Which IIM has the lowest CAT cut-off for general category?

The cut-off percentile for the general category in the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are known to have a very competitive process of admission based on a Common Admission Test (CAT). These cut-offs are the percentile score that an aspiring candidate should attain in the CAT 2025 exam to qualify for the next rounds in the admission process, including the Written Ability Test (WAT) and the Personal Interview (PI). Although the standards are similar in all IIMs, newer or less preferred IIMs usually offer lower CAT cut-offs for the general category. This article highlights the lowest CAT cut-off of IIM in the past years for general category candidates and the reasons behind the cut-offs.

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Which IIM has the Lowest CAT Cut-Off for General Category?

In recent years, IIM Shillong has consistently recorded the lowest CAT cut-off percentile for the general category among all IIMs. The general category cut-off at IIM Shillong typically hovers around the 75th percentile. This is significantly lower compared to top older IIMs, where cut-offs for the general category range from the 90 to 95 percentile. Other IIMs such as IIM Kozhikode and IIM Ahmedabad, also have similar cut-offs, generally ranging from 80 to 85 percentile for the general category.

• IIM Shillong is the IIM with lowest cutoff in CAT for general category at 75th percentile as per the past years's trends.

• IIM Ahmedabad with 80th percentile stands as the next IIM cutoff lowest for general category. the institute recorded a sectional cutoff of 70th percentile in the CAT exam.

• IIM Kozhikode recorded the lowest overall CAT cutoff for the general category at 85th percentile with sectional cutoffs around 75th percentile

IIM Lowest Cut-Off Trends for General Category

Check the comparison between the qualifying cutoff for the CAT exam in the table below:

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What Factors Affect CAT Cutoff Percentile in IIMs?

There are multiple factors on which the CAT cutoff depends. Check the factors affecting the CAT off below:

• Institute Age and Brand Equity: Older IIMs such as Bangalore and Calcutta have a premium reputation and therefore are more appealing to applicants with higher scores. Newer IIMs, despite their rapid growth, are yet to establish their brand among aspirants.

• Batch Size/ Seat Availability: Baby IIMs tend to have a smaller batch size and fewer seats. This may mean increased competition, but little recognition may lead to reduced cut-offs.

• Geographical Location: Those institutions in metro cities or commercial centres are more likely to have a high cut-off than those in tier-2 or tier-3 cities.

• Reservation Policies and Category-wise Distribution: Seats in other categories (OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD) have an impact on the general category with regard to available seats, which in turn has an impact on cut-off trends.

• Popularity of the Programs: You can have varying cut-offs. As an example, the percentile thresholds can differ in Executive MBA or specialised courses compared to flagship MBA/PGP courses.

Concisely, when an aspirant is seeking the lowest CAT cut-off across IIMs in the general category, IIM Shillong holds that position. Nevertheless, the candidates must seek consistent practice to be able to secure their seats in their favourite IIMs by passing the cut-off barriers and excelling in the entire admission process.

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