At GIBS Bangalore, the faculty-to-student ratio is around 1:15, which means one faculty member for every fifteen students. This helps in providing personal attention and better guidance to each student. With smaller class sizes, it becomes easier for teachers to understand every student's strengths
Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
CAT 2025 results will be released online. Students who appeared for the CAT exam may face concerns about the sectional cutoff. But worry not. In this article, Shiksha has listed down the top MBA colleges in India which give admission to the MBA programme without sectional cutoff. Read the article below to know more.
MBA colleges in India with no sectional cutoff: CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. The CAT exam is the first stepping stone for students embarking upon the MBA journey. Every year lakhs of students appear for the CAT exam, with a dream to get into the top B-school in India. But all of them do not achieve it. But it does not mean it is the end of the road of getting into a good B-school.
CAT 2025 will be conducted on November 30, 2025, by the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode. The CAT response sheet was also released on the official website of CAT. Traversing the intricate aspects of the CAT exam presents challenges other than the overall CAT percentile. Many students who appeared for the exam may face concerns about sectional cutoff. But, there are many top MBA colleges in India without sectional cutoff which offer admissions into the MBA programme. In this article, Shiksha has listed down the MBA colleges in India with no sectional cutoffs.
Table of content
- What is Sectional Cutoff?
- Is the Sectional Cutoff Important?
- List of MBA Colleges in India with No Sectional Cutoffs
- Advantages of MBA Colleges in India With No Sectional Cutoff
What is Sectional Cutoff?
CAT is divided into three sections, i.e. Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. The sectional cutoff is the minimum score decided by the institutes. The minimum score or the sectional cutoff is based on factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants, available seats, etc. These cutoffs are set for each section of the CAT exam and serve as qualifying criteria for admissions to the institutes.
Many management colleges consider sectional cutoffs for admissions, in addition to the overall percentile for admissions, hence, maintaining a good sectional score is important. Meeting the sectional cutoff will enhance the chances of the students to get into their dream B-school. Usually, a score of 70-80 percentile in VARC and DILR and 60-70 percentile in QA is good score. However, various MBA colleges in India also take other factors into consideration such as work experience, academic profile, PI performance.
Also Read:
- CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key PDF
- CAT 2024 question paper PDF download slot 1,2,3
- CAT 2024 Slot 2 Answer Key PDF question paper analysis
- CAT 2024 Slot 1 answer key PDF question paper analysis
- CAT 2024 Slot 3 answer key PDF question paper analysis
- IIM Shortlist Process: Check, Dates, Waitlist
- IIM Admission Process and Selection Criteria 2025
Is the Sectional Cutoff Important?
CAT is a highly competitive exam and the sectional cutoff is important in the way that many institutes determine the minimum score needed for the students to qualify for admission. The CAT sectional cutoff can change from one institute to another and one programme to another. Scoring well in all the sections is importnat for achieving a good overall CAT percentile.
Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow?
A:
The CAT cut offs for IIM Lucknow is usually around 97-99 percentile. The two courses - PGP Agri-Business Management (ABM) and PGP Sustainable Management (some) are extremely popular among MBA aspirants who wish to make a career in these areas. The institute also offers PGP programme. The qualifying CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 90 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST and PwD candidates, it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Lucknow PGP course. General category: 85 VARC 85 DILR 85 Quantitative Aptitude 90 (Overall)
NC-OBC category: 77 VARC 77 DILR 77 Quantitative Aptitude 82 (Overall)
EWS category: 77 VARC 77 DILR 77 Quantitative Aptitude 82 (Overall)
SC category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall)
ST category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)
PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)
Click here for detailed IIM Lucknow admission and selection criteria: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-lucknow-shortlist-admission-criteria-blogId-18509.
Q: Are CAT cut offs announced along with the CAT result?
A:
CAT cut-offs are not announced along with the CAT result. The cut-offs are also not released publicly. They are known after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs will open the shortlist window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.
Q: What is the average number of CAT 100 percentilers every year?
A:
On an average, about 10-15 CAT aspirants score 100 percentile. Given below is the data of CAT 100 percentilers of last 3 years:
Exam year | CAT 100 percentilers | State wise numbers |
|---|---|---|
CAT 2024 | 14 | 1- Andhra Pradesh |
CAT 2023 | 14 | 1 – Andhra Pradesh |
CAT 2022 | 11 | 2 - Delhi 1 - Gujarat 1 - Haryana 1 - Kerala 1 - Madhya Pradesh 2 - Maharashtra 2 - Telangana 1 - Uttar Pradesh |
Most of the tier I colleges focus on the overall cutoff as well as the sectional cutoff, but a majority of the tier II and tier III colleges focus only on the overall cutoff.
IIMs and top business schools in India release their sectional and overall CAT exam cutoff after the CAT results are announced. The CAT result 2025 will likely be released in the third week of December 2025. So, scoring well only in one section is not enough to grab a seat in a top tier B-school. Scoring well in all the three sections of the CAT exam is imperative.
Also Read: CAT Score vs Percentile
List of MBA Colleges in India with No Sectional Cutoffs
The following table depicts the list of MBA colleges in India with no sectional cutoffs with their overall expected CAT cutoff 2024:
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| Name of the Institute |
Expected CAT Cutoff 2023 |
|---|---|
| 96+ |
|
| 80+ |
|
| 98+ |
|
| 90+ |
|
| 24.6 |
|
| 23.75 |
|
| 70+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 99 |
|
| 93+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 94+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 88+ |
Also Read:
Advantages of MBA Colleges in India With No Sectional Cutoff
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Choosing MBA colleges with no sectional cutoff can be advantageous in the way that these colleges look at the overall performance of the aspirants rather than focusing on a particular section. Colleges that do not impose sectional cutoffs in entrance exams, such as the CAT for MBA programmes, offer several advantages to candidates.
- Broad Evaluation: Students are evaluated comprehensively, i.e. they are selected on the basis of the overall marks and percentile. Such colleges do not solely focus on one section. This gives way to a fairer evaluation and allows for a more nuanced consideration of the performances of the students.
- Diverse Skill Sets: Students with diverse skills get the change to apply to their dream college even if they have not cleared the sectional CAT cutoff. Students from non-traditional academic or professional backgrounds will find it easier to qualify, as their unique skills and experiences can be taken into account. The focus on rigid benchmarks can be taken off.
- Flexibility: Students have the option to emphasize on their strengths and work on their weaknesses in sections where they scored low.
It is important to note that while these advantages exist, candidates should still strive for a balanced performance across all sections to enhance their chances of success in the competitive admission processes.
Read More:
Q: What is the CAT exam cutoff required to get admission to IIM Bangalore?
A:
The CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore hovers between 97-100 percentile. The qualifying CAT cut off required for being eligible for IIM Bangalore's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 85 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST candidates, it is 65 percentile and for PwD candidates it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore.
- General category: 80 VARC 75 DILR 75 Quantitative Aptitude 85 (Overall)
- NC-OBC category: 75 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- EWS category: 70 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- SC category: 65 VARC 60 DILR 60 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall)
- ST category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 65 (Overall)
- PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)
Q: How many candidates scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024?
A:
14 candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024, out of a total of 2.93 Lacs candidates. Out of 14 toppers, 1 is a woman candidate. Check below CAT 2024 result data:
Check the below table for data and statistics of CAT 2024 test takers and toppers.
| CAT Toppers | Gender and Discipline | State |
|---|---|---|
| 100 percentiles 14 - Nos | Female - 1 Male - 13 Engg – 13 Non-Engg – 1 | Andhra Pradesh 1 Delhi 2 Haryana 1 Kerala 1 Maharashtra 5 Odisha 1 Rajasthan 1 Telangana 2 |
| 99.99 percentiles 29 -Nos. | Female - 2 Male - 27 Engg – 25 Non-Engg - 4 | Chandigarh 1 Delhi 4 Gujarat 2 Haryana 1 Karnataka 3 Kerala 1 Madhya Pradesh 1 Maharashtra 5 Odisha 1 Punjab 1 Rajasthan 3 Tamil Nadu 1 Telangana 1 Uttar Pradesh1 Uttarakhand 1 West Bengal 2 |
| 99.98 percentiles 30-Nos | Female - 1 Male - 29 Engg – 20 Non-Engg -10 | Bihar 1 Delhi 2 Gujarat 2 Haryana 4 Karnataka 4 Madhya Pradesh 3 Maharashtra 3 Tamil Nadu 2 Telangana 3 Uttar Pradesh 2 West Bengal 4 |
Q: How many CAT mock tests to practice to score 99 percentile?
A:
Experts recommend that aspirants must practice at least 40 CAT mock tests to score above 99 percentile well in the exam. Most of the CAT test takers take up to 50 mock tests of various types and difficulty level. CAT toppers in previous years have practiced even up to 80 mock tests during their preparation. However, candidates must decide the number of CAT mock tests depending on their control and confidence on topics as the exam day comes closer. Mock tests are the best way to judge your performance viz. The important topics of CAT. The more one practices CAT mock tests, the more accurate they get in solving questions from all subjects. It is very important to know which formula to apply to which type question to solve the problem accurately. Mock tests help candidates in this aspect which is why practicing mock tests is most important in CAT preparation.
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About the Author
Saumya Jain
Assistant Manager- Content
Saumya brings over seven years of editorial experience, with more than five years of wielding pen (and keyboard) at Shiksha. A graduate in English Literature from Delhi University, she is a storyteller at heart.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?D
Deepthi
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates who did not appear for the CAT entrance exam can apply St. Xavier's College, Kolkata admissions as it is not a mandatory entrance exam. The candidates who wish to gain admissions into the MBA course of the institute have to appear for the Kolkata University entrance test for St. Xavier's
S
Saurabh Khanduri
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
With a 300 SC category rank in CAT, your chances for NIT Trichy MBA are relatively high. Based on 2025 data, NIT Trichy generally shortlists SC candidates with CAT percentiles around 60-65. To achieve a 300 rank under SC category, you would need about a 65-70 percentile, or a score of roughly 60-65
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ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
PGCET and CAT serve distinct purposes. The PGCET is primarily conducted for MBA admissions in colleges in the state of Karnataka, specifically for government colleges and private universities with lower fees. CAT is a national level exam for top-ranking B-schools and colleges such as the IIMs that h
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ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
That's a wonderful goal to push your son toward right at the start. To obtain previous CAT model papers, you can check many available popular exam preparation books in any bookstore or online store. Coaching interest such as TIME, IMS, Career Launcher, etc., usually have mock tests and sample papers
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ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, you can get admission to Jaypee Business School (JBS), Noida for MBA even if you don't have CAT. JBS accepts scores from several other exams such as MAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT, ATMA, and also CUET-PG. Just make sure you have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks, then apply with any of those va
Vivek Kumar Yadav
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
I
Ishita B
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
For candidates pursuing MBA, the eligibility criteria includes merit and entrance based selection. Whereas, for BBA, candidates must qualify Class 12 with a minimum aggregate. JIIT CDOE MBA on the other hand, is offered based on the minimum aggregate of graduation. However, for the final admission,
M
Manisha Shukla
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
Yes, students can get MBA admission into Galgotia University without CAT. The university accepts other national entrance exams for MBA programme. The university accepts entrance exams such as MAT, CMAT, XAT, SAT, and other. It is mandatory to qualify one of the entrance exams.
K
Kartik Shekhar
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Yes, students can get admission in Greater Noida Institute of Technology without CAT. CAT is one of the accepted entrance exams at Greater Noida Institute of Technology. The other accepted entrance exams are MAT, NMAT, XAT, CMAT, and others. If a student's CAT score is not good, worry not other acce
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Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Contributor-Level 9