What are the estimated cut-offs for the top B-Schools?

This question was topmost in the minds of everyone who took the Common Admission Test 2005.

CAT trainers ARKS Srinivas and Rahul Reddy, of T.I.M.E., a training institute for CAT aspirants, predicted the cut-offs in a chat with Get Ahead readers on November 21: 

• CAT 2005: Analysis, solutions, answer key... more

IIM cut-offs: QA -- 9-10; DI/ LA -- 7-8; RC/ VA -- 14-15

Overall: 43-45 (one IIM call); 55 (5-6 IIM calls)

Amrita, ITM, HCU, SDM, IMD, GLOBSYN (for Kolkata): 22+

KIAMS, IFM-D, IPE-Hyderabad: 18-19

• Post CAT chat on November 21, 4 pm

ARKS Srinivas is the director of T.I.M.E, Mumbai, and an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta. He has an engineering degree in Electronics and Communication from Osmania University and has worked with Maruti Udyog [Get Quote] Limited in Gurgoan, Delhi and Kolkata before joining T.I.M.E., Hyderabad, as the director of the CAT course. Teaching is his passion and he has been training students in CAT for eight years.

Rahul Reddy is an alumnus of IIM-Calcutta. After working with Hindustan Lever and Merck Electronics, he set up T.I.M.E.'s Kolkata branch.

Here is the transcript: 

Part II : Will you get a call from the IIMs?

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Guys, After the CAT massacre, I think it is time to take stock and understand what went right and what went wrong. This is ARKS Srinivas for you from T.I.M.E. to answer any questions regarding the same.

cancer18: hi,i have got a score of approx. 25-28, where can i expect a call from???

ARKS Srinivas: Your percentile will fall between 78-85. Which means there would be a number of institutes that will take your kind of scores.

gori: hi ! i got a score of 17.can i exxpect a call from mfc

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Gori, there is a separate exam on January 22.

gori: which exam ? mfc takes candidates on cat score

ARKS Srinivas: MFC is Master of Finance and Control, a programme conducted by DFS (Delhi School of Financial Studies) They have their exam in January 2006.

Jaysingh: i got my score as 33 then what are the chances of getting a call from good b school or shall I try next time?

rahulreddy: Hi Jay, 33 would be around 90 percentile. You could get calls from good B-Schools like MICA, IMI, TAPMI, etc. However, decide whether you can really improve your score next year. Also look at your age, work experience if any, etc, then decide whether you should go for CAT 2006 or not.

sharma: How good is the PGSEM program at IIMB?

ARKS Srinivas: It is part-time course (evening programme) for working executives in Bangalore and Chennai only (as of now). It is good.

naveen: sir i am time student i will get 26.33 in verbal and 8.33 in data interpretation and poor 6 in maths and i do have one year experience please please say me that i will get a call from MDI or of any IIM

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Naveen. With a score of about 40+, you should be in the 96.5 percentile range. Please apply for the top 20 colleges under CAT. You will get calls. Only problem would be NITIE and MDI.

gori: from where can i expect a call

ARKS Srinivas: Hi GORI, apply to SDM IMD and IPE-Hyderabad.

rahulreddy: Hi. Every dark cloud has its personal silver lining. This is Rahul Reddy from T.I.M.E. Kolkata.

sharma: What is a good CAT score for PGSEM program at IIMB?

ARKS Srinivas: 37+ should get you that.

Saleem: Sir I'm expecting a scoer of 55+ Can i expect a call from IIM's

ARKS Srinivas: Yes Saleem. If you are crossing your cut-offs too, then you are sure to get a call from the IIMs.

golz: how is ITM and wat score is required to get into it?

ARKS Srinivas: It is a good score. With about 22 to 25 marks, you should get there.

cancer1: sir, with a score of 25-28, can i expect a call from FORE, IMI and LBSIM

ARKS Srinivas: FORE yes, but other two are a little doubtful.

Saleem: Mr. Srinivas..r u therE?

ARKS Srinivas: Yes Saleem.

vijit: Sir i am getting around 35. can i expect calls from IMT/MDI(HR)/MICA /NIRMA&IMI?

rahulreddy: IMT, MICA, NIRMA, IMI should come through. MDI HR is a long shot. Might happen.

Mitesh: Cud u please estimate the cutoffs in individual sections for candidates with 1 yr exp

rahulreddy: Same cutoffs for sections. Overall cutoff might be 1-2 marks lower.

Akhil: why is there such a big difference between TIME and CL keys..especially in verbal...i mean i am scoring 52+in TIME and 61+ in CL...even the cutoffs are very disparate...why are TIME's cutoffs so low ?

rahulreddy: Hi Akhil. Can't say much about CL. But what we have done is spend 4-5 hours with experts from Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and, of course, Hyderabad. Since many question were inferential, we had to be very careful.

naveen: sir my score is around 40-41 and i do have oneyear experience can i get a call from any one iim and MDI guragaon moreover my score in mathematics is 6 only

rahulreddy: Hi Naveen, your score is just in the range for MDI. Six is also on the edge. You do have a chance, but no guarantees.

akhan: My score is around 51-52...Quant-15.3 VA/rc -24-25 and di-12....wat r my chances...i passed out from iitkgp last year

rahulreddy: Hi, good show Akhan. Definitely IIM calls, perhaps 3-4.

vivek: sir,i scored 12.67, 12,11 in QA,DI,VA RESPECTIVELY.I HAVENT APPLIED FOR ANY OF THE INSTITUTES.PLEASE MENTION THE INSTITUES WHICH I CAN APPLY & WHAT MIGHT BE MY PERCENTILE(35.67)

ARKS Srinivas: You would get a percentile upwards of 90. Please apply to BIM, MICA, IMI, TAPMI and couple of institutes lower in rank than these.

Saleem: Mr. Srinivas..can you guide me ...please

ARKS Srinivas: Yes Saleem!

sayan: sir,with 39 can one expect imi call?also i have applied to mdi hr and iimc pgdcm?are they possible?

ARKS Srinivas: MDI HR seems very much possible. But IIMs -- slightly doubtful.

Angela: hello sir r u there

ARKS Srinivas: Yes Angela! What's your question?

Athul: Hello sir,i am a 1st year engineering student.I would like to know when to start preparing for the CAT and which books should i refer to.I am very keen to make it to the IIM.

ARKS Srinivas: In your third year of engineering. However, you should start improving your Vocab and Reading Skills from now on.

Faiz: I have done my grads 5 years back. AM i eligible to go in for CAT next year and what is it that is needed to crack this exam?? THanks !!

ARKS Srinivas: Yes. You are eligible. You need to prepare in right earnest for the next one year.

akhan: ok...thanks rahul...is there ne chance of ur answer keys in english being somewhat diff from those of the IIMs...eg Sudoku question

ARKS Srinivas: The Sudoku questions: what we have given will be correct! Sorry if you got it wrong Akhan. But then, you will still make it to the IIMs.

Vicky: sir plz tell me what they thought while setting such a ifficult paper

rahulreddy: Hi, we cannot question what the IIMs do. Anyway, if you have kept cool you will get good ranks even if your scores go lower.

sayan: sir plz answer the pgdcm question

rahulreddy: HIPGDCM cut-offs are the same as other IIMs. QA probably 1-2 marks higher.

sam: SIR , IM A STUDENT OF TIME... MESSED UP MY PAPER YESTER.. GETTING AROUND 25.. WT DO U THINK MY %ILE WUD BE.. N WHER ALL I MIGHT GET CALLS FROM??? WT ABT NIRMA... N VARIOUS OTHER INSTITUTES???

rahulreddy: About 80 percentile. Look at Wellingkar, Nirma possibly, FORE.

sayan: how are the placements for mdi hr?

ARKS Srinivas: The first batch has gone for summer placements and they had good placements. The full batch is expected to come out this year.

partha: hi i have got a score of 35-40 wht r my chances?

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Partha, very unlikely to get IIM calls (unless you have are in the SC/ ST caegory). But you should be able to get a host of other institutes.

nileshmkumbhare: Sir, My score is 28 & in quants i got 9 . I fall under ST category . What is the chances my getting call from any of IIMS.

ARKS Srinivas: You have scope. Keep your fingers crossed! Do prepare for the GD and Interview.

Rup: Hi , My score is 63 ( 20 in VA,20 in dI , 23 in Quant)What are the chances in IIM A,B,C?Will the cut off really go down to 48-50 ?

ARKS Srinivas: Excellent Rup. You will get nothing less than 99.6 percentile. In fact, I won't be surprised if it is more (ie if the score is 63). Start preparing for GD and Interviews.

aj: sir, my scores are di-15.35, EU 18.06 and QA 2.04..i wld lie to do my MBA in mumbai oly.. where should i apply... please advice

ARKS Srinivas: KJ Somaiya/ Wellingkar and ITM.

cancer1: sir what percentile is needed for SOMAIYA, IMT (nagpur) and WELLINGKAR

rahulreddy: KJ - 85, IMT Nagpur - 85, Wellingkar - 75.

sam: SIR , IM A STUDENT OF TIME... MESSED UP MY PAPER YESTER.. GETTING AROUND 25.. WT DO U THINK MY %ILE WUD BE.. N WHER ALL I MIGHT GET CALLS FROM??? WT ABT NIRMA... N VARIOUS OTHER INSTITUTES???

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Sam, you should still get about 80 percentile. Do apply to Nirma and FORE. Also, ITM and SDMIMD-Mysore.

Bhavin: hello sir!!! My expected score is 32. Out of Fore,ITM ( Mumbai),Somaiya, Bimtech(Noida), Welingkar, NIILM (Delhi), IMI(Delhi), IMT(Nagpur) ... from which institutes i can expect call

rahulreddy: IMT G -- outside chance. MICA, IMI, Fore, KJ Somaiya almost sure. Don't bother with NILM and IMT-Nagpur.

vinit: Sir iam getting 41 total...quant=15, va = 15.33,di=11. Can i expect calls frm iims

rahulreddy: Hi, outside chance. Do you have work experience?

SETFORMBA: HELLO SIR MY SCORE IS COMING AROUND 42-44 WHAT PERCENTILE AND COLLEGES CAN I EXPECT

rahulreddy: Hi, 96-98. You should get calls from colleges like IMT, MDI, NITIE, UBS, MICA, etc, asssuming sectional cut-offs are okay.

sam: SIR .. HOW DO U RATE ALLIANCE BUSINESS ACADEMY?? I HV A CALL FROM THEM THRU SEPT MAT....

ARKS Srinivas: It is okay, but not very good.

Angela: sir i got 16 in quant 15.33 in verbal n 6 in di wat can i expect shud i apply 2 FORE, pls suggest

ARKS Srinivas: Yes Angela, you should. In fact, you should apply to TAPMI, BI and IMI also.

Mitesh: I expect my scores to be in 30-35 range given ur answer keys are correct.Can u please advice whether I shall get calls fm MDI,SPJAIN,NITIE,IMT

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Mitesh, the first three unlikely. IMT, you have a chance.

SGoyal: Sir, how are you doing? My total is coming aprrox. 30, what could my percentile would be

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Goyal, I am doing fine. 30 can get you close to 85 percentile.

chasu: SIR,MY SCORE IS QA-17,DI-19,VA-14..CAN I GET A CALL FROM IIM.WHAT OTHER INSTITUTE SHUD I APPLY PLZ GUIDE ME.

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Chasu, I would tentatively say yes. Our expectation is that the Verbal/ RC cutoff will be low. How low is the issue!

prasad: hi Srinivas, with 8 marks in quant , do u think i will be able to clear the cut off in quant?coz cut offs are not clear.TIME seems to have the lowest cut off.

ARKS Srinivas: Yes definitely. The paper was far more difficult than was anticipated. At maximum, it can go to 9 (as we have put it on our Web site).

naveen: please answer me sir i will be getting 41-42 can i get call from mdi and any one of the iim an in mathematics i am getting 6 onlyand moreocver can i get call fro IIMA agribusiness management.

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Naveen, there is a good chance. But from the IIMs, a little doubtful. ABM should be possible if your other credentials are towards doing an agri-business programme.

rahulreddy: Hi junta, everyone seems to asking the same questions so let me give an overview first.

IIM cut-offs: QA -- 9-10; DI/ LA -- 7-8; RC/ VA -- 14-15

Overall: 43-45 (one IIM call); 55 (5-6 IIM calls)

MDI + MDI HR, NITIE, IMT: 40-44

IMT, UBS: 35-40

TAPMI, MICA, BIM, IMI, KJ Somaya: 31-35

IIFM, IISWBM: 28-31

Wellingkar, IFMR, Nirma, FORE: 25-28

Amrita, ITM, HCU, SDM, IMD, GLOBSYN (for Kolkata): 22+

KIAMS, IFM-D, IPE-Hyderabad: 18-19

Anu: Plz answer me sir My Score in CAT 2005 is :Quants :9.33Verbal :1DI :0Overall:10.33Should i apply to any b-school , do i have any hope or i should wait for CAT-2006

rahulreddy: Anu, joining a B school is an irreversible decision. Two years of time, a lot of money, etc. Go for CAT 2006. I am sure you would agree that your prep this year wasn't very comprehensive

pranav: Thanks for the cutoff Rahul .. they are way too less than those given by other institutes .. i hope they turn out to be as you've put them up

rahulreddy: Hi. T.I.M.E. has always been very accurate. So, yes, you can trust us.

sarat: sir my scores are ranging from 52 to 64 depending on which key i use for calculating eng score...what r my chances..i dont think anyone is sure of some EU answers

ARKS Srinivas: You are quite right Sarat. That shows also that CAT English was particularly tough. The best brains (supposedly :-)) in the country are not coming to any definitive conclusion on the Questions. That is also the reason why WE ARE VERY SURE the CUTOFFs will be Very less. YOU WILL GET IIM Calls. So don't worry!

sumitdharamsi: TIME cut off are significantly lower than other institues.. wht is your take on a overall score of 43, quant 8.33, eng 16, DI 16.33? what institutes can i expect a call from? SP JAin??

rahulreddy: SP is very difficult to predict as the CAT score is only one of the number of things they consider, but good chance.

sridharan: Hi...what is the chance of a call from A,B,C with a total score of 46.33 (11 QA, 21.33 DI, 14 VA)?

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Sridharan, you are very close to the 99.2 %ile mark. Should get one or two of these. It also depends on the score, of course. 46.33 is GOOD.

Vibhor: Hi Arks,I am a TIME student. My scores are differing with diff. soln sets.TIME: 57; CL: 62; CF : 62; IMS 52!!!! My split is QA : 20.33; DI : 17.67; Verbal : 13- 22 (TIME : 18.67)

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Vibhor, you will get IIM calls. Do get in touch with us and ensure that you also do your GD and Interviews well!

sourya: Hi ARKS,I am a software enggwith 2 yrs exp.I took the test for a lark this year and managed 51(4 + 33 + 17).The problem as u see is 4.Any chances??????

rahulreddy: Hi. Difficult. But you are good and you know it. Crack the other exams if you are writing any -- IIFT or XAT. Else go for 2006.

gori: , what should i do to perform good in snaptest and iift

ARKS Srinivas: You have to revise your basics in QA/ DI/ Reasoning to get more scores.

English will be hopefully much easier in these exams. Only problem is GK. Spend whatever time you have available on GK.

grihamantri: MR REDDY..WAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO HAVE A SECOND FROM YOU..CAN U PLEASE TELL ME Am in my final year of graduation and have an above par educational background...Does that effect my chancesBUT GETTIN A SCORE OF 55+ AND CLEARING ALL MY SECTIONS

rahulreddy: Hi, you don't need to worry about profile if you have 55. Definitely multiple IIM calls.

vasanthsoft: I have close to 3+ yrs exp in a top company & am expecting a net score of 50+. What is my chances of getting into IIM's..What other institutes should i apply

ARKS Srinivas: VERY GOOD.

kumarc: Hi ARKS my scores qa-11.67, di - 8 and va - 10 to 20 overall - 30 to 40. the ranges is due to diff keys. can i expect anything from spjain,mdi and nitie, iam having 18 months work ex till dec.

ARKS Srinivas: I guess so. Depending on whether your final score is closer to 40 or not.

sam: SIR.. HOW DO U RATE ALLIANCE BUSINESS ACADEMY?? I HV A CALL FROM THEM BASED ON SEPT MAT... N IN CAT IM GETTING ARND 25 MARKS... WT DO U THINK SIR??

rahulreddy: Hi, decent college. Go for the interview. Also look at Wellingkar, Nirma, FORE.

kg: Hello Sir, I am Kunal from IIT Kanpur..final year undergraduate student, In the CAt 05 I have scored 55 with Quant-11, DI -16.66 And VA- 28 .please tell me about my chances..especially I am afraid with my score with Quant

ARKS Srinivas: If these are your scores after checking with the T.I.M.E. key, we can guarantee that you will get the IIM calls. All the best.

sayan: sir,please tell me is it possible to be allowed to take the atm sor iimc pgdcm with 39-40

ARKS Srinivas: Hi Sayan, Very unlikely

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