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CAT Score Required for Old IIM Colleges: For thousands of Indians aspiring for an MBA from any older IIM such as Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode-getting admission is the farthest aspiration. While academics and profile are a considerable part of the parameter, the CAT score is an important factor in determining whether an individual will get into an older IIM or not. It is the qualifying factor for setting shortlists and interview calls.
Before effective preparation, any CAT aspirant should realize what CAT score in both overall and sectional terms is required to plan preparation and set a realistic target accordingly. This blog also provides the complete picture necessary to analyze the CAT score and percentile for the respective old IIM colleges, along with section-wise cutoffs, plus the important strategies for the aspirant to go through every stage of the journey.
CAT Score Required for Old IIM Colleges
The table below summarizes the typical percentile and estimated CAT score range required for a call from the old IIMs (General category):
| IIM | Qualifying Percentile (General) | Final Cutoff Percentile (General) | Approx. Scaled Score Required | Sectional Cutoff (General) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95 (qualifying) | 99.5+ (actual/call) | 105-108+ | 85 |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 (qualifying) | 99+ (actual/call) | 98-105+ | 80 VARC, 75 DILR/QA |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 (qualifying) | ~99 (actual/call) | 98–105+ | 80 VARC/DILR, 75 QA |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 (qualifying) | 98–99 (actual/call) | 95–105 | 85 (all) |
| IIM Indore | 90 (qualifying) | 97–99 (actual/call) | 92–105 | 80 (all) |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 (qualifying) | 97–99 (actual/call) | 95–105 | 75 (all) |
NOTE: The new qualifying cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad 2025 has increased across categories. For the General and EWS categories, the qualifying overall percentile is now 95, with sectional percentiles at 85 for VARC, DILR, and QA. NC-OBC requires an overall percentile of 90 and sectional percentiles of 80. SC category needs 85 overall and 75 sectional; ST requires 75 overall and 65 sectional percentiles. The PwD cutoff stands at 85 overall and 75 sectional percentile for General/EWS/NC-OBC/SC candidates, and 75 overall and 65 sectional for ST-PwD.
Also Read, Non-IIM MBA Colleges Accepting Separate Application Form
CAT 2025 Score Vs Percentile (Expected)
The CAT score Vs percentile varies with the difficulty level of the CAT exam. If the exam is on difficult side then the score required to crack the cutoff percentile will be low and vice versa. The expected score vs percentile for CAT 2025 is given in the table below:
| CAT Scaled Score | Percentile Range |
|---|---|
| 127+ | 99.9+ |
| 110–120 | 99.7–99.9 |
| 94–103 | 99–99.5 |
| 85–93 | 97–98 |
| 72–84 | 90–95 |
| 60–71 | 85–89 |
A 99+ percentile is needed for the top old IIMs (A, B, C), and typically a 97–98 percentile suffices for Indore, Lucknow, and Kozhikode, though actual selection depends on profile and category.
Also Read, List Of IIM Colleges Need Separate Application Form? Dates
CAT Percentile Required to Clear Section-Wise Cutoff for Old IIMs
| IIM / Section | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85 | 85 | 85 | 95 (qualifying) |
| IIM Bangalore | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 (qualifying) |
| IIM Calcutta | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 (qualifying) |
| IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 (qualifying) |
| IIM Indore | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 (qualifying) |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 (qualifying) |
Meeting the sectional cutoff is mandatory for eligibility, but the actual percentile for a final call is often much higher.
Also Read, CAT Percentile Required for Top 5 IIM Colleges, Check Now
Factors Affecting CAT Cutoffs for Old IIMs
Several key factors impact the final cutoff each year:
- Difficulty Level of the CAT Exam: A tougher CAT usually leads to lower cutoffs, while an easier paper can push cutoffs higher as more candidates score well.
- Number of Applicants: Increased competition from a higher number of test-takers typically raises the cutoff threshold required for a shortlist.
- Total Number of Seats: IIMs with fewer seats (like Ahmedabad and Bangalore) set higher cutoffs due to greater demand, whereas programs with more seats can have marginally lower cutoffs.
- Category and Reservation: Cutoffs differ significantly by category (General, NC-OBC, EWS, SC, ST, PwD) due to reservation policies, with General cutoffs being the highest.
- Past Year Cutoff Trends: Institutes consider past year cutoffs and selection trends to set realistic qualifying percentiles for the current batch.
- Overall Candidate Performance: If the majority of test-takers perform better in a given year, the cutoffs for old IIMs are likely to be higher.
- Profile Factors and Institute’s Selection Criteria: Components like 10th/12th scores, graduation marks, work experience, gender/academic diversity, and interview scores also play a critical role in final call conversion, indirectly impacting the effective cutoff each year.
Also Read, List Of Top MBA Colleges to Apply After the CAT 2025 Exam
How to Achieve the Required CAT Score for Old IIMs
- Aim High in Each Section: Strive for accuracy and attempt a balanced number of questions across VARC, DILR, and QA to not miss any sectional cutoffs.
- Build a Strong Academic Profile: Good 10th and 12th marks significantly boost your chances, especially at IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, and Kozhikode.
- Work Experience and Diversity: Leverage work experience and non-engineering backgrounds where possible.
- Excelling in PI/WAT: Prepare early for personal interviews and written ability tests, as these carry massive weight in the final selection.
- Practice with Mocks: Use Cracku’s test series and percentile predictor to track progress and benchmark scores realistically.
Also Read, List Of Top MBA Colleges to Apply Before the CAT 2025 Exam
CAT Score Required for Old IIM Colleges: Conclusion
Getting the old IIMs to sit is not just about the CAT score but also requires considered preparation, academic consistency, and wise profile building. With heights being scaled every year, grit resources like CAT mock tests, percentile predictors, and expert resources to help you bridge the gap between your current score and the cut-off required at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, and Kozhikode.
Start your CAT preparation with Cracku today and maximize your chances of getting into your dream IIM - unlock expert guidance, exclusive data, and a powerful support system to make your MBA goals a reality.
