IB MTS Cut-Off: Qualifying Marks and Target Score

The IB MTS cut-off is the score a candidate needs to move from Tier I to Tier II and, finally, into the merit list for Multi-Tasking Staff (General) in the Intelligence Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs. It works at three levels: a minimum qualifying mark fixed in the notification, a shortlisting score for Tier II, and the closing score of the final merit list in each SIB and category.

This page gives the official minimum marks from the IB MTS (General) Exam 2025 notification, explains what is and is not officially published, and shows how to set a sensible target. Cut-offs change every cycle with difficulty, vacancies and the number of applicants, so treat any past figure as a benchmark only.

Official Minimum Qualifying Marks

The 2025 notification fixed these minimum marks for Tier I and Tier II:

Ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates are assessed within their respective categories. IB can raise the Tier I minimum depending on performance and the number of vacancies. These marks are floors, not the final cut-off. From the candidates who clear them, only about 10 times the number of vacancies are called for Tier II, and the final merit list is drawn from Tier I marks of those who also qualify Tier II.

Status of the 2025 Cycle Cut-Off

For the 2025 cycle, the Tier I result (13 April 2026) and the final result (5 October 2026) were published as lists of roll numbers. During our check of the MHA website, we did not find an official table of category-wise or SIB-wise closing marks for this cycle.

Figures you may see elsewhere labelled as the "IB MTS cut-off 2025" are estimates unless they link to an official MHA document. Some pages also present the minimum qualifying marks as the cut-off, which understates the real competition. If IB releases official cut-off marks or scorecards, check them on the official website.

What Affects the IB MTS Cut-Off

• SIB-wise vacancies: Merit is prepared SIB-wise and category-wise. An SIB with many vacancies in your category usually closes lower than one with only one or two posts.

• Number of applicants: MTS attracts a large Class 10 and above applicant pool, which pushes shortlisting scores up.

• Paper difficulty: A harder General Awareness section can pull scores down across the board.

• Normalisation: If Tier I runs in several shifts, scores are normalised, which can shift the effective cut-off slightly.

• Tier II qualification: When some shortlisted candidates fail Tier II, the final list reaches further down the Tier I ranking.

How to Set Your Target Score

Since the official figures are only floors, set your own target from practice data rather than from a single number.

1. Check your SIB's vacancies: Fewer posts in your category mean you need a higher Tier I score to make the 10-times shortlist.

2. Aim for a clear margin: Target a score well above the minimum qualifying marks, not a bare pass. A safer guide is your rank in full-length mocks: aim to place consistently near the top of the candidates taking the same test.

3. Protect accuracy: With a quarter-mark penalty, high accuracy across 75 to 85 attempts usually beats risky attempts at all 100.

4. Lock in Tier II early: Practise until 20 out of 50 is comfortable, because failing Tier II cancels any Tier I score.

Official website: https://www.mha.gov.in/