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The Percentile Predictor CAT tool helps you estimate your CAT percentile using your expected exam score. By analysing real exam data, this tool accurately predicts your performance. With this insight, you can better understand your chances of getting into top IIMs and prepare early for the following selection stages, like Personal Interviews.
What is the CAT Percentile?
The CAT percentile reflects how well a candidate has performed compared to others who appeared for the exam. Top management institutes like the IIMs and other leading B-schools in India use this measure to assess MBA aspirants.
For instance, securing a 90th percentile means you've scored better than 90% of the total candidates. This metric plays a crucial role in the shortlisting process for the following admission stages, such as the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI).
Once the CAT response sheet is released, candidates can estimate their raw score and use a CAT score calculator to predict their expected percentile.
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How is the CAT Percentile Calculated?
It is impossible to precisely predict your CAT percentile using only your raw score before the official results are released. The percentile is a relative measure that depends on multiple factors.
Understanding how your CAT score is evaluated will help you better interpret your results. The evaluation consists of three main components: raw score, scaled score, and percentile.
Raw Score
It refers to the marks obtained based on the number of questions answered correctly and incorrectly. The candidate will get three marks for every correct answer, including MCQ and TITA. For every incorrect answer (MCQ), one mark is deducted. There is no negative marking for incorrect TITA questions.
For example, if a candidate answers 20 MCQs correctly, 5 MCQs incorrectly, and 10 TITA questions correctly, the raw score would be calculated as (3 × 20) - (1 × 5) + (3 × 10), which equals 85.
Scales Score
Since the CAT exam is held in multiple sessions, each with different difficulty levels, raw scores alone cannot be used to compare all candidates. The raw scores are converted into scaled scores through normalisation to address this. This process adjusts the scores to account for differences in difficulty across sessions, ensuring that candidates are evaluated fairly.
If your exam slot was tougher, your raw score might be scaled upward, whereas if it was easier, it may be scaled downward. The scaled scores appear on your official scorecard.
Percentile
The percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below your scaled score. For example, a 99th percentile means you have outperformed 99% of the test-takers. Percentiles are calculated both section-wise and overall, using the scaled scores.
The basic formula used to compute the CAT percentile is:
Percentile = (Number of candidates scoring less than you / Total number of candidates) × 100
Although an exact percentile prediction is difficult, you can get a general idea by understanding how percentiles are calculated and looking at previous years' trends.
Review the CAT cut-off marks for IIMs and other popular MBA colleges to evaluate your chances of admission.
How Normalisation Affects Your CAT Percentile?
In CAT, the exam is conducted in multiple slots, and the difficulty level can vary slightly across sessions. The normalisation process adjusts scores across all slots to ensure fairness.
While the exact formula used by the IIMs is intricate and not publicly disclosed, the core idea is to statistically balance the performance of candidates by adjusting raw scores based on slot difficulty.
What Happens During Normalisation?
- Your raw score may be scaled up if your exam slot was relatively more difficult.
- If your slot was easier, your raw score might be scaled down.
- The goal is to ensure that all candidates are measured equally, no matter which session they attended.
Impact on CAT Percentile
- Your percentile reflects how many candidates scored below you, based on the scaled score, not the raw score.
- The normalisation step determines where you stand since percentiles are derived from these adjusted scores.
- For example, a candidate scoring slightly lower in a tougher slot might end up with a higher scaled score—and therefore a better percentile—than someone who scored higher in an easier slot.
- This adjustment ensures that the percentile is a fair and standardised performance measure.
CAT 2025 Percentile Predictor: Score vs Percentile
Understanding the relationship between your CAT score and the corresponding percentile is crucial for setting realistic preparation goals. Below are estimated section-wise VARC, DILR, and QA scores. This data can help you gauge where you stand and what you need to aim for to reach your desired percentile.
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CAT Score vs Percentile: Slot-Wise
The CAT exam is conducted in three slots, and while the difficulty level may vary slightly across slots, the normalisation process ensures fairness. Below is an estimated comparison of CAT 2025 scores vs percentiles for each slot, highlighting the expected sectional and overall scores.
CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile Slot 1
Discover how tough the CAT was across all slots with our detailed CAT exam analysis. Understand the difficulty levels and get a clear picture of what to expect, so you can better plan your preparation and strategy.
CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Slot 2
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CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 Slot 3
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What Is the Minimum CAT Score Required to Achieve a 99+ Percentile in 2025?
To achieve a 99+ percentile in CAT 2025, you will generally need an overall scaled score between approximately 80 and 95 marks out of the total exam score.
Based on trends observed in CAT, the expected section-wise scores to reach the 99th percentile are roughly:
- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): 38 to 42 marks.
- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): 22 to 29 marks.
- QA (Quantitative Aptitude): 25 to 33 marks.
Note: These figures are estimates from last year's data and expert analyses from coaching centres. The scores required for securing a 99+ percentile in CAT 2025 may vary depending on the difficulty level and other factors of that year's exam.
Top Colleges to Target Based on CAT Percentile Predictor
Based on your CAT 2025 percentile, here are some of the top CAT exam colleges you can target:
Top IIM Colleges Accepting CAT Score
Below is a list of some of the leading IIMs along with their approximate CAT cutoff scores, fee structure, and average placement salaries to help you make an informed decision:
Suppose you're interested in admission to a top IIM but are concerned about the high fees. In that case, you can apply for an education loan for IIMs with competitive eligibility criteria and interest rates.
The CAT Percentile Predictor is a valuable tool for MBA aspirants who want to make informed decisions during the post-exam phase. While it cannot guarantee an exact percentile, it provides a reliable estimate based on score patterns and normalisation processes. By understanding your potential percentile early, you can target suitable colleges, align your preparation for selection rounds, and boost your chances of securing admission to top management programs in India.
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