The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 results will be announced soon. Students who took the exam are now checking their scores and percentiles. Understanding what is a good CAT 2025 percentile is important for students aiming to join top management colleges like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) across India.
A "good" percentile in CAT 2025 depends on which IIM a student wants to join. Different IIMs have different cutoff percentiles. For example, older and more established IIMs ask for very high percentiles. Newer IIMs might accept slightly lower percentiles.
What is a Good CAT Score?
To get into an IIM, students need a good overall score in CAT. They also need good scores in each section of the exam. Here is a general idea of what scores are considered good for different groups of IIMs:
| College Group | Minimum Overall CAT Score | Minimum Score in Each Section |
| Tier I (Top IIMs) | 200 | 80-85 |
| Tier II (Other Established IIMs) | 120 | 40-50 |
| Tier III (Newer IIMs) | 100 | 30-40 |
Expected Percentiles Based on CAT Scores
The CAT exam has three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The following table shows what scores in each section, and overall, can lead to different percentiles. This information is based on past trends and helps students understand expected results. Please note, this data is not official.
| Percentile | Score in VARC | Score in DILR | Score in QA | Overall CAT Score |
| 99.5 percentile | 44 | 35 | 40 | 101 |
| 99 percentile | 34 | 26 | 36 | 96 |
| 98 percentile | 32 | 28 | 30 | 90 |
| 95 percentile | 32 | 20 | 29 | 81 |
| 90 percentile | 29 | 17 | 26 | 72 |
| 85 percentile | 24 | 15 | 20 | 59 |
| 80 percentile | 20 | 12 | 15 | 47 |
What Percentile is Needed for Different IIMs?
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are grouped by their age and reputation. The percentile required for admission changes for each group.
Top IIMs: 99 Percentile and Above
- For the most well-known IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad , IIM Bangalore , and IIM Calcutta , students must aim for 99 percentile and higher .
- These IIMs have very tough entry rules. They often require 99 to 100 percentile to call students for the next steps: a Written Ability Test and a Personal Interview.
Other Established IIMs: 97-98 Percentile
- For other strong IIMs such as IIM Lucknow , IIM Kozhikode , and IIM Indore , a percentile between 97 and 98 is generally good.
- This range gives students a good chance to get interview calls from these colleges. Their cutoffs are slightly lower than the top three, but their selection process is still tough.
Newer IIMs: 90-95 Percentile
- Newer IIMs include IIM Jammu , IIM Amritsar , IIM Nagpur , IIM Sirmaur , and IIM Bodhgaya .
- These IIMs usually accept students with percentiles from 90 to 95 .
- They offer good chances for students who may not reach the very high percentiles needed for older IIMs. Students can still get good management education from these IIMs.
This information about CAT 2025 good percentiles for IIM admission is based on estimates. Students should always check the official websites of IIMs for exact and updated details.
