Question 1

How accurate is the IIM Call Predictor?

Accepted Answer

It gives an estimate, not a promise. Most colleges do not publish the percentile that actually gets a call, so the predictor works from its own cutoff estimates and your CAT percentile, sectional percentiles, academics, work experience and category. Only IIM Ahmedabad's minimums are official in this tool. Use the result to shortlist colleges, then check each college's own notice.

Question 2

What factors does the CAT College Predictor consider?

Accepted Answer

It looks at: (1) CAT overall and sectional percentiles (VARC, DILR, QA), (2) 10th, 12th and graduation percentages, (3) months of work experience, (4) gender and academic background, and (5) category: General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS and PwD.

Question 3

Which colleges are included in the predictor?

Accepted Answer

The predictor covers 77 colleges: 21 IIMs, IIT management departments, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, XLRI, ISB and other private and university B-schools. NIRF ranks shown are from the NIRF 2025 Management ranking, released on 4 September 2025, the latest one available on 29 September 2026. Fees and placement figures carry a batch label and a source status. Open Data sources and dates below to see them.

Question 4

When are CAT 2026 and the IIM shortlists?

Accepted Answer

CAT 2026 is on Sunday 29 November 2026 in three sessions, and IIM Indore is conducting it. Registration closed on 22 September 2026. Results are expected in the first week of January 2027, and the score is valid until 31 December 2027. IIM Ahmedabad expects to release its shortlist in the second week of January 2027 and its offers in the second week of April 2027. Other IIMs announce their own dates, so check each IIM's notice.

Question 5

How does the IIM shortlisting process work?

Accepted Answer

Each IIM publishes its own formula, and the weights differ. For the CAT 2026 cycle, IIM Ahmedabad shortlists on a composite of 65 percent CAT total percentile and 35 percent normalised application rating. Its final composite score is 50 percent personal interview, 10 percent analytical writing test and 40 percent that shortlisting composite. Read the admission policy of each IIM you apply to.

Question 6

What is the difference between published cutoffs and the cutoffs in this tool?

Accepted Answer

A published cutoff is the minimum needed to be considered. For the CAT 2026 cycle, IIM Ahmedabad lists minimums of 95 overall and 85 in each section for General and EWS, 90 and 80 for NC-OBC, 85 and 75 for SC, 75 and 65 for ST, and 85 and 75 for PwD General and EWS. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee a call. For most colleges the predictor uses its own estimates, because the percentile that actually gets a call is not published.

Question 7

Does the predictor cover the newer IIMs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. IIM Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, Bodh Gaya, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Jammu, Amritsar and the other newer IIMs are in the list, and each is predicted on its own. Admission processes can change from one year to the next, so check each IIM's notice for how it will select candidates this cycle.

Question 8

What can I do to strengthen my application?

Accepted Answer

Start with the section that is furthest below the cutoffs of the colleges you want. Then check each college's admission policy for how it weighs academics, work experience and diversity, because the weights differ. Apply to a spread of colleges across tiers, and prepare your written answers and interview well before the shortlists come out.

Question 9

Is this predictor free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the IIM Call Predictor is free. You can use it as many times as you like across all 77 colleges. There are no hidden charges.

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