
| 130–145 | 97 – 99 |
| 115–130 | 94 – 97 |
| 100–115 | 90 – 94 |
| 85–100 | 83 – 90 |
| 70–85 | 72 – 83 |
| 55–70 | 58 – 72 |
| 40–55 | 40 – 58 |
This table is indicative only, based on CAT 2024–25 patterns. IIM Indore will publish official score distribution details along with the result on iimcat.ac.in.
Ques. Why is my CAT 2026 scaled score different from my raw score?
Ans. CAT 2026 runs in three sessions with different question sets. Since difficulty levels can differ, IIM Indore normalises all raw scores onto a common scale before calculating percentiles. Your scorecard shows the scaled (adjusted) score, not your raw marks. Two candidates who answered the same number of questions correctly may end up with slightly different scaled scores if they sat in sessions of different difficulty — normalisation corrects for exactly that.
Ques. Does a higher raw score always mean a higher percentile in CAT?
Ans. Within the same session, yes — a higher raw score will always give you a higher percentile than someone in the same session who scored lower. Across sessions, normalisation can mean someone from a harder session who got fewer correct answers ends up with a similar scaled score to you if your session was easier. The point of normalisation is to ensure all candidates are evaluated fairly regardless of which session they took.
CAT 2026 Qualifying Marks and Expected Cutoff for IIMs
IIMs set two types of percentile benchmarks. First, a minimum qualifying percentile — the floor below which they will not consider your application at all. Second, an effective shortlist cutoff — the range at which interview calls actually go out, which is far higher than the qualifying floor at top IIMs. The table below shows the minimum qualifying percentiles (overall) that major IIMs published in their most recent admission policies. CAT 2026 criteria will be finalised and published by each IIM after the exam.
| IIM | General | NC-OBC | EWS | SC | ST | PwD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) | 80 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 60 | 65 |
| IIM Bangalore (IIMB) | 85 | 75 | 80 | 70 | 60 | 70 |
| IIM Calcutta (IIMC) | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 60 | 65 |
| IIM Lucknow (IIML) | 85 | 77 | 82 | 67 | 60 | 67 |
| IIM Kozhikode (IIMK) | 85 | 75 | 80 | 70 | 60 | 65 |
| IIM Indore (IIMI) | 90 | 80 | 85 | 75 | 65 | 65 |
| Newer IIMs (Trichy, Udaipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Kashipur, Raipur) | 85–90 | 75–80 | 80–85 | 65–70 | 55–65 | 60–70 |
The figures above are based on minimum qualifying percentile criteria from previous cycles (primarily CAT 2024–25 admission policies). Each IIM will announce its official CAT 2026 admission criteria after the exam. Use these numbers for planning, not as confirmed 2026 cutoffs.
What the minimum cutoff does not tell you: For IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, the actual interview call (shortlist) goes out at far higher percentiles — typically 99 percentile or above for General category candidates. The qualifying floor of 80–85 percentile is just the gate: below it, your application is rejected; above it, your entire profile gets evaluated through a composite scoring formula. Candidates with 97–98 percentile still routinely do not receive calls from these three IIMs if their academics or work experience fall below the programme’s typical profile.
IIM Ahmedabad’s sectional minimums (based on previous admission policy): IIMA requires you to clear section-wise cutoffs in addition to the overall floor. For General category: 70 percentile in each of VARC, DILR, and QA, plus 80 overall. For NC-OBC and EWS: 65 sectional, 75 overall. For SC and PwD: 55 sectional, 65 overall. For ST: 50 sectional, 60 overall. Miss any one sectional cutoff and your application is disqualified regardless of how high your overall percentile is. This makes balanced preparation across all three sections as important as chasing a high overall score.
Non-IIM programmes: Top non-IIM colleges that accept CAT scores — FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, IIT management programmes, and IIFT Delhi — have their own cutoffs, generally lower than IIM A/B/C but higher than many newer IIMs. They publish their eligibility criteria in their own admission notifications.
What to Do After CAT 2026 Result
Getting your scorecard is step one of a longer journey. Here is what happens next and what you should be doing at each stage.
1. Analyse your scorecard carefully (immediately after result — January 2027): Do not just look at the overall percentile. Check each sectional percentile against your target IIM’s sectional cutoff. An IIM that requires 70 percentile in DILR will disqualify your application even if your overall is 99.5 but DILR is 68. Map your section-wise numbers against every IIM you plan to target before you start filling applications.
2. Apply to IIMs for PI shortlist consideration (January 2027): Each IIM evaluates your composite profile independently after the result. Some IIMs require a separate online application where you fill in academic record details, work experience, and diversity information — the CAT scorecard alone is not sufficient. Check each IIM’s official admissions page for its specific application process and deadline.
3. Apply to non-IIM colleges accepting CAT 2026 scores (January–February 2027): Over 1,200 MBA and PGDM programmes accept CAT scores. Strong options outside the IIMs include FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Bombay SJMSoM, IIT Delhi DMS, IIT Kharagpur VGSOM, IIFT Delhi, and many NIT management programmes. These colleges have their own application windows — many open before or right after the CAT result and have deadlines in January or February. Apply in parallel rather than waiting for IIM shortlists.
4. Prepare for WAT-PI rounds (January–February 2027): If you receive a shortlist call, your next step is a Written Ability Test (WAT) and a Personal Interview (PI), held at the IIM campus between February and March 2027. Effective preparation includes:
- Reading current affairs for the last 6–8 months, especially business, economy, and policy developments
- Reviewing your own resume — be ready to explain every line, especially career transitions and any gaps
- Practising WAT essays of 500–600 words in 20–30 minutes on business, social, and policy topics
- Mock PI sessions focusing on why MBA, why this IIM, and your short- and long-term goals
- Note that IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta include Case Discussions in their selection process — prepare separately for those
5. Final composite score and offers (March–May 2027): Each IIM calculates a final composite score after WAT-PI. The weight given to CAT percentile typically ranges from 40 to 50%, WAT-PI performance from 25 to 40%, and academic/work-experience profile from 10 to 20% — the exact formula varies by IIM and is published in each IIM’s admission criteria. Admission offers go out between March and May 2027. Most IIMs run a waitlist that moves through May and June.
| Post-Result Step | When (Expected) |
|---|---|
| Download and verify scorecard | As soon as result is live (Jan 2027) |
| Check each IIM’s shortlisting criteria | January 2027 (individual IIM admission policies) |
| Apply to non-IIM B-schools | January–February 2027 |
| IIM shortlists released | January–February 2027 (expected) |
| WAT-PI preparation starts | Immediately after result |
| WAT-PI rounds at IIMs | February–March 2027 (expected) |
| Final admission offers | April–May 2027 (expected) |
What if your CAT 2026 result is below your target? The CAT result is final — there is no re-evaluation process. If your percentile falls below your target IIMs’ qualifying cutoffs, explore other tests (XAT for XLRI, GMAT for ISB and global programmes, SNAP for Symbiosis, NMAT for NMIMS), or plan for CAT 2027. Remember that your CAT 2026 scorecard expires on December 31, 2027 — it cannot carry over to the 2028 admission cycle.
FAQs
Ques. When will the CAT 2026 result be out?
Ans. The CAT 2026 result is expected in the first week of January 2027, per IIM Indore’s official Information Bulletin. The exam is on November 29, 2026, and IIMs typically declare the result 5–6 weeks after the exam. IIM Indore will announce the confirmed date on iimcat.ac.in once finalised — it could also arrive in late December 2026 if IIM Indore follows the timeline set by IIM Kozhikode in 2025.
Ques. How do I check my CAT 2026 result?
Ans. Go to iimcat.ac.in, click on the result or scorecard link that appears on the homepage after declaration, and log in using your CAT 2026 User ID and Password. Your scorecard will display section-wise scaled scores, section-wise percentiles, and your overall percentile. Download and save the PDF — you will need it for B-school applications.
Ques. What is a good CAT 2026 percentile for the top IIMs?
Ans. For IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta, you typically need 99 percentile or above (General category) to have a realistic shot at an interview call. IIM Lucknow and IIM Kozhikode shortlist General candidates roughly in the 97–99 percentile range. Newer IIMs may shortlist at 90–95 percentile. That said, academics, work experience, and profile weight significantly — a 99 percentile alone does not guarantee a call at IIMA/IIMB/IIMC if the rest of your profile is weak.
Ques. What is the sectional cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad in CAT 2026?
Ans. Based on IIMA’s previous admission policy, General category candidates need at least 70 percentile in each of VARC, DILR, and QA, plus 80 percentile overall. For NC-OBC and EWS: 65 sectional, 75 overall. For SC and PwD: 55 sectional, 65 overall. For ST: 50 sectional, 60 overall. Missing even one sectional cutoff automatically disqualifies your application regardless of your overall percentile. IIMA will publish official CAT 2026 criteria on its website after the exam.
Ques. How is the CAT 2026 percentile calculated?
Ans. IIM Indore first normalises raw scores across the three sessions to account for difficulty differences. Your normalised figure is the scaled score on your scorecard. Percentile is then: ((Total candidates appeared – Your rank) ÷ Total candidates appeared) × 100. Section-wise percentiles use the same formula applied independently to each section’s scaled scores.
Ques. How long is the CAT 2026 scorecard valid?
Ans. The CAT 2026 scorecard is valid until December 31, 2027. Any B-school admission based on this scorecard must be completed within that window. You cannot use the same scorecard to apply in the 2028 admission cycle — that requires a fresh CAT attempt.
Ques. What does the CAT 2026 scorecard actually show?
Ans. The scorecard shows your name, registration number, photograph, scaled score and percentile for each section (VARC, DILR, QA), your total scaled score, and your overall percentile. It does not show your raw marks, the number of questions you attempted, or a rank. The scaled score is the normalised version of your raw performance, adjusted for session difficulty.
Ques. Can I challenge or request re-evaluation of my CAT 2026 result?
Ans. No. Once the CAT result is declared, individual scorecards are not open to re-evaluation or re-checking. The only stage where you can raise concerns is the provisional answer key objection window — usually a 3-day window in December 2026 for this cycle. After IIM Indore resolves those objections and releases the final answer key, the result is computed and finalised. No changes are made to individual scorecards after declaration.
Ques. What if I score well overall but miss a sectional cutoff for an IIM?
Ans. IIMs that impose sectional cutoffs disqualify your application automatically if you miss even one section’s threshold, regardless of your overall percentile. For example, if an IIM requires 70 percentile in QA for General category and you scored 68 in QA but 99.5 overall, your application does not move forward at that IIM. This is why balanced preparation across VARC, DILR, and QA is essential — it is not enough to score extremely well in two sections while underperforming in the third.
Ques. When will IIMs release their CAT 2026 shortlists?
Ans. Each IIM publishes its own shortlist independently, typically 1 to 4 weeks after the CAT result. If the result comes out in the first week of January 2027, expect shortlists to begin appearing from late January through February 2027. IIM Ahmedabad is usually among the first. Each IIM posts its shortlist on its own official website — there is no single central portal for all 21 IIM shortlists.
Ques. Which IIM is conducting CAT 2026, and does that affect me?
Ans. IIM Indore is the convening IIM for CAT 2026. This mainly affects logistics — IIM Indore manages the exam centres, answer key, and result declaration. Your scorecard is valid at all 21 IIMs and other B-schools regardless of which IIM conducted the exam. IIM Kozhikode conducted CAT 2025, and IIM Calcutta conducted CAT 2024.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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