October 7, 2026 | Ahmedabad | Education News: Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad has revised its admission policy for the PGP 2027-29 batch, increasing the importance of CAT 2026 in the shortlisting process for its two-year MBA programme. Under the revised criteria, the CAT 2026 total percentile will carry 65% weight in the raw composite score, while the remaining 35% will come from a normalised Application Rating.
The change makes CAT performance a larger component of the initial selection process while retaining academic performance, work experience and other profile factors through the Application Rating.
The revised policy also introduces discipline-wise normalisation of composite scores, meaning a candidate’s undergraduate academic discipline will play a role in how the composite score is subsequently normalised.
What Has Changed in IIM Ahmedabad MBA Admission 2027-29?
The biggest change is the weight assigned to CAT 2026.
For the 2027-29 PGP batch, IIM Ahmedabad will calculate the raw composite score using:
Raw Composite Score = 65% CAT 2026 total percentile + 35% Normalised Application Rating
The institute will use this score when shortlisting candidates for the Analytical Writing Test (AWT) and Personal Interview (PI).
IIM Ahmedabad Admission Policy: Key Changes
| Admission component | 2027-29 policy |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 total percentile | 65% |
| Normalised Application Rating | 35% |
| Shortlisting stage | AWT and PI |
| Academic factors | Included through Application Rating |
| Work experience | Included through Application Rating |
| Gender diversity | Included through Application Rating |
| Undergraduate discipline | Used for composite-score normalisation |
| Final selection | 50% PI + 10% AWT + 40% normalised composite score |
The distinction between raw composite score and final selection score is important. The 65% CAT component applies to the raw composite score used in shortlisting; it does not mean CAT alone determines the final admission decision.
How Much Weight Does CAT 2026 Carry for IIM Ahmedabad?
CAT 2026 carries 65% weight in the raw composite score for the 2027-29 PGP admission process.
The remaining 35% is based on the candidate’s normalised Application Rating. This rating takes into account several profile factors, including:
- Class 10 performance
- Class 12 performance
- Bachelor’s degree performance
- Gender diversity
- Full-time work experience
IIM Ahmedabad will first calculate the raw Application Rating and then normalise it using the average of the top 50 Application Rating scores in the applicant pool.
Why Is the CAT 2026 Change Important for MBA Aspirants?
The revised formula gives CAT 2026 performance a larger numerical role in shortlisting.
For candidates targeting IIM Ahmedabad, this means the CAT total percentile will be a major component of the initial composite score alongside their academic and profile credentials.
However, the policy does not eliminate the importance of a candidate’s broader profile. Academic records, work experience and gender diversity continue to enter the Application Rating.
The change therefore creates a two-part shortlisting structure: CAT performance plus a normalised profile assessment.
What Is the Application Rating in IIM Ahmedabad Admission?
The Application Rating (AR) is IIM Ahmedabad’s mechanism for incorporating profile-related information into its shortlisting process.
For the 2027-29 batch, the factors used in the raw Application Rating include:
- Class 10 marks
- Class 12 marks
- Bachelor’s degree performance
- Gender diversity
- Full-time work experience
The raw AR is subsequently normalised before contributing 35% to the raw composite score.
This means candidates should not interpret the 65% CAT weight as making academic records irrelevant.
What Is New About Undergraduate Discipline?
Another significant change is discipline-wise normalisation.
After calculating the raw composite score, IIM Ahmedabad will normalise it within the candidate’s undergraduate discipline.
The policy covers multiple academic groups, including fields such as:
- Engineering and Technology
- Computer Science and IT
- Commerce
- Accounting and Finance
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Management
- Law
- Arts and Humanities
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Journalism and Media
The normalisation is intended to account for differences between undergraduate disciplines when comparing applicants.
What Are the CAT 2026 Cutoffs for IIM Ahmedabad?
The minimum qualifying CAT requirements for the 2027-29 PGP batch vary by category.
| Category | Overall CAT percentile | Sectional percentile |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 95 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 80 |
| SC | 85 | 75 |
| ST | 75 | 65 |
These are minimum qualifying cutoffs, not a guarantee of an interview call or admission. Candidates must also meet the other requirements of the selection process and compete on the applicable composite scores.
How Will Final IIM Ahmedabad MBA Selection Work?
The 65% CAT weight applies to the shortlisting composite score, but the final selection formula is different.
For final selection to the PGP 2027-29 batch, the policy assigns:
- 50% to the Personal Interview
- 10% to the Analytical Writing Test
- 40% to the normalised composite score
This means performance after the initial shortlist remains highly significant.
Candidates therefore should not assume that achieving a high CAT percentile alone guarantees admission to IIM Ahmedabad.
What Does the New Policy Mean for CAT 2026 Candidates?
For CAT 2026 aspirants, the immediate message is straightforward: the CAT percentile has become a more prominent component of IIM Ahmedabad’s shortlisting formula.
At the same time, the revised process continues to recognise differences in candidates’ academic backgrounds and professional profiles.
A candidate’s Class 10, Class 12 and bachelor’s performance, work experience and gender diversity remain part of the Application Rating, while undergraduate discipline is incorporated into the later normalisation process.
The revised system therefore combines exam performance with profile-based evaluation rather than relying exclusively on CAT.
Why Does IIM Ahmedabad Use Multiple Selection Components?
IIM Ahmedabad’s PGP is designed for graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds. The institute’s official admissions information states that students can come from disciplines including arts, commerce, science, engineering, technology and medicine, with selection also considering academic performance and performance in the AWT and PI.
The revised discipline-wise normalisation reflects this multi-disciplinary applicant pool.
It also means candidates should understand the admission policy as a complete process rather than focusing only on the headline CAT percentage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CAT 2026 weightage for IIM Ahmedabad MBA admission 2027-29?
CAT 2026 total percentile carries 65% weight in the raw composite score used for shortlisting candidates for the AWT and PI.
What makes up the remaining 35%?
The remaining 35% comes from the normalised Application Rating, which considers Class 10, Class 12, bachelor’s performance, gender diversity and full-time work experience.
Does 65% CAT weight mean CAT determines the final IIM Ahmedabad admission?
No. The 65% weight applies to the raw composite score used for shortlisting. The final selection formula gives 50% weight to PI, 10% to AWT and 40% to the normalised composite score.
What is the IIM Ahmedabad CAT cutoff for General candidates?
For the 2027-29 PGP batch, the minimum overall CAT percentile for General and EWS candidates is 95, with an 85 percentile minimum in each section.
Does undergraduate discipline matter in IIM Ahmedabad admission 2027-29?
Yes. The revised policy introduces discipline-wise normalisation of the composite score, covering academic groups such as engineering, commerce, economics, mathematics, management, law, arts and humanities, medical sciences and others.
Is a high CAT percentile enough to get admission to IIM Ahmedabad?
No. CAT performance is one component of the process. Candidates must also clear the applicable eligibility and shortlisting requirements and perform in the AWT and PI stages.
The Bigger Picture
IIM Ahmedabad’s revised MBA admission policy for 2027-29 puts CAT 2026 more prominently at the centre of the initial selection process, with the examination contributing 65% of the raw composite score.
But the change should not be interpreted as a move to CAT-only admissions. Academic records, work experience and other profile factors remain part of the Application Rating, while the final selection continues to give substantial weight to the AWT and Personal Interview.
For CAT 2026 aspirants, the revised policy makes understanding the exact selection formula especially important. The institute has effectively placed greater numerical emphasis on the entrance examination while retaining a broader profile-based assessment.
Global Education News will continue tracking CAT 2026, IIM admission policies and major changes affecting MBA aspirants across India’s leading management institutions.
