IIM Ahmedabad has released its selection criteria for admission to the PGP 2026– 28 batch via CAT 2025. The headline change: the minimum qualifying cut-offs are now 95 overall and 85 in each section for General/EWS, with commensurately high floors for other categories. Interview shortlisting still assigns 65% weight to CAT and 35% to the Application Rating (AR), computed from Class 10, Class 12 (stream-wise), Graduation (AC-wise), Work-ex, plus a Gender Diversity score (E = 3 for non-male). Beyond the CAT minima, IIMA applies P thresholds (average of X & XII, stream- and category-wise) and a graduation cut-off set at the 80th percentile within your academic category. Final offers weigh PI (50%), AWT (10%), CAT (25%), and AR (15%). Below is the clean breakdown so you can skip the guesswork.
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IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2026–28 - Key Highlights
- CAT minima (Gen/EWS): 95 overall, 85 in VARC/DILR/QA; positive raw (>0) required in each section. Category-wise minima below.
- Shortlist formula (CS): 0.35 × Normalised AR + 0.65 × Normalised CAT; top 5% per ACRC with upper-limit caps.
- Final selection weights: PI 50% + AWT 10% + CAT 25% + AR 15%.
- AR components: X, XII (stream-wise bands), Grad (AC-wise bands), Work-ex (MF 0.20), Gender Diversity E = 3 (non-male) / 0 (male).
Step 1 — Preliminary Screening (CAT-2025 Minimum Cut-offs)
Candidates must meet all minima and have a positive (>0) raw score in each CAT section.
| Category | Overall (PT) |
VARC / DILR / QA (each)
|
| General / EWS | 95 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 80 |
| SC | 85 | 75 |
| ST | 75 | 65 |
| PwD (Gen/EWS/NC-OBC/SC) | 85 | 75 |
| PwD (ST) | 75 | 65 |
Note: For transgender candidates in the General category, NC-OBC cut-offs apply.
Step 2 — Application Rating (AR): How Your Profile Is Scored
AR = A + B + C + D + E; then Normalised AR = AR ÷ (average of top-50 AR in the applicant pool).
A. Class 10 (Rating Score A)
| % in X | ≤55 | 55–60 | 60–70 | 70–80 | 80–90 | >90 |
| Score A | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
B. Class 12 (Rating Score B) — Stream-wise
| % in XII | ≤55 | 55–60 | 60–70 | 70–80 | 80–90 | >90 |
| Science | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| % in XII | ≤50 | 50–55 | 55–65 | 65–75 | 75–90 | >90 |
| Commerce | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| % in XII | ≤45 | 45–50 | 50–60 | 60–70 | 70–85 | >85 |
| Arts/ Humanities | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
C. Graduation (Rating Score C) — Academic Category (AC) Wise
| AC | ≤Band1 | Band2 | Band3 | Band4 | Band5 | Band6 (top) |
| AC-1 (Medicine & Surgery) | ≤55:1 | 55–60:2 | 60–62:3 | 62–65:5 | 65–70:8 | >70:10 |
| AC-2 (CA/CS/CMA/FIAI) | ≤50:1 | 50–53:2 | 53–55:3 | 55–57:5 | 57–63:8 | >63:10 |
| AC-3 (Commerce/Eco/Fin/Mgmt) | ≤55:1 | 55–60:2 | 60–65:3 | 65–70:5 | 70–80:8 | >80:10 |
| AC-4 & AC-6 (Eng/Tech/Arch + “Other”) | ≤60:1 | 60–65:2 | 65–70:3 | 70–75:5 | 75–85:8 | >85:10 |
| AC-5 (Arts/Hums/Design/Law/Rural) | ≤50:1 | 50–55:2 | 55–60:3 | 60–65:5 | 65–75:8 | >75:10 |
D. Work Experience (Rating Score D)
- <12 months: 0
- 12–36 months: D = 0.20 × (months – 11)
- >36 months: 5
(months counted as on 31 July 2025)
E. Gender Diversity
Academic Categories (AC) — What Goes Where (Table 8, official)
- AC-1 (Medicine & Surgery): Part-I MBBS/MD(USA); Part-II BAMS/BDS/BHMS.
- AC-2 (Professional): CA, CMA/ICWA, CS, FIAI.
- AC-3 (Commerce/Economics/Finance/Management): BCom/BA-eco/BBM/BBA/BMS/BHM/BFM/BFIA, etc.; includes Hospitality, multiple Management specialisations, vocational commerce/management.
- AC-4 (Eng/Tech/Arch + Science & Agriculture excluding Medicine): BTech/BE/BArch/Integrated MTech; BS/BSc & integrated MS/MSc in sciences/agri; BCA/MCA; (explicit exclusions noted on site).
- AC-5 (Arts/Humanities/Design/Education/Law/Rural): BA & allied (incl. Journalism/Media, Fine Arts, Education, Law, Psychology, Rural Studies), fashion/design degrees.
- AC-6: Any discipline not in AC-1…AC-5.
(IIMA classifies dual degrees; final discretion rests with the Admissions Committee.)
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Shortlisting For AWT–PI (Two Stages)
Composite Score (CS) for shortlisting:
CS = 0.35 × Normalised AR + 0.65 × Normalised CAT overall.
- Stage-1 (ACRC route): For ACs with ≥100 applicants in reserved categories, IIMA shortlists top 5% per ACRC (subject to upper limits per ACRC: e.g., Gen 100 for AC-1/2/3/5 and Gen 150 for AC-4; proportional limits for NC-OBC/SC/ST/PwD), provided C1–C3 are met: CAT minima (Table-1), P thresholds (Table-7), and Grad ≥ 80th percentile within the ACRC.
- Stage-2 (Category merit list): Additional candidates (after removing Stage-1 picks) are drawn using the same CS, subject to C1–C2; where ACs without ACRC use C4–C6, i.e., PT ≥ 95; each sectional ≥ 85, P thresholds, and Grad ≥ 80th percentile within AC.
Final Selection (Offers After AWT–PI)
FCS = 0.50 × PI + 0.10 × AWT + 0.25 × CAT + 0.15 × AR (all normalised by top-1% averages for AWT/PI). Selection is category-wise, in proportions mandated by law.
Additional Eligibility Screens Used Before CS
- P (X–XII average) thresholds (Table 7): Gen/EWS: Science 80 | Commerce 77 | Arts 75 (lower for NC-OBC/SC/ST/PwD, see official table).
- Graduation cut-off: ≥ 80th percentile within your ACRC or AC (as applicable).
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What Has Changed (vs CAT-2024 cycle for the 2025–27 batch)
| Category | CAT-2024 minima (overall/sectional) |
CAT-2025 minima (overall/sectional)
|
| General / EWS | 80 / 70 | 95 / 85 |
| NC-OBC | 75 / 65 | 90 / 80 |
| SC | 70 / 60 | 85 / 75 |
| ST | 60 / 50 | 75 / 65 |
| PwD (Gen/EWS/NC-OBC/SC) | 70 / 60 | 85 / 75 |
| PwD (ST) | 60 / 50 | 75 / 65 |
The positive raw score requirement in each section is explicitly stated on the current page.
- Weights remain CS: 65% CAT / 35% AR, FCS: PI 50 / AWT 10 / CAT 25 / AR 15.
IIM Ahmedabad Selection Criteria 2026–28 - What It Means For You
- Sectionals are a hard gate now. Multiple discussions emphasise 85+ in each section (Gen/EWS) as non-negotiable, not something a high overall score can offset. Expect prep planners to push more sectional mocks.
- The “low-90s call” window has narrowed. With PT 95 just to be considered (Gen/EWS), communities suggest aiming higher than the floor to be competitive on CS; some threads mention ~95 as the practical entry bar. Use it as a floor, not a target.
- Profile still matters only after you clear the floor. Your AR (X/XII/Grad bands, work-ex, E = 3 for non-male) can boost CS/FCS, but only after you meet CAT + P + Grad-80th conditions.
- Beware “fixed % UG cut-off” myths. IIMA uses a pool-relative 80th-percentile grad cut-off by AC/ACRC, not a single all-India % number—misinterpretations crop up in forums every year.
FAQs
Is 95%ile overall in CAT 2025 enough for an interview call from IIM Ahmedabad?
It’s the minimum screen (Gen/EWS). Shortlisting depends on your CS within AC/ACRC and category, after clearing P and Grad-80th.
Can stellar acads offset a sub-85 sectional in CAT 2025?
No—you must clear all minima and have positive raw in each section.
What exactly is counted for Work-ex?
Months as on 31 July 2025, scored via D = 0.20 × (months – 11) for 12–36 months; 0 if <12; 5 if >36.
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Check the official selection criteria on IIM Ahmedabad's website here!
