CAT Cutoff Trends in the Last 5 Years: What You Should Know for 2025

Published On - Oct 11, 2025 05:14PM IST

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If you are preparing for CAT 2025, nothing will better prepare you than checking out the cutoff patterns for the last five years. These numbers are beyond mere numbers, and they have a story to tell. They describe the level of competition, the types of scores that the best B-schools desire, and also how that cutoff point moves every year. By looking at the trends, you would know where you are, and you could know what to target. This would be like having a map before your journey. You can plan better, focus better, and avoid surprises. So do not guess, let the data inform your strategy to succeed.

What is a CAT Cutoff?

The CAT cutoff is the smallest score or percentile necessary to progress to the next round of admissions to an MBA program. These rounds may include a Written Ability Test, Group Discussion, or a Personal Interview. Each IIM and leading B-school has its own cut-off, and this cut-off can change every year. There are several determinants of this number.

First, the number of students who apply- more applicants usually mean higher cutoffs.
Second, how tough the exam is- if the paper is tricky, cutoffs may be lower.
Third, the number of seats available- fewer seats mean more competition.
Lastly, the reputation and ranking of the institute also play a role. Top colleges usually have higher cutoffs.

So, if you’re aiming for the best, you’ll need to score well. Knowing these factors helps you set a clear target and plan your preparation better. It’s all about being smart and staying ahead.

There are two types of cutoffs-

Overall cutoff- Your total percentile across all sections
Sectional cutoff- Minimum percentile required in each section- VARC, DILR, and QA

CAT Cutoff Trends (2020–2024)

CAT Cutoff Trends in the Last 5 Years What You Should Know for 2025.webp

Let’s look at how cutoffs have changed over the last five years for top IIMs, newer IIMs, and non-IIM B-schools.

Year-Wise Cutoff Table

Year	Top IIMs (A, B, C)	Other IIMs	Non-IIM B-Schools
2024	98–99+ percentile	95–97	85–95
2023	97–99+ percentile	94–96	83–94
2022	98–99+ percentile	95–97	85–95
2021	96–98+ percentile	93–95	80–93
2020	96–98+ percentile	92–95	78–92

Note:- The data mentioned above is not exact and is based on past trends.

Key Takeaways from the above table:-

Top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta consistently demand 98–99+ percentiles.
Newer IIMs like IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, and IIM Kashipur have slightly lower cutoffs, around 92–97 percentile.
Non-IIM B-schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, and IMT Ghaziabad range between 78–95 percentile, depending on the institute.

Sectional Cutoff Trends (2020 to 2024)

It is really great to get a high score in the CAT test. However, it is only half the work done, as you also need to go beyond the sectional cutoffs in all three sections, i.e,. VARC, DIL, R and QA. VARC is a test of your reading and verbal skills, DILR tests your ability to work with data and think logically and QA tests your mathematical ability. Even if your overall score is higher than the cutoffs, if you do not clear the cutoff in any one section then you can lose your place in your desired B-school. Achieving high scores across all the sections is critical for strong performance. Treat and practice each section equally, and keep your weaknesses practiced. It is clearing all three cutoffs that will truly take you into the next round.

Sectional Cutoff Table

Year	VARC	DILR	QA
2024	70–80 percentile	70–80 percentile	70–80 percentile
2023	70–75 percentile	70–75 percentile	70–75 percentile
2022	70–80 percentile	70–80 percentile	70–80 percentile
2021	65–75 percentile	65–75 percentile	65–75 percentile
2020	65–75 percentile	65–75 percentile	65–75 percentile

Tip: Even if your overall score is high, missing a sectional cutoff can disqualify you from top colleges.

Factors That Influence Cutoffs

Several things affect the cutoff each year:

1. Exam Difficulty

When the CAT exam is difficult, cut-off scores tend to go down a little to account for the difficulty of the paper. This is always possible and did take place in CAT 2023, where the difficulty in the DILR was more than the average difficulty. The DILR section was challenging enough that several students debated whether they could get through the section, so reducing the sectional cutoff put assigning deserving students back on track. In that context, if you see difficulties in one of the sections during the examination, DO NOT PANIC. The evaluation system is more than flexible enough to allow for adjustment to what is supposed to be an average cutoff based on the overall difficulty of the examination.

2. Number of Applicants

As more people register for the CAT, we can anticipate additional competition. In 2024, over 3.3 lakh candidates took the CAT exam, and that number was appreciably higher than those who took the exam in 2023 and 2022. As more applicants vie for the same spots at the best business schools in the country, the cutoffs will increase. Higher cutoffs yield the necessity of scoring higher to gain admission to the best universities. Therefore, if admission to a university in the top tier is your goal, you’ll need to work both harder and smarter each year to differentiate yourself from the ever-growing crowd.

3. Seat Availability

The number of seats available in an institute has a major influence on the cutoff. If the number of seats at a college goes up, more students have a chance to get admission, and hence the cutoff can decrease. Whereas, if the number of seats is less, the competition becomes harder and the cutoff rises. It’s like a basic equation—more seats imply more opportunities, fewer seats imply that you require a higher score to qualify. Therefore, incorporating changes in seats while preparing your CAT strategy is always a wise move.

4. Reservation Policies

One fact to keep in mind is that CAT cutoffs differ from one person to another. Moreover, they depend on your category, such as General, OBC, SC/ST, or PwD. Different colleges have varying cutoff criteria for different groups so that everyone gets an equal opportunity. So, a student of the General category may need a higher percentile, whereas a student from a different category might be selected with a lower score. Therefore, it is important that you understand the cutoff of the category-wise colleges for your target before you start filling out the application form. It helps you not only to make realistic goals but also to better time management.

CAT Exam Pattern Changes (2020–2024)

The biggest change to the CAT exam happened in 2020 and before that, it was a three-hour test. Because of the pandemic, the total time was cut short to two hours. They also reduced the total number of questions from 100 to just 76 that year. Then, in 2021, the question count was reduced again to a total of about 66 questions, which was maintained through 2023. The time limit stayed at two hours, with 40 minutes for each of the three sections (VARC, DILR, and QA). The core subjects stayed the same, but the shorter exam meant you had less time per question. Later, for CAT 2024, the number of questions saw a small increase from 66 to 68. These changes make time management more important than ever.

Pattern Overview Table

Year	Total Questions	VARC	DILR	QA	Duration
2024	68	24	22	22	120 mins
2023	66	24	20	22	120 mins
2022	66	24	20	22	120 mins
2021	66	24	20	22	120 mins
2020	76	26	24	26	120 mins

What to Expect in CAT 2025

Different institutes will behave in a different manner. If you are getting ready for the CAT, it will be great to know what to expect. The top IIMs are most likely to keep their cutoffs above the 98th percentile. Each section may have a cutoff close to 70 to 80 percentile. The exam pattern is 2014 expected to be the same with 68 questions and 120 minutes, so time management will be very important.

Apart from that, the competition is going to be extremely tough as more than 3.5 lakh students are anticipated to appear for the exam. In order to perform well, put your concentration on accuracy, speed, and smart preparation. Every single mark will matter, so try to get the maximum out of yourself.

Preparation Tips for CAT 2025

Focus on All Sections: Don’t ignore any section, as balanced preparation is key to clearing sectional cutoffs.
Take Mock Tests: Simulate the real exam environment. Analyze your performance and improve weak areas.
Track Your Percentile: Use online tools to estimate your percentile after each mock test.
Stay Updated: Follow official CAT notifications and keep an eye on cutoff predictions.
Join Study Groups: Online forums and WhatsApp groups can help you stay motivated and get useful tips.

Final Thoughts

The cutoffs for CAT exams clearly follow a pattern each year as they are dependent on the difficulty of the exam, the number of candidates taking the test, and the preferences of the top institutes. For instance, if a test is too hard, the cutoffs may fall because students do not score as well on it; on the other hand, if a large number of students score well, the cutoffs may rise as the top schools balance their admissions process. Each institute also has its own selection criteria, but understanding these trends will help you develop smart performance goal quotas, both in terms of the actual percentile you aim for and how you will plan your preparation over the year to achieve those goals.

An early start is good because it gives you more time to find ways to get better. Consistency is good because it helps you develop the habit of studying consistently. Aiming high keeps you bogged down with getting bored in your planning. CAT 2025 is a great opportunity that will change your life. By concentrating on your weaknesses, maintaining regular practice, and having the faith that through the correct strategy and mindset, you will be able to access a reputable B-school. Simply beginning today and giving your best is all that is required.