I'm in the last year of B.Com and want to do MBA. Should I drop one year for CAT preparation or I should do MBA without CAT?

With a 300 SC category rank in CAT, your chances for NIT Trichy MBA are relatively high. Based on 2025 data, NIT Trichy generally shortlists SC candidates with CAT percentiles around 60-65. To achieve a 300 rank under SC category, you would need about a 65-70 percentile, or a score of roughly 60-65 marks out of 198 in CAT 2025, depending on difficulty and normalization process. Final selection is also based on interview, academics, and work experience. Yes, you are fairly within touch, but I would encourage you to have a solid overall profile as well to increase your chances of admission.

For candidates pursuing MBA, the eligibility criteria includes merit and entrance based selection. Whereas, for BBA, candidates must qualify Class 12 with a minimum aggregate. JIIT CDOE MBA on the other hand, is offered based on the minimum aggregate of graduation.  However, for the final admission, candidates must meet the cutoff rank or score and must secure valid scores in accepted entrance exams such as CAT.

CAT is one of the accepting exams required for admission to PGDM programme. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants with a valid score in any other accepted entrance exams such as MAT, XAT or CMAT can also get admission in PGDM. Selected aspirants also have to pass the case-based group discussion and a personal interview round for final admission.

The CUSAT CAT passing marks for the BTech exam is 10 marks in maths and 10 marks in physics and chemistry combined. However, Kerala SC and ST candidates do not have a minimum passing mark.