Previous Year Cut-Off Trends
Before estimating 2025’s cut-offs, it helps to look at earlier years:
| Year | Category | Tier-1 Cut-off (Approx, out of 100) |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | UR (General) | ~65 |
| OBC | ~60 | |
| SC / ST | ~50 | |
| 2015 | UR | ~75 |
| OBC | ~70 | |
| SC / ST | ~65 |
These past cut-offs show that the UR category has required fairly high scores, especially in years with easier or moderate papers. Reserved categories see somewhat lower thresholds. Knowing these helps set realistic expectations.
Expected Cut-Off 2025: What Experts Are Saying
Based on recent Tier-1 exam difficulty, shift analyses, and candidate feedback, several sources have predicted the following cut-off ranges for 2025. Keep in mind, results may vary slightly depending on final normalization and marking.
| Category | Expected Cut-Off 2025 (Tier-1, out of 100) |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | ~70-75 |
| OBC | ~65-70 |
| EWS | ~65-70 |
| SC | ~60-65 |
| ST | ~60-65 |
These estimates assume a moderate to slightly tough paper, standard normalization, and average number of candidates. If the paper turns out much harder, cut-offs may drop a few marks, especially for UR/OBC.
Minimum Qualifying Marks & Official Qualifiers
Several sources state that there is a minimum qualifying mark mandated by IB for Tier-1, irrespective of expected cut-offs, to ensure borderline cases are filtered out. For 2025, these minimums are likely to be:
UR / EWS: ~ 35/100
OBC: ~34/100
SC / ST: ~33/100
These serve as lower bounds; expected cut-off ranges are typically much higher.
Factors Influencing the Cut-Off
Understanding what drives the cut-offs helps in strategizing preparation:
Exam Difficulty: Shifts with tougher questions push the expected cut-off lower; easier shifts push it higher. Expert shift analysis indicates some shifts in 2025 were “moderate to tough”.
Number of Candidates vs Vacancies: More aspirants chasing limited seats tend to raise the cut-off.
Reservation & Category Distribution: Cut-offs for SC/ST reserved seats are often significantly lower than UR, but demand and performance can affect this.
Normalization Process: Given multiple shifts, IB may normalize scores, affecting final cut-offs.
Past Trends: Management often leans on prior cut-offs for comparison.
What Should Aspirants Aim For?
Given the above, aspirants should aim well above the predicted cut-offs to be safe. Here are some target marks:
UR / General: Aim for 70-80 out of 100
OBC / EWS: Target around 65-75
SC / ST: Aiming 62-70 gives a better cushion
Scoring near the lower bound of expected cut-off may still work, but only if other parameters like normalization and vacancy count are favorable.
What Happens After Cut-Off?
Candidates meeting or exceeding the official Tier-1 cut-off are shortlisted for Tier-2 (Descriptive / Writing).
Tier-2 usually tests English writing, comprehension, essay / précis etc.
Final merit list considers performance across all tiers and interviews (where applicable).
Verdict
While the official cut-offs for IB ACIO 2025 Tier-1 are yet to be released, analysis suggests you should aim for high 60s to mid 70s (UR), somewhat lower for reserved categories, but always shoot for more than the minimum. Understanding previous patterns, keeping strong performance, and navigating the exam with a calm mind will increase your chances.
