Globsyn Business School PGDM Admissions 2025
Highest CTC: Rs 18.33 LPA | Average CTC: Rs 7.39 LPA | Experiential Learning | Classes by Industry Professionals | Alumni Mentorship Program
What is a Good CAT Score - Every CAT aspirant dreams of securing admission into the top IIMs and leading MBA colleges in India, but only a few manage to convert those calls. So, what exactly is considered a good CAT score to receive interview calls from these premier institutes? This article by Careers360 aims to answer that by analysing the previous year CAT cutoffs of IIMs and other top B-schools accepting CAT scores. It’s important to note that a good score in CAT 2025 depends on several factors, including the difficulty level of the paper (as per exam analysis), the overall performance of aspirants, and the competition level (number of applicants). In this article, we’ll explore what qualifies as a good CAT score and share CAT preparation tips, strategies for high scores, and effective techniques to crack the CAT exam.
Candidates appearing for CAT 2025 are advised to attempt questions from all sections judiciously so they score a good percentile in the CAT exam. The good CAT score differs from institute to institute, as each B-school has a different CAT cutoff to shortlist candidates for selection rounds. For example, to get admission into IIMs, a candidate generally needs to secure a high percentile, as these institutes have competitive cutoffs compared to other B-schools like IIFT, and FMS Delhi, SPJIMR that accept CAT scores below 95 percentile.
So, is a particular score considered good in the CAT exam? The answer depends on your target B-schools. A high CAT score is generally seen as a strong performance and can boost your chances of getting shortlisted by top management institutes. However, it’s important to remember that different MBA colleges have different admission cutoffs and criteria. While the IIMs and other top-tier institutes may require higher scores, several other reputed B-schools accept moderate scores and consider overall profiles as well. Even candidates with average CAT scores can secure admission into good colleges based on their academic background, work experience, and performance in the interview process.
Highest CTC: Rs 18.33 LPA | Average CTC: Rs 7.39 LPA | Experiential Learning | Classes by Industry Professionals | Alumni Mentorship Program
Triple Accreditation (NBA, IACBE & SAQS) | Dual Specialisation | Merit-Based Scholarships Available
CAT Participating Institutes: Get the complete list of CAT 2025 participating institutes, including all 21 IIMs and other top B-schools like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMT Ghaziabad, and more that accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.
How Many Questions to Attempt in CAT to Get 99 Percentile: To score a 99 percentile in CAT 2025, candidates typically need to attempt around 65–75% of the total questions with high accuracy. This may vary depending on the difficulty level of the exam, but maintaining 90%+ accuracy is key to reaching this percentile range.
As per experts, the difficulty level of CAT 2025 will be moderate to difficult. Here we have provided the CAT 2025 expected score vs percentile on the basis of the CAT cutoff marks vs percentile on the basis of the past few years' trends.
Take a look at the general CAT score-to-percentile trend in the table below.
Percentile | Score VARC | Score DILR | Score QA | Overall Score |
99.5 | 42 | 30 | 30 | 86 |
99 | 36 | 25 | 25 | 74 |
95 | 30 | 20 | 22 | 52 |
90 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 42 |
80 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 35 |
70 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 30 |
CAT Good Attempts
When preparing for the CAT exam, understanding what constitutes "good attempts" is crucial for maximising your score. A good attempt in CAT refers to the number of questions answered accurately while balancing speed and accuracy. It’s not just about answering more questions; it's about ensuring that your attempts are strategically chosen to minimise negative marking. Generally, aiming for 70-80% accuracy with a sufficient number of good attempts can significantly boost your percentile. Remember, quality over quantity is key in determining your overall performance.
Section No. | Section Name | Total No. of Qs | Good Attempts |
I | VARC | 24 | 16-18 |
II | DILR | 22 | 9-11 |
III | QA | 22 | 9-11 |
TOTAL | 68 | 34-40 |
The good CAT score required to qualify for admission will vary from one institute to another. The B-schools accepting CAT scores can be divided into three tiers, which are mentioned in the table below:
Tier-wise CAT scores for B-schools
Tier | Minimum CAT score | Minimum Sectional Score |
Top tier | 200 | 80-85 |
Middle tier | 120 | 40-50 |
Low tier | 100 | 30-40 |
For candidates who do not qualify for any of the tiers above, B-schools accepting low CAT scores are a good option to choose. They can also appear for other national-level entrance exams like CMAT, XAT, SNAP, etc., which are reputed and accepted by many of the top B-schools.
B-schools accepting CAT scores and IIMs will release their respective cutoff based on the CAT scores. Candidates meeting the minimum cutoff criteria for the B-school will be shortlisted for the selection rounds, as per the institutes they will apply. The good percentile in the CAT exam 2025 to clear the CAT cutoff will be determined on various factors such as:
The difficulty level of the CAT question paper
Number of test-takers
Seat availability
Reputation of the Institute
Past year cutoff trends
To achieve a good CAT score, one has to draw a study timetable and a CAT exam strategy to ace the examination. Some of the proven tips for CAT preparation 2025 include:
Time management is crucial for success in the CAT exam, making it essential for aspirants aiming for a high score in CAT 2025. When beginning your CAT 2025 preparation, having a well-structured timetable is key to ensuring balanced coverage of all sections, VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. Since the CAT 2025 exam pattern includes a sectional time limit of 40 minutes per section, managing speed and accuracy becomes especially important in time-intensive sections like Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Data Interpretation (DI). A smart timetable helps candidates prioritise topics effectively and adjust their strategy based on performance in CAT mock tests and previous year CAT question papers, ultimately leading to a more focused and result-oriented preparation. Also know how the CAT cut-off marks vs percentile are calculated.
Knowing the CAT 2025 sectional time limit and number of questions is essential for building an effective exam strategy. It helps candidates manage their time efficiently during the test, allocate focus to each section—VARC, DILR, and QA—and practice under real exam conditions. Understanding the section-wise distribution of questions also allows aspirants to prioritize topics, improve accuracy, and reduce stress on exam day.
Section | Total Number of Questions | Duration for all categories | Duration for PwD Category |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 Questions | 40 Minutes | 53 Minutes and 20 Seconds |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 Questions | 40 Minutes | 53 Minutes and 20 Seconds |
Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 Questions | 40 Minutes | 53 Minutes and 20 Seconds |
Total | 68 Questions | 120 Minutes | 159 Minutes and 60 Seconds |
To know how to manage their stress level and time during D-day, students must take the mock test of CAT. Solving the CAT sample papers will help candidates become familiar with the exam environment and, most importantly, help them understand the detailed exam pattern of CAT. Also, CAT mock tests will help students become familiar with their strengths and weaknesses, which will help to gauge the preparation level and achieve a good CAT score.
Before appearing for any entrance exam, it is crucial for students to take the CAT test series, as they serve as key stepping stones toward success. With the rise of e-learning platforms, aspirants can now access online CAT test series that not only simulate the real exam environment but also help evaluate their performance and preparation level. These mock tests are essential for identifying strengths and weaknesses, enabling students to refine their strategy and improve their chances of securing a high CAT score for admission into top B-schools. Moreover, many platforms offer live chat support and expert guidance for their test series. Students can interact with mentors to receive valuable preparation tips, personalised feedback, and strategies to boost their CAT 2025 performance.
By solving the CAT 2025 mock tests, students must know their weaknesses and strengths to execute the strategy for CAT preparation. This practice will inculcate strategic planning, positivity, lots of practice, self-guidance, and hard work. Students must know that there are no shortcuts to success. One has to pay for it. One must work hard towards their weaknesses sincerely to ace the CAT exam 2025.
While preparing to get a good score in CAT 2025, it is important to keep your level of enthusiasm and positivity high to confront any kind of challenge or difficulty. While writing the CAT exam, students must not only check their accuracy but also their level of anxiety. It is crucial to know how you can manage the stress level while solving the CAT questions. Remember, when you are writing an exam like CAT 2025, it is not completely about the number of questions you attempt, but the quality and accuracy to get a good percentile in CAT.
A good CAT score for top B-schools like IIMs is generally above 95 percentile. For IIFT, FMS Delhi, and other reputed institutes, a score around 90-95 percentile is often considered competitive.
As per previous year CAT Cutoffs, candidates are required to secure more then 90 percentile in CAT to get a call from IIMs.
Ideally, you should aim to answer around 70-80% of the total questions accurately. In terms of good attempts, you should aim for around 34-40 correct answers out of 68 questions.
Sectional cutoffs refer to the minimum marks you need to score in each section of the CAT exam (VARC, DILR, QA), while the overall cutoff is the cumulative score required to be shortlisted for the next round.
A balanced preparation strategy, including time management, regular mock tests, solving previous year question papers, and focusing on high-weightage topics (like Quantitative Aptitude, DILR, and VARC), is key to achieving a good CAT score.
Yes, candidates who qualify in CUSAT CAT can gain admission to various participating institutes based on their rank. These include engineering colleges associated with CUSAT, such as its own School of Engineering in Kochi, Model Engineering College, and over 20 government and private engineering colleges across Kerala like College of Engineering Thrikkaripur, Co-operative Institute of Technology Vadakara, and MG College of Engineering Thiruvallam. The final seat allotment is based on your rank and your choice of program during the counselling process.
Hello Ashish,
Yes, you can get admission to MBA programs at IISWBM without a CAT score, but only for certain courses. Note that IISWBM has MBA programs under the University of Calcutta and flagship courses like MBA (Day) or MBA-HRM typically require a CAT score. Other programs like the PGDM or Executive MBA/Course may have other entrance examinations on which consideration would be made, or considerations may be based on merit, and of course work experience. Always run any eligibility detail checks with the official IISWBM (https://www.iiswbm.edu/) website or The IISWBM prospectus.
Hello,
Yes, a state (Delhi) NC-OBC certificate is valid for CAT 2025 , but it must be in the central government format (for appointment to posts under Government of India).
Also, it should be issued after 31st March 2025, as required by IIMs. If your certificate meets these conditions, it will be accepted.
Hope it helps !
Hello aspirant,
With 375 marks and an AIR of around 2.6 lakh in NEET 2025, getting admission to Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College (AUTC), New Delhi under the state quota is quite difficult. The cutoffs for government BAMS seats in AUTC generally stay below AIR 50,000, especially for the General and EWS categories. Your score may not meet the cutoff in the first or second rounds, but you might still have a slim chance in the mop-up or stray vacancy rounds, depending on how many seats remain and how other candidates opt. If you're a Delhi domicile and have all your documents ready, you should definitely apply and fill AUTC as a top choice. It’s also good to keep backup options in other AYUSH colleges open.
GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.
The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.
If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
Amongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
NAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement | Last Date to Apply: 15th July
25+ years of legacy | NAAC A+ Grade | 800+ Recruiters | 1.5 CR-Highest Package
NAAC A+ Grade | Ranked No.1 Private University in India (QS World University Rankings 2025)
100% Placement Assistance | Avail Merit Scholarships