How to Get Into IIM Ahmedabad in 2026: What's Changed for the 2027-28 Batch
CAT score still matters most, it decides 65% of your chance of getting an interview call. The big change this year is how your marks get scored. Before, engineers, arts students, and commerce students had different scoring tables for the same percentage. Now everyone is scored the same way, no matter what stream you're from. Cutoffs have also gone up to 95th percentile overall for General and EWS.
How Are 10th and 12th Marks Scored for IIM Ahmedabad?
Earlier, a 65% score in Class 10 got different marks depending on whether you were an engineer, arts student, or commerce student. That's gone. Now your 10th, 12th, and graduation marks are all scored on the same simple scale.
| Percentage | Score |
|---|---|
| 55% or below | 1 |
| 55% to 60% | 2 |
| 60% to 70% | 3 |
| 70% to 80% | 5 |
| 80% to 90% | 8 |
| Above 90% | 10 |
Even a 60% and a 90% aren't that far apart on this scale. So marks matter, but not as much as CAT does.
What Is the CAT Weightage for IIM Ahmedabad?
Getting the interview call and actually getting selected use two different formulas.
| Stage | CAT Weight | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Getting the interview call | 65% | 35% (marks + work-ex + gender) |
| Final selection | Part of a 40% score | PI 50%, Written Test 10% |
So CAT gets you the interview. The interview itself decides most of whether you actually get in.
How Much Does Work Experience Matter for IIM Ahmedabad?
| Work Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Below 12 months | 0 |
| 12 to 36 months | Goes up slowly with each month |
| Above 36 months | 5 (max) |
Somewhere around 2 to 3 years of work experience tends to work out best. Women also get 3 extra points on top of this.
Who Does IIM Ahmedabad Prefer: Engineers or Non-Engineers?
Even with the same scoring table now, IIM Ahmedabad still groups candidates by academic background, and some groups face much less competition than others.
| Group | Backgrounds | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Easiest | Fashion, Medical, Social Science, Media, Arts | Low |
| Medium | Management, Law, Economics, Commerce, Finance | Medium |
| Toughest | Engineering | High, just because so many engineers apply |
Non-engineers now make up close to half of every IIM Ahmedabad batch, a big change from years ago when engineers made up around 70%.
What Is the CAT Cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad in 2026?
| Category | Overall | Each Section |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 95th percentile | 85th percentile |
| NC-OBC | 90th percentile | 80th percentile |
| SC | 85th percentile | 75th percentile |
| ST | 75th percentile | 65th percentile |
Clearing this doesn't guarantee a call. It just makes you eligible to be considered.
What Is the Eligibility Criteria for IIM Ahmedabad?
You need at least 50% in graduation (45% for SC, ST, PwD), and you must turn 19 by June 30th. Final-year students can apply too, but need a certificate from college and must clear all pending backlogs by June 30th.
How Many Students Get Into IIM Ahmedabad Every Year?
Around 8,800 people usually clear the basic cutoff. Out of them, only about 1,300 to 1,400 get an interview call. The final batch size is close to 400 seats. So most of the filtering happens after you clear the cutoff, not at the cutoff itself.
What Is the Average Package at IIM Ahmedabad?
100% of the batch got placed, across 182 companies. Average package came to around ₹32.47 lakh, with the highest domestic offer at ₹81.6 lakh and the highest international offer at ₹2.31 crore. Around half the batch converted their internship into a direct job offer.
How Should You Prepare for IIM Ahmedabad?
Focus on CAT first, it's still your biggest lever for getting the interview call. But don't stop there. Once you clear the cutoff, the interview becomes the real decider, so start working on that early instead of only after your results come out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the CAT weightage for IIM Ahmedabad now?
65% for getting the interview call. After that, it becomes part of a 40% score, while the interview itself carries 50% and the written test carries 10%.
Q2. What changed in how marks are scored?
Earlier, engineers and non-engineers had different scoring tables for the same marks. Now everyone is scored on one common scale.
Q3. What is the CAT cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad in 2026?
95th percentile overall for General and EWS, 90th for NC-OBC, 85th for SC, and 75th for ST.
Q4. Does IIM Ahmedabad prefer non-engineers?
Not exactly, but non-engineers face less competition since fewer of them apply compared to engineers. Non-engineers now make up close to half of each batch.
Q5. How many people get into IIM Ahmedabad each year?
Around 8,800 clear the cutoff, about 1,300 to 1,400 get interview calls, and the final batch is close to 400 seats.
Q6. What is the minimum eligibility for IIM Ahmedabad?
At least 50% in graduation (45% for SC, ST, PwD), and you must be 19 years or older by June 30th.
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