Students aiming for admission to India's top business schools will need to achieve high scores in the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, often called IIM ABC , are highly competitive. Based on trends from previous years, general category students often need an overall percentile of 99 and above to get an interview call from these institutes.
What are IIM ABC?
IIM Ahmedabad , IIM Bangalore , and IIM Calcutta are among the oldest and most respected business schools in India. They are known for providing excellent education in management and for offering top job placements in fields like consulting and finance. These IIMs also have strong networks of former students, which helps current students after they graduate.
About the CAT Exam
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level entrance examination. Many management institutes in India, including all IIMs, use CAT scores for admission to their postgraduate management programs, such as the MBA or Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM). The exam tests a candidate's skills in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
Getting into IIM ABC
Admission to IIM Ahmedabad , IIM Bangalore , and IIM Calcutta is very difficult. Millions of students take the CAT exam, but only a small number get into these top IIMs. The process involves meeting high score requirements in the CAT exam, followed by other selection rounds like interviews and written ability tests.
To be considered for admission, candidates must first meet certain minimum percentile scores in the CAT exam. These include an overall percentile and also minimum scores in each section of the exam. The actual percentile needed to get an interview call is usually much higher than these initial minimums.
CAT 2025 Expected Percentiles for IIM ABC
The table below shows the expected minimum percentiles needed for admission to IIM ABC through CAT 2025 . These figures are based on trends from previous years. It is important for students to know that these are only guidelines, and the actual scores needed can change each year based on competition and other factors.
| IIM Name | Category | Minimum Overall Percentile to Apply | Sectional Percentile (VARC / DILR / QA) | Expected Final Interview Call Percentile |
| IIM Ahmedabad | General | 95 | 85 / 85 / 85 | 99.5 - 100 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | NC-OBC | 90 | 80 / 80 / 80 | 95+ |
| IIM Ahmedabad | SC | 85 | 75 / 75 / 75 | 85+ |
| IIM Ahmedabad | ST | 75 | 75 / 75 / 65 | 80+ |
| IIM Bangalore | General | 85 | 80 / 75 / 75 | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | NC-OBC | 75 | 70 / 65 / 65 | 90 - 95 |
| IIM Bangalore | SC | 70 | 65 / 60 / 60 | 70 - 75+ |
| IIM Bangalore | ST | 65 | 65 / 60 / 55 | 70 - 75+ |
| IIM Calcutta | General | 85 | 80 / 80 / 75 | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | NC-OBC | 75 | 70 / 65 / 65 | 90+ |
| IIM Calcutta | SC | 70 | 65 / 60 / 60 | 65 - 75 |
| IIM Calcutta | ST | 65 | 65 / 60 / 55 | 65 - 75 |
Understanding the Percentiles
Minimum Overall Percentile to Apply: This is the basic score needed to make your application considered. If a student scores below this, their application might not move forward.
Sectional Percentile: Students must not only meet the overall percentile but also score a minimum percentile in each section of the CAT exam (VARC, DILR, and QA). Failing to meet the minimum in even one section can lead to rejection.
Expected Final Interview Call Percentile: This number is much higher than the minimum to apply. It shows the actual CAT score range that successful candidates had to get an invitation for the interview round in previous years. To increase chances, students should aim to score well above the minimum percentiles.
Important Note for Students
These expected percentiles are based on past performance and can change for CAT 2025 . Factors like the difficulty of the exam, the number of students taking the test, and the total number of available seats can affect the final cut-offs. Students planning to appear for CAT 2025 should aim to score as high as possible to improve their chances of admission to IIM ABC .
