How to get Admission to top B Schools in India with CAT 2025 Low Scores

Low scores in CAT 2025? Don't worry! Many colleges in India, like FORE School of Management Delhi, LPU Jalandhar, Amity University Noida, TAPMI Manipal, GLIM Chennai, and JIMS Rohini, etc. Students can be selected for MBA courses based on other MBA entrance exams in 2025 at colleges offering MBA specialisations. More than 2 lakh students appear for the CAT exam every year, but only 2% of the total examinees can make up to the admission process.

The selection at the CAT accepting colleges is based on merit, and apart from students' scores, the selection also depends on GD & PI performance. Those who make up to the category-specific cutoff scores get invited for the counselling rounds during the admission process.  Therefore, students eager to know more regarding what after low scores in the CAT 2025 exam can go through the list of colleges, eligibility criteria, etc.

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List of MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT 2025 Scores

Apart from IIMs, you can also look for admission in some other B-Schools in India. Some of the well-known B-Schools in India that accept low scores in CAT are provided in the table below:

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Eligibility Criteria for MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores

Despite the fact that the top MBA colleges in India prefer applicants with a high CAT score, several students fail to meet these requirements. Below mentioned is the eligibility criteria for the MBA colleges accepting Low CAT scores 2025.

• The aggregate percentage of students who passed 10+2.

• The aggregate marks earned in a four-year undergraduate program or a 10+2+3 equivalent education program.

• Performance in group discussions, college-administered written exams, and personal interviews is all taken into consideration when evaluating students.

• In several MBA colleges, applicants with professional experience are given preference.

• Depending on the reserved and unreserved categories in India, the eligibility cut-off marks may vary.

What to Do If You Have a Low CAT 2025 Score?

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Although it is virtually impossible to predict your CAT score with 100 per cent accuracy, candidates can always use tools like the CAT Percentile Predictor 2025 to obtain a rough estimate of their CAT scores. Take a look at the important points mentioned below to gain an idea of what to do if you have a low CAT score:

1. Re-Attempt the CAT Exam Next Year

Although this option may not be viable for every aspirant, candidates can always choose to retake the CAT exam and continue to pursue their goal of attending an IIM. Giving a year's worth of time off to some students may or may not be possible for a variety of reasons. However, if a candidate has the time and can repeat the CAT the following year, they should do so.

2. Appear For Other State and National-Level Entrance Exams

If your CAT percentile is low, you can also try to get into management programs by taking alternative entrance tests, such as the MAT 2025 exam , Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), etc. Also, candidates should aim for exams like NMAT by GMAC, which allows candidates to take multiple attempts in the same academic year. A large number of prestigious B-schools accept the results of these tests for admission to MBA, PGDM, and other post-graduate management programs.

3. Research for B-schools

You must be aware of the fact that, in addition to the known list of top IIMs in India , India is home to other prestigious management schools that you can consider attending if your CAT percentile is low.  Even those with lower CAT scores have a wide range of options. Students must now do extensive study, understand more about their possibilities, and choose universities that accept a wide variety of percentiles.

4. Maintain a Positive Attitude

Don't forget that getting good scores on the CAT is not the only thing candidates want; they also want to make a fantastic professional breakthrough. Believe that you have acquired numerous talents and experiences that will be beneficial to you as you progress in your professional career. Therefore, it is necessary to remain optimistic and shift the emphasis away from the score to the lessons learned.

5. Take Accountability for Your Performance

Taking full responsibility for a low score is crucial. Don't try to blame it on things like difficult questions or strict marking, etc. The intensity, strategy, dedication, and discipline that the aspirants apply to numerous aspects of their lives prepare them for success in MBA schools and in their future careers. Many of the top MBA schools believe that a candidate's abilities cannot be properly translated into the CAT exam methodology.

6. Factors Apart from CAT Score

Admission to business schools is not primarily based on CAT scores. Other universities take into account more factors than just the CAT percentile when deciding whether to provide admission to a student, like past academic performance, group discussions (GD), personal interview rounds, and employment experiences.

7. Acquire Professional Experience

Aspirants can also take a break from academics and focus on acquiring work experience, as professional experience is an added advantage when it comes to management admissions. Prior professional experience is also a bonus during placements as it elevates a student’s profile. So, if you didn't do well on the CAT this year, attempt to get a few years of job experience in the industry you want to pursue as a profession.

Also Read: Top Jobs after CAT 2025 Exam

How to Choose MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores?

There are many other alternative options for applying for MBA admissions in the top MBA colleges in India. You can check the points provided below to know some alternate options to get admission to the top private MBA colleges accepting low CAT scores:

• You can choose the MBA colleges that have a low cutoff for CAT and then apply for admission to any of them. You can check the detailed admission process of the college on their official website.

OR

• Some colleges conduct their own entrance exam for admission to the MBA course . Some of the colleges that conduct their own entrance exam are Mudra Institute of Communication, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Symbiosis University, etc.

OR

• You can appear for some other state-level or national-level entrance exams, such as MAH MBA CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, TS ICET, AP ICET, and TANCET MBA . You can check the details about various MBA entrance exams here.

OR

• You can also apply for admission directly without any entrance exams. Some of the colleges that offer direct admission in MBA without an entrance exam are R V Institute of Management, Vainavi Educational Institutions, Hyderabad, Swami Vivekananda Group of Institutions, Kolkata, and Versatile Business School, Chennai.

CAT 2025 Percentile vs Colleges

Students can check the CAT 2025 percentile vs colleges given below for students' reference.

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile

College-Wise Cutoff Analysis of CAT 2025

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So, it is not that difficult to get admission in the colleges accepting low CAT scores in 2025. There are also other options that students must consider for admissions to the MBA offering colleges apart from the top B Schools. Students can sit for other MBA programs offering MBA entrance or retake the exam next year with better preparation. Students must take responsibility and prepare effectively to get better scores in the CAT exam. Therefore, for any queries regarding ways to get admission to top B Schools in India with CAT exam 2025 low scores, log on to our CollegeDekho Q&A Zone or contact our toll-free helpline number 18005729877.