CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: Check Past Year Trends, Cut Off Marks

Overview: CAT score vs Percentile 2025 is the method to find out the CAT raw score against the CAT percentile. This can be calculated once the CAT answer key is released. In this blog, we will look into the steps to compute the CAT 2025 marks vs percentile.

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• The individual sectional scores are calculated from the number of questions answered correctly and the difficulty level of the CAT exam. The overall score is derived from your performance in all sections.
• The CAT exam score is then converted into a percentile, which compares one candidate's performance with other candidates who appeared for the exam. This is why candidates search for CAT 2025 marks vs percentile.

• Coming to CAT 2025 score vs Percentile 2025, the percentile is calculated based on the number of candidates who appeared for the exam and the number of candidates who secured the same or higher score than others. Let's understand the distinction between CAT score vs Percentile 2025, CAT 2025 expected score vs percentile 

CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 - Overview

How to calculate CAT score? The CAT exam score is converted into a percentile to determine a candidate's relative performance compared to other candidates who appeared for the exam.

The percentile helps the IIMs and other top B-schools compare candidates' performance with other candidates.

This helps the institutions to determine the candidate’s ranking within the group of candidates who appeared for the exam.

• The percentile score is calculated based on the number of candidates who appeared for the exam and the number of candidates who secured the same or higher score than the candidate.
• The percentile score is then used to determine the overall rank of the candidate.

Note: Candidates can also use the CAT percentile calculator or CAT score calculator available online to get an instant overall idea of their CAT exam performance.

Learn More | How To Calculate Percentage In CAT Exam?

What is the CAT Score vs Percentile 2025?

The CAT score is your scaled mark (out of 198), while the percentile shows your relative rank among all candidates. Typically, a 99 percentile ≈ 95–105 marks and a 90 percentile ≈ 60–65 marks, with small score gaps causing big percentile jumps.

What is a CAT Score?

The CAT score 2025 refers to the actual marks a candidate secures in the exam. The CAT paper is divided into three sections.

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Ability (QA)

Each section has a mix of MCQs and non-MCQs. Candidates receive:

• +3 marks for every correct answer
• -1 mark for each incorrect MCQ
• 0 marks for unanswered or incorrect non-MCQS

The scores obtained in all three sections are summed up to arrive at the total raw score. This raw score is then scaled to account for variations in difficulty levels across different slots, resulting in the scaled CAT score, a key component in understanding the comparison of CAT score vs percentile, which highlights the difference between actual marks and relative performance.

Check: How to score 99 percentile in CAT?

What is the CAT Percentile 2025?

While the CAT score 2025 reflects a candidate’s performance, the CAT percentile indicates how a candidate has performed in comparison to other test-takers.

A percentile score is the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below a particular score. For example, if you receive a 98 percentile, it means you scored better than 98% of all test-takers.

Percentiles are calculated both section-wise and overall, and are often the key metric used by B-schools to shortlist candidates.

Read more: How to calculate percentage in CAT exam?

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CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: Key Differences

How does the CAT 2025 score vs percentile differ? Here are the key differences between the two, based on the CAT 2025 expected score vs percentile data:

How to Compute CAT 2025 Percentile?

The CAT scorecard displays the percentile secured by each candidate. The CAT percentile scores are calculated by the IIMs, taking into account the total number of candidates who appeared for the exam and each candidate's scaled CAT score.

The formula for calculating the CAT exam percentile is as follows:

• P: Candidate's CAT percentile
• R: Rank assigned to the candidate based on their CAT scaled score
• N: Total number of candidates who appeared for the CAT exam

How to Calculate Percentile in CAT 2025?

The CAT 2025 result will display candidates' sectional and overall scaled scores, along with their CAT percentile. This percentile is determined by the scaled scores of each section and the overall scaled score.

To illustrate the CAT percentile calculation, let's consider an example using the VARC section.

Step 1: Determine Total Candidates (N)

The first step involves calculating the total number of candidates (N) expected to take the IIM Entrance Exam across both the forenoon and afternoon sessions.

Step 2: Assign Ranks (r) Based on VARC Score

Assign a rank (r) to all candidates who appeared for the CAT, based on their scaled score in the VARC section. Candidates with identical scores in this section will receive the same rank.

Step 3: Calculate Percentile Score (P)

Calculate the percentile score (P) for each candidate with rank (r) in the VARC section using the following formula:

𝑃 = (𝑁 − 𝑟)/ 𝑁 x 100

Calculating CAT Percentile Scores:

To determine a candidate's percentile score (P), follow these steps:

1. Calculate the raw percentile score.
2. Round off the calculated percentile score (P) to two decimal places. For instance, any percentile score equal to or greater than 89.995 should be rounded up to 90.

This methodology applies to computing overall CAT percentile scores and individual section scores. Additionally, a CAT percentile calculator tool is available for this purpose.

Slot-Wise Insights for CAT 2025

Based on previous trends and early analyses, here’s how scores typically map to percentiles across the three slots. Click the links to read detailed analyses:

CAT 2025 Slot 1 Analysis
CAT 2025 Slot 2 Analysis
CAT 2025 Slot 3 Analysis

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CAT Score vs Percentile: Year-Wise Data (2020–2024)

Here is the year-wise data for CAT score vs Percentile:

CAT Score vs Percentile for Top IIMs

Based on past admission patterns:

CAT Score vs Percentile Trend 2024

Wondering how many marks you need for a 99 percentile in CAT 2024? Let’s break down the CAT marks vs percentile trend.

CAT Score vs Percentile Trend 2023

Curious about the marks needed to score a 99 percentile in CAT for 2023 and 2024? Let’s analyze the trend of CAT marks vs percentile

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CAT Score vs Percentile Trend 2022

Looking to hit the 99 percentile in CAT 2022? Let’s break down the CAT marks vs percentile trend

CAT Score vs Percentile Trend 2021

Wondering how many marks you need for a 99 percentile in CAT? Let’s break down the CAT marks vs percentile trend

CAT Score vs Percentile Trend 2020

Wondering how many marks you need for a 99 percentile in CAT? Let’s break down the CAT marks vs percentile trend

Check Out: CAT 2025 Admission Process

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile: Impact on B-School Admission

The CAT (Common Admission Test) score is the raw number of marks a candidate receives, calculated by awarding +3 for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect one.

This is then adjusted through a normalization process to account for variations in difficulty across different test sessions. This adjusted number is known as the scaled score.

The CAT percentile, on the other hand, is a relative measure of a candidate's performance compared to all other test-takers. It indicates the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or less than a particular candidate. For example, a 99th percentile means a candidate has performed better than 99% of the other test-takers.

Impact on B-School Admission

Both the CAT score and percentile are crucial for admission to business schools, but the percentile is the primary metric used for shortlisting candidates.

A high percentile is essential for admission to top B-schools like the IIMs and other prestigious non-IIMs (e.g., FMS, MDI, SPJIMR). These schools typically have high cutoffs, often in the 99+ percentile range for general category students. 

The cutoff percentiles can vary based on the specific institution, the candidate's category (General, OBC, SC/ST, etc.), and other factors like academic and gender diversity.

The final selection for admission is based on a composite score, which gives weightage to multiple factors in addition to the CAT percentile. These factors can include:

• Past academic performance (Class 10 and 12 marks, and graduation scores)
• Work experience
• Performance in the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI)
• Academic and gender diversity

Even with a high CAT percentile, meeting the sectional cutoffs for each part of the exam (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude) is also a mandatory requirement for many top B-schools.

Check Out: How to start preparing for CAT 2025?

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Factors Affecting CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile

1. Difficulty of the Exam

An easier exam means most people will score higher, so you'll need a higher raw score to get a good percentile. Conversely, a harder exam means a lower raw score can still get you a high percentile.

2. Number of Test-Takers

The more people who take the exam, the bigger the competition. This means it can be harder to stand out, and your percentile might be lower for a given raw score.

3. Performance of Other Candidates

Your percentile is a ranking. If many other candidates score higher than you, your percentile will drop. If you score high and others score low, your percentile will be high.

4. Normalization

The CAT exam is given in different sessions with different question papers. To make sure no one has an unfair advantage, the scores are normalized. This process adjusts for differences in difficulty between the sessions. So, a raw score of 120 in a very difficult session might be "normalized" to a higher scaled score than a raw score of 125 in an easier session.

Read Now: How to prepare logical reasoning for CAT 2025?

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Tips to Improve Your CAT Percentile Regardless of Raw Score

Here are the master tips to enhance your CAT percentile:

1. Strategic Test-Taking

Prioritize Accuracy over Attempts: Since there's a penalty for incorrect answers in Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), guessing is a risky game. It's often better to attempt fewer questions with high accuracy (around 85-90%) than to attempt a high number with low accuracy.

Choose Questions Wisely: Every question carries the same weight, so don't get stuck on a difficult one. The best strategy is to scan a section and solve the easier questions first quickly.

If a question is taking too long, move on. You can come back to it later if time permits. This ensures you secure marks for the solvable questions and don't waste precious time on those that are likely to trip you up.

Master Time Management: The CAT has a strict sectional time limit. You must be able to allocate your time effectively within each 40-minute window. Don't spend too long on a single question. If you are not making progress in a couple of minutes, it's a good sign to move on.

2. The Importance of Mock Tests

Take and Analyze Mocks Religiously: Mock tests are not just for practice; they are your most valuable tool for strategy-building. After each CAT mock test, spend at least 4-6 hours analyzing your performance.

Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Pinpoint the topics where you consistently score well and those where you struggle.

Review Every Question: Don't just look at the ones you got wrong. Revisit the questions you got right to see if you could have solved them faster. Also, analyze the questions you skipped to determine if they were actually easy and you missed an opportunity.

Track Your Errors: Keep an "error log" where you note down the type of mistakes you make—silly errors, conceptual gaps, or time-management issues. This helps you identify recurring problems and work on them.

3. Work on Your Foundational Knowledge

• Solidify Your Concepts: While strategy is crucial, it's built on a strong foundation of knowledge. Ensure your basics are crystal clear in all three sections (VARC, DILR, and QA). You can't apply a smart strategy if you don't know the fundamentals.
• Develop Reading Habits: For the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, consistent reading of diverse articles, editorials, and books is essential. It not only improves your reading speed but also helps you understand complex ideas and arguments, which are vital for tackling Reading Comprehension passages.

CAT Score vs Percentile for Reserved Category Students

For students in reserved categories (SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, and PwD), the relationship between a raw CAT score and a percentile is still based on your relative performance.

However, the percentile required for admission to IIMs and other top B-schools is significantly lower than that for general category students. This is due to the government-mandated reservation policies.

Key Differences for Reserved Categories

• Lower Cut-offs: The most important difference is the lower percentile cut-off for both sectional and overall scores. For example, a general category student might need an overall percentile of 99+ to get a call from a top IIM, while a reserved category student might be shortlisted with a percentile in the 70s or 80s, depending on their specific category.

• Final Admission: The final admission cut-off is also lower. While a general category candidate might need a very high percentile to secure a seat, reserved category candidates can get in with a more moderate percentile.

Reservation Percentages: The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) follow a specific reservation policy for admission:

Documentation is Important: To avail of the reservation benefits, students must have a valid and up-to-date certificate for their respective category. Submitting incorrect or invalid documents can lead to the cancellation of your application.

Normalization and Your Score

The normalization process, which adjusts scores for differences in exam slot difficulty, applies to all candidates, regardless of their category.

This ensures a fair comparison of performance across different sessions. The percentile, which is calculated based on this normalized score, is then used to determine if you meet the specific, category-based cut-offs for each institution.

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CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: Section-wise Scaled Score Calculation

Here are the details for the section-wise scaled score calculation:

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile Slot 1

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CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Slot 2

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CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Slot 3

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How Normalization Affects Your CAT Percentile?

While the exact normalization formula is complex to IIMs, the general idea is to statistically adjust scores based on the performance of all candidates in all sessions.

If your session was more difficult, your raw scores might be scaled upwards. Conversely, if your session was easier, your raw scores m ight be scaled downwards.

The scaling aims to bring the scores to a comparable metric across all sessions.

Normalization Impact on Percentile:

Your percentile indicates the percentage of test-takers who scored below you. It's a relative measure of your performance.

Since the percentile is calculated based on the scaled scores of all candidates, the normalization process directly influences your final percentile.

A high raw score in an easier session might result in a lower scaled score (and consequently a lower percentile) than a slightly lower raw score in a tougher session that gets scaled up.

Conversely, a low raw score in a difficult session might still lead to a decent percentile if the scaling factor is significant.

CAT 2025 Score Interpretation: Raw Score vs Scaled Score vs Percentile

CAT Sectional Score vs Percentile 2025

Here is the expected sectional CAT score vs percentile:

How to Convert Your Score into a Predictive Percentile?

Predicting your exact percentile based solely on your raw score before the official CAT results is impossible. The concept of CAT score vs percentile highlights that percentile is a relative measure that depends on

• The performance of all candidates who appeared for the CAT exam in your year.
• The difficulty level of the specific slot you appeared in. The normalization process adjusts scores based on the relative difficulty across different slots.

However, you can understand the general concept of how a percentile is calculated and use past trends to make predictions.

Understanding Percentile Calculation:

Your percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or below your score.

The basic formula for calculating a percentile is:

Percentile = [(Number of candidates with a score less than or equal to your score

Minimum CAT Score Required for 99+ Percentile in 2025

For a 99+ percentile in CAT, you would likely need an overall scaled score in the range of 80-95 marks out of the total marks.
Here's a section-wise expected score range for the 99 percentile based on CAT 2024 trends:

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): 38-42 marks
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): 22-29 marks
• QA (Quantitative Aptitude): 25-33 marks

Important Considerations:

• These are just estimates based on the previous year's trends and analyses by coaching institutes. The actual scores required for a 99+ percentile in CAT 2025 could be different.

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile: What to Expect This Year?

It's important to note that the exact CAT 2025 score vs percentile for CAT 2025 will only be known after the exam and the release of results. However, we can look at the trends from previous years, particularly CAT 2024, to get an indicative idea:

General Trends from CAT 2024:

CAT 2024 was generally considered moderately difficult, with some variations across the three slots. Some sources indicated that the VARC section was slightly tougher compared to CAT 2023, while some perceived DILR and QA as relatively easier.

Due to the perceived difficulty level, the marks required for a particular percentile might have changed compared to previous years. For instance, some analyses suggested that a slightly higher raw score was needed to achieve the same percentile as in CAT 2023.

Expected Marks vs. Percentile Ranges 2025 (Indicative based on 2024 Trends)

The following are approximate ranges based on the analysis of CAT 2024. These are subject to change for CAT 2025 depending on the actual exam difficulty and candidate performance.

Conclusion 

The CAT score vs percentile is used to determine the candidate's relative performance compared to other candidates who appeared for the exam.

The CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile helps the IIMs and other top B-schools compare the candidate's performance with that of other candidates. This helps the institutions determine the candidate’s ranking within the group of candidates who appeared for the exam.

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