Cutoff Trends of Top PG Entrance Exams in Recent Years
- Jan 30
- 6 min read
INTRODUCTION
One of the most important pieces of information for aspirants preparing for postgraduate entrance exams is understanding the cutoff trends of top PG entrance exams. Cutoffs tell you the minimum score or percentile you need to be eligible for counselling or admission and reflect how competitive an exam has been over the years. Analyzing these trends helps you plan your preparation more strategically, set realistic targets, and avoid surprises when results are announced.
As we approach 2026, patterns in cutoffs have been shaped by exam difficulty, candidate performance, number of seats, and even policy decisions. In this long-form guide, we’ll break down cutoff trends for major PG entrance exams including NEET PG, CAT, CLAT PG, UGC NET, and others where relevant, with recent data and historical context.
Why Understanding Cutoff Trends Matters
Before we dive into specific exams, here’s why tracking cutoffs is crucial:
Benchmark Preparation: Cutoffs give you a target to aim for in your study plan.
Predict Admission Chances: They help gauge where you stand relative to peers.
Analyze Competition: Year-on-year trends show how competition and performance change.
Plan Strategically: Knowing expected ranges can help you decide how much effort to allocate per section.
With that foundation, let’s look at each major exam and recent cutoff trend data.
NEET PG Cutoff Trends (2021–2025)
Overview
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) is the gateway to MD, MS, and diploma courses across India. Cutoffs for NEET PG have seen noticeable changes in recent years due to policy shifts and seat availability.
Trend Summary
Here’s a snapshot of the cutoff trends of top PG entrance exams specifically for NEET PG over recent years:
Year | General | UR-PwD | SC/ST/OBC |
2025 | 276 (50th percentile) | 255 (45th percentile) | 235 (40th percentile) |
2024 | 291 (50th) | 274 (45th) | 257 (40th) |
2023 (Initial) | 291 (50th) | 274 (45th) | 257 (40th) |
2023 (Revised) | 0 percentile across categories (policy change) | — | — |
2022 | 275 (50th) | 260 (45th) | 245 (40th) |
2021 | 302 (50th) | 283 (45th) | 265 (40th) |
What This Data Shows
Fluctuating Marks: The absolute qualifying marks for general candidates have shifted over the years from the low 300s to around 276 in 2025.
Policy Interventions: In some years, such as 2023 and early 2026 counselling rounds, authorities significantly lowered qualifying percentiles (even to zero percentile) to fill vacant seats.
Seat-Filling Influence: In 2026 RTT counselling, the qualifying percentile was dropped for many categories to facilitate allotment.
Interpreting the Trends
These cutoff shifts tell us that exam difficulty and the number of candidates are only part of what determines cutoffs. Policy decisions, seat availability, and counselling outcomes often affect the final thresholds.
CAT Cutoff Trends (2020–2024)
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the standard gateway to MBA/PGP programs at IIMs and several other top business schools. Unlike medical exams, CAT cutoffs are typically reported in percentiles.
Key Observations
Top IIMs: For flagship programs at IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, the cutoffs have remained in the 98–99+ percentile range consistently over recent years.
Other IIMs and B-Schools: Slightly lower thresholds (around 95–97 percentile) are seen, with non-IIM top schools often setting cutoffs in the 85–95 percentile band.
Sectional Nuances: Percentile cutoffs in sections like Quantitative Ability or VARC can vary year to year depending on part difficulty.
What This Means for Aspirants
For CAT aspirants, the message is clear: competition remains intense and cutoffs remain high regardless of minor year-on-year trends. A strong overall percentile often means strong performance across sections.
CLAT PG Cutoff Trends (2023–2026)
The Common Law Admission Test for postgraduate LL.M. programs uses mark-based cutoffs or closing ranks depending on the university.
Recent Trends
Top NLUs: Leading institutions like NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata tend to have comparatively high cutoffs, often scores in the 80–90 mark range for general category candidates.
Mid Tier NLUs: These may have cutoffs in the 65–75 mark range or lower, reflecting varying seat availability and demand.
Rank Movement: Based on counselled data, cutoffs and closing ranks can shift slightly each year, influenced by applicant quality and seat matrix.
Interpreting Cutoffs
Unlike percentile-driven exams like CAT or NEET PG, CLAT PG cutoffs are often directly tied to marks and ranks. Higher seat demand at a particular NLU generally pushes cutoffs upward.
UGC NET Cutoff Trends (2024–2025)
The UGC NET sets qualifying marks (or cutoffs) for Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) and eligibility for assistant professorship. These vary across subjects and categories.
General Patterns
Percentile / Score-Based: UGC NET cutoffs are released subject-wise and category-wise, often reflecting the broad diversity of disciplines.
Expected Thresholds: For 2025 and early 2026 expectations, general candidates are often expected to need around 65–70% for JRF and 58–62% for Assistant Professor eligibility.
Subject Variation: Cutoffs differ widely by subject and category, so aspirants must check the official NTA cutoff PDFs for exact numbers.
What This Trend Tells Us
UGC NET tends to have both a minimum qualifying score and a relative cut-off based on overall performance. The trend is that cutoffs will continue to reflect subject difficulty and competitive density among test-takers.
Other Entrance Exam Cutoff Patterns
CUET PG
While detailed official nationwide trends for CUET PG are still emerging, cutoff marks in various subject streams and universities can vary greatly. Many universities release their own cutoff lists after CUET PG results, influenced by demand and available seats.
Factors Affecting Cutoff Trends
Understanding cutoff trends of top PG entrance exams goes beyond raw numbers. Here are common influencing factors:
1. Exam Difficulty
The difficulty level directly influences how many marks correlate with a particular percentile. Harder exams often lead to lower cutoffs and vice versa.
2. Number of Candidates
More candidates with high scores can push cutoffs upward, especially in exams like CAT and CLAT PG where percentiles and ranks define eligibility.
3. Policy Shifts
As seen with NEET PG in 2023 and 2025, authorities have at times revised cutoffs to address seat vacancies or other policy goals.
4. Seat Availability
Changes in the number of seats (in universities, colleges, and specializations) also influence demand and cutoff movement at the counselling stage.
How to Use Cutoff Trends for Your Preparation
Analyzing past years helps shape your study strategy. Here’s how:
Set Realistic Targets: If the previous general cutoff for NEET PG is around 276, aim above that during practice tests.
Watch Policy Changes: One-off adjustments (like percentile drops) can affect counselling eligibility even if they don’t reflect academic performance.
Prepare Sectionally: Knowing how CAT sectional cutoffs vary can help you balance your preparation.
Monitor Subject-Specific Scores: For UGC NET, subject trends matter more than overall averages.
FAQ Section
Q1. What do the cutoff trends of top PG entrance exams tell me about competition levels in 2026?
A1. Cutoff trends indicate both competition and performance patterns. For example, consistently high CAT percentiles (98–99+) show ongoing competition for top management seats, while fluctuation in NEET PG cutoffs reflects exam difficulty and policy shifts.
Q2. Are percentile cutoffs more important than marks cutoffs?
A2. It depends on the exam. Exams like CAT use percentiles, so relative performance matters most. For NEET PG, both percentiles and actual marks are reported. CLAT PG often uses mark thresholds and closing ranks, so understanding both systems helps you interpret cutoffs accurately.
Q3. Can cutoffs decrease over time?
A3. Yes. Policy decisions, exam difficulty, and seat availability can reduce cutoffs, as seen in NEET PG when eligibility thresholds were lowered to fill vacant seats.
Q4. Do top universities always have higher cutoffs?
A4. Generally yes. Institutions with higher demand and fewer seats, like IIMs for CAT or top NLUs for CLAT PG, tend to have higher cutoffs.
Q5. How should I use cutoff trends to plan my prep schedule?
A5. Use past cutoff ranges as benchmark targets in your study plan. Set weekly score goals in practice tests that align with recent cutoffs to ensure you are on pace to clear expected thresholds.
Conclusion
Tracking the cutoff trends of top PG entrance exams provides strategic insight into both your preparation quality and the competitive landscape. In 2026 and beyond, these trends will continue to evolve, shaped by exam difficulty, policy frameworks, and candidate performance. Whether you’re aiming for NEET PG, CAT, CLAT PG, or UGC NET, understanding how cutoffs move helps you set realistic targets and adjust your study plan wisely.
Remember: cutoffs are indicators, not absolutes. Aim higher than the numbers of previous years, use trends as smart benchmarks, and continuously assess your performance for the best results.
Call To Action (Official Links)
Here are official sources to track cutoffs, results, and notifications for major PG entrance exams:
Medical Entrance
NEET PG (National Board of Examinations): https://nbe.edu.in
Management Entrance
CAT (Indian Institutes of Management): https://iimcat.ac.in
Law Entrance
CLAT PG (Consortium of NLUs): https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Academic and Research
UGC NET (National Testing Agency): https://ugcnet.nta.nic.in
Other Exams
CUET PG (Common University Entrance Test): https://exams.nta.ac.in
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