Understanding “Low CAT Score” in MBA Admissions A “low CAT score” typically refers to a percentile range below the cutoffs of IIMs and other top government institutes. This usually includes: 80–90 percentile – Good score, but may miss top IIMs 60–80 percentile – Moderate score, eligible for many private B-schools 50–60 percentile – Low score, but still viable for direct MBA admission Below 50 percentile – CAT score has limited value; direct admission or alternative exams are preferred