CAT 2025 Results: When & How
The CAT 2025 exam was held on 30 November 2025 by IIM Kozhikode in three slots. Answer keys and response sheets are already out, and most expert updates indicate that CAT 2025 Results are likely to be announced in the second half of December 2025 (around 19–23 December) or by early January 2026, on the official portal iimcat.ac.in.
To check CAT 2025 Results, candidates will need to:
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Visit the official website.
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Log in using their CAT User ID and Password.
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Download the CAT 2025 scorecard PDF showing section‑wise scaled scores, overall score and percentiles.
Understanding CAT 2025 Percentile & Scorecard
CAT uses scaled scores and percentiles, not raw marks, because the exam is conducted in multiple slots with slight difficulty variations.
Your CAT 2025 Results scorecard will show:
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Sectional scores and percentiles for VARC, DILR and QA.
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Overall scaled score and overall percentile.
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Candidate details and exam slot.
Percentile indicates what percentage of test‑takers scored less than or equal to you. For example, 98 percentile means you performed better than 98% of candidates. This figure is crucial for shortlisting by tier 1 MBA colleges in India.
Expected CAT 2025 Cut-Offs & Percentile Trends
Final cut‑offs depend on difficulty level, applications and institute policies, but trends from recent years give a reliable range. For the older IIMs (A, B, C, L, K, I, S), general‑category candidates usually need:
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Overall 98–99.7 percentile for calls from Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta.
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Around 97–98 percentile for Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore, Shillong.
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Sectional percentiles around 80–85+ in each section, with higher thresholds at the most competitive campuses.
Newer and baby IIMs typically shortlist in the 92–96 percentile band, with some relaxation for exceptional academic profiles or reserved categories.
For top non‑IIM tier 1 MBA colleges in India, expected CAT 2025 Results cut‑offs usually lie between 94 and 98 percentile, depending on the programme and profile weightage.
Tier‑2 but still highly reputed institutes often accept 80–90 percentile, which is where many strong candidates secure excellent MBA admission outcomes even without crossing the 95+ band.
MBA Admission Process After CAT 2025 Results
Once CAT 2025 Results are declared, the MBA admission process typically moves through these stages:
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Shortlisting for WAT–GD–PI
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IIMs and top MBA universities in India release shortlists based on CAT percentile, academic scores, work experience, diversity factors and sometimes written application forms.
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Each institute has its own formula, so two colleges may assess the same percentile differently.
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WAT (Written Ability Test) / AWT, Group Discussion & Personal Interview
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Candidates write short essays or analytical responses on current issues.
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Group discussions or case discussions evaluate communication, structure and teamwork.
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Personal interviews focus on goals, academics, work experience, and awareness of business and national issues.
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Final Composite Score & Offer
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Institutes combine CAT 2025 Results percentile with WAT–GD–PI performance, academics, work experience, and sometimes diversity (gender/discipline/geography) to create a final merit list.
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Selected candidates receive admission offers and must confirm with fee payment by the deadline.
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Non‑IIM & Private MBA Admissions
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Many top private universities and B‑schools accept CAT 2025 scores alongside other tests (XAT, CMAT, MAT etc.).
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Application forms are typically open before CAT results, but shortlisting picks up once the results are out.
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How to Use Your CAT 2025 Results Strategically
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If you are 95+ percentile, you can strongly target older and newer IIMs plus top non‑IIM tier 1 schools; work hard on WAT–GD–PI prep.
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If you fall in the 85–95 percentile range, focus on newer IIMs, strong central/state universities and reputed private B‑schools that value profile and GD–PI performance.
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For 70–85 percentile, look at rising private universities with solid placement records, smaller batch sizes and industry‑linked curricula where you can get more individual attention and leadership opportunities.
In every band, look beyond the brand name check fee, ROI, peer group, faculty, pedagogy and specialisations offered.
Why Consider a Top Private University in India like IIMT for MBA?
Not every serious aspirant will join an IIM, but strong careers are built across many institutions. A top private university in India such as IIMT University can offer:
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Industry‑aligned curriculum that keeps updating around analytics, AI, digital marketing, finance and entrepreneurship.
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Smaller batches and mentoring, helping students who may not have cracked 95+ percentile but are ready to work hard on skills and internships.
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Geographical advantage & affordability, particularly for North India/UP/Delhi‑NCR students seeking good MBA admission options closer to home with lower living costs.
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Placement and startup support, which for many students matters more than a logo alone.
FAQs on CAT 2025 Results & MBA Admissions
Q1. When will CAT 2025 Results be declared?
Most credible exam updates suggest CAT 2025 Results are likely around 19–23 December 2025, with a small chance of slipping into early January 2026, based on previous years’ patterns.
Q2. What is a good percentile in CAT 2025 for IIM calls?
For general‑category candidates, older IIMs usually require 98+ percentile, newer/baby IIMs often shortlist 92–96 percentile, subject to sectional cut‑offs and profile weightage.
Q3. Can I get into a good MBA college with <90 percentile?
Yes. Many strong non‑IIM institutes and private universities accept candidates in the 70–90 percentile band, especially if they have good academics, work experience and interview performance.
Q4. How is the CAT percentile calculated?
CAT uses normalisation across slots, then ranks candidates and converts ranks into percentiles—so your percentile reflects how many candidates scored below you, not just your raw marks.
Q5. What should I do after checking CAT 2025 Results?
Immediately download multiple copies of your scorecard, check shortlisting criteria of your target institutes, complete their application forms if still open, and start focused preparation for WAT–GD–PI rounds.
