The declaration of CAT 2025 results by IIM Kozhikode has set the tone for this year’s MBA admission season. With lakhs of aspirants checking their scorecards, the results underline how competitive management education in India has become.
The exam not only tested aptitude but also highlighted changing academic trends and regional performance patterns.
CAT 2025 Result Declared: Key Highlights
IIM Kozhikode announced the CAT 2025 results on December 24. Candidates who appeared for the exam can now download their scorecards using their login credentials. The scorecard carries section-wise scaled scores and overall percentiles. These numbers will decide the shortlisting for IIMs and other leading management institutes.
CAT 2025 took place on November 30 across multiple centres in India. Around 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the test, making it one of the most widely attempted CAT exams in recent years.
Which State Produced the Most CAT 2025 Toppers?
The list of candidates who scored a perfect 100 percentile shows strong geographic diversity. Delhi emerged as the clear leader. The national capital produced three candidates with a perfect score, the highest among all states.
Haryana and Gujarat followed closely with two toppers each. Other states on the list included Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Odisha, with one candidate each achieving the top score. The distribution shows that CAT excellence is no longer limited to a few regions, though Delhi stood out this year.
Non-Engineers Dominate CAT 2025 Top Ranks
One of the biggest talking points of CAT 2025 is the strong performance of non-engineering candidates. Among the 12 candidates who scored a perfect 100 percentile, nine came from non-engineering backgrounds, while only three were engineers.
This marks a visible shift from earlier years, when engineering graduates dominated the top ranks. The trend continued in the 99.99 and 99.98 percentile brackets as well, where non-engineers featured prominently. The results suggest that CAT has become more balanced and accessible to students from diverse academic streams.
CAT 2025 Scorecard Details Explained
The CAT scorecard breaks down performance across three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Ability
Institutes use both sectional and overall percentiles during the shortlisting process. A strong overall score alone may not be enough if sectional cut-offs are not met.
CAT 2025 Cut-Offs and MBA Admission Process
Cut-offs vary widely across IIMs. Top institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta usually set higher percentile thresholds, often between 85 and 95, depending on the category. Mid-ranked IIMs generally keep cut-offs slightly lower.
Apart from the IIMs, 93 non-IIM institutes also accept CAT scores for postgraduate management admissions. This opens doors for high-scoring candidates across a wide range of business schools.
What’s Next After CAT 2025 Results?
With results now out, the focus shifts to the next stages of selection. Institutes will soon begin shortlisting candidates for written tests, group discussions, and personal interviews. Aspirants must regularly track official institute websites for updates.
The CAT 2025 results reflect intense competition, broader academic diversity, and growing regional representation. For thousands of candidates, this marks the start of a decisive phase in their journey toward an MBA seat.