Low Scores in CAT 2024? Here's How to Get Admission to Top B Schools in India

Low scores in CAT 2024? Worried about getting admission to top B-schools in India? 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, accept candidates with low CAT scores. You can also take other entrance exams and apply for admission to colleges accepting their scores.

More than 2 lakh candidates apply for the CAT exam each year. However, only a small number of candidates are able to achieve CAT scores in the 99th to 100th percentile range. Having said that, a candidate's ambitions of pursuing an MBA should not cease just because they did not receive a high percentile score on the CAT 2024 exam. Take a read through this article and know the list of MBA colleges accepting low CAT 2024 scores.

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List of MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT 2024 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 Score

Despite the fact that the top MBA colleges in India prefer applicants with a high CAT score, several students fail to meet these requirements. As a result, students can find B-schools in India that provide admission to applicants with low CAT scores because a lower score does not necessarily reflect a person's potential or abilities. Students need to be aware that the best MBA colleges in India have admission requirements that go beyond the CAT cutoff 2024 scores and consider a variety of other eligibility criteria. Some examples of them are provided below: 

• 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 are 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 2024 Score?

Although it is virtually impossible to predict your CAT score with 100 percent accuracy, candidates can always use tools like the CAT Percentile Predictor 2024 to obtain a rough estimate of their CAT scores. Candidates should also make sure to use the CAT College Predictor 2024 to have a better idea of the colleges where they have a better chance of seeking admission. Take a look at the important points mentioned below to gain an idea of what to do if you have a low CAT score:

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. The biggest danger and drawback in this situation is losing a year. 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.

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 2024 exam, Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), NMAT by GMAC, Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT), ATMA (AIMS Test for Management Admissions), CMAT 2024, MAH CET, AP ICET, TS ICET, etc. Giving additional exams more frequently has its benefits. When compared to MAT, which is offered four times annually, the CAT is only offered once. Candidates can always attempt MBA entrance exams like MAT after appearing for the CAT. 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.

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. There are several business schools out there that provide industry-integrated management programs with curricula that align with the demands of businesses in the twenty-first century. These institutes accept a low CAT percentile for admission in contrast to the 90+ percentile required for IIMs. These business schools would accept applications from management hopefuls with even a 50+ percentile and a strong academic background. 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.

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. Hence, gain some professional experience. 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.

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. What matters more than CAT scores is how adeptly people can grasp ideas, and concepts, and get ready for a practical situation. 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.

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. Be confident and ready to perform well in your group discussion and personal interview rounds if your score was high enough to earn you a call letter.

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. Management aspirants can always search for internships or jobs that match their professional goals to gain work experience in the industry where they wish to build a career. Candidates can also take up short-term courses based on their interests to enhance their professional skills. It is a well-known fact that students with prior work experience are able to understand management concepts quickly and do well during an MBA course as compared to freshers. Prior professional experience is also a bonus during placements as they elevate 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 2024 Exam

How to Choose MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores?

There are many other alternate 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 from their official website. 

OR

• There are some colleges that conduct their own entrance exam for admission to MBA course. Some of the colleges that conduct their own entrance exam are Mudra Institute of Communication, Tata institute of social sciences, Symbiosis University, PES University, ICFAI University, and Indian Institute Of Foreign Trade.

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 entrance exam are R V Institute of Management, Vainavi Educational Institutions, Hyderabad, Swami Vivekananda Group of Institutions, Kolkata, and Versatile Business School, Chennai.

Admission Process at MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores

Students should appear for the CAT exam without worrying about the results. With a verified CAT score, the MBA application will be considered further. The following provides a summary of the admissions requirements for the top Indian MBA colleges accepting CAT scores: 

• On the official CAT website, sign up for the examinations and put up your best effort to achieve a high cut-off percentile.

• Candidates should log in to the official college website after the CAT results have been released to obtain the login credentials.

• Students must submit all mandatory documentation, any necessary reservation proofs, and their preference of colleges from a higher order to a lower one.

• Payments must be made by students either offline or online.

• Once the verification process has been completed, students will start receiving call letters from the universities of their preference, taking into account the order of their CAT scores as well.

• Students are required to attend the counselling process and pay the required fees at the appointed time without being late.

Is it Possible to Get Admission into IIMs with Low Scores in CAT?

Yes, you can apply for admission into new IIMs such as IIM Sirmaur, IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Amritsar, IIM Nagpur, and IIM Shillong. The IIM Cut Off 2024 range between 85 to 95. The cutoff of all the IIMs depends on many factors such as the number of candidates who have appeared for the CAT, past year cutoff of CAT, number of seats available at the IIM, and difficulty level of the exam. You can check the article provided below to know the cutoff of all the IIMs.

CAT 2024 Percentile vs Colleges

CAT 2024 Score vs Percentile

College-Wise Cutoff Analysis of CAT 2024

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