CAT Non-Engineer Advantage or Disadvantage
CL Team December 11 2025
The truth every aspirant wants to know — without myths.
Introduction: Why This Question Even Exists?
For years, CAT aspirants have debated one thing endlessly:
“Do non-engineers have an advantage or a disadvantage in CAT and IIM admissions?”
Social media says one thing. Seniors say another.
But data from CAT score patterns + IIM selection trends tell a very different, balanced story.
Let’s break everything down with facts, not opinions.
1. CAT Exam Structure — Is It Engineer-Friendly?
CAT has 3 sections:
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VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
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DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
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QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
Historically, QA used to heavily favour engineers.
BUT from 2021 onwards, CAT has become much more balanced.
QA difficulty reduced for non-engineers
The level shifted from engineering-level math to Class 10–12 concepts.
This has significantly helped non-engineers score higher.
VARC weightage increased
VARC is the strongest section for non-engineers (especially humanities, commerce, and law students).
Result → CAT written exam is now more neutral than ever.
2. Real Data: Who Scores More—Engineers or Non-Engineers?
Fact 1: 40–45% of 99+ percentilers are non-engineers
Earlier this number used to be only 20–25%.
This shows non-engineers have caught up massively.
Fact 2: 50% of 98–99 percentile scorers are now non-engineers
A major jump due to easier QA + stable DILR + reading-heavy VARC.
Fact 3: VARC toppers are mostly non-engineers
In 2023 and 2024:
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4 out of 5 VARC 100-percentilers were non-engineering graduates.
Fact 4: Engineers still dominate QA toppers
~70% of QA 99.5+ scorers are engineers.
But this doesn’t decide final admission.
3. IIM Admissions: Do Non-Engineers Have an Advantage?
YES — at most IIMs, non-engineers get a diversity advantage.
Why?
Because 70–80% of CAT applicants are engineers.
To balance classrooms, IIMs now give extra weightage to:
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Academic diversity
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Gender diversity
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Non-engineering profile
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Work-ex diversity
4. The Diversity Points: Real Weightage in Top IIMs
IIM Bangalore
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Non-engineers get high profile weightage
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Lower CAT cutoff for non-engineers (overall composite score increases)
IIM Ahmedabad
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Uses “Academic Rating” where commerce/arts can score equal or higher
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Does NOT favour engineering beyond QA
IIM Calcutta
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Heavy weightage on 10th, 12th and graduation marks, where non-engineers often excel
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Also VARC-heavy exam helps non-engineers
Most New IIMs
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Give 2–5 marks for academic diversity
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This is enough to offset slightly lower QA scores
Conclusion:
In final selection, non-engineers often have better odds because of profile balance.
5. What About Engineers? Are They Disadvantaged?
Not exactly.
Engineers get:
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Strong QA fundamentals
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Logical reasoning comfort
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Competitive mindset from technical backgrounds
But they lose out on:
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Diversity marks
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VARC performance in many cases
So, BOTH groups have strengths and weaknesses.
6. The Truth: Who Has the Real Advantage?
In CAT Written Exam:
Balanced.
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Non-engineers → VARC advantage
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Engineers → QA advantage
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DILR → Equal for all
In IIM Admissions:
Non-engineers have a slight advantage due to diversity points.
In Overall Selection:
Performance + Profile = Selection
Not your degree.
7. What This Means for You (Actionable Strategy)
If You Are a Non-Engineer
Use VARC as your strength
Build a stable QA foundation — basic maths is enough
Create a strong profile with internships & projects
Target 97–99 percentile for top IIM calls
If You Are an Engineer
Push QA to 99+
Don’t ignore VARC — it makes or breaks
Build extracurriculars if your profile lacks diversity
Target 98–99.5 percentile for top IIMs
Final Verdict (Simple & Honest)
CAT exam is NOT biased toward engineers anymore.
IIM admissions actually favour non-engineers through diversity points.
Both categories have equal chances — the strategy matters more than degree.
Your background does NOT decide your future.
Your effort + preparation + percentile + profile does.