CAT 2025: How Sectional Cutoffs Affect Shortlisting

After CAT 2025 results, many aspirants are surprised to see that despite a strong overall percentile, they fail to receive calls from certain MBA colleges. In most cases, the reason is simple:

Sectional cutoffs.

Sectional cutoffs are one of the most misunderstood and underestimated aspects of CAT-based MBA admissions. Many students focus only on the overall percentile and ignore sectional performance, which can completely block shortlisting.

This blog explains how CAT 2025 sectional cutoffs affect MBA shortlisting, why colleges use them, and how you should factor them into your post-CAT strategy.

What Are Sectional Cutoffs in CAT?

Sectional cutoffs refer to the minimum percentile required in each CAT section to be eligible for shortlisting.

CAT has three sections:

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Quantitative Ability (QA)

Candidates must clear:

• Overall cutoff

• Sectional cutoffs in all three sections

Failing even one section can eliminate chances at many colleges.

Does CAT Exam Itself Apply Sectional Cutoffs?

No.

CAT only provides scores and percentiles.

👉 CAT official website:https://iimcat.ac.in/

Sectional cutoffs are applied by individual institutes, not by the CAT exam.

Why Do MBA Colleges Use Sectional Cutoffs?

MBA colleges use sectional cutoffs to:

• Ensure balanced aptitude across areas

• Avoid one-dimensional profiles

• Maintain academic rigor

• Predict classroom performance

A student strong in only one section may struggle in the MBA curriculum.

How Sectional Cutoffs Affect Shortlisting

Sectional cutoffs act as a hard eligibility filter.

If you:

• Clear overall cutoff but fail a section → No call

• Clear all sectionals + overall → Eligible for shortlisting

Sectional cutoffs are checked before composite score calculation.

Sectional Cutoffs vs Overall Cutoff

Parameter	Role
Overall Percentile	Measures overall aptitude
Sectional Percentile	Ensures balance across skills
Composite Score	Ranks eligible candidates

Sectional cutoffs decide eligibility, not ranking.

Typical Sectional Cutoff Ranges (Indicative)

Section	Competitive Range
VARC	Moderate to High
DILR	Moderate
QA	Moderate

Exact cutoffs vary by:

• Institute

• Category

• Yearly difficulty

There is no universal cutoff applicable to all colleges.

Sectional Cutoffs in IIM Admissions (General Understanding)

Each IIM publishes its own admission criteria and sectional thresholds.

👉 Example official reference:https://www.iima.ac.in/academics/mba/admissions

Key points:

• Sectional cutoffs differ across IIMs

• Clearing sectional cutoffs does not guarantee a call

• Composite score is applied only after sectionals are cleared

Sectional Cutoffs for Shortlisting vs Final Selection

During Shortlisting

• Sectional cutoffs are strictly applied

• Candidates below cutoff are eliminated

During Final Selection

• Sectional scores matter indirectly

• Interview performance dominates

Once shortlisted, sectional percentiles do not matter further.

Why Many High Percentile Candidates Miss Calls

Common reasons:

• Weak DILR performance

• Low QA percentile despite high VARC

• Ignoring sectional cutoffs while filling forms

This is why students with 97–98 overall percentile may miss calls, while others with lower overall but balanced sectionals succeed.

Do All Colleges Have Sectional Cutoffs?

No.

• Most IIMs apply sectional cutoffs

• Many private B-schools focus more on overall percentile

• Some colleges apply flexible or no sectional cutoffs

Always check college-specific admission criteria.

Can Sectional Cutoffs Be Relaxed?

• Category-based relaxations exist

• No relaxation for General category beyond published criteria

• Sectional cutoffs are non-negotiable

If you miss a cutoff, there is no reconsideration.

How Sectional Cutoffs Affect Different Profiles

Engineers

• Often strong in QA

• Must ensure VARC balance

Non-Engineers

• Often strong in VARC

• Must focus on QA and DILR

Balanced preparation matters more than strength in one area.

How to Plan Applications After CAT 2025

You should:

• Check sectional cutoffs before applying

• Shortlist colleges where you clear all sections

• Avoid wasting forms where eligibility is not met

• Apply broadly to balance risk

Smart application strategy prevents disappointment.

Common Myths About Sectional Cutoffs

• Overall percentile is enough – False

• Sectional cutoffs are flexible – False

• Interviews can compensate for sectionals – False

• Sectionals matter after interview – False

Sectional cutoffs are absolute eligibility conditions.

Final Verdict

Sectional cutoffs:

• Decide eligibility for MBA calls

• Are as important as overall percentile

• Cannot be compensated by interviews or profile

Ignoring sectional cutoffs after CAT 2025 is one of the biggest mistakes aspirants make.

A balanced CAT performance is the safest path to maximum calls.

FAQs – CAT Sectional Cutoffs & MBA Shortlisting

1. Can I get MBA calls if I miss one sectional cutoff?

No. Missing even one sectional cutoff usually eliminates eligibility.

2. Are sectional cutoffs same for all IIMs?

No. Each IIM sets its own sectional cutoffs.

3. Do private MBA colleges have sectional cutoffs?

Some do, many don’t. It varies by institute.

4. Do sectional cutoffs matter after interviews?

No. They matter only until shortlisting.

5. Can work experience compensate for low sectional score?

No. Sectional cutoffs are strict eligibility criteria.