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Can your CAT 40% marks = 99 percentile? The answer is no. A CAT score of 40% translates into 81-82 marks, which is not sufficient to get a 99 percentile. Though the candidate can expect a 98 percentile for scoring between 78-82 marks in the CAT exam and get top MBA colleges like DMS, IIT Delhi, and IIM Indore. The section-wise requirement for scoring the 99 percentile stands at 41 marks in VARC, 38 marks in DILR, and 33 marks in QA, while you need to score 36 marks in VARC, 34 marks in DILR, and 29 marks in QA for 40% marks, in turn, 98 percentile in the CAT. Keep reading for information on how to calculate the CAT score vs percentile, normalization process, and much more.
The CAT exam 2025 contains a total of 68 questions divided into three sections. Each questions carry 3 marks, making the CAT exam a maximum of 204 marks.
Candidates get 3 marks for every correct answer, while 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect response in the CAT exam. However, there’s no negative marking for type-in-the-answer questions.
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You need slightly more marks than 40% to get a 99 percentile in the CAT examination. The 40% marks that translate into around 81-82 marks fetch you somewhere around 98 percentile as indicated in the table below. The table contains the expected 2025 percentile in slot 1, slot 2, and slot 3. Please refer to find your preferred score.
CAT Exam Slot 1 Percentile (Expected) | ||||
CAT Percentile 2025 | CAT VARC Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT DILR Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT QA Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT Overall Score 2025 (Expected) |
99 | 39-40 | 31-32 | 30-31 | 90 |
98 | 30-31 | 25-26 | 26-27 | 82 |
95 | 31-32 | 24-25 | 23-24 | 66 |
CAT Exam Slot 2 Percentile (Expected) | ||||
CAT Percentile 2025 | CAT VARC Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT DILR Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT QA Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT Overall Score 2025 (Expected) |
99 | 41-42 | 27-28 | 30-31 | 87 |
98 | 30-31 | 25-26 | 26-27 | 78 |
95 | 33-34 | 22-23 | 22-23 | 63 |
CAT Exam Slot 3 Percentile (Expected) | ||||
CAT Percentile 2025 | CAT VARC Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT DILR Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT QA Score 2025 (Expected) | CAT Overall Score 2025 (Expected) |
99 | 42-43 | 28-29 | 30-32 | 93 |
98 | 30-31 | 24-25 | 23-24 | 78 |
95 | 34-35 | 23-24 | 24-25 | 68 |
The CAT percentile is calculated based on the candidates’ scaled scores in the exam and represents the relative position of the candidates in the race for MBA admissions. The following points will brief you regarding the CAT raw score, scaled score, and CAT percentile.
CAT Raw Score: The CAT raw score is calculated based on the candidates’ answers in the response sheet. CAT raw scores are released along with the official answer key.
CAT Scaled Score: IIM calculates the CAT scaled score through the CAT normalization process to avoid potential biases and unfair advantages as a result of different slots. The CAT raw scores are normalized to calculate the CAT scaled scores.
CAT Percentile: In the end, the conducting authority calculates the candidates’ percentile using the percentile formula and scaled scores. This percentile decides an aspirant’s relative position to other candidates in the CAT exam.
Candidates who are calculating whether their CAT score of 80 marks falls into the desired 99 percentile need to check the section-wise breakdown as well. To check whether your score falls into 99 percentile or not, please refer to the table below.
CAT Percentile | VARC Score |
99 | 41 |
98 | 36 |
95 | 30 |
CAT Percentile | DILR Score |
99 | 38 |
98 | 34 |
95 | 27 |
CAT Percentile | QA Score |
99 | 33 |
98 | 29 |
95 | 22 |
To calculate if the 40% mark is equal to 99 percentile, one must know the CAT marking scheme and exam pattern. The following points mention the CAT marking scheme for you to better understand how to calculate the CAT percentile and score.
The CAT exam 2025 contains a total of 68 questions divided into three sections. Each questions carry 3 marks, making the CAT exam a maximum of 204 marks.
Candidates get 3 marks for every correct answer, while 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect response in the CAT exam. However, there’s no negative marking for type-in-the-answer questions.
CAT Sections | Number of MCQs | Number of TITA Questions | Total Number of CAT Questions | CAT Maximum Marks | Time Allotted (Section-wise) |
VARC | 22 | 2 | 24 | 72 | 40 minutes |
DILR | 12 | 10 | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
QA | 14 | 8 | 22 | 66 | 40 minutes |
Total | 48 | 20 | 68 | 204 | 120 minutes |
CAT Exam Percentile Vs Score 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
CAT Percentile | CAT VARC Score | CAT DILR Score | CAT QA Score | CAT Overall Score |
99 | 39.70 | 27.39 | 28.18 | 76.02 |
98 | 35.88 | 24.58 | 24.31 | 66.68 |
95 | 28.68 | 19.60 | 19.68 | 54.86 |
CAT Exam Percentile Vs Score 2024 | ||||
CAT Percentile | CAT VARC Score | CAT DILR Score | CAT QA Score | CAT Overall Score |
99 | 41 | 38 | 33 | 96 |
98 | 36 | 34 | 29 | 85 |
95 | 30 | 27 | 22 | 70 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, the 99 percentile is possible without maths, but you need to focus more on the VARC and DILR sections and attempt more questions from these sections. However, it is recommended to follow a balanced approach to get a good percentile score in the exam.
A 99 percentile means you have scored better than 99% of the aspirants. A candidate is expected to score 85-90 marks to get 99 percentile in the CAT exam.
Generally, a candidate scoring 40 marks in the CAT exam can expect a percentile of somewhere between 80. However, it largely depends on the number of candidates who appear for the exam and the difficulty level.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.
Good Morning,
NIT Rourkela CAT cutoff range is between 70-85 percentiles for the general category. 70 is the minimum percentile needed to apply, and 85 is the highest percentile. However, the maximum percentile depends on the particular year competition. It can be changed.
Thank You.
If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.
And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means you won’t get the EWS benefit.
So yes — you can still go for General category posts and Professor recruitment. Just don’t try to submit a fake/invalid certificate; that will get you disqualified.
Hello,
If your CAT admit card shows your surname first followed by your first name as entered in the form, it is correct. You do not need to worry about this format as long as it matches the details you provided. Ensure all other information on the admit card is accurate and carry it to the exam along with the required identification documents.
Hope this helps you.
Hello,
If your CAT admit card has a different date of birth than your Aadhaar card, you should get it corrected immediately . Here’s what you can do:
Check the CAT website : Log in to your candidate portal and look for the option to correct personal details.
Contact the CAT helpdesk : Email or call them explaining the issue. Attach a copy of your Aadhaar card as proof.
Do not ignore it : The date of birth must match your ID, otherwise you may face problems at the exam or during admission.
Usually, the CAT authorities allow corrections before the exam, so act quickly.
Hope it helps !
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