Is CAT mandatory to take Admission in IIMs? Top courses without CAT 2025!

CAT is considered to be India’s most rigid Examination. In 2025, the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow will conduct the CAT (Common Admission Test 2025). The exam will be held in November (date to be announced) in three sessions in around 170 + cities. Registration for the CAT 2025 started on the first week of August 2025 and closed by September 2025. The exam is conducted for students who are willing to pursue a career in the management field. 

The CAT result 2024 is to be announced in mid-January 2025. To know more about it, click here!

The Examination tests the aptitude and other skills of the students. The students get into IIM after cracking the CAT for the MBA program. But the big question is, can we get into IIM without a CAT Examination? The answer might shock you, but yes, you can get into IIM without cracking or even attempting IIM. However, there are some basic eligibility criteria for the same. Let’s go ahead to learn more about these courses. We will also discuss the importance of the CAT examination for IIMs. But before knowing its importance, understand the CAT Exam.

Know Everything about the CAT Examination

CAT(Common Admission Test) 2025 is a Computer-Based Entrance Test conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). There are many IIMs in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and many more. Every year, one out of 23 IIM institutes conducts CAT entrance. This year, CAT 2025 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow in November 2025 in more than 170+ cities.

Top IIM Online Courses without CAT  In India
IIM Online MBA	IIM Executive MBA
IIM Online Certificate In Data Science and Analytics	IIM Online Certificate In Finance Management
IIM Online Certificate In Advance HR	IIM Online Certificate In Leadership and Management
IIM Online Certificate In Supply Chain & Logistics	IIM Online Certificate In Operations & Six Sigma
IIM Online Certificate In Financial Data	IIM Online Certificate In Project Management
IIM Courses Online	IIM Certificate Courses
IIM Online Certificate In Digital Marketing and Analytics

The CAT exam is an aptitude test with three sections. Section 1 is Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Section 2 is Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Section 3 is  Quantitative Ability. Each section contains both MCQ- and non-MCQ-based questions, and overall, the exam has around 66 to 68 questions. The time allotted for each section is fixed, 40 minutes per section. The exam is two hours long. 

Here is the examination pattern of the CAT 2025

Section Number	CAT Section	Description	Time allotted
Section 1	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	It assesses the proficiency of the Candidate in the English Language, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar.	40 Minutes
Section 2	Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	This section checks problem-solving skills, logical decisions, and other complex problem-solving skills.	40 Minutes
Section 3	Quantitative Ability	The role of this section is to evaluate problems like arithmetic, geometry, and algebra questions.	40 Minutes

 The exam is a big journey that requires a lot of hard work and dedication every day. The examination is, however very competitive, as out of more than 3.39 lakh students, only around 5,500 students cleared the examination and got admission to IIM, which is less than 1%. This is a big competition to get into the IIMs. Every year many students hustle to get admission to IIMs by appearing in the CAT examination. However, it is a big myth that you must appear in the CAT examination to be admitted to IIM. Certain courses requires you to appear in the CAT entrance examination, but there are various course that is offered by IIMs that do not need any CAT scores. These courses carry the same reputation as those of IIMs regular degree. These courses can be done Online and are best suited to working professionals. 

What is the role of the CAT Entrance Examination in IIM Admission?

Indeed, the CAT examination is crucial for the judicial screening of candidates for admission to IIMs. The Examination tests candidates' skills and finally selects the students after assessments like the WAT (Written Ability Test), GD (Group Discussion), and PI(Personal Interview). This examination is extremely difficult and requires a lot of hard work, focus, and concentration.  

CAT Scores and Cutoffs

CAT 2025 cutoffs will be released for various CAT-accepting institutes and IIMs after the release of the result. For IIMs the passing percentage for IIMs is generally between 95-100 percentile, but this may vary depending on the difficulty level of the examination. For enrolling in top management schools like IIMs, students are required to meet the CAT cutoffs, and only after selection in the CAT students will be allowed to appear in further rounds of CAT, like group discussions and personal interviews. 

Here are some essential highlights related to the Cut-offs of CAT 2025-

• The CAT cut-offs may be between 98 and 100 for general-category students who want to enroll in IIMs.
• However, cutoffs for other reserved categories will be slightly lower, ranging between 95-98 percentile.
• The cut-offs for CAT 2025 in the SC Category for colleges like MDI, FMS, SPJIMR, and many more will lie between the 90-99 percentile, depending on the difficulty level.
• Two types of cutoffs will be accessed for admission to IIMs- qualifying and final cut-off.
• As CAT 2025 will be conducted by IIM Lucknow, the institute will release the qualifying marks, followed by the result declaration. 
• The final cut-offs of the CAT will be released during the shortlisting of the personal interview.
• It is important to note that the qualifying marks for the CAT 2025 may vary depending on various factors. 
• The students must have completed the graduation with at least 50% marks (for general category) and 45% (for other reserved category).

Check the table below for the Expected CAT Cutoff for IIM (Qualifying)

Expected CAT Cutoff for IIM (Qualifying)
IIMs List	Expected CAT cut-offs
IIM Ahmedabad	99 to 100
IIM Banglore	99 to 100
IIM Calcutta	99+
IIM Lucknow	97+
IIM Indore	97+
IIM Kozhikode	97 to 98
IIM Amritsar	95+
IIM Nagpur	95+
IIM Sambalpur	95+
IIM Trichy	94+
IIM Raipur	94+
IIM Ranchi	94+
IIM Kashipur	94+
IIM Vizag	92+
IIM Udaipur	92+
IIM Bodhgaya	92+
IIM Shillong	90+
IIM Sirmaur	95+
IIM Rohtak	95+
IIM Mumbai	97+

How is CAT Score Calculation done?

CAT Scores can be calculated through a complex formula that requires using a candidate's raw score in each section of Verbal and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. This helps normalise the marks according to the difficulty level of various examination shifts. The final score is then used to shortlist the final marks in the examination. 

What are the Admission Criteria in IIMs?

Before understanding the process of admission to IIMs, it is crucial to understand the eligibility criteria to take admission to IIMs. CAT is just a part of the complex selection process in the examination. There are various other eligibility criteria that have to be accomplished before getting into the IIM.

Here we have mentioned the most crucial criteria to get into IIMs.

• Academic Qualifications- IIMs usually need students to have completed their graduation with at least 50% marks in the degree. The students with better academic performance can raise the chances of shortlisting the candidate. Hence, higher marks will help.
• Work Experience- IIMs are among the top institutes and getting into one requires more than marks in the CAT, it really needs a good qualification background along with work experience. These factors help in the final shortlisting of the students after the CAT marks.
• Written Ability Test- Apart from qualifications and work experience, which are the secondary eligibility criteria, the majority of the students fail this highly competitive WAT (Written Ability Test) and less than 1% of students pass this level.
• Group Discussion- The selection of the students after the release of the cutoff of the CAT is done based on CAT WAT, and later students appear for the next level, which is group discussion. This is a very indifferent level as it also requires intelligence, patience, and the skills to speak. All these are crucial to clear the level of GD. The candidate should not interrupt the other person. In your turn, make sure you speak with strong, evident facts and a confident tone. This builds a strong impression in the mind of the examiner.  
• Personal Interview- This is the final step in the admission process to IIMs. The interview analyse the candidate's motives for pursuing the course. In this section, the main factors that can help students are confidence and avoiding doubt. A student with confidence can easily clear the exam.

Is CAT mandatory for IIMs?

Is it necessary to appear in the CAT entrance examination for IIMS? Well, this is the most asked question by the candidates. You will be surprised that CAT is one of many ways to get into IIMs. You can enter IIMs without giving or qualifying CAT. The courses offered by the IIMs carry the same reputation as those offered by CAT. There are many alternative routes to get into IIMs.

Here are some ways to pursue courses from IIM without CAT-

• GMAT Scores- Various IIMs, like IIM Ahmedabad, offer admission to international students through GMAT scores. Also, they give admission to the Indian students who have pursued graduation from abroad. They also have to qualify for the GMAT Exam to get into IIM. Hence, in such cases, students can get into Top management institutes like IIM without appearing for the CAT Examination. 
• Executive programs- IIMs also offer programs for working professionals. These Executive MBA programs can help working executives pursue their higher education degrees from top and best management institutes like IIMs. However, the eligibility criteria for these courses also vary, and they do not require any CAT examination.
• Fellowship programs- As you know, IIMs also provide various PhD programs to the candidate; hence, for these doctorate programs, students are not required to appear for the CAT examination. The students have to appear in the other examinations to get into IIM, but they are not required to appear in CAT.
• Online Programs- IIMs offer various online certificate, diploma, and post-graduate diploma courses to the students, and students can enroll in these programs without appearing in the CAT examination.

Courses available in IIM without Entrance Examination of CAT

IIMs are autonomous institutes that the Indian Government heads. The Institute offers various on-campus and online courses to students in the Management field. If you want to be admission to one out of 23 IIMs, you can pursue an online postgraduate, diploma, certificate, postgraduate course, and many more. These online courses are best for working professionals and have the same reputation and value as regular full-time courses. The students are not required to move to the campus; they can continue their jobs and courses simultaneously from anywhere across PAN India.

Online Management Degree Courses without CAT
One-Year MBA Online	Global MBA Online
MBA Courses After BCom	MBA Part Time
MBA Courses After BCA	Executive MBA for Working Professionals
MBA Courses After BSc	MBA Courses After BBA
Online MBA Courses	MBA Distance Education

So, even if you have missed the online registration form for CAT and regret it, move ahead and fill out the form for an online course. The best thing is that the courses are maintained and designed as per the requirements of working students. 

IIM	Course
IIM Ahmedabad	MBA-PGPX ePost Graduate Diploma in Advanced Business Analytics
IIM Bangalore	PGPEM EPGP PGPPM
IIM Calcutta	PGPEx-VLM MBAEx PGDBA
IIM Lucknow	IPMX PGPWE
IIM Kozhikode	PGP-LSM EPGP PGP-Finance PGP-BL
IIM Indore	PGPMX EPGP
IIM Shillong	PGPEx and PGP(WE)
IIM Udaipur	One Year MBA-Global Supply Chain Management PGDBA Working Executives One Year MBA-Digital Enterprise Management
IIM Trichy	MBA Working Executives (Chennai campus)
IIM Ranchi	Executive MBA
IIM Raipur	ePGP
IIM Jammu	Executive MBA
IIM Sambalpur	Executive MBA
IIM Nagpur	MBA for Working Professionals
IIM Kashipur	MBA (Analytics) Executive MBA
IIM Visakhapatnam	PGPEx PGPDGM
IIM Sirmaur	MBA (Tourism & Hospitality Management)
IIM Amritsar	Executive MBA

There are various benefits of pursuing an online degree from IIM- 

• No burden to appear in the CAT Entrance Examination.
• Skills Enhancement
• Improved Business scope
• Better Industry Recognition
• Built a global alum network

In conclusion, the examination of CAT is just a primary yet difficult step to getting into IIM. However, there are other ways to get into IIM. There are various other ways that students can opt to get into the most prestigious institutes like IIM.

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