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CAT 2025 Result is Out. Candidates are advised to closely track shortlisting criteria of individual IIMs, apply to a balanced mix of IIM and non-IIM institutes.
The declaration of CAT 2025 results has shifted focus of MBA aspirants from scores to shortlisting chances. One of the most common questions at this stage is what percentile can be considered safe for getting interview calls from Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
While IIMs do not announce a fixed “safe percentile”, admission experts point out that shortlisting is based on a composite score that includes CAT performance, academic record, work experience and category-wise criteria. Still, based on previous years’ trends and expected cut-offs for the current admission cycle, certain percentile ranges are generally seen as safer than others.
IIM Kozhikode has announced CAT 2025 Result. The analysis below is based on previous years’ shortlisting criteria published by the IIMs and interactions with admission experts.
CAT 2025: Expected Safe Percentile Ranges for IIM Calls
| CAT Percentile Range | Likely Shortlisting Outcome |
|---|---|
| 99.5 percentile and above | Strong chance of calls from IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta (profile dependent) |
| 98–99.49 percentile | High probability of calls from IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore |
| 95–97.99 percentile | Good chances at new IIMs; limited old IIM calls with a strong profile |
| 90–94.99 percentile | Baby IIMs, CAP IIMs and several top non-IIM institutes |
| Below 90 percentile | Limited IIM chances; better options among non-IIM B-schools |
What Percentile Is Considered Safe for Old IIMs?
As many as 12 candidates have scored 100 percentile this time. For IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta, a percentile of 99.5 and above is generally considered safe only for candidates with strong academic consistency and, in many cases relevant work experience. Even candidates with 99+ percentile have missed interview calls in previous years due to low scores in Class 10, Class 12 or graduation.
Candidates in 98–99 percentile range usually stand a strong chance at IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore, particularly those who benefit from academic or gender diversity criteria.
Why a High CAT Percentile Does Not Guarantee an IIM Call
Each IIM follows its own shortlisting formula. Apart from the overall CAT percentile, several other factors play a decisive role:
- Sectional percentile cut-offs
- Academic performance in Class 10, Class 12 and graduation
- Work experience and its relevance
- Category-wise and diversity-related weightage
Candidates with similar percentiles often receive very different shortlisting outcomes.
Options for Candidates Scoring Between 90 and 95 Percentile
Candidates scoring between 90 and 95 percentile should not consider their chances limited. New and baby IIMs routinely shortlist candidates from this range. In addition, several leading non-IIM institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI New Delhi, TAPMI and KJ Somaiya also consider candidates in this percentile bracket, depending on profile and selection criteria.
What Aspirants Should Do Next
Candidates are advised to closely track shortlisting criteria of individual IIMs, apply to a balanced mix of IIM and non-IIM institutes and begin preparation for WAT-PI stages without waiting for call announcements.
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)
Qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of Iims for Written Ability Test (What) and Personal Interview PI are listed below. Candidates who MET the qualifying CAT cut off, were eligible for What-PI round. These qualifying CAT cut offs are for General Category. The cut offs for Reserved category students are lower:
- IIM Ahmedabad: 95 percentile
- IIM Bangalore: 85 percentile
- IIM Calcutta: 85 percentile
- IIM Lucknow: 90 percentile
- IIM Kozhikode: 85 percentile
- IIM Indore: 90 percentile
- IIM Udaipur: 93 percentile
- IIM Shillong: 75 percentile
- IIM Trichy: 93 percentile
- IIM Visakhapatnam: 80 percentile
- IIM Rohtak: 95 percentile
- 1IIM Nagpur: 85 percentile
- IIM Jammu: 93 percentile
- IIM Ranchi: 90 percentile
- IIM Sirmaur: 92 percentile
- IIM Bodhgaya: 93 percentile
- IIM Sambalpur: 93 percentile
- IIM Kashipur: 94 percentile
- IIM Raipur: 93 percentile
- IIM Amritsar: 90 percentile
For complete details of IIM selection and admission process read this article: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-shortlist-selection-admission-criteria-blogId-18787.
CAT percentile plays an important role in shortlisting, but final admission decisions depend on overall performance across all stages of the selection process.
Read more:
CAT 2025 Result Announced: Check Official Release, State-wise Toppers Distribution
CAT 2025 Result Out: 12 Candidates Score 100 Percentile; Highest from Delhi
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Abhay Anand is an experienced education journalist with over 15 years in print and digital media. Currently serving as Manager- Editorial at Shiksha.com, he specializes in higher education policy, student mobility,
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