CAT Toppers 2026: Toppers' List, Preparation Tips, Score, and Percentile

CAT Toppers 2026: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level, computer-based entrance examination conducted annually by one of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to graduate management programmes such as MBA. This year, IIM Indore is likely to conduct the CAT 2026 exam. CAT is considered one of the toughest competitive examinations in the country, in which lakhs of candidates participate every year. For the academic year 2026, the CAT exam date is yet to be announced.  

The CAT toppers list is annually published by the IIMs, along with the CAT exam results. The CAT toppers list is a significant highlight that is released each year, showcasing aspirants' exceptional performance in this highly competitive examination. The toppers' list includes details such as the candidate's overall percentile as well as the sectional scores of the candidates.

The official CAT 2026 toppers list will be published in a PDF format on the official website. Candidates aiming to be a part of the CAT 2026 toppers list have to make a disciplined preparation schedule focusing on all three sections of the CAT exam 2026: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). 

Last year,12 candidates achieved a perfect 100-percentile in the CAT exam. Additionally, 26 candidates secured a 99.99 percentile, while 26 candidates attained a 99.98 percentile.

CAT Toppers 2026: Top Percentile Scorers

The CAT 2026 results will be released on the official website in online mode after the exam is over. Candidates will be able to download their official CAT 2026 scorecards by logging into the CAT 2026 website, iimcat.ac.in, using the CAT application login ID and password. Meanwhile check last year's CAT toppers statistics. 

Top percentile scores: Count, gender, discipline, and state-wise distribution:

Out of the 2.95 lakhs registered eligible candidates, 1.10 lakh were female, 1.85 lakh were male, and 9 were transgender candidates. Of the 2.58 lakh candidates who appeared, 0.97 lakh were female, 1.61 lakh were male, and 9 were transgender candidates.

CAT 2026 Toppers: Previous Year's Analysis

The list of CAT Toppers 2026 will be released after the completion of the exam, along with the CAT result 2026 at the official website - iimcat.ac.in. The exam conducting body will also release the names and scores of individuals achieving the highest percentiles in the Common Admission Test 2026. Meanwhile, candidates can check the past year's toppers' statistics below:

Also check - CAT Result 2026

CAT 2026: Preparation Tips from Toppers

Apoorva Rajadhyaksha, who scored a perfect 100-percentile in CAT 2024, said that her preparation journey began in July 2024, giving her only four months to study the entire syllabus. Meditation and music became integral parts of her routine, helping her maintain focus and reduce stress. “CAT is more about managing time and understanding the essence of questions than just knowing everything,” she says. Mock tests and previous years’ question papers were instrumental in her preparation. Raiyaan S (CAT 2023, 98.03 percentile) said the last phase was more about protecting his state of mind than adding more academic load. 

Milan Morais (CAT 2023, 99.79 percentile) said he had completed the syllabus well before the exam and had shifted fully into mock-taking mode by October. For Morais, the final phase was not about pushing harder but about staying mentally steady. He advises CAT aspirants to understand their strengths and weaknesses. A disciplined and well-thought-out strategy guided his approach across all three sections. Morais advises candidates to read exam instructions carefully before starting the test.

CAT Toppers 2026 - Previous Years' Toppers List

CAT 2026 toppers list will be released after the completion of the CAT exam 2026, along with the CAT result. Meanwhile, candidates can take a look at the CAT toppers of the year 2024 in the table below:

Check the CAT toppers list for the year 2023 from the table below:

CAT Toppers 2026: Previous Year Statistics

Along with the topper list, the conducting body also releases the statistics related to CAT results. These statistics display state-wise distribution of top scorers, number of male and female candidates achieving the top percentiles, and their educational background (engineering or non-engineering). These statistics help the candidates in understanding the competitive landscape of the CAT exam. Candidates can take a look at the number of candidates who have received the top percentiles in the Common Admission Test conducted in the past year.

CAT Results 2026 - Discipline and Percentiles

The exam conducting body releases the statistics about the discipline of candidates obtaining the highest percentiles. This information indicates the diverse academic backgrounds of CAT toppers. For last year, this data is as follows: 

CAT Cut-off 2026

The CAT 2026 cut-off refers to the minimum percentile required by the candidates to qualify for the next stages of the selection process at various IIMs and other top business schools. The CAT cut-off varies for candidates belonging to different categories. The cut-off is released by various participating institutes separately on their official websites. However, to gain admission to IIMs, candidates can expect the minimum cut-off to be above the 90th percentile (90+).