IIM Calcutta CAT 2026 Cutoff by Category

The Open-category minimum is 85 overall percentile, with 80 in VARC, 80 in DILR and 75 in QA. These are Stage I thresholds for MBA 2027-29 consideration, not a guaranteed PI/WAT call.

Applicants must also have non-negative raw scores in every CAT section. Meeting the percentile table alone does not remove that condition. The institute states that actual sectional and overall shortlist cutoffs can be higher depending on how many candidates it calls in each category.

An overall score above the floor cannot repair a sectional shortfall. For example, an Open-category candidate at 97 overall but 74 QA does not meet the published QA floor. Other institutes use their own CAT cutoff and selection criteria.

PI and WAT Shortlist Score

Stage II ranks eligible candidates using CAT scaled marks, school marks and gender diversity. The shortlist total is 85 points, not 100.

School percentages use all subjects shown on the marksheet, even when the board's usual percentage convention excludes some. Female and transgender applicants receive four gender-diversity points at this stage.

Illustrative school component: 78% in Class 10 contributes 8 points and 82% in Class 12 contributes 15, for a school subtotal of 23. A female or transgender applicant adds 4, giving 27 before the CAT component. This is a formula example, not a predicted shortlist score.

The CAT contribution uses the candidate's total overall scaled score divided by the maximum possible total overall scaled score, multiplied by 56. Do not substitute overall percentile into that fraction. Category-wise composite cutoffs and shortlist size are decided by IIM Calcutta.

Final Selection Weightage

After PI and WAT, the institute builds a new composite for category-wise merit lists. PI is the largest component at 48 points. CAT carries 30, WAT 8, academic diversity up to 6 and work experience up to 8.

The Class 10, Class 12 and gender components used for interview shortlisting are not repeated as separate components in this final table. They have already affected who reaches the interview stage; this does not make school marks irrelevant to the complete process.

The CAT interview guide and WAT guide address these later stages. A high CAT percentile cannot by itself determine a final offer, and an admission offer for this batch cannot be deferred to a later intake.

Academic Diversity Points

Academic diversity is awarded under one applicable category, not by adding several rows. Degree combinations matter: a standalone engineering bachelor's followed by a non-engineering master's is treated differently from the corresponding dual/integrated programme.

Categories 4, 5, 9, 10 and 11 require a relevant marksheet uploaded with the MBA interview application showing that the degree/course has been passed. A qualification still in progress does not establish that completed-course claim.

Categories 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 can include completed or final-year qualifications. Final-year applicants must complete the requirements and submit the institutional certificate by 30 June 2027, then provide the final certificates and marksheets no later than 30 September 2027.

For a degree combination that appears to fit more than one description, use the institute's classification rather than stacking points. The published categories are intended to be mutually exclusive.

Work Experience Points and Documents

x is completed months of eligible service as on 31 January 2027. Only work after completing the bachelor's degree counts. Internships, apprenticeships, articleship, curricular training/projects and unpaid work are excluded.

The maximum is eight points. More experience does not always mean more points: 18 months gives 6, 30 months gives 8, 42 months gives 5 and 49 months gives 2. Exactly six months gives zero; the x/3 band begins above six months.

Employment must be supported by an authorised employer letter stating dates, designation and responsibilities, plus payslips from each employer. Self-employed applicants and those in family businesses can provide company registration, relevant licences or tax evidence where payslips are unavailable.

This January 2027 measurement date belongs to IIM Calcutta's selection policy. It is different from the work-experience date used in the original CAT registration form, so do not reuse the form's month total without applying the institute's rule.

Eligibility, Final-Year Admission and Certificates

A recognised bachelor's degree requires 50% marks or equivalent CGPA, relaxed to 45% for SC, ST and PwD. Foreign-degree equivalence must be certified by the Association of Indian Universities. The institution's certified marks conversion applies; only when it confirms no conversion scheme is available does CGPA / maximum CGPA x 100 apply.

For an integrated master's or dual degree directly after Class 12, use the institution's bachelor-equivalent percentage. If UG and PG marks are not separated, the PG marks are treated as UG marks for eligibility and composite calculations. For an unfinished integrated/dual programme, the aggregate through 3 August 2026 is considered.

Applicants who graduated in 2020, 2021, 2022 or 2023 with pass/promotion rather than marks in affected semesters can apply with institutional certification explaining that exams were not conducted or numerical marks/CGPA were not awarded.

Final-year candidates must submit a completion certificate issued on or before 30 June 2027 by that date. Once results are declared, originals and copies of the final documents are due by 30 September 2027. Missing that final deadline cancels provisional admission. If an affiliated college issues a provisional certificate and the marksheet does not clearly show that the degree was passed, university authorisation of the college's certification power is also required.

IIM Calcutta applies Government of India reservation rules, including 5% for persons with benchmark disabilities. The valid category evidence is required at the interview. The CAT reservation guide explains the category framework, while each institute's admission conditions remain separate. Queries can be sent to mbaadmissions@iimcal.ac.in.

Cutoff and Selectionpercentile floors, shortlist and final score Profile and Evidencedegree routes, work points and documents

1. Minimum CAT Percentiles
2. PI/WAT Shortlist Points
3. Final Selection Points

1. Academic Diversity Routes
2. Work Experience Bands
3. Evidence and Final-Year Dates