IIM Ahmedabad has raised CAT 2025 cut-offs, with general category now requiring 95 percentiles overall. Admissions tougher as 3.3 lakh aspirants apply.
For thousands of management aspirants across India, the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) 2025 just became an even steeper mountain to climb—especially for those eyeing the country’s most prestigious business school, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.
According to a recent report by Careers360, IIM Ahmedabad has announced a significant hike in its admission cut-offs for the 2026–28 batch. The change marks one of the sharpest increases in recent years and signals the institute’s growing emphasis on academic excellence and competitiveness.
Higher Cut-offs Across All Categories
The general category cut-off for CAT 2025 has been raised from 80 percentile overall and 70 percentile sectional last year to 95 percentiles overall and 85 percentile sectional this year. This leap underscores just how selective IIM Ahmedabad is becoming.
Other categories have also witnessed steep hikes. The Non-Creamy Layer Other Backward Class (NC-OBC) cut-off has climbed from 75 percentile to 90, while the Scheduled Caste (SC) cut-off has gone up from 70 to 85. For Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, the bar has been lifted from 60 to 75 percentile.
Such across-the-board increases reflect not just IIM Ahmedabad’s reputation but also the fierce competition among aspirants. For many, meeting the eligibility bar itself has now become a challenge.
Why the Sudden Toughening?
Experts point to the surge in CAT registrations as a major factor behind the decision. In 2024, the CAT exam recorded its highest-ever turnout, with more than 3.3 lakh aspirants applying. This unprecedented demand has created a ripple effect, forcing top institutions like IIM Ahmedabad to raise their standards further.
Industry experts believe this move will help the institute filter the best of the best at the very first stage. It also means that aspirants will now have to focus equally on sectional balance and not just overall scores, since falling below the sectional cut-off can disqualify even high scorers.
Admission Process Remains Two-Staged
Despite the tougher cut-offs, the selection process at IIM Ahmedabad remains the same. It will continue with its two-stage admission model.
- Stage One: Shortlisting for WAT & PI
Candidates will first be shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) based on a Composite Score (CS). This score gives 65% weightage to CAT performance and 35% to Application Rating (AR). The AR takes into account academic achievements in Class 10, Class 12, graduation, work experience, and gender diversity factors. - Stage Two: Final Selection
In the final merit list, the Personal Interview carries the highest weightage (50%), followed by CAT score (25%), WAT (10%), and Application Rating (15%). This reflects IIM Ahmedabad’s long-standing philosophy that management education requires not just intellectual ability but also strong communication, reasoning, and leadership potential.
CAT 2025 Exam Details
The CAT 2025 exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025, across three sessions. Like in previous years, the test will consist of three sections:
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
While the structure remains the same, aspirants will now have to approach their preparation with far greater intensity, especially considering the elevated cut-off benchmarks.
What This Means for Aspirants
For MBA hopefuls, particularly those aiming for IIM Ahmedabad, this development sends a clear message: excellence is non-negotiable. While the rise in cut-offs may feel discouraging to some, it also emphasizes the value of consistent preparation and balanced performance across sections.
Many experts advise students to not only focus on mock tests and strategies to maximize scores but also build their overall profiles. Since application ratings and interviews play a critical role in the final selection, students must pay equal attention to their academic records, internships, and communication skills.
The Bottom Line
IIM Ahmedabad’s new cut-off benchmarks mark a decisive shift in India’s management education landscape. With the rising popularity of CAT and record-breaking applicant numbers, competition has intensified like never before. For aspirants, the message is clear: cracking CAT 2025 will demand not just intelligence, but relentless dedication, smart strategy, and holistic preparation.
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