What are the sectional cutoffs at IIM Indore for CAT 2025?

IIM Indore's published CAT 2025 cutoff is 90 percentile overall with 80 percentile in each section (VARC, DILR, QA) for General and EWS candidates. Realistic shortlist probability for General Engineering Male (GEM) candidates runs at 96+ percentile with strong sectional balance, particularly in Quantitative Aptitude.

IIM Indore is a tier-1.5 IIM founded in 1996, running a PGP cohort of 489 students (plus 95 IPM students). The school is known for strong consulting and general management placements, with Class of 2024 average CTC at ₹30.21 LPA and top recruiters including Accenture, Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwD.

The 2025 Verified Sectional Cutoffs

*Source: IIM Indore Official Admission Policy 2026-28.*

These are qualifying cutoffs only. The composite score formula determines actual shortlist, and IIM Indore's formula is unusually transparent compared to peer IIMs.

The Composite Formula Breakdown

IIM Indore publishes explicit Stage 2 composite weights, making selection dynamics predictable. Class 12 carries 25% weight, the highest among established IIMs. QA section carries 23% weight, significantly more than VARC (16%) or DILR (16%). Class 10 adds 10%, diversity 7%, and work experience 3%.

This formula creates distinctive selection pressure. A candidate with 98 percentile CAT but 70% Class 12 will score lower in composite than a 96 percentile candidate with 85% Class 12.

Similarly, weak QA performance (even with strong overall percentile) hurts composite score more at IIM Indore than at IIM Kozhikode or FMS Delhi.

Why Class 12 Matters More Here

Most IIMs cap Class 12 weight at 10-15%.

IIM Indore's 25% allocation makes board performance a genuine differentiator. Candidates with 80%+ in Class 12 gain material composite advantage.

Those below 75% face uphill math even with strong CAT scores.

For weak Class 12 profiles, consider using the compare colleges tool to evaluate IIMs with lower academic weight, such as IIM Shillong (10% Class 12 weight) or newer IIMs where CAT percentile dominates.

Why QA Gets 23% Weight

IIM Indore weights QA nearly 50% higher than VARC or DILR. This favors engineering candidates with strong quantitative foundations. A 99 percentile with 85 QA will underperform a 97 percentile with 99 QA in composite scoring.

From Reddit, we learnt that IIM Indore converts often come from candidates who scored 95+ in QA even if their VARC was relatively weaker (85-90 range). The formula rewards quant strength.

Realistic Shortlist Probability

Published cutoffs are qualifying thresholds. Actual shortlist runs higher

GEM candidates: 96+ percentile overall, 90+ in each section, 80+ Class 12 for comfortable shortlist probability. At 94-95 percentile, shortlist becomes uncertain unless Class 12 is exceptionally strong (90%+).

GEF (General Engineering Female): 94+ percentile with diversity bonus improving odds. Female candidates benefit from the 7% diversity weight.

Non-engineers with weak Class 12: Face the toughest composite math. A commerce graduate with 72% Class 12 needs 98+ percentile to offset the academic weight penalty.

To estimate your profile-specific shortlist chances, run an eligibility match with your exact academic scores and CAT performance.

IPM and Mumbai Campus

IIM Indore's Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) is a 5-year UG+MBA programme with separate IPMAT entrance, not CAT-based. The Mumbai satellite campus runs executive and specialized programmes with distinct admission criteria from the flagship Indore PGP.

If your Class 12 is below 75%, calculate composite math early using the published weights, or target IIMs where CAT percentile dominates (like IIM Kozhikode or Shillong).