As per the expected CAT score vs percentile 2025 analysis, a raw score of 102 can fetch you a 99.9 percentile. The CAT 2025 score vs percentile slot wise will be released after the exam is concluded for each slot.
- What is CAT Score?
- What is CAT Percentile?
- CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Slot-wise Analysis (Expected)
- CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: What Score is Required for …
- CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Step-by-Step Process
- IIM Scaling and Normalization Process 2025
- How IIMs Calculate CAT Composite Score?
- CAT Score Vs Percentile Over the Years
- Faqs
CAT score vs percentile 2025 is nothing but a detailed comparison between a CAT score and percentile . For instance, as per the expected CAT 2025 score vs percentile, a raw score of 102 will earn you a 99.9 percentile. For 99.5 percentile, a raw score of 89 is required. For a 98 percentile, a raw score of 71 is required. While the CAT score is the total marks secured by a candidate, the CAT percentile is the percentage of candidates below a respective percentile. Find out how CAT score and percentile are calculated and a detailed analysis of CAT marks vs percentile 2025 here.
Also Read: What is a Good Score/Percentile in CAT 2025?
What is CAT Score?
The CAT score represents the total mark a student receives in the CAT exam based on the marking scheme. In simpler terms, your score in all three sections - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability - will be your CAT score. The CAT raw score serves as the basis for the CAT marks vs percentile analysis.
How to Calculate CAT Score?
CAT score can be obtained by simply calculating the number of correct and incorrect answers. All you need to do is follow the steps given below.
Step 1 : First, calculate the number of correct answers you marked and multiply each by 3.Step 2 : Now calculate the number of incorrect answers and minus the total with the total number of correct answers multiplied by 3.
Step 3 : The obtained result will be your CAT score.
Here's the CAT 2025 score calculator formula:
CAT Score = (No. of Correct Answers) * 3 - No. of Incorrect Answers |
|---|
Also Read: CAT Score Weightage in IIMs
What is CAT Percentile?
CAT percentile indicates your rank in the exam compared to other students who took the exam during the same time frame, based on certain parameters. Simply put, it reflects your position among all those who appeared for the exam, which determines your ranking. It is a measure used to evaluate the percentage of students who have scored lower or higher than you on the merit list. The CAT percentile plays a vital role in analyzing CAT marks vs percentile.
How to Calculate CAT Percentile?
CAT percentile is just a representation/ indication of the number of people who are behind you in the test. Follow these steps to calculate your CAT percentile.
Step 1
: Find the total number of candidates (N) who appeared in all the sessions of the CAT exam.
Step 2
: Assign ranks to candidates based on their scaled scores. If multiple test-takers have similar scores, they will receive the same ranks.
Step 3
: Calculate the percentile using the given formula:
CAT Percentile = (R/N) × 100 |
|---|
where,
R
= Rank of the candidates assigned based on scaled CAT score or total number of candidates who rank below you.
N
= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)
Let's understand CAT percentile calculation with an example.
Suppose that 50 candidates appeared for the CAT exam. You have done well in the exam and scored 3rd rank on the entrance test, which means that 47 students scored less than you. Now, your percentile should be calculated as follows:
| 47/50*100 = 94 Percentile |
|---|
While calculating the CAT percentile, you may question how multiple individuals can secure a perfect 100 percentile in the CAT exam. The answer lies in rounding off. It is important to note that the CAT scorecard displays percentiles up to two decimal points, and thus, rounding off is necessary. Rounding up to the 100 percentile is required for a score to be considered perfect. This is an important factor to consider when analyzing CAT marks vs percentile.
CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Slot-wise Analysis (Expected)
The CAT score indicates the total marks you attain in the exam as per the marking scheme while the CAT percentile denotes your performance with respect to the total number of candidates who qualified for the exam. So, if your CAT percentile is 95, then it means that your CAT result is higher than 95% of the candidates who took the exam. To get an idea of how much score you should get to achieve a specific percentile, have a look at the expected slot-wise CAT 2025 score vs percentile analysis provided below.
CAT Slot 1 2025 Marks vs Percentile
CAT VARC Score | CAT DILR Score | CAT QA Score | Overall CAT Score | CAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
45-47 | 39-41 | 35-37 | 100-102 | 100 |
39-41 | 34-36 | 31-33 | 91-93 | 99+ |
28-30 | 28-30 | 21-23 | 65-67 | 95+ |
22-24 | 22-24 | 17-19 | 56-57 | 90+ |
20-22 | 19-20 | 16 | 42-45 | 85+ |
17-19 | 16-18 | 13-15 | 39-41 | 80+ |
CAT 2025 Slot 2 Score vs Percentile
CAT VARC Score | CAT DILR Score | CAT QA Score | Overall CAT Score | CAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
46-48 | 40-42 | 36-39 | 103 | 100 |
40-42 | 35-37 | 32-34 | 94-96 | 99+ |
30-33 | 30-32 | 222-25 | 67-69 | 95+ |
24-26 | 25-26 | 18-20 | 57-59 | 90+ |
20-22 | 20-22 | 17 | 43-46 | 85+ |
18-20 | 17-19 | 14-16 | 40-42 | 80+ |
CAT 2025 Slot 3 Score vs Percentile
CAT VARC Score | CAT DILR Score | CAT QA Score | Overall CAT Score | CAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
45-47 | 39-41 | 35-37 | 100-102 | 100 |
39-41 | 34-36 | 31-33 | 91-93 | 99+ |
28-30 | 28-30 | 21-23 | 65-67 | 95+ |
22-24 | 22-24 | 17-19 | 56-57 | 90+ |
20-22 | 19-20 | 16 | 42-45 | 85+ |
17-19 | 16-18 | 13-15 | 39-41 | 80+ |
The CAT score vs percentile 2025 will be calculated based on the candidates’ rank as per their score. If you appeared for the exam, check your estimated score by using our CAT Percentile Predictor .
CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: What Score is Required for 99%, 95%, 90%?
You must know the CAT score required for 99%, 95%, and 90% in CAT since these are the typical cutoff scores and ranges that are accepted by Tier 1 B-schools in India. Check out the score required for 99, 95, and 90 percentile in CAT 2025:
CAT Percentile | CAT VARC Score | CAT DILR Score | CAT QA Score | Overall CAT Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CAT 2025 Slot 1 Score vs Percentile | ||||
99+ | 40 | 25-27 | 25-28 | 80 |
95+ | 28-30 | 18-20 | 20-22 | 55 |
90+ | 22-24 | 15-17 | 15-17 | 45-48 |
CAT 2025 Slot 2 Score vs Percentile | ||||
99+ | 40-42 | 22-23 | 27-28 | 82-83 |
95+ | 30-33 | 18-20 | 20-22 | 57-58 |
90+ | 24-26 | 14-15 | 15-17 | 46-48 |
CAT 2025 Slot 3 Score vs Percentile | ||||
99+ | 38-40 | 23-24 | 27-28 | 78-80 |
95+ | 28-30 | 18-20 | 18-20 | 57-58 |
90+ | 24-25 | 15-17 | 15-17 | 46-48 |
What Does 99 Percentile in CAT Indicate?
Achieving a 99 percentile score in CAT indicates that your performance is greater than 99% of other test-takers.
For instance, if your CAT score after normalization is 110, then your percentage would be (110/198)*100 = 55.55%. However, with a score of 110, you have surpassed 99% of total test-takers, which means your CAT percentile score is 99. |
|---|
Also Read : CAT Attempts vs Percentile 2025
CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Step-by-Step Process
Understanding the process of converting CAT scores to percentile is crucial for the CAT score vs percentile 2025 analysis. The three stages of converting raw CAT score into the final percentile are as follows:
CAT Raw Scores: This can be calculated based on the CAT 2025 marking scheme and the level of precision with which a candidate answers the questions. Additionally, candidates can check it using the response sheet that IIMs release after the CAT exam.
CAT Raw Score to CAT Scaled Score: This calculation is done by the IIMs after the normalization of raw results for all CAT exam slots.
CAT Scaled Score to CAT Percentile Score: This stage of calculation is done by IIMs depending upon the number of test takers across the CAT exam slots.
Also Read: Low Scores in CAT? Here's How to Get Admission in Top B Schools in India
IIM Scaling and Normalization Process 2025
IIMs follow a smart scaling and normalization process to determine the merit of the candidates appearing for the CAT exam in different sessions. The normalization process ensures complete justice when it comes to appraising equity and fairness in performance across multiple sessions. The CAT normalization process for each section involves the following steps:
Calculate the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the raw scores in the VARC section for all candidates appearing in the morning session. Let Mean = M1 and SD = S1, so G1 = M1 + S1.
Calculate the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the raw scores in the VARC section for all candidates appearing in the afternoon session. Let Mean = M2 and SD = S2, so G2 = M2 + S2.
Calculate the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the raw scores in the VARC section for all candidates appearing in the evening session. Let Mean = M3 and SD = S3, so G3 = M3 + S3.
- Calculate the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the raw scores in the VARC section for all candidates appearing in CAT (i.e., including all three sessions). Let Mean = M and SD = S, so G = M + S.
- Next, you need to find the average raw score for the top 0.1 percent of candidates who took the VARC test in the morning session. This value should be labelled as M1 0.1.
- Now, calculate the average raw score for the top 0.1 percent of candidates who took the VARC test in the afternoon session. This value should be marked as M2 0.1.
- Similarly, determine the average raw score for the top 0.1 percent of candidates who took the CAT exam in both shifts in the VARC section. This value should be labelled as M 0.1.
- This method can also be used to determine the scaled score for each section. Therefore, the total scaled score will be the sum of the scaled scores of the VARC, DILR, and QA sections.
How IIMs Calculate CAT Composite Score?
For admission to their MBA courses, IIMs calculate a composite score that takes into account several parameters beyond just the CAT score. The composite score reflects an overall evaluation of a candidate's profile. It's worth noting that even if two candidates have the same CAT score, their composite scores may differ due to differences in these parameters. Ultimately, the composite score is a comprehensive measure of a candidate's potential for success in the IIM program. Here are the parameters that are considered while drawing a composite score:
Class 10th Marks
Class 12th Marks
Graduation Percentage/ Grade
Work Experience
Academic Background
Gender Diversity
The formula for calculating the CAT composite score used by the IIMs is as follows:
CAT Score Vs Percentile Over the Years
The CAT cutoff varies every year due to the difficulty level of the exam, number of test takers, etc. Candidates must check the CAT 2022 cutoff , CAT 2021 cutoff , and CAT 2020 cutoff to understand the score vs percentile analysis better. Check the table below for the CAT score vs percentile over the last 5 years.
CAT Percentile | CAT Score 2024 | CAT Score 2023 (Scaled) | CAT Score 2022 | CAT Score 2021 | CAT Score 2020 | CAT Score 2019 | CAT Score 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
99.5 | 89 | 85 | 92 | 110 | 115 | 168 | 167 |
99 | 80 | 77 | 84 | 98 | 101 | 156 | 154 |
98 | 71 | 63 | 75 | 85 | 91 | 148 | 143 |
95 | 57 | 55 | 62 | 73 | 76 | 123 | 121 |
90 | 49 | 46 | 49 | 60 | 63 | 104 | 103 |
85 | 40 | 34 | 42 | 52 | 56 | 92 | 89 |
80 | 36 | 30 | 36 | 46 | 48 | 83 | 79 |
Total Marks | 198 | 198 | 198 | 198 | 228 | 300 | 300 |
Total Questions | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 76 | 100 | 100 |
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FAQs
CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 analysis is the raw score and its corresponding percentile score in the CAT exam. This analysis is crucial for understanding the CAT performance of a candidate. The CAT score is the total marks of a candidate as per the marking scheme, while the CAT percentile is a candidate’s score with respect to the total number of candidates who qualify for the exam.
Calculating the CAT score is quite easy since candidates only need to know the CAT marking scheme to find the same. The CAT score can be calculated using the following formula:
- CAT Score = (No. of Correct Answers) * 3 - No. of Incorrect Answers
To calculate CAT percentile, candidates must know that it is more complicated than calculating the CAT raw score. The percentile score of a candidate is calculated to ascertain their performance in relation to other candidates. The CAT percentile can be calculated using the following formula:
- CAT Percentile = [1 - All India Rank (Total Candidates in the Exam)] * 100%
There are several stages in the process of converting CAT score into CAT percentile. By using the conversion scale that the National Testing Agency (NTA) has suggested, candidates can convert a CAT score into a CAT percentile. The CAT raw score must be converted into CAT scaled score and subsequently the CAT percentile can be derived from CAT scaled scores.
A score of at least 75-80 marks will be required for 90 percentile in CAT 2025. Aspirants can expect their raw scores of above 80 to convert into the percentile range of 95+. Candidates who are able to score 90 percentile or more in CAT will be able to secure admission in the top B-schools in India.
A raw score of 75 or above in CAT can fetch candidates 90 percentile. Scoring a raw score of 75 will easily put aspirants in the top 10% of the CAT 2025 candidates. This score is enough to seek admission to the best MBA colleges in India. Candidates may apply for IIMs as well, however, chances of admission are tough due to high competition.
A raw score above 70 is required to get 95+ percentile in CAT 2025. As per the conversion scale and the difficulty level of CAT 2025, candidates shall have to score at least 70-75 raw CAT 2025 scores for a percentile of 95 or above. Aspirants need to aim for over 90 marks to ensure getting the desired percentile.
The ideal CAT percentile to get admission in IIM is over 95. It is well known that applicants who rank in the top two to five percentile on the Common Admission Test (CAT) are given preference by IIM colleges. The CAT cutoff is merely the eligibility to apply; the acceptance into any IIM will be determined by how well aspirants do in the WAT rounds, group discussions, and individual interviews.
The difference between CAT score and CAT percentile is that the CAT scores indicate a candidate’s overall exam result, the CAT percentile indicates how a candidate has fared in the competition by indicating the proportion of students who scored lower than them in CAT.
The CAT percentile and CAT scores are calculated using separate formulae, but the CAT percentile depends on how a person's CAT score appears on the test. The formula to calculate the CAt score is (No. of Correct Answers) * 3 - No. of Incorrect Answers, while the formula to calculate the CAT percentile is 1 - (All India Rank)/(Total Candidates in the Exam) * 100%. Here, the All India Rank is calculated based on one’s CAT score 2025.
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