How to Shortlist MBA Colleges Based on Entrance Exam Percentile

Are you concerned with how your percentile on an entrance exam should determine the schools on your list? Or are you trying to understand how to send applications to schools with slightly lower cut-offs? If this sounds familiar, you found the right guide to help navigate your shortlist strategically and increase your odds of pursuing your dream MBA. 

Shortlisting MBA colleges in 2025 is not just about trying to beat the competition, but finding the right fit for your profile, your career goals and your exam strategy. Whether getting ready for CAT, XAT, SNAP or MAT, you need to know how your percentile on your entrance exam fits with the cutoff for admission to a college.  

Thinking strategically is not just helpful but necessary. It takes research on certain colleges' category​-wise cutoffs, the college's admission requirements that students face, even after they turn in their applications. Using these factors to determine what colleges to apply to can help you make the right decision to apply to a college that aligns well with your goals. In this guide, you are going to learn some clear and procedural steps to getting an idea of what MBA colleges you should be thinking about applying to and building a target list of safe options and backups.  

Step 1: Research Minimum Percentile Cutoffs

Firstly, here is how you can research the minimum percentile cutoffs:

• Look up the minimum percentile required for admission to the MBA programs you are targeting and focus on cutoffs for the specific entrance exam you appeared in. 

• Check both overall and sectional cutoffs, especially for top-tier colleges like the IIMs, which typically demand very high percentile scores.

• The reserved categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and EWS also have lower cutoffs, which can be significant. 

• Learning the minimum percentiles will allow you to assess your situation realistically to the respective colleges when deciding on applying. 

• It will ensure that you only apply to colleges where you may have a decent chance of making it to the next round of interviews.

Secondly, all colleges and entrance exams (e.g., CAT, XAT, MAH CET, MAT, etc.) will have overall and sectional cutoffs for their percentile criteria distributed as given below:

Step 2: Check Overall and Sectional Percentile Requirements

It is essential to carefully examine the required overall and sectional percentiles, as they are the two major conditions determining whether you will get an offer to the management institute of your choice. The top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta typically require an overall percentile of greater than 98 to 99, which indicates the degree of competition and level of expectation. 

In addition, there is usually an expectation of sectional percentiles in the sectionals of around 70-85 for the three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). It is critically important to meet the cutoff in the sectional percentiles, as it establishes a reasonable level of skill in each of the given three sections instead of just one section.

Step 3: Categorize Colleges by your Expected Percentile

By arranging colleges in this manner, it becomes easier to develop a focused and strategic plan that balances your ambitions with achievable outcomes for a trouble-free admission ​‍​‌‍​‍‌process. You can categorise your colleges in this manner:

• Target​‍​‌‍​‍‌ List: These are colleges with cutoffs that are above your expected percentile. If you think you will perform exceptionally well, then you should aim for these as they match your aspirational goals and top-tier opportunities.

• Safe List: These are colleges where your anticipated percentile is equal to or possibly higher than their cutoff. They are your top contenders and will give you a fair and realistic chance to gain admission based on your calculations.

• Backup List: This list consists of colleges whose cutoffs are below your expected percentile. They are your fallback options if you cannot meet the cutoffs for target or safe list colleges, thus ensuring that you have alternatives to depend on.

Step 4: Consider Category-wise Cutoffs

Reserved categories like SC, ST, OBC, and EWS frequently have a selective cutoff in various management entrance exams. Cutoffs for these categories are applied with the intention of increasing inclusion and comparable opportunities for candidates with historical disadvantages. 

Checking these selective cutoffs can be invaluable for aspirants, as they could significantly increase the chances of admission into particular institutions. Many of the more prestigious business schools or universities will publish cutoff lists for these identified, reserved categories that typically have lower percentiles than the general category.

Step 5: Align your Percentile with College Cutoffs

To further improve your odds of acceptance, concentrate on the courses you select at the colleges where your percentile score is equal to or above the percentiles for core acceptance. By doing this, you increase the likelihood of acceptance, as your application will fit their standards.

It is equally important to avoid colleges for which your percentile is clearly below their standards, since even if some will have to accept you, your overall chances of acceptance will be lower and you may find yourself disappointed. By selecting colleges with a slightly lower percentile for acceptance, you maintain focus on your efforts to be as efficient as possible.

Step 6: Other Factors Important in Selection Parameters

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌ admission decision-making process involves a holistic review, which essentially means that the admission committee does not only look at the candidate's percentile scores. Goals, educational background, work experience, and the interview (PI), group discussion (GD), and written ability test (WAT) all matter! 

A strong profile can compensate for a slight shortfall in the percentile; on the other hand, a bad performance in the interview or GD will have a negative impact on the candidate. This holistic method allows the admission committee to choose the most suitable candidates who have the qualities required for the program. Nevertheless, candidates need to get ready in a holistic way for each stage of the admission ​‍​‌‍​‍‌process.

Learn how to build a strong MBA profile 

Step 7: Evaluate Additional Factors Beyond Percentile

While you are cutting down your MBA college list, make sure that you think about the main factors that include: fees, location, specializations, return on investment (ROI), placement records, campus facilities, and alumni networks. 

Such points assist you in making sure that the colleges that you select are the ones that are suitable for your career goals and finances. You can decide on these criteria in conjunction with your exam percentile and overall profile to pick out colleges that suit you the most. 

The next step in this process is that your chances of admission in a competitive landscape will be higher if you take this wise approach by concentrating on the programs that not only accept your scores but also provide you with the greatest ​‍​‌‍​‍‌support.

Top MBA Colleges with Different Percentiles 

​‍MBA colleges can be classified into different tiers depending on their academic reputation, placement records, infrastructure, and entrance exam cutoffs. Tier 1 colleges characterise the most elite top institutions which require very high percentiles, usually above 90. Tier 2 colleges are academically strong institutions with good opportunities for learning and employment, accepting students with percentiles ranging from 70 to 90.

Furthermore, Tier 3 colleges have lower cutoffs and are more open to a wider range of candidates, thus placing more emphasis on accessibility and gradually developing facilities. The following table comprises some of the notable colleges in each tier, along with their percentile cutoffs, which will aid the aspirants in aligning their applications with their CAT scores and ​‍​‌‍​‍‌career.

Conclusion 

To​‍​‌‍​‍‌ sum up, the wise decision of shortlisting MBA colleges relying on your entrance exam percentile demands that you do a thorough research and give it some thought. Knowing the minimum percentile cutoffs, overall and sectional requirements, and category-wise changes will enable you to judge your admission chances in a more accurate manner.

You may consider categorizing your schools into target, safe, and backup lists based on the expectations of high schools in each of your percentiles, so that you can make a targeted application plan. Keep in mind that admission decisions are holistic decisions and take several factors into account other than just your former percentiles of success such as your professional backgrounds, career goals, and interview/group discussions of any kind. 

In addition, you can factor in other factors such as fees, geography, specialisation area, ROI, and placement to determine your best next step in relation to your dreams and what is realistically possible for you. A thorough consideration based on your outline will provide you with admissions success, and ensure that the MBA program you choose will be providing you with a platform for your future career.