10 Marks in CAT Percentile: Check Expected Percentile, Slot-Wise Impact & Accepting Colleges

Around 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2025, and with the release of response sheets, many candidates are trying to figure out their possible percentile range. A 10 mark score typically falls below the 30th percentile, with minor upward movement after normalisation.

• A raw score of 10 generally scales up slightly to about 11–13 marks after the normalisation.
• This percentile bracket of less than 30 percentile does not qualify for top-tier B-schools or IIMs.
• Several emerging institutes, private universities, and state-level MBA colleges accept low CAT percentiles.
• Percentile remains dependent on slot difficulty and the normalisation process.

While this percentile range does not open doors to top B-schools, even with a less than 30th percentile, candidates still have options at various emerging MBA colleges, state universities, and private institutes across India.

Also Read: Understand CAT 2025 results better: check official scorecard and expected IIM cutoffs here

Expected CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Overall)

Based on different coaching institute predictions and historical patterns, here's the expected score vs Percentile for CAT 2025:

Note: The results for CAT 2025 are expected to be declared on December 20, 2025. Until then, these projections help candidates understand where they stand and which colleges they should target during the application process.

Also Read: CAT marks vs percentile trends from 2025 to 2022

CAT Score vs Percentile Trends for 10 Marks

• As more people take the test and the exam's difficulty changes, the same raw score can result in different percentiles.
• The movement of percentiles largely depends on both the exam's difficulty and the number of test-takers.
• For CAT 2025, experts expect that a score of 10 marks will likely fall within the 20-30 percentile range, as the exam stayed at moderate difficulty levels.

Also Read: Step-by-step guide on how CAT scores are calculated

Slot-Wise Impact: How 10 Marks Convert Across CAT 2025 Slots

Based on CAT 2025's slot-wise difficulty analysis, a raw score of 10 marks could lead to different percentiles depending on the slot in which you took the exam. Understanding this difference helps you set realistic expectations.

Slot 1 (Morning: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM)

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• 10 Marks Expected Percentile: 21–25
• Best Section for 10 Marks: QA (arithmetic-based scoring opportunities)
• Toughest Section: VARC (dense RCs, low scoring potential for low attempts)

Slot 2 (Afternoon: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM)

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate (Slightly Easier)
• 10 Marks Expected Percentile: 18–22
• Best Section for 10 Marks: VARC (direct questions, higher accuracy)
• Toughest Section: DILR (least scoring for low-mark students)

Slot 3 (Evening: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM)

• Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
• 10 Marks Expected Percentile: 23–28
• Best Section for 10 Marks: DILR (some solvable sets)
• Toughest Section: QA (algebra-heavy, fewer easy questions)

Also Check: Find out what counts as a good CAT score for top B-Schools

Slot-Wise Section Performance Table for 10 Marks

If you took the test in Slot 2, a score of 10 marks in VARC is likely to result in a slightly higher sectional percentile. In contrast, Slot 3 might improve your score in QA. The difficulty of each slot still affects how low raw scores translate to percentile after normalisation.

Colleges Accepting 10 Marks in CAT

With 10 marks (approximately 20-30 percentile), aspirants can target several colleges that consider low CAT scores as eligibility, often combined with profile-based admissions.

Examples of Colleges Accepting <30 Percentile:

• Amity University
• Lovely Professional University
• Shoolini University
• Chandigarh University
• GNIOT Noida
• IIMT Greater Noida
• Galgotias University
• SRM University (profile-based)
• Graphic Era University
• JIS University Kolkata

Reserved-category candidates may also benefit from relaxed shortlisting requirements.

Also Read:

• Top MBA colleges in India and their latest rankings

State-Wise Colleges Accepting <30 Percentile (10 Marks)

Maharashtra MBA Colleges Accepting CAT <30 Percentile

Also Read: How academics and work experience are weighted in CAT 2025 admissions

Karnataka MBA Colleges Accepting <30 Percentile

Check:

• The most important WAT topics for IIMs you must prepare
• Key PI tips and commonly asked interview questions in IIMs

Tamil Nadu MBA Colleges Accepting <30 Percentile

Also Read: Complete admission process for IIMs for the 2026 batch

Delhi–NCR Colleges Accepting <30 Percentile

Also Read: Know which IIMs do not consider work experience in shortlisting.

Uttar Pradesh MBA Colleges Accepting <30 Percentile

Also Read: Total seats available across all IIMs and top MBA colleges.

Strategy for 10-Mark Scorers: What Next?

Here’s a practical roadmap for candidates who scored around 10 marks in CAT 2025:

Immediate Actions

• Download your response sheet from iimcat.ac.in
• Calculate your raw score using the marking scheme (+3 for correct, -1 for wrong MCQs)·
• Use percentile predictors from Career Launcher, Cracku, or Collegedunia
• Start applying to colleges accepting <30 percentile

Profile-Building Tips

• Focus on building a strong profile.
• Highlight certificates, online courses, and internships
• Build a strong CV for PI rounds
• Prepare for GD, WAT, and PI thoroughly

Category-Specific Advantages

• SC, ST or PwD candidates may still target newer government universities
• OBC-NCL/EWS candidates may find additional profile-based opportunities
• Women candidates can leverage gender diversity points at several institutes

Alternative Options

• Appear for other exams like MAT, ATMA, CUET-PG, KMAT
• Consider taking the CAT 2026 with improved preparation
• Gain 6–12 months of work experience to strengthen your application

Scoring around 10 marks in CAT 2025 places you in the lower percentile range, but it still keeps you eligible for several MBA programs across India. While it does not qualify for IIMs or top-tier B-schools, it opens doors to many private universities, emerging management institutes, and state-level MBA colleges that accept low CAT percentiles or offer profile-based admissions.

Related News:

• MBA Colleges accepting 85-90 percentile in CAT 2025
• Top MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores
• List of Top Private Colleges through CAT