MBA Cutoff 2025: IIM, CAT, NMAT, XAT, Colleges & Category Wise Trends

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Adya Taneja
Adya Taneja

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MBA admissions in India are extremely competitive and thus understanding the cutoff scores for the main MBA exams is essential for the students. MBA cutoffs vary according to several factors including: exam, institute, specialization and category. 

This article provides a complete breakdown of MBA cutoffs in 2025 for exams including CAT, NMAT, XAT as well as institutions like IIMs, XLRI, FMS and more. 

MBA Cutoff Overview

MBA cutoffs are the minimum scores, percentile or rank that a candidate must secure to qualify for the next admission stage. 

What Affects MBA Cutoffs? Key Factors Explained

Factors 

Impact on Cutoff

Exam Difficulty

Harder Exam = lower cutoff percentile 

Number of Applicants 

Higher volume = higher cutoff 

Seat Availability 

Fewer Seats = higher competition 

Institute Reputation 

Premier B-Schools maintain high cutoffs

Category Quota 

Reserved categories have lower cutoffs 

MBA Cutoffs 2025: IIMs (CAT Based)

The Indian Institute of Management provides admission on the basis of CAT percentile. A comprehensive expected list of the cutoffs has been provided below:

Institute 

General 

OBC

SC

ST

EWS

IIM Ahmedabad 

99-100 

95

80

75

90

IIM Bangalore 

98.5

90

75

70

85

IIM Calcutta 

98.5

90

75

70

85

IIM Lucknow

97

85

70

65

80

IIM Kozihikode

97

85

70

65

80

IIM Indore

96

85

70

65

80

These are expected cutoffs based on past year trends. Final cutoffs may vary.

MBA Cutoffs 2025: Other Top Colleges & Exams

Many colleges accept other entrance exams including XAT, NMAT and many more. A comprehensive description of their cutoffs has been given below:

XAT 2025 Cutoffs 

The following colleges accept the scores of XAT which is conducted by XLRI for MBA admissions:

XLRI Jamshedpur (Business Management): 95+ percentile

XLRI Jamshedpur (Human Resource Management): 93+ percentile 

XIM Bhubaneswar: 90+ percentile

IMT Ghaziabad: 90+ percentile 

SNAP (for Symbiosis) 2025 Cutoffs

The following colleges under Symbiosis accept the scores of SNAP, conducted by Symbiosis International  for MBA admissions:

SIBM Pune: 98+ percentile

SCMHRD Pune: 96+ percentile 

SIIB Pune: 92+ percentile

SIBM Bangalore: 88+ percentile

NMAT(for NMIMS) 2025 Cutoffs 

The following branches of NMIMS accept the scores of NMAT for MBA admissions:

NMIMS Mumbai: 235-245

NMIMS Bangalore: 220-230

NMIMS Hyderabad: 210-220

Category Wise MBA Cutoff Comparison

Cutoffs differ significantly across categories due to the reservation policies. A breakdown of the same has been given below:

Institute

General

OBC

SC

ST

EWS

FMS Delhi 

98.5+

90+

75+

70+

85+

IIFT Delhi 

96+

85+

70+

65+

80+

IIT Bombay 

98+

90+

75+

70+

85+

MDI Gurgaon 

95+

88+

70+

65+

80+

Cutoff Vs Admission: Understanding the Composite Scores

Many B-Schools use composite score calculation to shortlist candidates:

Component 

Weightage 

Entrance Exam Score 

40-60%

Academics

15-20%

Work Experience 

5-10%

Diversity 

5-10%

PI/WAT Performance

15-20%

Example for Better Understanding

If a student scores 98 percentile in CAT, has 80% in academics, and 2 years of work experience, their composite score might be calculated as:

98 x 0.6 + Academics (80 x 0.2) + Work Ex (10 x 0.1) + PI/WAT + Diversity

Top Recruiters

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American Express American Express
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Boston Consulting Group Boston Consulting Group
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Deloitte Deloitte
D. E. Shaw India Software Private Limited D. E. Shaw India Software Private Limited
Deutsche Bank Deutsche Bank
Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd Dr.Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd
Emami Limited Emami Limited
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eveready eveready
Futures First Futures First
Ge Capital Ge Capital
General Motors General Motors
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grail research grail research
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
Hindustan Unilever Limited Hindustan Unilever Limited
Hewlett-Packard (HP) Hewlett-Packard (HP)
HPCL HPCL
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IBM IBM
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CAT percentile required for IIMs?

Top IIMs usually require 97–100 percentile for General category; lower for reserved categories.

Does clearing the cutoff guarantee admission?

No. Cutoff only makes you eligible. Selection depends on composite scores including PI, academics, work ex, etc.

Which MBA college has the best ROI with low cutoff?

FMS Delhi, JBIMS Mumbai, and TISS Mumbai offer high ROI with relatively lower fees and moderate cutoffs.

What is the NMAT cutoff for NMIMS?

NMIMS Mumbai usually has a cutoff of 235–245 (scaled score out of 360).

Are cutoffs the same every year?

No. Cutoffs vary based on exam difficulty, applicant volume, and institute-specific admission policies.

What is a good CAT percentile for non-IIM top colleges?

A CAT percentile of 90–95 is usually sufficient for top non-IIM colleges like MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR, IIT Bombay (SJMSOM), FMS Delhi, and IMT Ghaziabad (for General category). Reserved category candidates may get calls at lower percentiles.

Does MBA cutoff include sectional cutoff too?

Yes, most top institutes like IIMs, XLRI, IITs, and FMS require minimum sectional cutoffs in VARC, DILR, and QA in addition to the overall percentile. Some private colleges may only consider overall cutoffs.

Can work experience compensate for a lower cutoff?

To an extent, yes. Institutes like SPJIMR, ISB, Great Lakes, and IIMs (during final selection) give weightage to work experience. However, you still need to clear the minimum cutoff to be considered for shortlisting.

Which B-schools accept CAT scores apart from IIMs?

Over 100+ B-schools accept CAT scores. Notable ones include: FMS Delhi MDI Gurgaon SPJIMR Mumbai IMT Ghaziabad DSE, DFS (DU) IITs (Mumbai, Delhi, Kharagpur, etc.)

Are cutoffs lower for female or non-engineering candidates?

Yes. Some institutes like IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, and MDI use academic and gender diversity points to encourage non-engineers and female applicants, which can effectively reduce the required percentile.

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