The IIM Kozhikode has announced the CAT 2025 result on 24th December. For top IIMs, the minimum marks for the General category remain in the range of 90-95 percentile, which is approximately 65-70 marks in CAT 2025.
- As per the CAT Result 2025, 95-100 marks converted to 99 percentile where whereas 65-75 marks translated to 95 percentile.
- Minimum marks of 45-60 marks(80-85 percentiles) are needed for IIMs. But candidates with scores of 95-100 (99+ percentile) can expect shortlisting calls from IIMs.
- General category candidates must meet strict overall and sectional cutoffs. VARC, DILR, and QA sections need 20-40 marks, which translates to a 75-85 percentile.
In this article, we will break down the minimum marks required to get into various IIMs for general candidates.
Also Read:
- Check the CAT 2025 cutoff for IIMs and top MBA colleges
- CAT 2025 expected cutoff marks needed for the 99th percentile in the general category

Key Summary
- Top IIMs usually require a 99+ percentile for General candidates, which translates to around 95-100 CAT marks in CAT 2025.
- Mid-tier IIMs consider general candidates with 85-90 percentile, roughly equal to 45-70 CAT marks, depending on profile strength.
- General candidates must clear strict sectional cutoffs, typically 75-85 percentile per section, translating to about 20-40 marks each.
- Clearing minimum CAT marks or percentiles only ensures eligibility; final IIM calls depend on academics, diversity factors, and competition levels.
Minimum CAT Marks Required for IIM Ahmedabad
IIM Ahmedabad maintains high qualifying percentile criteria for general category candidates.
- 65-80 marks are the minimum marks for general candidates to get a shortlist call from IIM Ahmedabad.
- Sectional marks of 30-40 in VARC, 25-35 in DILR, and 30-40 in QA are minimum for general candidates.
| Section | Minimum Percentile | Approx Scaled CAT Marks required |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 85 | 30-40 |
| DILR | 85 | 25-35 |
| QA | 85 | 30-40 |
| Overall | 95 | 65-80 |

Source: IIM Ahmedabad Admission Policy
Also Read:
What is the expected cutoff of IIM Ahmedabad in CAT 2025?
Ques. What CAT percentile do I need for IIM Ahmedabad if I’m in the general category with average academics?
Ans. For the general category, at least 95 overall percentile is needed to be eligible to get a call from IIM A. But it might not be enough since the competition is high. 99+ percentile candidates usually get shortlisted for the further selection process.
Minimum CAT Marks for IIM Bangalore
IIM Bangalore has a lower CAT mark requirement compared to IIM Ahmedabad for general candidates.
- Overall scores of 45-60 marks are the minimum for general candidates to be considered for shortlisting.
- 25-35 in VARC, 20-30 in DILR, and 25-35 in QA sections are compulsory for the shortlist call.
| Section | Minimum Percentile | Approx Scaled CAT marks required |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 80 | 25-35 |
| DILR | 75 | 20-30 |
| QA | 75 | 25-35 |
| Overall | 85 | 45-60 |

Source: IIM Bangalore Admission Process
Also Read:
Can I get into IIM Bangalore with 95 percentile in CAT 2025?
Ques. What’s a realistic CAT percentile for an IIM Interview call?
Ans. If you scored 60-75 in the CAT 2025 (93-95) percentile with a strong profile, you may expect a shortlist call from IIM Bangalore.
Also, Read: How to Calculate CAT Composite Score?
IIM Calcutta: Minimum Marks Needed
An overall 45-60 marks is the minimum marks needed from general candidates to get a call from IIM Calcutta.
Minimum sectional marks in CAT 2025 for IIM Calcutta are:
- VARC: 25-35 (80 percentile)
- DILR: 22-32 (80 percentile)
- QA; 25-35 (75 percentile)
| Section | Minimum Percentile | Approx. Scaled CAT Marks |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 80 | 25-35 |
| DILR | 80 | 22-32 |
| QA | 75 | 25-35 |
| Overall | 85 | 45-60 |

Source: IIM Calcutta Admission Procedure
Also Read:
- What is the selection process for IIM Calcutta through CAT 2025?
- Check out the Academic Profile Calculation for IIMs
Minimum CAT Marks for IIM Lucknow
- For IIM Lucknow, the minimum marks needed are 55-70 translates to 90 percentile overall.
- Sectionally, a minimum 85 percentile is needed, with approximately 30-40 marks in VARC, 25-35 in DILR, and in QA it is 30-40 marks.
| Section | Minimum Percentile | Approx scaled CAT Marks required |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 85 | 30-40 |
| DILR | 85 | 25-35 |
| QA | 85 | 30-40 |
| Overall | 90 | 55-70 |
Source: IIM Lucknow Admission Policy for 2026-28 Batch
Also Read: Check IIM Lucknow Cutoff and Selection Process
Ques. Can 94 percentile work for IIM Lucknow for general candidates?
Ans. About 60-70 scaled marks are enough for some with a strong profile and with diversity points.
Minimum CAT Marks for IIM Indore
- IIM Indore needs a uniform sectional percentile of 80 percentile, with 28 - 35 marks in all sections.
- Overall, 55-70 marks are needed to get a call from IIM Indore.
| Section | Minimum percentile | Approx Scaled CAT marks required |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 80 | 25-35 |
| DILR | 80 | 22-32 |
| QA | 80 | 28-38 |
| Overall | 90 | 55-70 |
Source: IIM Indore Admission Procedure for 2026-28 Batch
Also Read: CAT 2025 Cutoff for IIM Indore and selection Process
Minimum CAT Marks for IIM Kozhikode
IIM Kozhikode needs 20-30 marks per section, with overall CAT scores of 45-60 marks.
| Section | Minimum percentile | Approx Scaled CAT marks required |
|---|---|---|
| All sections | 75 | 20-30 (per section) |
| Overall | 85 | 45-60 |
Source: IIM Kozhikode Admission Policy for 2026-28 Batch
Also Read: Check Cutoff and Admission Criteria of IIM Kozhikode 2025
Looking at the CAT results, no minimum CAT mark that guarantees admission into IIMs for general category candidates. Because of the high competition, top IIMs require a 99+ percentile for general candidates, which is around 85+ marks.






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