Understanding CAT score vs percentile is essential for every MBA aspirant targeting admission to premier business schools in India. The relationship between score vs percentile CAT determines your shortlisting chances at top IIMs and other prestigious management institutes. With the CAT score vs percentile 2025 trends showing significant variations from previous years, aspirants need comprehensive insights to set realistic targets and prepare strategically.
The CAT score vs percentile relationship has evolved dramatically over the years, influenced by factors such as exam difficulty, the number of test-takers, and the normalization process. In this detailed guide, we'll explore year-wise CAT score vs percentile trends, understand the conversion mechanism, analyze sectional patterns, and help you determine the exact score needed for your dream B-school.
| Percentile | 2024 Marks | 2023 Marks | 2022 Marks | 2021 Marks | 2020 Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 127 | 101 | 109 | 124 | 130 |
| 99.5 | 104 | 84 | 92 | 110 | 115 |
| 99 | 96 | 76 | 84 | 98 | 101 |
| 97 | 79 | 61 | 72 | 82 | 85 |
| 95 | 70 | 54 | 62 | 73 | 76 |
| 93 | 64 | 42 – 46 | 56 – 60 | 67 – 72 | 70 – 74 |
| 90 | 58 | 44 | 49 | 60 | 63 |
| 86 | 50 | 36 – 40 | 44 – 47 | 53 – 57 | 56 – 59 |
| 85 | 49 | 35 – 38 | 43 – 46 | 52 – 56 | 55 – 58 |
| 80 | 44 | 35 | 36 | 45 | 48 |
| 75 | 37 | 28 | 29 | 37 | 33 – 36 |
| 70 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 37 | 30 – 34 |
| 60 | 19.5 | 21 | 22 | 29 | 20 – 24 |
Key Insight: CAT 2024 was easier than CAT 2023, requiring 96 marks for 99 percentile (vs 76 in 2023). CAT 2020 was the toughest, needing 101 marks for 99 percentile.
| Target Percentile | 2024 Marks | 2023 Marks | 2022 Marks | CAT 2025 Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ (IIM ABC for special profiles) | 127 | 101 | 109 | 115-125 |
| 99.5 (IIM ABC realistic) | 104 | 84 | 92 | 95-105 |
| 99 (IIM Lucknow/Newer IIMs) | 96 | 76 | 84 | 88-98 |
| 97 (IIM Indore/Good Non-IIM) | 79 | 61 | 72 | 72-82 |
| 95 (New IIM CAP) | 70 | 54 | 62 | 63-73 |
| 90 (Multiple B-Schools) | 58 | 44 | 49 | 52-62 |
| 85 (Good Regional B-Schools) | 49 | - | - | 45-55 |
| 80 (Access to B-Schools) | 44 | 35 | 36 | 40-50 |
| Percentile | CAT 2024 | % of Total Marks | Accuracy Required | Candidates Approximately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 140+ | 69%+ | 70%+ | Top 10-20 |
| 99.9 | 127 | 62% | 64% | Top 300 |
| 99.5 | 104 | 51% | 52% | Top 1,500 |
| 99 | 96 | 47% | 48% | Top 2,900 |
| 98 | 87 | 43% | 44% | Top 5,800 |
| 97 | 79 | 39% | 40% | Top 8,700 |
| 96 | 74 | 36% | 37% | Top 11,600 |
| 95 | 70 | 34% | 35% | Top 14,500 |
| 90 | 58 | 28% | 29% | Top 29,000 |
| 85 | 49 | 24% | 25% | Top 43,500 |
| 80 | 44 | 22% | 23% | Top 58,000 |
| 75 | 37 | 18% | 19% | Top 72,500 |
| 70 | 25 | 12% | 13% | Top 87,000 |
Column 1: Your percentile rank (what % of candidates you beat)
Column 2: Marks needed in CAT 2024
Column 3: Percentage of 204 total marks
Column 4: Approximate accuracy needed (correct answers ÷ attempted questions)
Column 5: Approximate number of candidates out of 290,000 who achieved this level
Maximum Marks: 72 | Time: 40 Minutes | Questions: 24
| Percentile | 2024 Score | 2023 Score | 2022 Score | Marks Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 55 | 57-62 | 52 | 52-62 |
| 99.5 | 44 | 44 | 45-46 | 44-46 |
| 99 | 40 | 39-40 | 41-42 | 39-42 |
| 97 | 33-34 | 35-36 | 35 | 33-36 |
| 95 | 30 | 28-29 | 29 | 28-30 |
| 90 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23-24 |
| 85 | 20 | 20-21 | 18-19 | 18-21 |
| 80 | 18 | 17-18 | 16-17 | 16-18 |
| 75 | 15-16 | 15-16 | - | 15-16 |
VARC Analysis for CAT 2025:
Most consistent section across years
40 marks = 99 percentile benchmark (highly predictable)
2024 maintained consistency with 2023 at lower percentile ranges
Recommendation: Target 40+ for 99 percentile, 33-34 for 97 percentile
Maximum Marks: 66 | Time: 40 Minutes | Questions: 22
| Percentile | 2024 Score | 2023 Score | 2022 Score | Variation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 50 | 50-51 | 48 | ±3 marks |
| 99.5 | 41 | 36-43 | 34-37 | ±9 marks |
| 99 | 37-38 | 27-28 | 31-33 | ±10 marks |
| 97 | 30-31 | 20-25 | 22-23 | ±10 marks |
| 95 | 27 | 19-20 | 21-22 | ±8 marks |
| 90 | 22-23 | 15-16 | 16-17 | ±7 marks |
| 85 | 19-20 | 13 | 14-15 | ±6 marks |
| 80 | 17 | 11-12 | 14-15 | ±3 marks |
| 75 | 14-15 | - | - | Variable |
DILR Key Insight:
MOST VOLATILE section year-to-year
2024 was significantly easier than 2023 (38 vs 28 marks for 99 percentile)
Shows that question difficulty matters most in DILR
10+ mark variation possible based on paper difficulty
Maximum Marks: 66 | Time: 40 Minutes | Questions: 22
| Percentile | 2024 Score | 2023 Score | 2022 Score | Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 45 | 46-47 | 49 | Highly consistent |
| 99.5 | 36-37 | 36-37 | 36-37 | REMARKABLY CONSISTENT |
| 99 | 33 | 26-27 | 36 | 7-10 mark variation |
| 97 | 25 | 26-27 | 26-27 | Very stable |
| 95 | 22 | 23 | 23 | Highly predictable |
| 90 | 17 | 14-15 | 14-15 | 3-4 mark variation |
| 85 | 13-14 | 13 | 13-14 | Consistent ~13 marks |
| 80 | 11-12 | 11 | 10-12 | Stable |
| 75 | 9-10 | - | - | Predictable |
QA Key Insight:
MOST PREDICTABLE section (especially at higher percentiles)
36-37 marks for 99.5 percentile is consistent across 3 years
33 marks for 99 percentile is reliable benchmark
Represents ~50% accuracy needed for 99 percentile
| Section | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Average | CAT 2025 Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC (out of 72) | 40 | 39-40 | 41-42 | ~39 | ~38 | 39.8 | 38-42 |
| DILR (out of 66) | 37-38 | 27-28 | 31-33 | ~30 | ~28 | 30.6 | 32-38 |
| QA (out of 66) | 33 | 26-27 | 36 | ~35 | ~34 | 32 | 31-35 |
| Total (out of 204) | 110 | 92-95 | 108-111 | 104 | 100 | 102.2 | 101-115 |
Critical Insight for CAT 2025:
To achieve 99 percentile overall, approximately 101-115 marks are needed (depending on difficulty)
This represents 49.5-56% accuracy across 68 questions
Roughly 50-55 questions attempted correctly with 90%+ accuracy = 99th percentile
| Percentile | Marks | Approx. Accuracy % | IIM Eligibility | B-School Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 127 | 62% | IIM ABC (exceptional profile) | Tier 1 Premium |
| 99.5 | 104 | 51% | IIM ABC | Tier 1 |
| 99 | 96 | 47% | IIM Lucknow, Newer IIMs | Tier 1 |
| 97 | 79 | 39% | IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode | Tier 1 & 2 |
| 95 | 70 | 34% | New IIM CAP, Top Non-IIM | Tier 2 |
| 90 | 58 | 28% | Multiple B-Schools | Tier 2 & 3 |
| 85 | 49 | 24% | Good Regional B-Schools | Tier 3 |
| 80 | 44 | 22% | Access to B-Schools | Tier 3 |
| Percentile | Marks | Why It's Different | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 101 | Paper was VERY DIFFICULT | Only 26-mark difference from 99.5 |
| 99.5 | 84 | Reflects high difficulty | 8-mark gap from 99 percentile |
| 99 | 76 | Lowest 99 percentile ever | Extreme difficulty made scores compress |
| 97 | 61 | Large jump from 99 | 15-mark gap shows difficulty |
| 95 | 54 | Still very low scores | Demonstrates paper toughness |
| 90 | 44 | Easier to achieve | More candidates scored in this range |
CAT 2023 Insight: This was the most difficult CAT in recent years. Candidates scoring 76 marks achieved 99 percentile—the lowest requirement in 5 years.
| Percentile | Marks | Comparison to 2023 | Comparison to 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 109 | +8 marks harder | -18 marks easier |
| 99.5 | 92 | +8 marks harder | -12 marks easier |
| 99 | 84 | +8 marks harder | -12 marks easier |
| 97 | 72 | +11 marks harder | -7 marks easier |
| 95 | 62 | +8 marks harder | -8 marks easier |
| 90 | 49 | +5 marks harder | -9 marks easier |
CAT 2022 Analysis: Moderate difficulty year, sitting between 2023 (hardest) and 2024 (easier).
| Percentile | Marks | Difficulty Level | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 124 | Moderate to Hard | Highest among non-2020 years |
| 99.5 | 110 | Moderate to Hard | 14-mark gap, similar to 2020 |
| 99 | 98 | Moderate to Hard | Compressed score requirements |
| 97 | 82 | Moderate | Only a 16-point spread from 99 |
| 95 | 73 | Easy at this level | Lower scores allowed |
| Percentile | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 5-Year Avg | Variation | Std Dev |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 127 | 101 | 109 | 124 | 130 | 118.2 | ±15 | High |
| 99.5 | 104 | 84 | 92 | 110 | 115 | 101 | ±16 | High |
| 99 | 96 | 76 | 84 | 98 | 101 | 91 | ±13 | Moderate |
| 97 | 79 | 61 | 72 | 82 | 85 | 75.8 | ±12 | Moderate |
| 95 | 70 | 54 | 62 | 73 | 76 | 67 | ±11 | Moderate |
| 90 | 58 | 44 | 49 | 60 | 63 | 54.8 | ±10 | Moderate |
| 80 | 44 | 35 | 36 | 45 | 48 | 41.6 | ±7 | Low |
Key Takeaway:
99+ percentile shows ±13 marks variation year-to-year
For CAT 2025, expect 99 percentile at: 76 to 101 marks (most likely 88-95)
Higher percentiles (99.5, 99.9) show greater volatility (±15-16 marks)
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 percentile | 55 | 57-62 | 52 | ~54 | ~52 | 56 |
| 99.5 percentile | 44 | 44 | 45-46 | ~43 | ~42 | 43.6 |
| 99 percentile | 40 | 39-40 | 41-42 | ~39 | ~38 | 39.8 |
| Variation at 99 | ±0 | ±1 | ±2 | - | - | ±1 (Most Stable) |
VARC Conclusion: The most predictable section. 40 marks = 99 percentile is nearly guaranteed across years.
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Average | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 percentile | 50 | 50-51 | 48 | ~50 | ~48 | 49.4 | ±2 |
| 99.5 percentile | 41 | 36-43 | 34-37 | ~35 | ~32 | 37.4 | ±9 |
| 99 percentile | 37-38 | 27-28 | 31-33 | ~28 | ~26 | 30.6 | ±12 |
| Volatility Rating | - | - | - | - | - | - | HIGHEST |
DILR Conclusion: Most volatile section. 99 percentile requires 26-38 marks depending on year. Average around 30-31 marks.
| Year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | Average | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 percentile | 45 | 46-47 | 49 | ~48 | ~46 | 47 | Stable |
| 99.5 percentile | 36-37 | 36-37 | 36-37 | ~36 | ~35 | 36.2 | EXTREMELY STABLE |
| 99 percentile | 33 | 26-27 | 36 | ~35 | ~34 | 32.8 | Stable |
| Variation at 99.5 | ±0.5 | ±0.5 | ±0.5 | - | - | ±0.5 (Most Consistent) |
QA Conclusion: Most reliable section. 36-37 marks = 99.5 percentile (consistent across 5 years).
| Percentile | Marks |
|---|---|
| 99.9 | 130 |
| 99.5 | 106 |
| 99 | 98 |
| 97 | 81 |
| 95 | 72 |
| 90 | 60 |
| Percentile | Marks |
|---|---|
| 99.9 | 127 |
| 99.5 | 104 |
| 99 | 96 |
| 97 | 79 |
| 95 | 70 |
| 90 | 58 |
| Percentile | Marks |
|---|---|
| 99.9 | 125 |
| 99.5 | 102 |
| 99 | 94 |
| 97 | 77 |
| 95 | 68 |
| 90 | 56 |
Slot Analysis: Differences within ±3-4 marks due to normalization. Original slot difficulty evened out through scaling.
| Category | Official Cutoff | Reality Check | Approx Marks Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 95 overall + 85 sectional | 99-99.5 for calls | 95-110 | Very selective |
| NC-OBC | 90 overall + 80 sectional | 97-98 for calls | 82-95 | Competitive |
| SC | 85 overall + 75 sectional | 94-95 for calls | 70-82 | Reserved category |
| ST | 75 overall + 65 sectional | 89-90 for calls | 55-70 | Very few seats |
| Category | Likely Percentile | Mark Range | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 99-99.5 | 92-105 | Slightly more flexible than IIMA |
| EWS | 98-99 | 85-95 | Moderate |
| NC-OBC | 97-98 | 78-88 | Reasonable |
| SC/ST | 92-96 | 62-80 | More flexible |
| Category | Likely Percentile | Mark Range | Selection Approach |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 99-99.5 | 90-105 | Holistic evaluation |
| EWS | 98-99 | 83-95 | Balanced approach |
| NC-OBC | 96-98 | 76-88 | Profile-dependent |
| SC/ST | 90-95 | 58-78 | More flexible |
| IIM | CAP Overall | SAP Overall | Approx Marks | Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Jammu | 92 | 88 | 60-72 | New batch (2016) |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 92 | 88 | 60-70 | Growing institute |
| IIM Sirmaur | 93 | 89 | 62-73 | Recent establishment |
| IIM Nagpur | 93 | 89 | 62-73 | Quality improving |
| IIM Udaipur | 93 | 89 | 62-73 | Emerging leader |
| IIM | Percentile Range | Mark Range | Placement Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Lucknow | 97-98 | 78-88 | Excellent |
| IIM Kozhikode | 97-98 | 76-86 | Excellent |
| IIM Indore | 95-97 | 68-82 | Very Good |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 93-95 | 62-75 | Good |
| IIM Shillong | 93-95 | 62-75 | Good |
| B-School | Percentile Required | Mark Range | Category | Selection Process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FMS Delhi | 95+ | 75+ | Premier Govt | Very selective |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 98+ | 95+ | Premium Private | Highly selective |
| MDI Gurgaon | 97+ | 85+ | Top Private | Selective |
| NITIE Mumbai | 96+ | 80+ | National institute | Very good |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 94+ | 70+ | Good Private | Good profile helps |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | 93+ | 65+ | Regional leader | Merit-based |
| Lakshmi Institute | 92+ | 62+ | Growing institute | Balanced |
| Welingkar | 88+ | 55+ | Regional | Merit-based |
99+ Percentile (96+ marks in CAT 2024):
You outperformed 99% of 290,000 candidates
Approximately 2,900 candidates achieve this
Eligible for all IIMs + premier non-IIMs
Your focus: Choose best IIM based on profile fit
Realistic expectation: Interview calls from top B-schools
95-99 Percentile (70-96 marks in CAT 2024):
You outperformed 95-99% of candidates
Approximately 11,600-2,900 candidates achieve this
Eligible for newer IIMs (CAP/SAP) + top non-IIMs
Your focus: Clear sectional cutoffs (typically 85 percentile each)
Realistic expectation: Good calls, but competition exists
90-95 Percentile (58-70 marks in CAT 2024):
You outperformed 90-95% of candidates
Approximately 14,500-29,000 candidates achieve this
Accessible to: Good private B-schools, regional leaders
Your focus: Strong profile essential (academics, work experience)
Realistic expectation: Multiple B-school calls
85-90 Percentile (49-58 marks in CAT 2024):
You outperformed 85-90% of candidates
Approximately 43,500-58,000 candidates achieve this
Accessible to: Regional B-schools, specialized institutes
Your focus: Profile building becomes critical
Realistic expectation: Good options in tier-2 and tier-3 institutes
80-85 Percentile (44-49 marks in CAT 2024):
You outperformed 80-85% of candidates
Approximately 58,000-87,000 candidates achieve this
Accessible to: Multiple tier-3 institutes
Your focus: Consider other entrance exams (XAT, GMAT)
Realistic expectation: Various B-school options available
| Aspect | CAT Score | CAT Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Raw marks based on marking scheme | Relative ranking among all test-takers |
| Calculation | (3 × Correct) - (1 × Incorrect MCQs) | [(N-R)/N] × 100 |
| Range | 0 to 204 marks | 0 to 100 |
| What It Shows | Your absolute performance | Your relative position |
| Example | 96 marks | 99 percentile |
| Interpretation | You answered ~47% correctly | You beat 99% of candidates |
| Stability | Highly variable year-to-year | Consistent measurement |
| Normalization Impact | Heavy (±5-10 marks) | None (by definition) |
| Used for Admission | Internal only | Official shortlisting |
| Your Scorecard Shows | Raw score + scaled score | Overall and sectional percentiles |
Scenario 1: You score 90 marks in CAT 2024 (Relatively Easy Paper)
In 2024, 90 marks ≈ 98.5 percentile
You outperformed ~285,500 candidates
You're in top 1.5% of test-takers
IIM calls likely from newer IIMs
Scenario 2: You score 90 marks in CAT 2023 (Very Difficult Paper)
In 2023, 90 marks ≈ 99.6 percentile
You outperformed ~289,000 candidates
You're in top 0.4% of test-takers
IIM calls likely from all top IIMs
The Paradox: Same 90 marks yielded different percentiles (98.5 vs 99.6) based on paper difficulty. This explains why historical score vs percentile data matters.
| Year | Registered | Appeared | Attendance % | YoY Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3,29,000 | 2,93,000 | 89% | +1.73% |
| 2023 | 3,23,000 | 2,88,000 | 89% | +29.6% |
| 2022 | 2,55,000 | 2,22,000 | 87% | +15.92% |
| 2021 | 2,29,000 | 1,91,660 | 84% | +0.79% |
| 2020 | 2,27,835 | 1,90,144 | 83% | Baseline |
Key Insight: CAT 2023's 30% registration spike didn't increase score requirements proportionally because the paper was exceptionally difficult. More candidates scoring well = tighter percentile bands at high percentiles.
| Percentile | Prediction Range | Confidence Level | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 115-125 | Medium | Will depend on difficulty |
| 99.5 | 100-110 | Medium-High | Historical average ~101 |
| 99 | 88-98 | High | 5-year average 91 marks |
| 97 | 75-85 | High | Consistent pattern |
| 95 | 65-75 | Very High | Stable range |
| 90 | 55-65 | Very High | Well-established |
| 85 | 45-55 | Very High | Predictable |
| 80 | 40-50 | Very High | Very stable |
If You Want 99+ Percentile:
Target score: 88-98 marks (based on CAT 2025 prediction)
Accuracy needed: ~45-50% (attempt 50-55 questions correctly)
Sectional targets: VARC (38-42) + DILR (32-38) + QA (31-35)
Strategy: Quality over quantity; minimize errors
Strategy: Comfortable margin; skip 40% of questions
Implication: Access to IIM Indore + top non-IIMs
If You Want 95 Percentile:
Target score: 65-75 marks
Accuracy needed: ~32-37%
Strategy: Selective approach; clear cutoffs each section
Implication: New IIM (CAP) eligibility + multiple top B-schools
Reality: Based on 5 years of data, 90-100 marks achieves 99 percentile. Even the toughest year (2020) only required 101 marks. This misconception likely stems from confusing CAT with other exams.
Reality: Due to normalization, 85 marks in a tough slot might yield 99 percentile while 105 marks in an easy slot yields only 98.5 percentile. Difficulty inversely affects percentile requirement.
Reality: 90 percentile means you beat 90% of candidates, NOT that you scored 90% of marks. CAT 2024's 90 percentile required only 58 marks (28% of 204).
Reality: Normalization ensures fair conversion across all three slots. An easier slot doesn't guarantee better percentile after scaling adjustments.
Reality: Score requirements vary ±10-15 marks based on annual difficulty. If 2024 was easy (96 marks for 99), CAT 2025 might need 88-94 marks.
99 Percentile ≈ 88-98 Marks (Most likely 90-95 in CAT 2025)
Represents ~48-50% accuracy
About 2,900 out of 290,000 candidates achieve this
Opens all IIM doors
Each Section Matters Equally
VARC: Target 38-42 for 99 percentile
DILR: Target 32-38 for 99 percentile
QA: Target 31-35 for 99 percentile
A missing sectional cutoff can mean rejection even with a good overall score
Difficulty Varies Year-to-Year
2020: Toughest (101 marks for 99%)
2023: Easiest recent (76 marks for 99%)
2024: Moderate-Easy (96 marks for 99%)
CAT 2025: Likely moderate difficulty (88-95 marks for 99%)
Normalization is Fair
Your slot doesn't advantage/disadvantage you
Tougher slot = bonus points in scaling
Easier slot = slight penalty in scaling
Percentile Prediction Tools
Use multiple calculators (Cracku, TopRankers, iQuanta)
Most accurate within ±0.5-1 percentile
Most accurate for 80-99 percentile range
Understanding CAT score vs percentile is the foundation of strategic MBA preparation. With the comprehensive tables and analysis provided in this guide:
You now know exactly what marks you need for your target percentile
You understand why scores vary year-to-year (difficulty + normalization)
You can predict CAT 2025 score requirements with reasonable accuracy
You know the real IIM cutoffs beyond official minimums
You understand the difference between score and percentile
Your next step: Set a realistic target based on your strengths, use these tables to track progress in mock tests, and adjust your strategy if you're falling short.
Remember: 99+ percentile is challenging but achievable with 6+ months of focused preparation targeting 45-50% accuracy across 68 questions. Every mark in the 95-105 range for top scorers can mean ±0.5-1 percentile difference.
Best of luck with CAT 2025! With strategic preparation grounded in understanding score vs percentile dynamics, your MBA admission success is within reach.
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