What MICAT scores are required to get an interview call from MICA? Analysis of cutoffs and selection criteria for 2024

MICA's selection process rests on three evaluation components: your MICAT aptitude score (best of two attempts), your descriptive and essay section performance, and your best CAT or XAT percentile. There is no officially published sectional cutoff — and we've seen cases where candidates scored 0 in one section and still received admission, so the composite picture matters more than any single number.

From what we've tracked across student conversations, a "good" MICAT score in the 2024 cycle sits at approximately 21 marks, with the selection cutoff hovering around 16.5–17 marks. That said, there's an important trend worth flagging: score inflation is real and accelerating. Many 2024 applicants crossed 15 marks, whereas in earlier cycles, 10 marks was often sufficient. Year-over-year, the competition is meaningfully stiffer.

Here's what experienced applicants consistently emphasize, and we think it's the most important thing to internalize: MICAT aptitude scores alone do not guarantee a call. A strong descriptive section can compensate for a lower aptitude score. Conversely, a high aptitude score with a weak descriptive performance can still result in rejection. We've seen this trade-off play out repeatedly. Even candidates sitting at 25.5 MICAT with 96.35% CAT have been advised to still attempt MICAT-2, simply to be sure — which tells you something about how much uncertainty remains in the borderline range.

CAT and XAT percentiles function as a gating criterion, not just a supporting metric. Candidates below 80 percentile on CAT face near-impossible odds, by most honest assessments. Those at 90+ percentile with a 16–17 MICAT score sit in a reasonable zone. In our experience, the more calibrated targets are 94–95% CAT as a baseline, with a recommendation to aim for 97%+ on XAT if your MICAT score is borderline.

One element that catches candidates off guard is the psychometric test, which operates as a separate qualification gate entirely. Passing the MICAT aptitude component does not guarantee clearing this screen. The consistent guidance from those who've been through the process: answer honestly, take definite stances, and avoid hedging your responses. The assessment appears designed to detect inconsistency, not to reward any particular personality profile.

On strategy: attempting both MICAT-1 and MICAT-2 is standard practice among serious candidates, and a best-of-two approach is built into how MICA evaluates scores, so there is no reason not to use both attempts. What's less useful, in the view of those who've been through it, is generic coaching or crash courses — the MICAT is sufficiently different from CAT preparation that most conventional guidance doesn't translate.

To summarize the competitive range as we currently understand it: 16.5 to 22 MICAT marks covers the meaningful uncertainty band. If you're in the lower half of that range, a second attempt is not just advisable — it's the rational move.