On November 30, 2024, 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the CAT 2025 exam. With response sheets now available on the official website, many aspirants have calculated their expected score. Candidates with a calculated score of around 70 marks are now looking for their expected percentile range and college options.
- As per different experts, slot difficulty and normalisation affect the percentile, so a score of 70 marks in CAT usually brings a 97-98 percentile.
- The raw score of 70 after scaling usually increases to about 74-78 marks.
- Such a percentile range brings candidates eligible for top-tier MBA institutes, including many Baby IIMs, new-generation IIMs, and a good number of reputed tier-1 non-IIM B-schools.
Based on historical data, with this 70-mark raw score, you fall under the top 3% of CAT test-takers. There is a high chance that you will not get calls from IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, but definitely, you can get admission to IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Raipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Nagpur, and IIM Visakhapatnam. Many private colleges like IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, GIM Goa, and KJ Somaiya are also good options.
Also Read: Understand CAT 2025 results better: check official scorecard and expected IIM cutoffs here.
Expected CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Overall)
Based on leading coaching institutes and past-year trends, here is the expected score vs percentile mapping for CAT 2025:
| Raw Score Range | Expected Percentile 2025 |
|---|---|
| 120+ | 99.9+ |
| 100–110 | 99.5–99.9 |
| 90–95 | 99–99.5 |
| 80–85 | 98–99 |
| 70–75 | 97–98 |
| 60–65 | 95–97 |
| 50–55 | 92–95 |
| 40–45 | 85–90 |
| 30–35 | 70–76 |
| 25–30 | 65–70 |
Note: CAT 2025 results are expected on December 20, 2025. The above projections help you shortlist colleges before the results.
Also Read: CAT marks vs percentile trends from 2025 to 2022.
CAT Score vs Percentile Trends for 70 Marks
As the difficulty level changes each year, the same raw score can lead to different percentiles. For 2025, experts predict:
| Year | Total Candidates | 70 Marks Raw Score | Expected Percentile | Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2025 | 2.93 lakh | 70 | 97–98 | 74–78 |
| CAT 2024 | 2.93 lakh | 70 | 97–98 | 73–77 |
| CAT 2023 | 2.88 lakh | 70 | 97.5–98 | 74–78 |
| CAT 2022 | 2.33 lakh | 70 | 98–98.4 | 72–75 |
| CAT 2021 | 2.30 lakh | 70 | 97.7–98 | 73–76 |
Also Read: Step-by-step guide on how CAT scores are calculated.
Slot-Wise Impact: How 70 Marks Converts Across CAT 2025 Slots
Difficulty varies across slots, impacting the percentile even for the same raw score.
Slot 1 (Morning: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM)
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate
- 70 Marks Expected Percentile: 97–97.5
- Best Section: VARC
- Toughest Section: DILR
Slot 2 (Afternoon: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM)
- Overall Difficulty: Slightly Easier
- 70 Marks Expected Percentile: 96.8–97.2
- Best Section: QA
- Toughest Section: DILR
Slot 3 (Evening: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM)
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- 70 Marks Expected Percentile: 97.5–98
- Best Section: DILR
- Toughest Section: VARC
Also Check: Find out what counts as a good CAT score for top B-Schools.
Slot-Wise Section Performance Table for 70 Marks
| Section | Slot 1 Percentile | Slot 2 Percentile | Slot 3 Percentile | Best Slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall (70 marks) | 97–97.5 | 96.8–97.2 | 97.5–98 | Slot 3 |
| VARC | 98–98.4 | 98.5–99 | 97.8–98 | Slot 2 |
| DILR | 97–97.5 | 97.8–98.2 | 98–98.5 | Slot 3 |
| QA | 97–97.8 | 98–98.5 | 97.2–97.7 | Slot 2 |
As per the above data, slots 2 and 3 were more difficult than slot 1. Hence, candidates scoring 70 in DILR in slot 3 or candidates scoring 70 in QA in slot 2 might achieve higher sectional percentiles because of the differences in section difficulty.
Colleges Accepting 70 Marks in the CAT Percentile
With a 97–98 percentile, aspirants can target top non-IIM B-schools and several IIMs like:
IIMs are likely to shortlist
- IIM Trichy
- IIM Raipur
- IIM Kashipur
- IIM Ranchi
- IIM Nagpur
- IIM Udaipur
- IIM Visakhapatnam
- IIM Bodh Gaya
- IIM Jammu
Top Non-IIM B-Schools
- KJ Somaiya, Mumbai
- IMT Ghaziabad
- GIM Goa
- TAPMI Manipal
- Great Lakes Chennai
- FORE School of Management
- LBSIM Delhi
- IRMA Anand (for non-profile-based calls)
Also Read:
State-Wise Colleges Accepting 97-98 Percentile (70 Marks)
Maharashtra MBA Colleges Accepting 97–98 Percentile in CAT 2025
| Institute Name | CAT Cutoff (2025 Expected) | Type | Categories Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBIMS (through CAP cutoff) | 99+ | Government | GEN, OBC, SC, ST |
| KJ Somaiya | 97–98 | Private | GEN, OBC |
| NITIE Mumbai | 98 | Government | GEN, OBC |
| Welingkar Mumbai | 95–97 | Private | GEN, OBC |
Also Read: How academics and work experience are weighted in CAT 2025 admissions.
Karnataka MBA Colleges Accepting 97–98 Percentile in CAT 2025
| Institute | Cutoff | Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAPMI Manipal | 95–97 | Private | GEN, OBC |
| Christ University | 95–97 | Private | GEN |
| SIBM Bangalore (Non-CAT but reference) | — | — | — |
| IFIM Bangalore | 92–95 | Private | GEN |
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 97–98 Percentile
| Institute Name | Expected Cutoff | Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Chennai | 95–98 | Private | GEN, OBC |
| BIM Trichy | 95–97 | Government | GEN, OBC, SC |
| PSGIM Coimbatore | 90–95 | Private | GEN |
Also Read: Complete admission process for IIMs for the 2026 batch
Delhi MBA Colleges Accepting 97–98 Percentile
| Institute | Expected Cutoff | Type | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMS Delhi (through CAT) | 99+ | Govt | GEN, OBC |
| DSE, Delhi University | 97–98 | Govt | GEN, OBC |
| LBSIM Delhi | 95–97 | Private | GEN, OBC |
| FORE School of Management | 96–97 | Private | GEN |
Also Read: Know which IIMs do not consider work experience in shortlisting.
Uttar Pradesh MBA Colleges Accepting 97–98 Percentile
| College | Expected Cutoff | Type | Category |
| IIM Lucknow (Noida PG) | 99+ | Govt | GEN |
| Jaipuria Noida | 92–95 | Private | GEN |
| IMS Ghaziabad | 85–90 | Private | GEN |
Also Read: Total seats available across all IIMs and top MBA colleges.
Strategy for 70-Mark Scorers: What Next?
For candidates who scored around 70 marks in CAT 2025, here's a practical roadmap:
Immediate Actions
- Download and verify the 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 Collegedunia to estimate your percentile
- Start applying to the identified top colleges from IIMs + top private institutes, which accept a percentile in the range 97-98
- Prepare WAT–PI from mid-December onward
Profile Building Tips
- Strengthen your candidacy by building a strong profile.
- Strong performance in the Written Ability Test (WAT)
- Excellent Personal Interview (PI) preparation with mocks
- Highlighting relevant work experience, achievements, projects, and internships
- Highlight a consistent academic record
- Sharpen communication skills
Category Advantage
- OBC, NCL, and EWS can get a 2-5 percentile relaxation
- SC and ST can get up to a 10-15 percentile relaxation
- Women candidates: Diversity points at several IIMs
Alternative Future Options
If targeting the top 5 IIMs:
- Consider the CAT 2026 attempt
- Appear for XAT, SNAP, NMAT
- Improve QA/DILR fundamentals
A 70-mark raw score will fetch you a percentile of 97-98 in CAT 2025. This indicates that you are among the toppers in CAT and you have a good chance of getting admission to a good college.
You will surely get admission to the newer and baby IIMs, and most of the top non-IIM B-schools.
Related News:
Comments