Low score in IISER? Confused about which IISER institute to apply for? Read this Shiksha article to know what are the IISER institute options are available for low scores in IISER 2025, passing marks and other alternative college options for BS-MS/ BS degree courses available.
IISER 2025 results were released on June 24, 2025, for admissions to the BS-MS/BS/Btech courses offered. These students who wish to get into one of the finest institutions through the IISER exam should know that the criteria for qualifying scores, getting scores less than the expected scores, can lead to disappointment.
Explore colleges based on IISER Entrance Exam
If students prepare for the IISER Exam, knowing the scores that can help them qualify for the exam, they can make a better preparation strategy for the exam to pursue different UG and PG courses in the science stream. To beat the IISER exam, it is important for students to understand the syllabus, exam pattern, preparation strategy, and important topics related to the exam. Before stepping into the counselling process, students must know the IISER institutes they can choose if they have a low score in the IISER 2025.
Also Read: IISER 2025 Marks vs Rank
Once IISER result is declared, a seat allotment list is declared containing roll numbers of candidates who are allocated seats in BSMS programme through different channels (SCB, KVPY JEE). Candidates can check the first round allotment list on the official website of the exam on July 15, 2025, Tentatively. All candidates whose roll numbers appear in the first round allotment list need to log in to their application portal to download the offer letters.
Rules related to withdrawal/refund of Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF):
1. The application fee paid during filling up the application form is not refundable.
2. Refund policy for the Seat Acceptance Fee (SAF) is given below:
- The candidate can withdraw his/her seat by selecting the option “WITHDRAW SEAT” in the application portal. No other form/method of withdrawal is accepted. Email or phone communication in this regard shall not be entertained.
- Once a candidate has withdrawn, he/she will not be considered for further rounds of counseling/admission process. A withdrawn candidate cannot re-enter the admission process under any circumstances.
There are two important withdrawal dates:
? Round-wise withdrawal (RW) date, and
? Final withdrawal (FW) date. RW and FW dates can be found below. - If a candidate withdraws from the counselling process before RW deadline, then no cancellation fee will be applicable, i.e., the entire SAF (after the deduction of bank charges, if applicable) will be refunded.
- If a candidate withdraws after the RW deadline, but before the FW deadline, then a non-refundable administrative fee will be deducted which is ?10,000/- (Rupees ten thousand only) for GEN/OBC/OBC-NCL/EWS/PwD/KM and Kashmiri Pandit/Kashmiri Hindu Families (non-migrants) candidate and ?5,000/- (Rupees five thousand only) for SC/ST candidates.
- Once a candidate has withdrawn the seat through the counselling portal, the amount due will be refunded to the bank account provided in the IISER Preference Form. Such candidates do not need to take any additional steps towards their SAF refund. All efforts will be made to ensure that the refunds are processed within 15 working days after the withdrawal.
- The Seat Acceptance Fee will be eventually transferred to the IISER which the candidate finally registers at, and the respective IISER will adjust the fees that may be applicable, locally from the candidate upon registration at the particular IISER. Any withdrawal after the FW deadline will be taken care by that particular IISER following the instructions given below.
- If the candidate fails to join in-person at the offered IISER on the joining date mentioned in the offer letter of the respective IISER, the cancellation fee decided by the concerned IISER will be applicable.
- Further, a candidate who has paid the SAF but fails to show up by the last date of admission fee payment at the concerned IISER, will not be considered for further rounds of admission.
- If the candidate decides to discontinue after joining any particular IISER, the refund policy of that IISER will be applicable.
IISERs and JAC are not liable for losses incurred if an application is not withdrawn in the above manner on or before the stipulated date and time.
- What is the parameter to determine a low score in the IISER exam?
- IISER Institute Options for Low Score in IISER 2025?
- IISER 2025 Passing Marks: Category-wise
- IISER 2025 Cut Off
- Alternative Institutions for IISER Aspirants
What is the parameter to determine a low score in the IISER exam?
Here are a few points to be considered to understand the factors that determine a low score in the IISER exam.
- Those students who get less than 90 marks should know that this comes under the low score category.
- Scores between 90 and 110 may be borderline and depend heavily on the candidate’s category (GEN, OBC-NCL, SC/ST, EWS).
-
IISER does not officially declare passing marks, but admission depends on cutoff ranks and availability of seats.
IISER Institute Options for Low Score in IISER 2025?
If you’ve scored below the expected cutoffs, admission into core IISER campuses may not be possible through the general merit list. However, all is not lost. There are low-scoring IISER institutions that offer excellent science programmes. Check out the previous year's IISER Rank, closing and opening ranks and IISER 2025 low scores, which provide admissions to the IISER institutes.
Institute Name |
IISER 2024 Rank |
IISER 2024 Marks |
IISER 2025 Expected Marks |
---|---|---|---|
IISER Berhampur |
4484- GEN 1311- GEN EWS 2379- OBC 1333-SC |
92- GEN 75- GEN EWS 70- OBC 60- SC |
110- GEN 95- GEN EWS 90- OBC 80- SC |
IISER Pune |
- | 125- GEN 105- GEN EWS 95- OBC 90- SC |
150- GEN 135- GEN EWS 125- OBC 115- SC |
Also Read: IISER Safe Score 2025
IISER 2025 Passing Marks: Category-wise
IISc Bangalore and IIT Madras are one of the top institutes that the test takers aim for, and the top-scoring candidates get their admissions in these two institutes.
Institute Name | General | OBC | SC | ST |
---|---|---|---|---|
IISc Bangalore | 210 | 195 | 150 | 135 |
IIT Madras | 195 | 180 | 140 | 120 |
IISER Pune | 175 | 160 | 130 | 110 |
IISER Kolkata | 160 | 150 | 115 | 100 |
IISER Bhopal | 145 | 138 | 115 | 95 |
IISER Mohali | 145 | 142 | 105 | 95 |
IISER Trivandrum | 135 | 120 | 95 | 85 |
IISER Tirupati | 125 | 115 | 90 | 75 |
IISER Berhampur | 115 | 100 | 85 | 65 |
Also Read: IISER Exam 2026
IISER 2025 Cut Off
The following items or objects will not be allowed to be carried to the IISER 2025 exam centres.
- Stationery items such as test-based material (written/printed), papers, notes, Pencil box, pouches, geometry box, pen, scale/ruler, eraser, etc.
- Electronic devices such as calculators, cameras, electronic pens, scanners, etc.
- Accessories such as bags, belts, caps, goggles, wallets, etc.
- Devices used for communication such as mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth, fitness bands, earphones, pager, etc.
- Eatables (packed or home-cooked), thermos, etc.
The portal for document upload and freezing of IISER preferences for IISER 2025 Admissions can be done in the window period in the month of July 2025, tentatively. After accepting the offer and paying seat acceptance fee, the candidate can exercise two options:
- Candidate can FREEZE the seat (they will not participate in further rounds of counselling),
- Candidate can FLOAT (they will participate in further rounds of counselling to get their higher preferences). The FLOAT option is activated by default for those who pay the seat acceptance fee. A student who has chosen to FLOAT will be again considered for seat allocation in the next round. If they are eligible to secure a seat in an IISER that is higher in their preference list than the currently accepted one, they will be offered that seat.
In case candidates wish to reset the password, candidates will have to follow the steps given below:
Visit the IISER 2025 website
Click on the Log in tab
Click on 'Reset/Change Password' tab
A link will be mailed to the registered email id
Click on the link and change/reset the password
IISER 2025 Cut Off is the minimum mark applicants need to secure to get admission in college/university. IAT 2025 Cut off is anticipated to be higher for IISc Bangalore than IIT Madras and for IISER institutes. Based on the marks scored by the candidates and depending upon the number of seats available for the course, IISER cut off 2025 will be prepared in terms of opening and closing ranks.
IISER 2024 Expected Cut Off | |
---|---|
IISc Bangalore |
200 -190 |
IIT Madras |
185 -175 |
IISER Pune |
170 -160 |
IISER Bhopal |
140 -135 |
IISER Kolkata |
160 -155 |
IISER Mohali |
140 -132 |
IISER Tirupati |
120 -115 |
IISER Berhampur |
110 - 95 |
Alternative Institutions for IISER Aspirants
Here’s a list of popular universities and colleges where you may stand a good chance of admission, even with a lower IISER score:
1. Central Universities under CUET UG
Many central universities now accept students via the CUET score. These include various institutions like the Central University of Punjab, the Central University of Kerala, Hyderabad University, BHU and Jamia Millia Islamia. The passing scores needed for students to get into such central universities can differ between 35 and 60 per cent based on the course and candidate category.
2. State-Level Universities: Here are some of the universities at the state level, for those who wish to get accepted through CUET/IAT scores or the entrance exams conducted by these state universities.
- Jadavpur University in West Bengal: Students get through their class 12 marks or WBJEE.
- Ashoka University: Students can get science-related programs along with a holistic admission process.
- Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham: Students can get admission through scholarships and accept various entrance exam scores.
Read More: IISER 2025 Student Response Sheet

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Student Forum
Answered 2 months ago
With a 7,000 rank in the SC category, admission to any IISER (including newer campuses) is not possible as per 2025 cutoffs. Cutoff ranks for SC category in IISERs generally close between 125 (most competitive) and 750 (least competitive).
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 months ago
IISER Berhampur cutoff 2025 for the BS + MS course across multiple specialisations stood at 3299 during the Round 1 cutoff for the students belonging to the General AI quota. So, considering the first-round cutoff rank, candidates must target to secure a rank up to 3299 and lower to improve their ch
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
IISER Mohali cutoff 2025 has been released for different categories of students under the AI quota. For the General category, the cutoff rank for BS + MS admission across multiple specialisations was 1778. To view the category-wise ranks, refer to the table below:
Category | BS + MS |
---|---|
General | 1778 |
OBC | 1358 |
SC | 520 |
ST | 263 |
EWS | 480 |
PWD | 50112 |
R
Contributor-Level 10
No. Students are not permitted to carry any electronic device including a calculator. However, candidates need not to get worried about the calculator as the numerical which will be asked in the examination will be upto the class 12. Candidates need to remember some basic log values which can be used in solving some of the equations in mathematics and Physics The student will be provided with plain sheets to do their calculation.