Many aspirants ask, “Why do two candidates with the same CAT percentile get different IIM calls? The answer is quite straightforward. Suppose you and your friend scored 98.7 percentile in CAT. You may normally expect similar IIM calls. But when the shortlist is published, the results are different. Maybe your friend receives a call from IIM Bangalore while you don’t. Or you get a call from IIM Kolkata, and your friend doesn’t. This situation is very common and confuses the aspirants. But the reason is simple. CAT percentile alone does not decide your IIM calls. Each IIM has their own composite score. That score includes various parameters beyond your CAT performance. Even if two candidates have the same percentile, their profiles can never be identical. And that difference plays an important role in shortlisting. Let’s understand why do two candidates with the same CAT percentile get different IIM calls.
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Why do two candidates with the same CAT percentile get different IIM calls?
CAT is one of the toughest entrance tests in the country. But the CAT score is not the only factor that decides your admission in IIMs. The IIM MBA admission process depends on many factors. And that’s the reason why two candidates with the same CAT percentile get different IIM calls. We have explained below all the points in a detailed manner:
CAT Percentile Not Only Factor for IIM Shortlisting
CAT percentile is crucial, but it is only one part of the IIM shortlisting criteria. Every IIM has their own admission process. They assign weight to CAT scores, academics, diversity and other components. Most IIMs even determine the composite score before announcing interview calls. This score includes overall CAT percentile, sectional percentiles, academic record, work experience, diversity, and category. So even if you and another candidate secure the same CAT percentile, your overall composite score can still vary. And the difference is sufficient to decide who gets the IIM call.
Academic Marks Affect IIM Calls Despite Same CAT Percentile
Your academic records play an important role in the IIM shortlisting. Many top IIMs give greater weightage to school and graduation scores. They consider academic performance seriously. If you secured 90%+ in your academics, you may receive more academic weightage points. But if another candidate has lower academic scores but the same CAT percentile, your composite score may be higher. If your friend has a stronger academic record than you, they may receive the call even if both of you have the same CAT percentile. This shows that academic marks affect IIM calls even at the same CAT percentile.
Sectional Cutoffs Affect IIM Shortlisting
CAT sectional cutoffs are a crucial factor in the IIM shortlisting. Most IIM specifies minimum CAT sectional percentile for VARC, DILR, and QA. Suppose you scored 98 percentile overall but only 80 percentile in VARC. If a particular IIM requires 85 percentile in VARC, you will not be shortlisted there. But another candidate who scored 97.5 overall but has 90+ in all sections will qualify. Consistency across sections is important. Even a 99+ percentile is useless if you miss a sectional cutoff. This is one of the most common reasons why do two candidates with the same CAT percentile get different IIM calls.
Category and Reservation Policy Affect IIM Calls
IIMs adhere to the reservation policies during the MBA admission process. Different categories have different sectional and overall cutoff requirements. If two aspirants share the same percentile but belong to different categories, their shortlisting chances may depend on the category-wise cutoffs. It is part of the admission process. Knowing these aspects helps you determine your admission chances instead of randomly comparing.
Gender and Academic Diversity Points Matter in IIM Shortlisting
IIMs aspire to create diverse classrooms. Thus, many institutes award diversity points to achieve this. Several IIMs give additional weightage to female candidates. This improves gender balance in classrooms. If you and another candidate have the same percentile but differ in gender, the composite score may differ. Engineering students form a significant proportion of CAT aspirants. To promote classroom diversity, many IIMs award additional points to non-engineering backgrounds such as commerce, arts, or science. If an engineer and a non-engineer are at the same percentile, the non-engineer can gain from a diversity advantage.
Work Experience Influences IIM Shortlisting Chances
Work experience influences the composite score in the IIM admission process. But its relevance differs across institutes. Some IIMs give weightage to relevant work experience. Others give limited weightage to this component at the shortlisting stage. 12 to 36 months of work experience is considered ideal in the selection process. Freshers may not receive work experience points. But they can remain strong contenders with strong academics and a high CAT percentile.
Two candidates with the same CAT percentile rarely have the same profile. Various parameters influence your composite scores. This includes your academics, sectionals, category, gender, work experience, and graduation background. Each IIM has its own admission criteria. That is why shortlist outcomes vary. If you are aiming for a higher percentile and maximum IIM calls, you need a structured strategy. The iQuanta CAT 2026 Course is not just limited to syllabus coverage. You get detailed mock analysis, sectional strategy, and interview preparation support. You also become part of one of India’s most active CAT communities and receive guidance from mentors.
