If you want to go for admission in institutes like IIM Raipur through CAT 2024, you should know the expected cutoff, selection criteria, and past trends. IIM Raipur has steadily built a strong reputation among India’s second-generation IIMs, due to its growing placements, diverse student intake, and balanced approach to academics and industry exposure.
IIM Raipur CAT Cutoff: Overview
Understanding the CAT cutoff is the first step to cracking the admission, and finally joining institutes like IIM Raipur.
What is the Expected CAT Cutoff for IIM Raipur?
For CAT 2024, the expected cutoff for IIM Raipur is shown to be similar to previous years, though slight changes may occur depending on the exam's difficulty. Usually, General category candidates should aim for at least a 90-92 percentile overall, while reserved categories have relaxed thresholds.
Here's a detailed list of estimates based on previous years. Actual cutoffs may vary.
What Influences the Cutoff at IIM Raipur?
Cutoffs aren’t just randomly set, they’re influenced by several important factors:
- CAT Exam Difficulty: If the paper is tougher, percentiles may drop slightly.
- Number of Applicants: More applicants means more competition which in turn gives higher cutoffs.
- Available Seats: Fewer seats usually increase the cutoffs.
- Diversity Goals: IIM Raipur takes into consideration, both academic and gender diversity, which can lead to category-specific adjustments.
- Profile Weightage: Strong past academics, work experience, or being from a non-engineering background might give you an advantage during final selection.
IIM Raipur CAT 2024 Cutoff: Section-Wise & Category-Wise Breakdown
Each section has a different cutoff. There are three sections in CAT, they are as follows
VARC – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- This section tests your English language skills, including:
- Reading comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Sentence completion
- Para-jumbles
- Grammar
- Key skills required to pass this section is comprehension, critical reading, and verbal reasoning
DILR – Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- This mainly focuses on analytical and logical thinking, including:
- Interpreting charts, graphs, and tables
- Logical puzzles
- Seating arrangements
- Blood relations, coding-decoding, etc.
- Interpreting charts, graphs, and tables
- Key skills required for this section is pattern recognition, deduction, and structured thinking
QA – Quantitative Ability
- This section mainly tests your mathematical aptitude, including:
- Arithmetic (percentages, ratios, time/speed/distance)
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Number systems
- Mensuration, probability, etc.
- Key skills required to ace this is speed, accuracy, and conceptual clarity in math
Section-Wise Cutoff (Minimum Percentiles in Each Section)
Each section usually has 40 minutes in the exam, and you must perform well across all three,because IIMs like Raipur have sectional cutoffs too.
Clearing all sectionals is a must, even if you have an overall high score, falling short in one section could cost you the shortlist.
IIM Raipur Previous Year CAT Cutoff Trends
IIM Raipur CAT Cutoff 2023 vs 2022 vs 2021
Looking at past years gives a good sense of clarity:
As we can see above, the General category cutoff has remained steady around 90–92, while other categories have seen minor fluctuations.
Analysis of Cutoff Trends Over the Years
If you’ve been tracking IIM Raipur’s cutoffs for the last few years, you’ll notice one thing right away, and that’s they’ve stayed pretty consistent. For General category candidates, the overall CAT percentile usually lands somewhere around 90 to 92, give or take. Reserved categories have their own relaxed cutoffs, but even those haven’t changed drastically unless there’s a major shift in the exam or applicant pool.
Whenever the CAT exam is tougher than the previous years,or if the number of applicants changes significantly,the institute adjusts accordingly. For example, if a particular section is unusually challenging in a given year, or if fewer candidates from a certain background score well, you might see a small dip in that year’s cutoffs.
The cutoff trend at IIM Raipur gives a fair picture they’re looking for well-rounded, capable students,but they’re also mindful of giving everyone a fair shot. It's not just about topping charts; it's about standing out for the right reasons.
IIM Raipur Admission Criteria 2024 After CAT
Shortlisting Process Based on CAT Cutoff
Once CAT results are released, IIM Raipur shortlists candidates based on a composite score that includes:
- CAT Percentile which should have 50% weightage
- Class 10 and 12 marks which should have 20% weightage each
- Gender and Academic Diversity which should have 7% weightage and 3% weightage respectively
- Work Experience (if any)
Each factor carries weight. For example, CAT scores usually get 40–50% weight, while academics and diversity make up the rest
Final Selection Parameters (PI, WAT, Work Experience, etc.)
Shortlisted candidates are invited for the Personal Interview (PI) and sometimes a Written Ability Test (WAT). The final selection is based on the following components:
- CAT Score, which gives 40% weightage
- Personal Interview (PI) which shows 30% weightage
- Written Ability Test (WAT), which has 10% weightage
- Past Academics – 10–15%
- Work Experience & Diversity – Remaining weight
It’s not just about numbers, your communication skills, clarity of thought, and personality matter a lot during the interview stage.
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting into IIM Raipur?
The following are the tips to score above the cutoff in CAT
Balance All Sections with time: Many students tend to ignore one of the sections (usually VARC or DILR). Don't make that mistake; be thorough in each section.
Take Weekly Mock Tests: Start early, mocks test really helps with accuracy, timing, and identifying weaknesses.
Analyse Mistakes Deeply: Don’t just focus on what went wrong, but why it went wrong.
Focus on Weak Areas: Don't just keep practicing what you're already good at; try the sections that scare you.
Keep revising: The last few months should be all about mock test revision and strategy on how to manage time.
Other Factors Beyond CAT Score for Admission
Even if you cross the cutoff, you’ll need a well-rounded profile during final selection:
- Good Academic Records: Especially in Classes 10 and 12, will help you a lot
- Relevant Work Experience: 1–3 years of quality experience adds serious value to your record
- Extra-Curriculars: Sports, NGOs, entrepreneurship, anything that shows you can take up an initiative, and helps you
- Certifications: Things like CFA, Six Sigma, or domain-specific courses can stand out more
And don’t forget one thing: communication is key. Many high scorers lose out in the interview stage because they can’t express themselves clearly, be honest, and be prepared in advance.
IIM Raipur is quickly rising through the ranks of the best schools in India. If you're aiming for it, aim for a 90+ percentile in CAT, but remember one thing, it’s only part of the journey. A good profile, confident interview performance, and clarity of thought can give you advantage over other equally qualified candidates.
Stay consistent, keep practicing again and again, and build your profile confidently along the way. The competition is tough for sure, but with the right strategy and preparation, IIM Raipur is absolutely within reach.