CAT 2024 results were released online. Students who appeared for the CAT exam may face concerns about the sectional cutoff. But worry not. In this article, Shiksha has listed down the top MBA colleges in India which give admission to the MBA programme without sectional cutoff. Read the article below to know more.
MBA colleges in India with no sectional cutoff: CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. The CAT exam is the first stepping stone for students embarking upon the MBA journey. Every year lakhs of students appear for the CAT exam, with a dream to get into the top B-school in India. But all of them do not achieve it. But it does not mean it is the end of the road of getting into a good B-school.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.CAT 2024 was conducted on November 26, 2023, by the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. The CAT response sheet was also released on the official website of CAT. Traversing the intricate aspects of the CAT exam presents challenges other than the overall CAT percentile. Many students who appeared for the exam may face concerns about sectional cutoff. But, there are many top MBA colleges in India without sectional cutoff which offer admissions into the MBA programme. In this article, Shiksha has listed down the MBA colleges in India with no sectional cutoffs.
Q: How much percentile is a good score in CAT exam?
Q: How much percentile is a good score in the CAT exam?
Q: How is the CAT score and percentile calculated?
Also Read: CAT result 2023 released; check live updates
What is Sectional Cutoff?
CAT is divided into three sections, i.e. Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. The sectional cutoff is the minimum score decided by the institutes which is based on factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, number of applicants, available seats, etc. These cutoffs are set for each section of the CAT exam and serve as qualifying criteria for admissions to the institutes. Achieving a balanced sectional cutoff is crucial as many management colleges consider sectional cutoffs in addition to the overall percentile for admissions. Meeting the sectional cutoff will enhance the chances of the students to get into their dream B-school. Typically, a score of 70-80 percentile in VARC and DILR and 60-70 percentile in QA is good score. However, various MBA colleges in India also take other factors into consideration such as work experience, academic profile, PI performance.
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Is the Sectional Cutoff Important?
CAT is a highly competitive exam and the sectional cutoff is important in the way that many institutes determine the minimum score needed for the students to qualify for admissions. The CAT sectional cutoff may vary from one institute and programme to another. Scoring well in all the sections is generally essential for achieving a good overall CAT percentile.
However, the importance of the CAT sectional cutoff may also vary on the college that the student is targeting. Most of the tier I colleges focus on the overall cutoff as well as the sectional cutoff, but a majority of the tier II and tier III colleges focus only on the overall cutoff. IIMs and top B-Schools publish their sectional and overall cutoff once the CAT results are announced. The CAT result 2024 has been announced on December 21, 2023. So, excelling only in one section is not enough to land a top tier B-school. Scoring well in all the three sections of the CAT exam is imperative.
Q: What is sectional cutoff in CAT exam?
Sectional cut off in CAT exam refers to the section wise percentiles required by the candidate for making it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut offs are lower than overall cut offs of any institute. To understand better, check the table below for sectional CAT cut offs for IIM Ahmedabad:
Category | VARC percentile | DILR percentile | QA percentile | Overall percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
NC-OBC-Transgender | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
PwD (General, NC-OBC-cum-transgender, SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
PwD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
For sectional cut offs of all IIMs, check this article – IIM shortlist and selection criteria
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Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow?
Q: What are the qualifying CAT cutoffs for all the IIMs?
Q: Are CAT cut offs announced along with the CAT result?
Also Read: CAT Score vs Percentile
List of MBA Colleges in India with No Sectional Cutoffs
The following table depicts the list of MBA colleges in India with no sectional cutoffs with their overall expected CAT cutoff 2024:
| Name of the Institute |
Expected CAT Cutoff 2023 |
|---|---|
| 96+ |
|
| 80+ |
|
| 98+ |
|
| 90+ |
|
| 24.6 |
|
| 23.75 |
|
| 70+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 99 |
|
| 93+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 94+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 85+ |
|
| 88+ |
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Advantages of MBA Colleges in India With No Sectional Cutoff
Choosing MBA colleges with no sectional cutoff can be advantageous in the way that these colleges look at the overall performance of the aspirants rather than focusing on a particular section. Colleges that do not impose sectional cutoffs in entrance exams, such as the CAT for MBA programmes, offer several advantages to candidates. Here are some potential benefits:
- Flexibility in Strengths and Weaknesses: Candidates have the flexibility to emphasize on their strengths and compensate for weakness in the sections where they scored low. This gives room for a holistic assessment of a candidate’s overall abilities.
- Comprehensive Evaluation: The MBA colleges can evaluate the aspirants comprehensively considering their performance across all the sections rather than focusing solely on one section. The absence of strict sectional CAT cutoffs may lead to a fairer evaluation, preventing candidates from being eliminated based on a single suboptimal section. It allows for a more nuanced consideration of individual performances.
- Encourage Diverse Skill Sets: A lack of sectional cutoffs encourages candidates with diverse skill sets to apply to their dream college. It recognizes that different professionals may excel in various areas, promoting diversity in the student body. Candidates from non-traditional academic or professional backgrounds may find it easier to qualify, as their unique skills and experiences can be taken into account more holistically.
- Adaptability to Changing Trends: The absence of rigid sectional cutoffs allows colleges to adapt to changing trends and requirements in the business and academic environments. It enables them to stay responsive to evolving industry needs.
It is important to note that while these advantages exist, candidates should still strive for a balanced performance across all sections to enhance their chances of success in the competitive admission processes.
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With over 7 years of editorial experience, Saumya has been a writer at Shiksha for over four years. With a bachelor's degree in English literature from Delhi University, she loves to write. A true Delhiite and her l... Read Full Bio
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 13 hours ago
Hey! I've been in your shoes, so I totally get how you're feeling right now. Scoring the 78 percentile in CAT is a solid achievement, and you might be wondering whether it's enough to get into PIBM Pune. Let me tell you, PIBM looks beyond just numbers—they focus on your overall profile rather than j
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Beginner-Level 1
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MBA in Human Resources Admission is based on either numerous admission tests such as the CAT, MAT, SNAP, CMAT, and others, or on merit. After passing the entrance tests, the student must go through a Group Discussion and Personal Interview Round to be further screened. Students need to hold their b
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Beginner-Level 5
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No, your CAT 2026 attempt will not be considerd a gap year because you will be in your final year when you take the exam in November 2026.
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Contributor-Level 10
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The admission threshold at top IIMs based on CAT scores stands higher than 50 percent hence students with this percentile will have access to other acclaimed B-schools. These colleges form a list of institutions that could accept your application for admission:
- University Business School (UBS), Chand
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Yes, students can get admission at Centre for Liberal and Advanced Studies MBA without CAT. The institute accepts admisison based on entrance exams. The institute accepts other national exams such as MAT, XAT, CMAT, and others. Candidates can appear on any of the exams accepted the institute. It is
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Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 days ago
It is mandatory to clear CAT examination to seek admission at IIM Ahmedabad. The Institute considers CAT percentile for the admission to MBA, along with the understanding of the CAT percentile for IIM Ahmedabad that reached up to 99.6 in the past years which shows how challenging it is for a candida
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Answered 6 days ago
Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing gui
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Contributor-Level 8
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, candidates can get into the Vidyasagar University MBA course with the CAT percentile. As per the admission guidelines of the university, candidates are shortlisted for the MBA course based on multiple national-level exams such as MAT/XAT/ ATMA/ CMAT. Candidates must make sure to apply for the e
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Contributor-Level 7
Answered a week ago
No, CAT is not compulsory for admission to AIMS Mumbai. Aspirants with a valid score in any of the accepted entrance exam such as XAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAH CET, etc. can get admission provided they also fulfil the eligibility requirements. Candidates need to provide the entrance exam score in the applica
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Mewar University MBA course admission is entrance-based. Candidates must participate in national-level exams such as CUET-PG, MAT, CMAT, CUET, and MUEE. Therefore, candidates can get admission to the MBA course without a CAT score since candidates can opt for any on of the entrance exams mentioned a
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Contributor-Level 7
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to various management programs offered by top business schools in India. The percentile score in CAT exam is based on the relative performance of the test taker compared to all the other test takers.
The cutoff percentile for admission to top business schools varies from year to year and also depends on factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. In general, a percentile score of 90 or above is considered a good score and can help you secure admission to some of the top business schools in India. However, to increase your chances of admission to the top-tier business schools, a percentile score of 95 or above is preferred.