Don't just aim for percentile,work on your profile for the interviews. Certifications, work-ex, extracurriculars, etc., help in the second stage. Also, remember, IIMs give diversity points too, especially for non-engineers and women. Some IIMs like Shillong and the newer ones use a more holistic selection model. Even a 98-99 percentile might get you a call if you shine in WAT-PI. So your CAT score matters, but the institute’s admission policy matters more.

I had 72/75/69 and scored 99.6 in CAT but got no calls from A, B, or C. Got shortlisted by IIM-K, I, and new IIMs. If your profile is weak, CAT percentile alone won’t save you. You need to be strategic and maybe focus on non-IIM top colleges too.

Your profile matters, but it depends on the IIM's selection criteria. IIM-A is notorious for giving a lot of weight to Class 10 and 12 marks. But schools like IIM-K or FMS don't care that much. So yes, aim for 99.7+ to maximize chances and target other B-schools like MDI, IIT-B, etc.

Yes, especially for IIM A, B, and C. These institutes give heavy weightage to past academics, and with a 70/70/70 profile, your application might not clear the shortlist even at a 99.5 percentile. But IIM-L, I, K, and other top colleges have more balanced criteria, so don't give up.