CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Table of Content

• Educational Qualification for CAT 2026
• Category-wise eligibility for CAT 2026 (General/OBC/SC/ST)
• Age Limit for CAT Exam
• Eligibility for Engineers and Non Engineers
• Work Experience Requirement
• CAT Cut Offs for Top IIMs
• FAQs

Educational Qualification for CAT 2026

• The candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA [45% in case of candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD) categories], awarded by any University or educational institution formed by an Act of Parliament or State legislature in India or proclaimed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or hold an equivalent qualification recognised by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.
• Candidates in their final year of Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination, as well as those who have completed the requirements of their degree and are awaiting results, are eligible to apply. However, if selected, such candidates will be allowed to join the program on a provisional basis only if they submit a certificate from the principal/registrar of their Institution/University (issued on or before the date specified by the respective IIM) declaring that they have completed all requirements for obtaining a Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification on the date of issue of the certificate.

PS: A Class 12th pass-out is NOT eligible for CAT. A candidate must have a bachelor’s degree or be in the final year of a recognized bachelor’s programme.

Category-wise eligibility for CAT 2026 (General/OBC/SC/ST)

Important Notes for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS Candidates

• Certificate copies must be uploaded at the time of registration, failure to do so will result in rejection of reservation claims.
• PwD candidates must have at least 40% benchmark disability as per Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
• Category cannot be changed after CAT registration under any circumstances.

Age Limit for CAT Exam:

• There is no upper age limit for both eligibility and performance purposes. Candidates of any age can take the CAT exam if they meet the education requirements.
• IIMs do not impose any age limit on applicants, allowing multiple attempts.
• CAT is conducted once every year and allows only one attempt per cycle, but there is no lifetime attempt limit.

Eligibility for Engineers and Non Engineers

The eligibility criteria for CAT do not restrict candidates based on the undergraduate major. Both students studying engineering and those that are not can apply, assuming they meet the minimum percentage required to take the exam.

The programs at certain IIMs that are very specific (for example: Agri-Management, Pharma Management) may have specific major requirements. Candidates should check the individual IIM websites for more information on these niche programs.

Work Experience Requirement

Work Experience is not mandatory for the CAT exam. Fresh graduates with zero work experience are fully eligible for registering and appearing for the CAT Exam 2026.

While CAT itself does not have any work experience requirement, certain IIMs and other B schools may factor in work experience during their selection process. Work experience does have a chance to strengthen your profile and improve the chances of getting selected in certain institutions.

CAT 2026 Cut Off For Top IIMs

The table below shows expected cut offs required for top IIMs across General, NC-OBC, SC, ST and PwD categories.

CAT 2026 Sectional Cut Off For Top IIMs:

Almost all IIMs also have an overall and sectional cutoff for the CAT Exam. To qualify one must achieve the minimum sectional cutoffs in each of the 3 sections - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). If one does not make the sectional cutoffs then they will not qualify for admission, regardless of the overall score.