Low Scores in CAT? How to get Admissions in Top B-Schools in India

MBA aspirants willing to get admission to some of the top B-schools in India typically require high scores in the CAT-Common Admission Test, as it is given first preference. On average, around 2 lakhs would attend the CAT exam on an annual basis. Only a few are capable of getting around 99 to 100 percentiles. Because of this ratio, it is not fair for the other candidates who have secured less or lower scores in CAT to cease their ambition to pursue MBA degrees from prestigious B-schools. This article discusses the alternative options and actionable steps that the candidates can follow to get admission to Top MBA Colleges with low CAT 2024 scores. 

First, let's understand what a CAT exam is and its importance:

The CAT is a national-level exam that is highly competitive. Most of the top and leading management colleges will accept this exam, and it is given higher priority. The CAT exam is designed to assess a candidate's knowledge in areas like quantitative ability, verbal ability, and logical reasoning. Securing higher CAT scores will significantly increase the chances of getting shortlisted for admission to some of the top management colleges. The CAT selection process includes group discussions (GD), written ability tests (WAT), and personal interview (PI) rounds.

What do you do if you have a low CAT score in 2024?

There is no need to lose all hope if candidates have a low score in the CAT exam. Here are some of the alternatives to the CAT exam for MBA admissions discussed in brief for better understanding: 

1. Appear for other entrance exams: Several top B-schools accept scores from other entrance exams apart from CAT. Some of them are GMAT/MTA/XAT/CMAT/ATMA, etc. The pattern and format of these examinations may differ from CAT. Candidates can opt for these exams based on their interests and suitability.

• XAT: This is conducted by XLRI. Many institutes accept valid XAT scores. After understanding the pattern and type of exam, candidates can opt for it if it suits their interests.
• GMAT: This is a widely accepted entrance exam for MBA admissions at top institutes. It is especially accepted by top B-schools or international management institutes. This exam is very flexible as it will be held multiple times in a year.
• MAT and CMAT: One of the best alternatives to CAT would be MAT or CMAT. These are moderate in their difficulty level as compared to CAT. Also, it is commonly accepted by many reputed and recognized management institutes.

2. Prepare for Institute-level Entrance Exams: Other than national-level examinations, candidates can also prepare for entrance exams that will be conducted at the university level. Even these scores will help the candidates secure admission to reputed B-schools. Some of them are SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc.

• NMAT: This is for MBA admissions to NMIMS. The exam will be conducted three times within the given time frame.
• SNAP is an entrance exam conducted by Symbiosis International University. It is accepted by various of its management institutes.
• IIFT: The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade will conduct this entrance exam to provide MBA admissions.

Note: Many other universities conduct their entrance exams to provide admissions.

3. Holding a Strong Profile

In cases of having low CAT scores, the institute might look up the candidate's overall profile, which can help in getting admissions. The profile must consist of: 

• Academic Excellence: If the candidate has good academic records in all the qualifying examinations, they will be highly considered. This can offset the CAT's low scores to an extent. However, other factors are looked upon along with academic performance.
• Work Experience: Relevant work experience in reputed organizations can also be an added advantage when building a profile. The authorities will look for other professional experiences and skills, such as leadership, industry knowledge, and problem-solving abilities, in addition to low CAT scores.
• Professional Certifications: Students' certifications from any of the professional programs will also help the candidates get admission to a top B-school. It can reduce the aspect of low CAT scores and focus on industry-relevant skills that will help academics as well.
• Extracurricular Activities: Candidates with excellence in extracurricular activities such as sports, arts, or social service can make their applications stand out. Candidates can also get admission based on sports and other reservation quotas.  

4. Students can opt for non-traditional paths for admission

If the candidates feel they are not capable of getting admission to top B-schools, it is recommended that they take alternative paths from traditional MBA, i.e.,

• Distance or Online MBA: Some of the top MBA institutes even offer part-time or distance education. Thus, candidates who did not get eligible CAT scores can opt for such programs and still get certified by reputed institutes. These programs are mainly curated for working professionals who cannot quit work for education.
• Executive MBA Programs: Working professionals at the mid-to-senior executive level can opt for the Executive MBA program. Top MBA colleges also offer an EMBA program. Thus, candidates with low CAT scores can apply for an EMBA.
• Second Round or Direct Admissions: Otherwise, candidates opt for the second round of selections for admissions or direct admissions. Here, no entrance exam scores will be considered, and management quota seats will be provided. However, course fees will be higher than general fees.

5. Have good networking and mentoring.

• Suppose the candidates have a good connection with alumni people from the college they are interested in. In that case, they can help them get admission with their insightful tips and references that can provide them with opportunities to get admission or strengthen their application.
• Having professional networks that can help you connect with faculty members will be very beneficial. Candidates can get inside information about the institute's admission process and its nature.

5. Create an Impressive Application

• Statement of Purpose (SOP): A proper SOP is essential in the application. This will help explain the career goals, reasons for joining the MBA program, and reasons for choosing that particular B-school.
• Letters of Recommendation (LOR): Attaching strong LORs with academic or professional references can help guide showing the essential capabilities. Candidates must ask the recommenders to provide specific examples of their overall achievements and potential.
• Personal Interviews: The candidates need to be selected in the interview round. Thus, it is recommended that they prepare themselves, learn about the institute's values and recent developments, and, more importantly, answer the questions with confidence.

6. Improving CAT Scores

If the candidates are dedicated enough to improve their CAT scores, then they can apply for the exam in the next cycle. Some of the strategies that can help in improving the scores from the previous attempt are:

• Self-Awareness: It becomes essential for the candidates to identify their strengths and weaknesses while preparing for the CAT exam. After taking mock tests, it becomes easy for them to analyze their performance and to know which areas to improve. Accordingly, candidates can start their preparations.
• Structured Preparation: To get better results, candidates can also join a reputed coaching centre that can help them understand the exam pattern and syllabus effectively. Coaching centres follow a structured teaching pattern with various resources, thus benefiting the students.
• Consistent Practice: Having regular practice with the help of mock tests, referring to previous years' question papers, and other sample papers will be very beneficial for students to get better results. By regular learning, candidates can easily understand the exam pattern, manage time effectively, and increase their accuracy.

Top MBA colleges accept low CAT scores:

Here is the list of MBA colleges followed by the expected cut-off percentile for admissions:

MBA college names	Expected CAT cut-off percentile
SAGE University, Indore	80
GLIM Chennai	80
TAPMI Manipal	85+
FORE School of Management, Delhi	85
Jaipur National University, Jaipur	81
Lingaya’s Vidyapeeth, Faridabad	83
VIT Vellore	70
Chandigarh University	70
Mittal School of Business	70
Pondicherry University	70
Doon Business School	60-70
International School of Business and Media	60-70
Army Institute of Management	50+

Some of the MBA specializations that MBA colleges offer that accept low CAT scores are:

Finance Management	Business Analytics
Banking and Finance	Marketing Management
Information Technology	Healthcare Management
International Business	Agriculture Business Management
Communication and Media Management	Human Resource Management

Importance of Eligibility Criteria for Top MBA Colleges

The admission requirements will be beyond CAT cut-off scores and have various eligibility criteria that the applicants can meet. Those are:

• The candidates must have completed their board exams, i.e., 10+2 with a minimum of 50% marks or more.
• Also, candidates must have completed their graduation degree of at least 3 years or 4 years from a recognized university with an aggregate of 50% marks or its equivalent with no backlogs to be eligible.
• The students will be selected for GD and PI rounds, and candidates will be evaluated based on their performance in these rounds.
• Some colleges also give priority to candidates who have relevant professional experience in the industry.
• The eligibility cut-off rank may vary from one college to another based on the reservation categories the institute assigns.

How do I choose MBA colleges that are accepting low CAT scores?

Apart from the CAT entrance exam, there are many other alternative ways to apply for top business colleges in India. Below are the points to be followed:

• Candidates must choose some of the B-schools that accept low CAT cut-off scores and then apply to any of them based on their interests and choice of program. Before applying, applicants must be aware of the admission process and selection criteria.
• Apart from the CAT entrance exam, candidates can appear for other state-level entrance exams in which they are interested in pursuing their education. Some of the exams are MAH MBA CET, TS ICET, AP ICET, TANCET, ATMA, MAT, CMAT, etc.
• Some of the B-Schools will conduct their entrance exam at the institute or university level. Therefore, having low CAT scores will not be a problem for admissions. A few such institutes are the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, NMIMS, ICFAI University, PES University, and many more.
• In some cases, candidates can take direct admission without having to write any entrance exam. Few colleges will provide that option, but candidates will have to pay higher fees than general.

These are some of the alternative methods that MBA aspirants willing to get admission to top management colleges can use.

What is the admission process for MBA colleges that accept low CAT scores?

• Candidates must register for the CAT exam using the official website. They need not worry about the results even before taking the exam.
• After the results are out, candidates must visit the college website and get the login credentials to apply.
• Candidates can apply for preferred colleges from higher priority to lower one.
• Here, the applicants are required to enter all the necessary information, along with the documentation needed for verification. 
• The process will be completed only after the form fees are paid. The mode of payment can be accepted online or offline, as specified by the colleges.
• After the verification process is done, the shortlisted candidates will begin to get call letters from their preferred universities, which also consider their CAT scores.
• Further, they are required to attend counselling rounds and pay the fees within the given period.