Overview: Are you considering CAT for an MBA? This article breaks down the MBA CAT cutoff for top B schools. Find out the minimum cat percentile for top B schools and the factors affecting the cutoffs!

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive exam that serves as a gateway to the prestigious MBA programs in India.

The top b schools accepting cat scores and cutoffs in 2024 will be a major deciding factor in shortlisting candidates for further rounds that include GD and PI.

Scroll down to get the complete details about the CAT cutoff for top B schools in India!

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CAT Cutoff for Top B Schools: Highlights 

The admission cut-off percentile for IIMs and other top MBA colleges in 2024 is expected to range from 95 to 100. For General/NC-OBC category students, the cut-off is estimated to be around 98-100 percentile, and for SC/ST/PwD category candidates, it will be lower. 

Non-IIMs might have cut-offs ranging from 94-100 percentile. The institutes will decide the final cut-offs based on candidates' overall performance in the exam. 

It's important to note that while many colleges release their cut-offs in advance, the top MBA colleges like SPJIMR, IMT, MDI, FMS, and JBIMS have lower cut-offs compared to the IIMs.

Also Read: CAT Exam Admission Process 2024

CAT Cutoff for Top B-Schools for 2024 (Expected)

The cutoff percentile for top MBA colleges like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and others is likely to be 99+ for male engineers in the general category. For IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, and other new IIMs, the expected cutoff is 85-95 percentile. 

The CAT cutoff for top B schools in 2024 will be important in shortlisting MBA admission candidates, including group discussions and personal interviews. The table below provides the list of top B schools accepting cat scores and cutoffs :

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	Male- 90 Female- 87	Male- 72 Female- 70	Male- 68 Female- 65	Male- 52 Female- 50	Male- 37 Female- 34
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

Also Read: How Many Students Appear for CAT Exam Every Year

Category- Wise Expected CAT Cutoff for Top B Schools 2024 

There is also a category-based cutoff in the CAT exam, which includes categories such as General, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and PwD. The top B-schools in India accept CAT scores based on these categories.

CAT Cut off for IIM Ahmedabad for 2024 (Expected)

Category	VARC	DILR	QA	Aggregate
General	70	70	70	80
NC-OBC	65	65	65	75
SC	60	60	60	70
ST	50	50	50	60
PwD (General/ NC-OBC/ SC)	60	60	60	70
PwD (ST)	50	50	50	60

Also Read: CAT Exam Pattern 2024

CAT Cutoff for IIM Bangalore for 2024 (Expected)

Category	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
General	80	75	75	85
NC-OBC	70	65	65	75
EWS	70	65	65	75
SC	65	60	60	70
ST	55	55	55	65
PwD	50	50	50	60

Also Read: CAT exam marking scheme

CAT Cutoff for IIM Calcutta for 2024

Category	VARC	DILR	QA	Aggregate
General	≥75	≥80	≥80	≥80
NC-OBC	≥65	≥65	≥70	≥75
EWS	≥65	≥65	≥70	≥75
SC	≥60	≥60	≥65	≥70
ST	≥55	≥55	≥55	≥65
PwD	≥55	≥55	≥55	≥65

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CAT Cutoff for IIM Kozhikode for 2024 (Expected)

Category	Class 10	Class 12	Sectional Percentile	CAT Percentile
General	60	60	75	85
NC-OBC/ EWS	60	60	65	75
SC	55	55	55	65
ST/ PwD	55	55	45	55

Also Read: CAT Exam Preparation Books 2024 

CAT Cutoff for IIM Lucknow for 2024

Category	VARC	DILR	QA	Aggregate
General	85	85	85	90
NC-OBC	77	77	77	82
SC	55	55	55	70
ST	50	50	50	65
PwD	50	50	50	65
EWS	77	77	77	82

Also Read: CAT exam syllabus for 2024

CAT Cutoff 2023 for Non-IIM Top B-schools

The CAT cutoffs for top B schools are high, typically at 95 percentile and above, but some colleges ranked by NIRF have lower cutoffs in the range of 70-80 percentiles. Below are the expected cutoff percentiles for General category students for admission to some of the top MBA colleges (non-IIM) in 2024.

Institute	CAT cutoff 2023 (Percentile)
JBIMS Mumbai	99.9
FMS	99
IIT Delhi	98
IIM Mumbai	97
MDI Gurgaon	95
IIT Madras	95
IMT Ghaziabad	93
SPJIMR	85 (profile-based calls)

Also Read: Regular mock tests for CAT 2024

Understanding CAT Cutoff Structure For Top B Schools 

The CAT cutoff structure is a crucial aspect of the MBA admissions process. It determines whether a candidate qualifies for the next stages of the CAT exam selection process, such as group discussions, written ability tests, and personal interviews.

The CAT cutoff for top B schools is generally of three types: overall cutoff, sectional cutoff, and category-wise. Let us understand each of them briefly: 

• Overall Cutoffs for CAT Exam: CAT exam overall cutoffs for top b schools refer to the aggregate score candidates need to achieve across all three sections of the CAT exam. This is the combined score from VARC, DILR, and QA.
• Sectional Cutoffs for CAT Exam: Sectional cutoffs for top b schools refer to the minimum scores candidates must achieve in each section of the CAT exam 2024.
• Category-wise Cutoffs for CAT Exam:CAT category-wise cutoffs for top b schools are specific cutoff scores set for different categories of candidates. In India, these categories typically include General, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

Also Read: Reservation Policy in CAT Exam 2024

Factors Influencing CAT Cutoffs For Top B Schools

Various dynamic factors influence the CAT cutoff scores for the CAT exam. These factors collectively shape the benchmark scores that candidates must achieve to secure admission to top B-schools. Let’s explore each of these factors in detail:

• Number of Applicants: An increased number of applicants raises competition, leading to higher CAT cutoffs for top B schools.
• Difficulty Level of CAT Exam: When the CAT exam is tough, the cutoffs are high because only top performers can score well. Easier exams result in lower cutoffs due to more candidates performing well.
• Institute Reputation and Demand: Institutes with a high reputation, such as the IIMs, typically have higher cutoffs due to their brand value and program demand. Institutes known for specific specialisations or consistently rank high in national and international surveys often have higher cutoffs. 
• Previous Year Cutoff Trends: The CAT cutoff for top B schools also fluctuates based on the previous year's cutoffs. The B schools analyse trends to determine whether to raise or lower the cutoffs. If the cutoff scores have steadily increased, it indicates rising competition, prompting the institutes to set higher cutoffs.

Conclusion

If you're aiming for a top B-school, understanding CAT cutoffs is crucial. With SuperGrads' CAT online coaching, you'll be well-prepared to meet these requirements and secure your MBA admission. Enroll today and pave your path to success!