IIM Ahmedabad has been maintaining consistency in being recognised as the top MBA college in India. NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) has ranked them at the 1st position for the last 5 years. Established on December 11, 1961, IIMA has become the top preference for admission into an MBA programme. It’s one of the best Tier-1 MBA colleges in India with a 100% proven record of academic excellence, state-of-the-art infrastructure and guaranteed placement. Every year, a huge number of students appear for the CAT exam, which is the gateway for securing admission into this prestigious B-school. In 2025, IIM Kozhikode is conducting the CAT (Common Entrance Test) on 30th November 2025.
Being a CAT 2025 aspirant, you must regularly track the previous year’s cut-off, shortlisting criteria, minimum overall percentile, any changes, etc, for the B-school of your choice. If you’re targeting IIMA, then let us tell you that lately, they have made changes to their evaluation process to shortlist the deserving candidates. In this article, we will brief you about the recent changes in the IIM Ahmedabad selection criteria. CAT aspirants who are aiming to pursue a 2-year full-time residential MBA programme from IIMA should check the revised changes, which will help them to stimulate their CAT preparation accordingly to hit the desired target CAT percentile in 2025.
Join this free WhatsApp group to get the latest information about CAT exam along with the strategies by CAT experts
IIM Ahmedabad Shortlisting Criteria 2026: Latest Changes
Last month, IIM Ahmedabad made crucial changes to its admission criteria for providing admissions into the 2-year full-time MBA course. Students from the General category appearing in the CAT 2025 will have to score 95%ile. Earlier, the IIMA CAT cut-off was 85% for the UR/EWS candidates. Similarly, OBC candidates will have to obtain an overall percentile of 90% in the CAT 2025 exam. Besides this, IIMA has also increased the cut-off for candidates from the Schedule Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST) categories.
All the candidates with an SC reservation certificate must achieve 85%ile in the CAT exam this year. Moreover, the ST candidates must hit at least 75%ile in this top-level management exam to receive a call from IIMA. You will have to achieve the specified cut-off as per your category. Otherwise, you won’t receive any call from IIMA to pursue the MBA programme with the specialisation of your choice.
Why does IIM Ahmedabad give major preference to Academic Diversity?
This year, IIM Ahmedabad has enforced strict parameters to shortlist the meritorious candidates for an MBA programme. Also, it has been raising the sectional cut-off and overall percentile every year to ensure that admission is granted on the basis of transparency, equality and intelligence to the candidates. If you go through the past year’s merit list, you will see that every year there’s one of a few candidates from the UR category who successfully got admission into the IIMA MBA course (2 Years) with 92%ile. You must be wondering how? Well, we absolutely agree with you here.
If the IIMA cut-off goes high till 99.8%ile in the CAT entrance exam for engineering category candidates, then how come another candidate from the UR category got admission at 92%ile in the past? The answer to this question is “Academic Diversity”, which indicates that IIMA believes in maintaining a fair balance. Basically, it strives to create a batch every year with a combination of engineering and non-engineering students. This states that IIMA is the most prominent leader in the management sector that believes in providing equal learning opportunities to candidates from diverse backgrounds.
In the majority of cases, CAT aspirants from a medical background secure a lower percentile in comparison to the engineering students. However, IIMA used to set a target of making the admission call to the top 50 students from that list. Mostly, the highest cut-off would go high to 95%-96%ile in this list, due to which the candidates, even with the 90%-91%ile, would get a call from the IIM Ahmedabad for admission.
But now there’s a significant change in the CAT 2025 selection criteria for IIMA. Due to the intense competition, they have recently revised their evaluation guidelines. As a result, you will see an increase in the minimum overall percentile and sectional cut-offs. Check out the upcoming sections of this blog to understand the Application Rating (AR) pattern and the composite score evaluation criteria to select the candidates from the crème de la crème layer for MBA admissions at IIMA in 2025. This information will be highly beneficial for you to build a preparation plan accordingly and achieve a 99%ile+ in the CAT exam, which will take place on November 30, 2025.
IIM Ahmedabad: Selection Criteria For MBA Admissions
Until 2024, the minimum CAT percentile eligibility for the General category candidates was 85%ile, which helped them to get converted easily at 90%ile. Nevertheless, things have changed now. IIMA has changed the minimum CAT percentile from 85% to 95% in 2025. Key notes from these revised changes are that if you score below the relevant percentile in the CAT 2025, you will not be eligible to receive a call from IIM Ahmedabad for enrollment into an MBA course for 2 years. Apart from this, IIMA has also made amendments to the sectional cut-offs, which we are sharing in the table below.
For Example: A candidate from the General category won’t receive a call from IIMA if they score below 95%ile in the CAT exam, even if they demonstrate impressive academic qualifications in the 10th and 12th grade examinations. This is the bare minimum, and you will have to obtain the percentile and sectional cut-off separately to get considered by IIMA for the admission call. Subsequently, the rule is applicable to candidates from other categories too. Here’s the authentic and accurate breakdown of the minimum cut-off for the CAT 2025 rank and percentile.
Join this free WhatsApp group to get the latest information about CAT exam along with the strategies by CAT experts
CAT 2025 Percentile Minimum Cut-Off
| Key Specifications | Non-PwD CAT Cut-Off | PwD CAT Cut-Off | ||
| Category | Overall Percentile Rank (PT) | Sectionwise Percentile Rank (PVARC, PDILR, PQA) | Overall Percentile Rank (PT) | Sectionwise Percentile Rank (PVARC, PDILR, PQA) |
| General/EWS | 95 | 85 | 85 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 80 | 80 | 70 |
| SC | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 |
| ST | 75 | 65 | 65 | 55 |
IIM Ahmedabad: Part A Evaluation Criteria
IIM Ahmedabad follows an AR (Application Rating) pattern to assess the candidates. It includes 5 different stages: ABCDE. In the first stage, IIMA will analyse the candidates based on their 10th-grade percentage score. Precise information, including the percentage and rating score, has been shared below for your reference.
10th Standard Examination Percentage & Rating Score A
| SSC Examination % Score | Application Rating Score (A) |
| <=55 | 1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 2 |
| > 60 and <= 70 | 3 |
| > 70 and <= 80 | 5 |
| > 80 and <= 90 | 8 |
| > 90 | 10 |
IIMA 12th Std Examination Percentage & Rating Score B
The minimum percentage score of the HSC examination is quite similar for the candidates from the Science and Commerce backgrounds. Arts students have a higher advantage. Let us explain to you with an example. If you’re a candidate from a science background, IIMA will allocate you 8 marks if you score 85% in the 10+2 examination. Hereby, your rating score is totally dependent on the percentage you score in the HSC examination. Go through the information segregated below, where we have explained the rating score according to the chosen stream and the percentage obtained by the candidates appearing in the CAT exam.
CAT 2025: IIMA Stream-Wise Evaluation
| Science Stream | |
| HSC Examination Percentage Score | Score B Rating Criteria |
| <= 55 | 1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 2 |
| > 60 and <= 70 | 3 |
| > 70 and <= 80 | 5 |
| > 80 and <= 90 | 8 |
| > 90 | 10 |
| Commerce Stream | |
| HSC Examination Percentage Score | Score B Rating Criteria |
| <= 50 | 1 |
| > 50 and <= 55 | 2 |
| > 55 and <= 65 | 3 |
| > 65 and <= 75 | 5 |
| > 75 and <= 90 | 8 |
| > 90 | 10 |
| Arts Stream | |
| HSC Examination Percentage Score | Score B Rating Criteria |
| <= 45 | 1 |
| > 45 and <= 50 | 2 |
| > 50 and <= 60 | 3 |
| > 60 and <= 70 | 5 |
| > 70 and <= 85 | 8 |
| > 85 | 10 |
IIM Ahmedabad: Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Courses Criteria
Here, IIM Ahmedabad has categorised the marking criteria into 6 varied tiers (A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6) to assess the selected candidates as per their undergraduate degree and professional courses. Depending on your academic field and the marks you score, IIMA will assign you the marks in this stage of selection for an MBA programme. Go through the table below, which addresses the course, percentage and rating score ( C ) for courses from medicine, engineering, arts, commerce, fashion department, etc., in a detailed manner.
IIMA UG Degree: Percentage & Rating Score C For CAT 2025
| AC-1 (Part 1: MBBS, MD (USA) & (Part 2: BAMS, BDS, BHMS) | |
| Bachelor’s Degree Percentage Score | Rating Score C |
| <= 55 | 1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 2 |
| > 60 and <= 62 | 3 |
| > 62 and <= 65 | 5 |
| > 65 and <= 70 | 8 |
| > 70 | 10 |
| AC-2 (Professional Degrees: CA, ICWA, CMA, CS, FIAI) | |
| Professional Degree Percentage Score | Rating Score C |
| <= 50 | 1 |
| > 50 and <= 53 | 2 |
| > 53 and <= 55 | 3 |
| > 55 and <= 57 | 5 |
| > 57 and <= 63 | 8 |
| > 63 | 10 |
| AC-3 (All Commerce, Economics, Finance & Management Courses) | |
| Bachelor’s Degree Percentage Score | Rating Score C |
| <= 55 | 1 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 2 |
| > 60 and <= 65 | 3 |
| > 62 and <= 70 | 5 |
| > 70 and <= 80 | 8 |
| > 70 | 10 |
| AC- 4 & 6 ( All Types of Engineering, Technology and Architecture Courses) | |
| Bachelor’s Degree Percentage Score | Rating Score C |
| <= 60 | 1 |
| > 60 and <= 65 | 2 |
| > 65 and <= 70 | 3 |
| > 70 and <= 75 | 5 |
| > 75 and <= 85 | 8 |
| > 85 | 10 |
| AC-6 (Degrees From Arts/Humanities, Design, Education, Legal and Rural Studies, Fashion Design and Technology ) | |
| Bachelor’s Degree Percentage Score | Rating Score C |
| <= 50 | 1 |
| > 50 and <= 55 | 2 |
| > 55 and <= 60 | 3 |
| > 60 and <= 65 | 5 |
| > 65 and <= 75 | 8 |
| > 75 | 10 |
IIM Ahmedabad Rating Criteria D: Work Experience
Generally, having prior work experience is not mandatory for the candidates appearing in the CAT exam. It’s not the fundamental selection criteria. Besides this, students with professional achievements have a higher edge over those with zero experience. The scoring process followed by IIMA to evaluate the candidates with professional experience has been addressed below.
IIMA Work Experience & Rating Score D
| Work Experience in Months (Similar to the CAT 2025 Registration Form) | Rating Score D |
| < 12 Months | 0 |
| > = 12 and < = 36 Months | MF * (number of months of work experience – 11) |
| > 36 Months | 5 |
| Work-experience Multiplication Factor (MF) = 0.20 | |
IIM Ahmedabad Personal Interview (PI) Evaluation Factor
The final shortlisting will be carried out in two different stages to gauge the candidates for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and the Personal Interview (PI). IIMA will follow a score normalisation procedure to evaluate the candidates from different backgrounds for the interview round. The pattern will be different for the engineering and non-engineering students. Know more about the streamlined score normalisation procedure that IIMA will follow to generate the composite score (CS) for the CAT 2025. Factors like the CAT paper difficulty level, the number of appearing candidates will be taken into consideration before generating the final composite score.
IIMA Composite Score Calculation Process 2025
| CS (Composite Score) = ARF_CS * Normalised AR score + CATF_CS * Normalised overall score in CAT-2025 |
| Application Rating Multiplication Factor for Composite Score (ARF_CS) = 0.35 ; CAT Multiplication Factor for Composite Score (CATF_CS) = 0.65 |
Final Words
There are less than 100 days remaining for the CAT 2025. For now, your primary goal should be to buckle up your preparation game to score the desired sectional score and percentile. Getting a seat in the IIMA has now become more challenging for students with the launch of these latest rules and regulations. All the candidates from the diverse categories will have to score a minimum of 95%ile to fulfil their dream of pursuing an MBA course from IIM Ahmedabad. It’s mandatory for the non-engineering students from BBA, B.Com courses to score above 99.5%ile in the actual CAT exam. If you need any additional guidance and assistance to elevate your preparation roadmap, then you can join the CAT 2025 (Last Batch) for practice or enrol for the IIM ABC Practice Batch online. To know which course adheres to your study requirements, connect with our counselling expert for a one-on-one free counselling session and choose the specific course to boost your preparation roadmap.
Join iQuanta CAT Crash Course 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IIM Ahmedabad a Tier 1 MBA college in India?
Yes, IIMA is the best management institute in India. Candidates will have to crack the CAT exam to get admission here.
Does IIM Ahmedabad offer different specialisations for MBA courses?
With the evolution in the educational industry, IIMA has been offering different specialisations to the students during their MBA course duration.
What shortlisting parameters will IIMA follow to evaluate candidates for CAT 2025?
Your CAT score, 10th and 12th academic qualifications, work experience and performance in GD-PI-WAT rounds are the core factors for evaluating the deserving candidates.
What is the minimum CAT percentile to confirm admission into IIMA?
As of now, the General/EWS candidates will have to achieve at least 95%ile in the CAT 2025 to receive an admission call from IIMA.
Is work experience necessary for admission into the IIMA MBA programme?
Not at all, but priority will be given to candidates with a professional background. However, if you score high, your selection chances are higher.
