CAT 2025 Good Score & Percentile: Ideal Cutoff for Top IIMs, Sectional Targets
Varnika Srivastava5 Dec, 2025
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A “good” CAT 2025 percentile varies from college to college. For most aspirants, 90–95 percentile is considered strong, but to enter the top IIMs, the target must be 98–100 percentile. Leading non-IIM B-schools also shortlist candidates with 95–97 percentile.
Below is a complete, clear, updated breakdown of CAT 2025 percentiles, expected cutoffs, attempt strategy, and score-vs-percentile analysis.
What Is a Good CAT 2025 Score?
A good CAT score depends entirely on your target institute:
For Top IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, etc.)
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Ideal Range: 99–100 percentile
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These IIMs shortlist only the top fraction of candidates.
For Old & Mid-Tier IIMs (Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Mumbai)
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Safe Range: 97–98 percentile
For New IIMs (Jammu, Amritsar, Trichy, Vizag, etc.)
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Acceptable Range: 90–94 percentile
For Top Non-IIMs (FMS, SPJIMR, IITs, MDI, IMT)
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Typical Range: 95+ percentile
Since nearly 2,00,000 candidates appear annually for roughly 5,000 IIM seats, reaching a competitive percentile becomes crucial.
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Minimum CAT Score Required (Tier-wise) |
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Tier |
Minimum Overall Score |
Sectional Score Needed |
|
Tier I |
200 |
80–85 |
|
Tier II |
120 |
40–50 |
|
Tier III |
100 |
30–40 |
What Does a Good CAT Score Mean?
● CAT Scores Vary by College
Every institute sets different cutoffs depending on demand, reputation, applicant volume, and seat availability.
● Why Percentile Targets Change
High competition means students must fall within the top percentile brackets to stay ahead.
● Higher Percentile ≠ Guaranteed Admission
Top institutes consider:
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Past academics
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Work experience
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Category
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Personal Interview (PI)
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Diversity factors
How Many Questions to Attempt for 99+ Percentile in CAT 2025?
To secure 99+ percentile, aim to attempt 40–41 questions with 85–90% accuracy.
|
Percentile |
VARC |
DILR |
QA |
Total Attempts |
|
99+ |
14–15 |
10–11 |
13–15 |
40–41 |
|
95–99 |
13–14 |
9–10 |
12–13 |
35–39 |
|
90–95 |
11–12 |
7–8 |
11–12 |
29–34 |
|
85+ |
9–10 |
6–7 |
9–11 |
24–28 |
CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Section-wise & Overall)
Check score VS percentile here. Know where your score falls.
| Percentile | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall Score |
| 99.5%ile | 44 | 35 | 40 | 101 |
| 99%ile | 34 | 26 | 36 | 96 |
| 98%ile | 32 | 28 | 30 | 90 |
| 95%ile | 32 | 20 | 29 | 81 |
| 90%ile | 29 | 17 | 26 | 72 |
| 85%ile | 24 | 15 | 20 | 59 |
| 80%ile | 20 | 12 | 15 | 47 |
Top MBA Colleges Accepting Good CAT 2025 Percentiles
Here are top MBA colleges that only accpect high CAT percentiles.
| Institute | Expected Cutoff |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 99–100 |
| IIM Bangalore | 99–100 |
| IIM Calcutta | 99 |
| IIM Lucknow | 97+ |
| IIM Mumbai | 97+ |
| IIM Kozhikode | 97–98 |
| IIM Amritsar | 95+ |
| IIM Trichy | 94+ |
| IIM Ranchi | 94+ |
| IIM Shillong | 90+ |
| SPJIMR, Mumbai | 90–95 |
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 95–97 |
| FMS Delhi | 97–98 |
| MDI Gurgaon | 94–95 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90–92 |
| IIT Delhi (DMS) | 90–93 |
How to Score Well in CAT 2025?
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Build strong fundamentals in VARC, DILR, and QA
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Practice mock tests regularly
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Analyse mistakes after every mock
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Improve accuracy before increasing attempts
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Create a section-wise strategy and follow time management rules
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Revise high-weightage topics frequently