60 Marks in CAT Percentile usually fall in the 85 -90 percentile range, depending on the difficulty level and slot normalisation.
With this score, you can start getting calls from the newer and baby IIMs, like IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu and IIM Sambalpur. You also have a good chance at many private colleges like TAPMI, K J Somaiya, GIM Goa, FORE, IFMR, BIMTECH and Nirma.
- For top older IIMs, 60 marks is not enough for General Category students because they usually need a 98+ percentile. But if you’re from a reserved category, you can still get shortlisted by several IIMs.
- 60 marks may not get you into the top IIMs, but that still gives you a lot of good options like the New & Baby IIMs, IIT Dhanbad, IIT Jodhpur, KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, GIM Goa, IMT Ghaziabad, and FORE Delhi.
Key Summary
- A 60 marks in CAT percentile corresponds to an 85-90 percentile. It is regarded as extremely competitive and can lead to calls from a number of prestigious B-schools outside the IIM network.
- In this range, look to target institutions such as GIM, FORE, GLIM, TAPMI, IRMA and K J Somaiya.
- Some of the newer IIMs, such as IIM Nagpur, IIM Amritsar, and IIM Bodh Gaya, may also offer calls as per your profile and sectional scores.
- Other reputed institutions like NITIE, SPJIMR, IMI Delhi, and XIMB also consider this level of percentile.
What is the overall 60 marks in CAT percentile?
If you have a score of about 60 marks in CAT, this generally falls around the 85-90 percentile.
- For instance, in CAT 2023, there were about 2.88 lakhs test-takers. 60 marks would have landed around the 88th percentile
- in 2024; there were 2.93 lakhs test-takers, and this score fell around the 85th-89th percentile. After normalisation, your raw score of 60 might look like a score of 64-66, but the respective percentile will remain the same. To put it simply, around every year, there will be 30,000- 45,000 students in this group.
- For the General category, this kind of score gives you a shot at some of the Baby IIMs.
- This score will allow OBC, EWS, SC, and ST students to get into many newer and mid-tier IIMs, particularly with good academics and WAT-PI.
- To get around 60 marks, you are normally looking for around 13-15 in VARC, 10-12 in DILR and 10-12 in QA if you have done well with accuracy.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Raw score | 60 |
| Scaled score range | 64-66 |
| CAT 2024 Percentile | 85-89 |
| CAT 2025 Percentile (Estimated) | 85-90 |
| Number of candidates in this range | 30,000-45,000 |
| Colleges accepting this score | 1,000+ |
| IIM chance for General | Possible in Baby IIMs; unlikely in top IIMs |
| IIM chance for Reserved Categories | Possible in New & Mid-tier IIMs with strong WAT-PI |
| Other Options | 40+ Top B-Schools, 60+ Govt Institutions, 200+ Private Universities & Colleges |
Check:
CAT Total MBA Seats in IIM and Other Colleges60 marks in CAT vs Percentile
Scoring around 60 marks in the CAT usually scales to about 64-66 marks and typically is in the range of the 85th to 90th percentile. The shift depends on the overall difficulty of the paper and the slot normalisation.
- The score of 60 in CAT 2023 was around the 88th percentile.
- In CAT 2024, it will fall between the 85th to 89th percentiles.
In this score range, every mark you earn could potentially increase your percentile by as much 0.5 -1 points.
With an 85 -90 percentile, several students, depending on their profile, are targeting Baby IIMs, some newer IIMs (if you belong to any of the reserved categories) and top private B-schools like TAPMI, K J Somaiya, GIM and FORE.
A good academic profile and WAT-PI would made a difference.
Another point to consider is how competitive this is - you need to get pretty close or on target with that mark.
| Raw score range | Approx. Scaled score | CAT 2024 Percentile | Estimated CAT 2025 Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 58-59 | 62-64 | 84.6 | 85.0 |
| 60-61 | 64-66 | 85.8 | 86.2 |
| 62-63 | 66-68 | 87.2 | 87.6 |
| 64-65 | 68-70 | 88.4 | 88.8 |
| 66-67 | 70-72 | 89.5 | 89.8 |
| 68-69 | 72-74 | 90.2 | 90.5 |
Key Insight: Your chances of being shortlisted by competitive institutions can be significantly increased by moving from 60 to 65 marks, which will raise your percentile from the mid-85s to almost 90.
Read More:
CAT Score Vs PercentileColleges accepting 60 Marks in CAT Percentile
Typically, scoring close to 60 marks in CAT percentile, usually in the 85-90 range, can open doors to several good MBA programs and institutions across India.
CAT Notable Colleges (85-90 Percentile Cutoff)
Several renowned MBA institutes shortlist candidates within the 85-90 percentile range:
| Institute | Expected CAT Cutoff (Percentile) |
|---|---|
| Goa Institute of Management (GIM) | 85 |
| FORE School of Management (FSM), Delhi | 85 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), Chennai | 85 -90 |
| T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal | 85 |
| K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai | 85 -87 |
| Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) | 85 |
| International Management Institute (IMI), Delhi | 88 -90 |
| NITIE, Mumbai | 85 |
| SPJIMR, Mumbai (Profile-based) | 85 |
| LBSIM, Delhi | 85 -90 |
| UBS Chandigarh | 85 -90 |
| XIMB (Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar) | 85 -90 |
| IIM Nagpur | 85 |
| IIM Amritsar | 85 |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 85 |
Read More:
Top MBA Colleges Accepting Low Scores in CATCAT 2025 Accepting College Summary
| Type of Institute | Example Colleges |
|---|---|
| Newer IIMs (profile-dependent) | IIM Nagpur, IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya |
| Top Private & Government B-Schools | GIM, FORE, GLIM, TAPMI, IRMA, KJ Somaiya, IMI Delhi |
| IIT-Run & Specialist Institutes | NITIE, SPJIMR |
| Other Reputed B-Schools | LBSIM, UBS Chandigarh, XIMB |
Check:
60 Marks in CAT Percentile FAQS
Ques. Which IIM can I get into with a 60?
Ans. A raw score of approximately 60 Marks in CAT Percentile is generally within the range of 85-90. If you have a good profile, sectional cut-offs, and WAT-PI performance, this score is good for Baby IIMs such as IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, IIM Sambalpur, and IIM Sirmaur. The same percentile score can also create opportunities for candidates from OBC, EWS, SC, and ST at junior mid-tier IIMs like IIM Nagpur and IIM Amritsar.
Ques. What's the least cut-off for the SC/ST category?
Ans. Even though the actual shortlisting cut-offs are often higher, and typically in the range of 50-65 percentile depending on the institute, the eligibility cut-off for SC/ST consists primarily of 40-50 percentile at most of the IIMs.
SC/ST candidates only need to get 60 (i.e. 85-90 percentile) to satisfy the shortlisting criteria for all IIMs, including the best ones. Ultimately, the decision will still depend on other factors such as performance in WAT-PI rounds, work experience, academic record and etc.
Ques. Is there any percentile relaxation for the OBC and EWS categories?
Ans. Yes. The minimum cut-off eligibility for OBC and EWS candidates' scores is around the 70-75 percentile range. The cut-off for general category candidates is a bit higher at the 80-85 percentile. OBC and EWS candidates scoring 60 Marks in the CAT Percentile, which translates into around 85-90 percentile, should be in a strong position to get calls from mid-tier schools or newer IIMs. In certain years, even old IIMs will call if the candidate's academics and work experience are strong. This shows that 60 Marks in CAT Percentile can help a lot of candidates in good opportunities, especially for reserved category candidates.
Ques. What's the validity of the CAT score?
Ans. CAT scores are valid only for a single academic year. For example, a CAT 2024 score can be used to apply for MBA/PGP programs in the batch 2025-27, but will not be accepted for 2026 admissions.
Ques. I'm an engineering candidate with a 97th percentile. Can I get into the top IIMs?
Ans. Yes. If you meet their sectional cut-offs, you can get calls from the top IIMs, like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore, if you are in the 97th percentile range. There is usually not a lot of opportunity for academic diversity points, and most of the competition in that range will come for engineers. The most important factor in securing your admission will be your performance in the WAT-PI.
Ques. I got 60 in CAT. What's next?
Ans. When you have 60 mark CAT in percentile (85-90 percentile) scores, it is worth thinking about three important steps.
- First, make a shortlist of B-schools that accept students in the 85 to 90 percentile range, which include exams like Baby IIMs and some popular private schools like FORE, TAPMI, GIM, and K J Somaiya.
- Second, check the last application dates. A lot of private universities still accept CAT scores after the results come out.
- Finally, as the WAT-PI will be part of the final selection, ensure you are sufficiently prepared for the same.
Ques. I have secured 60 in CAT. Do I have to retake the CAT?
Ans. It depends on what your goal is. If your target is top IIMs or the 95+ percentile B-schools, you will likely need to retake the CAT. However, if you are open to Baby IIMs, new IIMs (depending on reserved categories), and top private B-schools, you may not have to retake CAT.
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