Low CAT or XAT Score? Best MBA Admission Options & Next Steps for 2026

Explore options for top B-schools in 2026

You might be disappointed with your MBA exam results, but you should not lose heart, as you may still get calls from B-schools that give very low weightage to MBA exam scores like CAT or XAT. Such B-schools shortlist candidates with a percentile range as low as 50 to 60 or above.

Thus, you should explore your B-school options based on your existing CAT and XAT percentile.

Besides CAT and XAT scores, such B-schools look for other components like academic profile, extra-curricular activity, soft skills, personal traits, attitude, and social behavior, along with many other personal characteristics, while finalizing admission offers. In many B-schools, CAT or XAT scores carry only 20-30 per cent weightage in their selection process. Thus, despite your low percentile in CAT or XAT, many B-schools may shortlist you as the MBA exam scores are not the deciding factor for them. If you find B-schools that can shortlist you basis your existing CAT/XAT percentile, you can still apply to them provided they are open for applications.
Shortlist the B-Schools before they shortlist you. Predict your college with our CAT/XAT Pathfinder Tool

All MBA exams are not yet over

If you are still not satisfied with the B-school options that you are getting based on your CAT and XAT scores, you must now gear up for other MBA exams, which are scheduled to be conducted in the next two months. You can explore admission opportunities in top B-schools for the academic year 2026-28 by taking two more MBA exams - CMAT and MAH CET entrance exam.

A good score in CMAT can bring you admission opportunities to top B-schools accepting CMAT, like JBIMS- Mumbai, DMS -NIT Durgapur, SIMSREE-Mumbai, amongst public institutions, and Great Lakes Institute of Management- Chennai, Prin. LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research- Mumbai, KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research- Mumbai, Institute of Public Enterprise-Hyderabad, Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM) –Pune, Jaipuria Institute of Management – Lucknow, PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore, amongst many other private B-schools in India.

Similarly, a good score in MAH CET will bring you an admission opportunity at over 400 B-schools in the state of Maharashtra. Top B-schools that accept MAH-CET scores include JBIMS- Mumbai, SIMSREE-Mumbai, DMS (PUMBA)-Pune, amongst public institutions, besides many other top private B-schools.

Prepare for the remaining MBA exams and GD-PI-WAT simultaneously

So, what should be your next steps now? Since important MBA exams are scheduled in next few months and many B-schools are scheduling their GD-PI in coming weeks also, your preparation for written test and GD-PI should go side by side.

As you would have already prepared your basic during your preparation for exams like CAT and XAT, you should now go back to CMAT syllabus and MAH CET syllabus to cross-check your preparedness for the two exams. You should plan your preparation strategy for the two exams very carefully because you may also have to continue your preparation for GD-PI as many B-schools may shortlist you despite your low score. Toppers however advise that you should not start a new topic for written test now. Instead, you should revise the topics that you have already covered for CAT and XAT exams.

Careers360 has launched a prep meter tool where you can check how prepared you are to score well in CMAT and MAH CET.

Get your personalized preparation report and improvement plan. Analyze your preparation level with “CMAT Prepmeter” and “MAH-CET Prepmeter"

For any doubts and questions related to MBA exam pattern, preparation and other related queries, students can call the MBA Exam Helpline at 011-40360360.

Begin afresh for the next year's exams:

If your CAT results and XAT results are not satisfactory and you still want to enter the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) or XLRI Jamshedpur, you should seriously start afresh with a long-term plan for MBA admission in the academic year 2026-28.

An early preparation strategy may give you an edge over the other CAT/XAT aspirants who begin preparation after the admissions to this academic year is over.

Stay tuned to bschool.careers360.com for more news and updates on MBA admissions.