If you are preparing for IIM admissions, understanding the CAT 2025 cut-off trends is one of the most important parts of your strategy. Every IIM sets its own category-wise and sectional minimum percentiles, and these benchmarks decide who gets shortlisted for the WAT–PI rounds.
For the upcoming cycle, the CAT cut-off 2025 for top institutes is expected to be high: IIM Ahmedabad requires around 95+ percentile, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta 85-90+ percentile, while IIM Lucknow and IIM Indore are likely to be in the 90 percentile range.
With these cut-offs in mind, you can better assess your target score, shortlist realistic institutes, and prepare confidently for the admission process.
CAT 2025 Cut Off
Below is the expected CAT 2025 cut-off for all IIMs in India:
Old IIMs Cut-off
| Old IIMs | Expected CAT 2025 Cut-Off |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 |
New IIMs Cut-off
| New IIMs | Expected CAT 2025 Cut-Off |
| IIM Udaipur | 92 |
| IIM Ranchi | 92 |
| IIM Trichy | 92 |
| IIM Raipur | 92 |
| IIM Kashipur | 92 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 80 |
| IIM Nagpur | 90 |
| IIM Amritsar | 85 |
Baby IIMs Cut-off
| Baby IIMs | Expected CAT 2025 Cut-Off |
| IIM Jammu | 90 (Male) / 87 (Female) |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 92 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 74 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 92 |
CAT Sectional Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 sectional cut-off:
| IIM | VARC | DILR | QA |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Bangalore | 80 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | ≥80 | ≥80 | ≥75 |
| IIM Indore | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| IIM Amritsar | 75 | 75 | 80 |
| IIM Nagpur | 72 | 72 | 72 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Kashipur | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Jammu | 70 | 70 | 70 |
| IIM Raipur | ≥70 | ≥70 | ≥70 |
| IIM Ranchi | 80 | 80 | 80 |
Sectional cut-offs are crucial for ensuring balanced performance across all sections. IIM Lucknow sets the toughest benchmark with 85 percentile required in each section.
Bangalore, Calcutta, and Indore also maintain high sectional filters. New and baby IIMs have uniform and moderate sectional thresholds, typically around 70 percentile, giving aspirants breathing room if one section is slightly weaker.
More important resources for CAT exam:
What is CAT Cut Off?
The CAT cut off is the minimum percentile you must score to be considered for shortlisting by an IIM. Each institute sets its own overall and sectional cut-offs based on factors such as the number of applicants, difficulty level of the exam, and its internal admission policy.
The cut-off is not the same as the final admission percentile; this is only the first filter used to decide who gets a WAT–PI call.
Top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta keep significantly higher cut-offs than new and baby IIMs, and category-wise cut-offs are considerably lower for reserved categories.
CAT Cut-off 2025 (Category-Wise)
Check the CAT 2025 cut-off for General, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS:
| IIM | General | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 | 75 | 80 | 70 | 60 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 | 75 | 75 | 65 | 55 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 | 82 | 82 | 65 | 60 |
| IIM Mumbai | 85 | 75 | 75 | 70 | 65 |
| IIM Indore | 90 | 80 | 90 | 60 | 50 |
| IIM Raipur | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 | 78 | 90 | 55 | 30 |
| IIM Udaipur | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Kashipur | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Trichy | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Ranchi | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Shillong | 75 | 75 | 75 | 60 | 50 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 80 | 70 | 72 | 45 | 35 |
| IIM Jammu | 90(M)/87(F) | 72(M)/70(F) | 68(M)/65(F) | 52(M)/50(F) | 37(M)/34(F) |
| IIM Nagpur | 90 | 76.5 | 80 | 60 | 40 |
| IIM Amritsar | 85 | 75 | 85 | 55 | 40 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 74 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
| IIM Sirmaur | 92 | 74 | 70 | 54 | 40 |
IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 cut-off for IIM Ahmedabad:
| Category | Overall Percentile | Sectional (VARC/DILR/QA) |
| General / EWS | 95 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 90 | 80 |
| SC | 85 | 75 |
| ST | 75 | 65 |
| PwD | 85 | 75 |
IIM Ahmedabad remains one of the most competitive IIMs, demanding an overall cutoff of 95 percentile for General/EWS candidates with strong 85 sectional percentile requirements.
SC/ST and OBC candidates receive meaningful relaxation, but even then, the bar stays relatively high compared to newer IIMs. Ahmedabad’s emphasis on sectional and overall balance makes it crucial for aspirants to perform consistently across all three CAT sections.
IIM Bangalore CAT Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 cut off for IIM Bangalore:
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
| General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIM Bangalore’s cut-offs are slightly lower than Ahmedabad’s but still require strong sectionals, especially in VARC. The overall cut-off of 85 percentile for General candidates reflects Bangalore’s preference for academic profile and work experience beyond just CAT percentiles.
Reserved categories benefit from lower thresholds, but performing well across all three sections remains essential.
IIM Calcutta CAT Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 cut-off for IIM Calcutta:
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
| General | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
| SC | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
| ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
| PwD | 45 | 45 | 45 | 55 |
Practice with CAT PYQs:
| CAT Previous Year Papers | CAT 2025 Question Paper |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper | CAT 2023 Question Paper |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper | CAT 2021 Question Paper |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper | CAT 2019 Question Paper |
IIM Lucknow CAT Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 cut-off for IIM Lucknow:
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
| General | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| EWS | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
| NC-OBC | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 70 |
| ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
| PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
IIM Kozhikode CAT Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 cut-off for IIM Kozhikode:
| Category | CAT Percentile | Sectional Percentile |
| General | 85 | 75 |
| NC-OBC/EWS | 75 | 65 |
| SC | 65 | 55 |
| ST/PwD | 55 | 45 |
IIM Indore CAT Cut Off 2025
Check the CAT 2025 cut-off for IIM Indore:
| Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
| General | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| EWS | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| NC-OBC | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 60 |
| ST | 40 | 40 | 40 | 45 |
| PwD | 40 | 40 | 40 | 45 |
CAT 2025 Cut Off for Top Non-IIM B-Schools
| B-School | Expected CAT Cut-Off 2025 |
| JBIMS Mumbai | 98 |
| FMS Delhi | 98 |
| IIT Delhi | 90–92 |
| IIM Mumbai | 95+ |
| MDI Gurgaon CAT Cut-off | 95 |
| IIT Madras | 95+ |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 70–85 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 85+ (Profile-Based Calls) |
Non-IIM institutes like JBIMS, FMS, MDI, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, and SPJIMR are among the strongest alternatives to IIMs. JBIMS and FMS have cut-offs equivalent to top IIMs, often demanding 98 percentile.
MDI Gurgaon and IITs require 95+, while IMT and SPJIMR provide mid-range opportunities for 70–90 percentile scorers. These institutes offer excellent placements even when compared with mid-ranked IIMs.
CAT Cut Off 2024
Check the previous year CAT cut-off:
| IIM | CAT 2024 Cut-Off |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 |
| IIM Amritsar | 90 |
| IIM Nagpur | 85 |
| IIM Sambalpur | 93 |
| IIM Trichy | 93 |
| IIM Raipur | 93 |
| IIM Ranchi | 90 |
How CAT Cutoff is Calculated?
1. Normalisation of Scores Across Exam Slots
CAT is conducted in three different exam slots, and each slot has slight difficulty variations. To ensure fairness, raw scores are statistically normalised so that candidates from a tougher slot are not disadvantaged. This normalisation step aligns performance across all slots before cut-offs are applied.
2. Conversion of Scaled Scores Into Percentiles
Once normalised scores are generated, CAT converts them into percentiles separately for VARC, DILR, QA, and the overall score.
Percentile represents how many candidates scored below you. These percentiles—not raw marks—form the basis for calculating cut-offs.
3. IIMs Apply Sectional Cut-Off Filters First
Each IIM sets minimum section-wise percentiles for VARC, DILR, and QA. Even if you score very high overall, missing a sectional cut-off disqualifies you from shortlisting. Sectional filters ensure balanced performance across all three test areas.
4. IIMs Apply Overall Percentile Cut-Off Next
After verifying sectional percentiles, IIMs compare your overall percentile to their qualifying cut-off. Old IIMs typically demand 85–95 percentile, while new/baby IIMs range between 74–92. Only candidates meeting both sectional and overall percentiles progress to the next screening stage.
5. IIMs Shortlist Using Composite Parameters
Cut-off calculation is not purely percentile-based. Each IIM applies a composite score formula that includes CAT percentile, academic scores, gender diversity, academic diversity, and sometimes work experience. This composite process determines the final shortlisting cut-off beyond the qualifying minimum.
Factors Affecting CAT Cut Off 2025
1. Difficulty Level of CAT Paper
If the exam is tougher than usual, normalised scaled scores shift, resulting in a lower cut-off. If the paper is easier, the overall and sectional cut-offs rise because more candidates score higher. Difficulty level is always the strongest influencer of cut-off trends.
2. Number of Candidates Appearing for CAT
Higher participation increases competition, which pushes cut-offs up, especially for top IIMs. If fewer candidates appear, the competition pool becomes smaller, and cut-offs may fall slightly. Over the past few years, CAT has seen a rising number of test-takers.
3. Number of Seats in IIMs
Seat availability directly affects cut-offs. New IIMs with larger intakes may have lower cut-offs, while old IIMs with limited seats maintain higher thresholds. Any increase in seat capacity can reduce cut-off pressure for some categories.
4. Category-Wise Reservation
Different cut-offs exist for General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD categories. The availability of reserved seats and category competition strength strongly influence cut-offs. Categories with higher seat allocation tend to have lower qualifying thresholds.
5. IIM Admission Policy Changes
Each IIM updates its selection criteria almost every year. A higher weightage for academics or work experience can reduce reliance on CAT percentile, indirectly impacting shortlisting cut-offs. Changes in WAT–PI weightage also shift cut-off expectations.
6. Overall Applicant Profile Quality
If more candidates with strong profiles (excellent academics, work experience, or diversity backgrounds) apply, cut-offs rise. Applicant profile strength affects old IIMs more because of their emphasis on academic consistency.
How to Improve Your Chances Even With a Moderate CAT Score?
Even if your CAT score is below top IIM cut-off levels, you still have several strong paths to secure excellent MBA admissions:
1. Apply Strategically to New and Baby IIMs
Many new-generation IIMs shortlist students in the 74–92 percentile range. With a balanced sectional performance, you can still secure WAT–PI calls despite a moderate overall percentile.
2. Target Top Non-IIM Schools
Institutes like IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, XIMB, FORE, and others accept CAT percentiles between 70–90, offering strong placements and industry exposure comparable to several IIMs.
3. Build a Strong Profile for PI/WAT
A moderate CAT score can be compensated with excellent interview skills, clarity of goals, strong academics, good communication, internships, and projects. Many B-schools give 30–60% weightage to PI rounds.
4. Use Category Relaxations Wisely
If you belong to SC, ST, OBC, or PwD categories, cut-offs are significantly lower. Even a 60–70 percentile can qualify you for several IIMs depending on category relaxations.
5. Leverage Academic and Gender Diversity
Female aspirants and candidates from non-engineering backgrounds benefit from diversity points in multiple IIMs. This boosts shortlisting chances at moderate percentiles.
6. Apply to Sector-Specific MBA Programs
IITs and some IIMs offer programs in Analytics, Operations, HR, and Business Economics that have lower cut-offs but excellent specialisation-driven placements.
7. Prepare for PI/WAT Early
The earlier you start preparing for interviews, the stronger your final composite score becomes. Many candidates with moderate CAT scores convert new IIMs and top non-IIMs through exceptional PI performance.
Past Year CAT Scores vs Percentile
Check the CAT score vs percentile:
| CAT Percentile | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| 99.9 | 106 | 111 | 120 | 131 | 196 |
| 99.5 | 89 | 93 | 107 | 115 | 170 |
| 99 | 80 | 82.5 | 97 | 102 | 157 |
| 95 | 71 | 60 | 71 | 77 | 120 |
| 90 | 57 | 48.5 | 59 | 63 | 90 |
| 85 | 30 | 41 | 45.5 | 55 | 87 |
| 80 | 25 | 35.5 | 40 | 49 | 75 |
| 70 | 21 | 29 | 35 | 36 | 57 |
FAQs About CAT Cut Off 2025
General category candidates may require around 95 percentile for IIM Ahmedabad, 85 percentile for IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, and 90 percentile for IIM Lucknow and IIM Indore.
Yes. Almost every IIM has sectional cut-offs for VARC, DILR, and QA. Even with a strong overall score, missing one section can disqualify you from shortlisting.
No. Category-based cut-offs differ widely. OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and PwD candidates have lower cut-offs than General category candidates.
For General category candidates, 99+ percentile is usually required for top IIMs, while 96–98 percentile is safe for new IIMs.
Yes, you can get into several new and baby IIMs depending on your category, academic performance, gender diversity, and work experience.
Depending on the IIM, OBC cut-offs range from 65 to 82 percentile for shortlisting, based on your attached PDF data.
EWS cut-offs generally fall between 70 to 82 percentile, depending on the IIM.
SC cut-offs are significantly lower, often between 50 to 70 percentile.
ST cut-offs are the lowest, usually between 30 to 60 percentile, depending on the IIM.
IIMs use percentiles, not raw scores, to shortlist candidates.
Not directly. But it influences the final composite score, affecting shortlisting at some IIMs.
Among baby IIMs, IIM Sambalpur has one of the lowest General category cut-offs around 74 percentile.
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