1. Home
  2. blogs
  3. Understanding B-School Shortlisting Criteria

Understanding B-School Shortlisting Criteria

CL Team November 26 2025
2 min read

Why 99 Percentile Doesn’t Guarantee a Call — Understanding B-School Shortlisting Criteria

Every CAT aspirant dreams of the 99 percentile mark. It feels like the golden ticket to top IIMs and elite B-schools.
But here’s the truth many students discover the hard way: a 99 percentile does NOT guarantee a call.

Surprised?
Let’s break it down.

1. B-Schools Don’t Look at Percentile Alone

Most institutes — especially the older IIMs — use a composite score, not just your CAT score.
This score usually includes:

  • Class 10 marks

  • Class 12 marks

  • Graduation percentage

  • Work experience

  • Academic background

  • Gender diversity

  • Category

  • CAT section-wise percentile cutoff

So even with 99 percentile, a weak academic profile or low sectional percentiles can hold you back.

2. Sectional Cutoffs Are Non-Negotiable

You might score 99 overall, but if:

  • VARC: 80

  • LRDI: 70

  • QA: 60

…you won’t get a call from institutes that require 85+ in all sections.

For example:

  • IIM A, B, C have strict sectional cutoffs.

  • Missing even one by 0.01 percentile can cost the call.

3. Academic Consistency Matters More Than You Think

Top B-schools love consistently strong profiles.

Example:

  • 10th: 85%

  • 12th: 87%

  • Graduation: 60%

Even with 99 percentile, the low graduation score can reduce your composite score, especially for IIM Bangalore and IIM Indore.

Some IIMs give up to:

  • 20–40% weight to academics

  • Which means your CAT score alone cannot compensate.

4. Work Experience Can Be a Game-Changer — or a Dealbreaker

Work experience points vary by institute.
But:

  • Too little = fewer points

  • Too much (like >3 years) = sometimes reduces chances in specific programs

  • Non-relevant experience might not get full weight

For schools like IIM Kozhikode or SPJIMR, work-ex adds significant weight.

5. Diversity Factors Shift the Cutoffs

Many IIMs award extra points for:

  • Non-engineers

  • Female candidates

  • Certain academic streams

That means if you’re:

  • A male engineer

  • With average academics

…you may need higher percentiles — often 99.5+ — to compensate.

6. Program-Specific Cutoffs Differ

Not all calls from the same B-school require the same percentile.
For example:

  • IIM Calcutta’s flagship program might need 99+

  • But its analytics or PG program may accept 97–98

So even high scorers miss out depending on the program they apply for.

7. Competition at the Top Is Brutal

At 99 percentile:

  • You’re in the top ~17,000 test takers

  • Many have stellar profiles

  • Many have 99+ in all sections

  • Many come with 90–95% across academics

You’re competing with the best of the best — and the difference often comes down to profile points.

8. B-Schools Want Well-Rounded Profiles

Top institutes want:

  • Consistency

  • Leadership qualities

  • Academic excellence

  • Work experience

  • Diversity

  • Strong CAT performance

CAT is only one piece of the puzzle.

This is why someone with 98.5 percentile but a balanced profile may get calls over someone with 99.2 and weak academics.

Final Takeaway

A 99 percentile is a remarkable achievement — but it’s not a guarantee.
The B-school shortlisting process is holistic, competitive, and designed to reward overall excellence, not just test-day performance.

So instead of chasing just a percentile, focus on:

  • Strong academics (or justification during interviews)

  • Good work experience

  • Consistent sectional performance

  • Balanced profile

  • And preparing for the next phases: WAT, GD, and PI

Because in the end, CAT opens the door —
your profile decides which doors stay open.