Though 98 Percentile in CAT is the top 2 percent of all the test takers, it does not guarantee a shortlist from the IIMIndore or any other IIM.

To know how probable a candidate is going to get calls from B-Schools, IIM call predictor tool becomes useful in predicting which calls a candidate is going to get. These tools essentially consider the candidate’s CAT score, college’s eligibility criteria, his overall profile, his background and several other factors. 

IIM Indore Selection Process 2026

IIM Indore has changed its 2026-28 PGP admission process significantly in comparison to the last years’, especially the weightage.

The PGP 2026-28 selection process consists of three stages, which basically takes into account candidates’ CAT 2025 scores, past academic profile, work experience and personal interview scores.

IIM Indore Eligibility Criteria

Candidates need a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD) or above. Also, the final-year students who meet these criteria can apply. However, note that they will have to present their completion certificates by June 30, 2026, and their final mark sheets by December 31, 2026.

Stage 1: CAT 2025 Cutoff (Sectional + Overall)

Candidates must clear the minimum sectional and overall cut-offs to qualify for shortlisting.

Clearing these cutoffs only makes you eligible; however, it does not guarantee a PI call.

Stage 2: Shortlisting Using Composite Score (CS)

After a candidate meets all the criteria, a Composite Score is calculated, where multiple components are considered as following:

Major Changes in 2026:

• Class 10 marks weightage has decreased from 39% to 10%
• Class 12 marks weightage has increased than before (25%)
• The QA section now provides the highest CAT sectional weight at 23%
• Work experience added (3 marks)
• Diversity factor increased to 7

This means strong Class 12 academics + good QA percentile can significantly strengthen a 98 percentile profile.

Stage 3: Final Composite Score (FCS)

Final offers are based on:

As one can notice that PI carries 45% weightage, this means even if you receive a call at 98 percentile, your conversion will depends heavily on interview performance.

IIM Indore CAT Cutoff 2026 (Overall & Sectional)

For the General category:

• Overall cutoff: 90 percentile
• Sectional cutoff: 80 percentile each

For categories with reservations, the cutoffs are going to be comparatively lower (NC-OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD), as per government norms.

However, the minimum cutoff is only a qualifying filter.
 The actual shortlist cutoff is often much higher due to competition.

In recent years, General category candidates receiving PI calls typically had:

• 97.5+ percentile for borderline profiles
• 98-99th percentile for competitive profiles

So yes, 98 percentile is competitive - but not automatically safe.

IIM Indore Composite Score Calculation 2026

This is where most aspirants misunderstand their chances.

IIM Indore does not shortlist purely on CAT percentile. Instead, it calculates a Composite Score based on:

• CAT sectional performance
• Class 10 marks
• Class 12 marks (high weightage now)
• Diversity factor
• Work experience

When 98 Percentile Works Well:

• 90%+ in Class 12
• Strong QA percentile (since QA weight is highest for shortlisting)
• Academic consistency
• Non-engineering or gender diversity advantage
• 12-36 months relevant work experience

When 98 Percentile Becomes Risky:

• Low Class 12 score
• Sectional percentile just at the cutoff
• No diversity benefit
• Academic inconsistency

Because scores are normalized (Z-score method), even small academic gaps can impact ranking.

So, your 98th percentile must be evaluated in combination with your profile strength.

What Other Calls Can You Expect at 98 Percentile?

Even if IIM Indore feels uncertain, 98 percentile opens doors at several top B-schools.

You can use a CAT call predictor to estimate institute-wise shortlisting chances based on your exact profile.

At 98 percentile (General category), realistic expectations include:

• IIM Kozhikode (profile dependent)
• IIM Lucknow (borderline for General, stronger for diversity profiles)
• IIM Shillong
• IIM Trichy
• IIM Udaipur
• IIM Raipur
• IIM Ranchi

For candidates with category advantage or strong academics, chances improve significantly even for older IIMs.

Final Verdict: Is 98 Percentile Enough for IIM Indore?

Your chances depend on:

• Sectional balance (especially QA)
• Class 12 performance
• Academic consistency
• Diversity factor
• Work experience

IIM Indore now uses its new selection criteria for 2026 to honor applicants who achieved strong academic achievements and demonstrated balanced performance through their CAT scores.

The 98 percentile score becomes competitive when your academic performance is solid and sectionals are balanced. 

Your profile limitations will place you in an uncertain position, which requires a detailed assessment to gain accurate information.

Author Bio: Prashanth is a marketing enthusiast with over two years of experience at Cracku, specializing in SEO, PPC, social media, and content strategy. Beyond marketing, he enjoys reading non-fiction, playing table tennis, spending time with pets, and exploring productivity systems.