Published Cutoffs Are Marketing. RTI Data Is Reality.
IIM Ahmedabad publishes 80 percentile as minimum. The actual average admit? 99.5+. Learn what the numbers really mean.
P = Percentile, N = Total Candidates, r = Your Rank
Your CAT percentile represents the percentage of candidates you scored higher than. If 3 lakh candidates took CAT and you ranked 3,000th, you scored higher than 2,97,000 candidates — giving you a 99 percentile. The formula converts your scaled score into a relative position among all test-takers.
Example:
With 3,30,000 CAT 2024 test-takers: 99 percentile = Top 3,300 candidates. 95 percentile = Top 16,500. 90 percentile = Top 33,000. This means at 99 percentile, you're competing with 3,299 others for ~400 IIM-A seats.
Your raw score is calculated as: Correct × 3 - Incorrect × 1. With 66 questions worth 198 marks total, a typical 99 percentile raw score ranges from 95-110 depending on difficulty.
Why it matters: Raw scores vary dramatically by slot difficulty. A 100 raw score in a tough slot might equal 110 in an easier slot.
IIMs use the top 0.1% candidates in each slot as anchors. Your raw score is shifted relative to your slot's difficulty, then stretched or compressed so the top performers across all slots align.
Why it matters: This ensures a candidate in a difficult morning slot isn't disadvantaged compared to someone in an easier afternoon slot.
The normalized score is converted to a scaled score on a common CAT-wide scale. This scaled score (not raw) is what determines your percentile.
Why it matters: Two candidates with the same raw score can have different scaled scores — and thus different percentiles — based on their slot's difficulty.
Using the formula P = ((N - r) / N) × 100, your scaled score is converted to a percentile based on your rank among all candidates.
Why it matters: Your percentile is relative — it depends on how others performed, not just your absolute score.
The table below shows the massive gap between what IIMs publish as "minimum cutoffs" and what RTI data reveals as actual admission percentiles. This is why most predictors give unrealistic results.
| School | Published (Gen) | Realistic (Gen) | Avg Admit | Call Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM-A Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | 80% | 99.5%+ | 99.7% | <1% of applicants |
IIM-B Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | 90% | 99.3%+ | 99.5% | ~2% of applicants |
IIM-C Indian Institute of Management Calcutta | 85% | 99.2%+ | 99.4% | <1% (931 of 1.77 lakh General applicants) |
Published 80% is for eligibility only. Actual average admit percentile is 99.7. One RTI case showed an 80.44 percentile admit — extreme outlier with exceptional profile.
Source: RTI 2024-26 batch
Minimum general call was 93.66 percentile per RTI. Sectional cutoffs strictly enforced. Average admit needs 97+ with strong profile.
Source: RTI 2024-26 batch
Final composite score cutoff: General 52.79, OBC 42.33, SC 44.80, ST 36.09. Profile matters heavily — 99+ percentile alone isn't enough.
Source: RTI 2024-26 batch
| School | Published (Gen) | Realistic (Gen) | Avg Admit | Call Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM-L Indian Institute of Management Lucknow | 90% | 98.5%+ | 98.7% | ~3% of applicants |
IIM-K Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode | 85% | 97.5%+ | 98.2% | ~4% of applicants |
IIM-I Indian Institute of Management Indore | 90% | 97%+ | 97.5% | ~5% of applicants |
FMS Faculty of Management Studies Delhi | 98% | 98.5%+ | 99% | ~8% of applicants |
Average CAT percentile for general admits: 98.7. Sectional cutoffs: 77 percentile each in VARC, DILR, QA. Final composite cutoff ~91.02 for General.
Source: RTI 2024-26 batch
CAT 2025 weightage: 35% of final score. Three-stage process retained. Published 85% is bare minimum for consideration.
Source: RTI 2023-25 batch
Actual lowest general admit: 92.92 percentile. Sectional minimums ~80 in each section. IPM admits have different criteria.
Source: RTI 2024-26 batch
| School | Published (Gen) | Realistic (Gen) | Avg Admit | Call Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
XLRI XLRI Jamshedpur | 95% | 96.5%+ | 97% | ~6% of applicants |
MDI Management Development Institute | 94% | 96%+ | 96.5% | ~7% of applicants |
SPJIMR SP Jain Institute of Management & Research | 85% | 93%+ | 95% | ~10% of applicants |
IIFT Indian Institute of Foreign Trade | 90% | 95%+ | 96% | ~8% of applicants |
IIM-M IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE) | 85% | 95%+ | 96% | ~8% of applicants |
Accepts XAT primarily. CAT score converted. BM program more competitive than HRM. Strong emphasis on GD-PI.
Source: Admission data 2024
Gurugram location = strong corporate connect. AACSB accredited. Profile and work experience weighted heavily.
Source: Admission data 2024
Profile-based calls at lower percentiles possible. Unique pedagogy focus. Strong emphasis on sensitivity and values in interview.
Source: Admission data 2024
| School | Published (Gen) | Realistic (Gen) | Avg Admit | Call Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM-T IIM Tiruchirappalli | 92% | 94%+ | 95% | ~15% of applicants |
IIM-R IIM Raipur | 92% | 93%+ | 94% | ~18% of applicants |
IIM-Ra IIM Ranchi | 92% | 93%+ | 94% | ~18% of applicants |
IIM-Ro IIM Rohtak | 92% | 93%+ | 93.5% | ~20% of applicants |
IIM-Ka IIM Kashipur | 92% | 93%+ | 93.5% | ~20% of applicants |
IIM-U IIM Udaipur | 92% | 94%+ | 94.5% | ~15% of applicants |
IIM-S IIM Shillong | 90% | 92%+ | 93% | ~25% of applicants |
IIM-N IIM Nagpur | 90% | 91%+ | 92% | ~25% of applicants |
Part of CAP (Common Admission Process). AMBA accredited. Highest ranked among second-gen IIMs (NIRF 16).
Source: CAP 2024 data
Part of JAP 2026. Digital transformation focus. Growing reputation for analytics.
Source: CAP 2024 data
Part of JAP 2026. Strong HR program. Good placements in BFSI sector.
Source: CAP 2024 data
| School | Published (Gen) | Realistic (Gen) | Avg Admit | Call Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM-BG IIM Bodh Gaya | 85% | 88%+ | 89% | ~35% of applicants |
IIM-J IIM Jammu | 85% | 88%+ | 89% | ~35% of applicants |
IIM-Sa IIM Sambalpur | 88% | 89%+ | 90% | ~30% of applicants |
IIM-V IIM Visakhapatnam | 85% | 88%+ | 89% | ~35% of applicants |
IIM-Am IIM Amritsar | 88% | 89%+ | 90% | ~30% of applicants |
IIM-Si IIM Sirmaur | 85% | 87%+ | 88% | ~40% of applicants |
Mentored by IIM Calcutta. Emerging campus. Good for candidates with 85-92 percentile.
Source: Admission data 2024
NIRF 35 (rose 7 places). Growing industry connect. Scenic campus.
Source: Admission data 2024
NIRF 34 (rose 16 places). Fastest rising IIM. Sustainable development focus.
Source: Admission data 2024
CAT percentile is just 30-40% of your final composite score. Here's what else matters:
Your CAT percentile is the foundation, but rarely exceeds 40% of the final selection score at top IIMs. IIM Kozhikode weights it at 35%. FMS at ~40%. This means a 99 percentile candidate can still lose to a 97 percentile candidate with a stronger profile.
Optimal Range:
99+ for Ultra Elite, 97+ for Elite, 93+ for Tier-1, 88+ for Tier-2
Common Mistake:
Assuming CAT percentile is everything. At 99 percentile, you're still competing with 3,000+ candidates for limited seats. Differentiation comes from profile.
IIMs look at your 10th, 12th, and graduation scores as a trajectory. Consistent 85%+ across all three is ideal. A dip (say 92% in 10th, 78% in 12th, 70% in graduation) raises red flags about commitment and academic rigor.
Optimal Range:
85%+ in all three levels, minimal variance (<5%)
Common Mistake:
Ignoring 10th marks because "it was long ago." IIMs weight it because it predicts foundational work ethic.
The sweet spot is 24-36 months. Less than 12 months is considered "fresher." More than 60 months can hurt for flagship programs (they prefer executive MBA). Quality matters: leadership roles, brand recognition, and demonstrable impact.
Optimal Range:
24-36 months for flagship programs, 36-60 months for EPGP
Common Mistake:
Counting internships as work experience (they don't), or assuming more is always better (5+ years can hurt for regular MBA).
Most IIMs give explicit bonus points to female candidates to improve batch gender ratio. This can translate to 3-5 percentile equivalent advantage in shortlisting. Not discriminatory — it's affirmative action to address historical imbalance.
Optimal Range:
N/A — binary advantage
Common Mistake:
Male candidates getting discouraged. The bonus is marginal; a strong male profile still beats a weak female profile.
Non-engineering candidates (Commerce, Arts, Science, Medicine) often receive bonus points. IIMs want diverse classroom perspectives. An engineer is competing with 70% engineers; a doctor is rare.
Optimal Range:
Non-engineering backgrounds get advantage
Common Mistake:
Engineers thinking their technical background is an advantage. In IIM admissions, it's actually neutral to slight disadvantage due to over-representation.
This is where most candidates lose. Your CAT score gets you the call; your interview performance gets you the seat. IIM Calcutta weights PI at nearly 50%. XLRI's GD can eliminate otherwise strong candidates. This is controllable and improvable.
Optimal Range:
Top 30% of interviewed candidates
Common Mistake:
Under-preparing for interviews after securing a call. More candidates fail at PI than at CAT for top IIMs.
The Cascade Effect explains why a 99.5 percentile candidate gets calls from 10+ IIMs while a 95 percentile candidate might get zero. Top scorers apply everywhere, taking up interview slots at all tiers. When they convert IIM-A or B, they reject IIM-K, L, I offers — creating a second wave of admits from waitlists. This cascades down to Tier-2 and Tier-3 schools.
For Tier-2 IIMs (CAP pool), a significant portion of final admits come from waitlists after top candidates reject offers. This means a candidate who doesn't get a direct admit might still convert via waitlist if they interview well. Conversely, Tier-1 and Elite IIMs rarely move waitlists — top candidates usually accept.
If you're in the 93-97 percentile range, focus heavily on interview preparation. You might not get IIM-A calls, but you can convert Tier-1/2 calls by performing better than higher-percentile candidates who interviewed poorly. Many 99 percentile candidates fumble interviews; a well-prepared 95 percentile candidate can beat them.
Reality: At 99 percentile, you're one of 3,300 candidates. IIM-A calls only ~1,500 for interview. Your profile (academics, work ex, diversity) determines if you make the cut. A 99 percentiler with inconsistent academics and 0 work experience may not get called.
Data: RTI data shows average IIM-A admit is 99.7 percentile. Many 99 percentilers don't even get calls.
Reality: Published cutoffs are eligibility criteria, not competitive cutoffs. IIM Ahmedabad's 80 percentile cutoff is like a restaurant saying "you must be 18 to enter" — it doesn't mean 18-year-olds are getting tables at the best spots.
Data: IIM Ahmedabad admits average 99.5+. IIM Lucknow admits average 98.7. Published cutoffs are 20+ percentile below reality.
Reality: Most IIMs have hard sectional cutoffs (typically 70-85 percentile per section). A 99 overall with 65 in VARC will get rejected by IIM-L, which requires 77+ in each section. Your chain is as strong as its weakest link.
Data: IIM Lucknow RTI: Sectional cutoff is 77 percentile in VARC, DILR, and QA each. Many 99 percentilers rejected for sectional failure.
Reality: Freshers can absolutely get into top IIMs, but they need to compensate with exceptional academics and interview performance. The 24-36 month sweet spot exists because those candidates can discuss real business problems. Freshers should emphasize internships, projects, and extracurriculars.
Data: IIM-A class profiles show ~40% have 2-4 years experience. Freshers are admitted but are minority in most cohorts.
Reality: For Tier-2 and Tier-3 IIMs, waitlists move significantly due to cascade effect. Top candidates reject these schools for better offers. Some IIMs fill 20-30% of their batch from waitlists. Stay engaged; update your profile if anything changes.
Data: CAP IIMs (Trichy, Raipur, Ranchi, etc.) historically move waitlists by 50-100+ candidates as higher-tier IIM converts reject.
Reality: For placements and learning, yes, IIM-ABC are unmatched. But for ROI (fees vs salary), some newer IIMs and FMS offer better value. A debt-free FMS grad might build wealth faster than a 25-lakh-loan IIM-A grad in certain career paths.
Data: FMS fees: ~2 lakhs. IIM-A fees: ~28 lakhs. Both place at ~32-35 LPA average. ROI calculation shifts the equation.
Predictors are most accurate at higher percentiles (95+) where historical data is robust. At lower percentiles (below 80), accuracy drops due to limited data and higher variance. Our predictor uses RTI-sourced realistic cutoffs rather than published minimums, making it more accurate for actual admission chances.
Most predictors use published cutoffs (which are misleadingly low). We use RTI data showing actual admit percentiles. Additionally, we factor in profile strength (academics, work experience, diversity), not just CAT score. This makes our predictions more conservative but more realistic.
For a realistic shot at IIM-A/B/C calls: General 99+, OBC 96+, SC/ST 80-85+. But calls don't guarantee conversion. You need strong academics (85%+ consistent), relevant work experience (2-4 years ideal), and excellent interview performance. Profile matters as much as percentile at this level.
Absolutely. 90-95 percentile opens doors to Tier-1 schools like SPJIMR, MDI, IIFT, and new IIMs. With a strong profile, you can even get calls from IIM-Lucknow, Kozhikode, or Indore. Focus on interview preparation — your percentile gets you the call, your interview gets you the seat.
Work experience helps in three ways: (1) Direct weightage in composite score (5-10%), (2) Better interview performance due to real examples, (3) Understanding of why you need an MBA. The sweet spot is 24-36 months. Less than 12 months is treated as fresher; more than 60 months may point you toward executive programs.
Apply broadly but interview selectively. Application fees are minor compared to interview preparation time. Apply to 10-15 schools matching your profile, but prepare deeply for 5-6 where you have realistic chances. Quality of preparation beats quantity of applications.
CAP is a shared interview process for 7 IIMs (Trichy, Raipur, Ranchi, Kashipur, Nagpur, Bodh Gaya, Amritsar). You attend one interview and get considered by all CAP IIMs. This saves time but means you're evaluated on common criteria. Rank your preferences carefully — your indicated preferences matter.
Yes, category-wise cutoffs are significantly lower. OBC-NCL might get calls with 5-10 percentile lower scores than General. SC/ST have larger relaxations. However, interview standards are the same for everyone. Lower cutoffs help get calls, but conversion still requires strong performance.
Understanding predictions is step one. Practice with Rehearsal AI to ace your actual interviews with real-time feedback.
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