How Many Students Clear CAT Exam Every Year?

How Many Students Clear CAT Exam Every Year?

Ongoing Event

CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 20 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 29 Aug 2025, 10:29 AM IST

CAT (Common Admission Test) is one of the most reputed and anticipated MBA entrance exams in India. The CAT exam is the gateway for aspiring candidates to the prestigious IIMs and other top rated B schools in the country. The CAT exam is given by more than 2 lakh candidates every year. The selection of candidates in the IIMs is done based on the specified CAT cutoff. CAT 2025 will be held on November 30, 2025. The number of candidates clearing CAT this year is expected to be in line with earlier trends. Last year, around 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT 2025 in 3 slots as per the report from CAT officials. The candidates clearing the CAT exam account for less than 10 per cent of the total candidates that appear for the CAT examination every year.

How Many Students Clear CAT Exam Every Year?
How Many Students Clear CAT Exam

Total Candidates clearing the CAT Exam

The total number of candidates that clear the CAT examination is roughly around 10,000. This number is less than ten per cent of the total candidates given the total number of candidates appearing for the CAT exam crosses two lakhs (approximately) every year. Out of these candidates, only a handful of the candidates can gain admission into IIMs and other top B schools.

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Students Took the CAT Exam: Statistics (Last Year's)

Check out the table below to see the total number of candidates who appeared for the CAT 2025 exam.

GenderNumber of candidates attended the CAT exam
Male appeared candidates1.86 lakhs
Female appeared candidates1.07 lakhs
Transgender appeared candidates5
Total candidates appeared in CAT last year2.93 lakhs
Total candidates applied for CAT last year3.29 lakhs
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Also See: How Many Students Took CAT Exam?

Marks required to clear the CAT Exam

The marks required to clear the CAT exam vary every year. The marks vary from one institute to another depending on their specified CAT cutoff. The CAT cutoff for different IIMs as well as non-IIMs is given in the table below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many students get into IIM every year?
A:

Every year, it is estimated that approximately 5,500 students get admitted into 21 IIMs, with the total number of seats across all IIMs being slightly higher. 

Q: How many students give the CAT every year?
A:

The CAT exam is given by over 2 lakh candidates every year. The number of students giving the CAT exam varies from 2.5 to 2.9 lakh every year.

Q: What is the success rate of CAT?
A:

The success rate for the CAT exam based on previous year records is around 2%. The success rate for IIMs through CAT is even lesser than that.

Q: What is the pass percentage of the CAT exam?
A:

The pass percentage of the CAT exam is decided by the individual college. CAT exam also has sectional pass percentage for all three sections. The CAT pass percentage ranges from 60 to 80 for the overall CAT exam.

Q: What is the CAT cutoff for IIM?
A:

The CAT cutoff for IIM is between 99 to 100 percentile. This is the CAT percentile at which the final selection of a candidate generally happens. The qualifying CAT percentile for CAT ranges from 70 to 80 depending on the particular IIM. At this percentile a candidate becomes eligible to apply to the particular IIM for its selection process.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello Aspirant,

Since your payment status shows "S" , it means your payment is successful. The "payment unsuccessful" message on the form is likely a temporary system error or a delay in updating.

Do not make another payment.

Making a second payment could cause a double debit, which is difficult to get a refund for. You should:

  1. Wait 24-48 hours for the status to update automatically.

  2. Download and save a copy of your form and a screenshot of the "S" payment status as proof.

  3. Check your bank statement to confirm the money has been debited.

  4. If the issue is not fixed after 48 hours, contact the official CAT helpdesk immediately with your transaction details.

Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.

Yes, you can pursue an MBA at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, through the CAT exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university.

  • Entrance Exam: A valid CAT score is required for admission.

Admission Process:

  1. Application: Register online through the BBAU admission portal.

  2. Entrance Exam: Appear for the CAT exam and obtain a valid score.

  3. Counseling: Shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling based on their CAT scores.

  4. Document Verification: Submit necessary documents for verification.

  5. Fee Payment: Complete the fee payment to confirm admission.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 2 years (full-time).

  • Specializations: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, among others.

Placement Opportunities:
BBAU has a strong placement record, with top companies recruiting MBA graduates.

For more details and to apply, visit the  official BBAU MBA admission page

Hello Amgothu

With 305 marks in ICAR PG and being from ST category, your chances of getting an AIEEA (CAT) seat is good, especially in plant sciences and less competitive subjects