✅ What Are the Minimum Marks to Qualify CAT Exam 2025? [CAT Passing Marks Guide]
📘 Introduction
Are you wondering how many marks are required to qualify for the CAT 2025 exam? You’re not alone. This is a common concern for every MBA aspirant preparing for one of the toughest management entrance exams in India.
CAT (Common Admission Test) is the gateway to India’s premier B-schools including the IIMs, FMS, MDI, and more than 1200+ top MBA colleges. But here’s the catch — CAT doesn’t have fixed passing marks like your school or college exams. Instead, it uses a percentile-based scoring system.
This blog by Planet E, your trusted CAT preparation partner, breaks down the minimum marks, expected cutoffs, scoring system, and everything else you need to qualify the CAT 2025 exam confidently.
🎯 Understanding the CAT Exam 2025
| Section | Total Questions | MCQs | TITA Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 21 | 3 | 72 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 14 | 8 | 60 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 14 | 8 | 66 |
| Total | 68 | 49 | 17 | 198 |
CAT follows a scaled score model, meaning your raw scores are normalized before converting into a percentile.
🔢 CAT 2025 Marking Scheme
| Question Type | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | +3 Marks | -1 Mark |
| Non-MCQ (TITA) | +3 Marks | 0 Mark |
📊 Is There a Minimum Passing Marks in CAT?
Technically, CAT doesn’t have minimum qualifying marks or a pass/fail system. Instead, it’s based on your percentile, which reflects your performance in comparison to other test takers.
For instance:
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Scoring 90 percentile means you performed better than 90% of candidates.
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Each IIM or B-school sets its own cutoff percentile, not fixed marks.
🎓 Planet E Tip: Don’t just aim to “pass” the CAT. Aim for a competitive percentile to ensure IIM shortlisting!
📉 CAT Percentile vs Marks: A Quick Comparison
To give you a clearer picture, here’s an estimate of how CAT marks translate into percentiles:
| Percentile | CAT 2020 | CAT 2019 | CAT 2018 | CAT 2017 | CAT 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9%ile | 131 | 196 | 192 | 208 | 191 |
| 99.5%ile | 115 | 170 | 170 | 183 | 168 |
| 99%ile | 102 | 157 | 155 | 173 | 153 |
| 95%ile | 77 | 120 | 125 | 139 | 123 |
| 90%ile | 63 | 90 | 110 | 121 | 108 |
Note: The CAT exam’s difficulty level varies each year, influencing marks-to-percentile conversions.
🔥 Expected Cutoffs for CAT 2025 (Section-Wise)
If you’re aiming for top-tier B-schools like the IIMs, here’s a breakdown of expected cutoffs:
| Section | 99.5%ile | 99%ile | 95%ile | 90%ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 108 | 95 | 68 | 58 |
| VARC | 47 | 38 | 29 | 24 |
| DILR | 37 | 30 | 22 | 20 |
| QA | 46 | 37 | 27 | 21 |
🎓 Minimum Percentile Required for IIMs (Expected)
| IIM | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Calcutta | 80 | 80 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 75 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
| IIM Indore | 80 | 80 | 80 | 90 |
| IIM Udaipur / Ranchi / Raipur | 70 | 70 | 70 | 92 |
| IIM Jammu / Nagpur | 65 | 65 | 65 | 90 |
| IIM Rohtak | – | – | – | 95 |
🌟 Planet E Insight: Sectional cutoffs are equally important. Scoring high overall won’t help if you fail to clear a section-wise threshold.
🧠 CAT Difficulty vs Score
CAT’s difficulty level fluctuates each year. However, based on trends:
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150+ Marks can place you in the 99+ percentile range.
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100-120 Marks is often enough for 95–98 percentile.
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80+ Marks may yield a 90 percentile, which can open doors to several good B-schools.
🏆 How to Achieve a Competitive CAT Percentile?
At Planet E, we guide aspirants with a structured, data-driven approach. Here’s what you need to do:
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Balanced Sectional Preparation: Don’t ignore any one section.
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Mock Tests & Analysis: Take at least 25–30 full-length mocks.
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Understand Your Target Percentile: Based on your dream college.
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Focus on Time Management: Improve accuracy with speed.
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Join Expert CAT Coaching: Get mentorship and regular performance feedback.
✅ Key Takeaways
| 🔍 Insight | 🎯 Summary |
|---|---|
| Passing Marks | No fixed passing marks. CAT is percentile-based. |
| Ideal Score | Aim for 90+ percentile for top colleges. |
| Sectional Scores | Clearing all section-wise cutoffs is mandatory. |
| Coaching | Enroll in expert-led CAT coaching like Planet E for the best outcomes. |
🎓 Why Choose Planet E for CAT Coaching?
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📍 Offline Classes at Dadar, Mumbai
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🌐 Online Batches for PAN-India and Abroad
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📊 Personalized Progress Tracking
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🎯 95%+ Success Rate in IIM & Top MBA Admissions
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🧠 Expert Faculty | 100+ Mocks | 24/7 Doubt Solving
💡 Start your CAT journey with Planet E and get ahead in the competition!
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