CAT Normalization Process 2025 Explained: Percentile, Scaled Score & Composite Score Calculation

CAT Normalization Process 2025 Explained: Percentile, Scaled Score & Composite Score Calculation

Ongoing Event

CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 20 Sep' 25

Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 11 Sep 2025, 12:39 PM IST

The IIM CAT normalization process 2025 will be done to check that all the candidates are fairly assessed. IIM will release the CAT score only after completing the CAT 2025 normalization process. The CAT normalization process 2025 will be followed for the calculation of the CAT percentile of candidates before the release of the CAT result 2025. Though the question papers of CAT 2025 for all shifts are of the same difficulty level, there might be some discrepancies in terms of difficulty level. CAT normalization process standardizes performance metrics which makes it easier to compare scores from different test conditions. CAT 2025 exam date is November 30, 2025.

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT Normalization Process 2025
  2. CAT Normalization Process 2025: How is it Conducted
  3. Scaled Normalized Marks: Calculation of CAT Scaled Scores
  4. CAT Composite Score Formula
  5. How to Calculate CAT Percentile 2025?
  6. CAT Result 2025
CAT Normalization Process 2025 Explained: Percentile, Scaled Score & Composite Score Calculation
CAT Normalization Process

CAT Normalization Process 2025

There is a probability that candidates in one slot may get an easier CAT question paper than candidates in other slots. Due to this reason, IIMs adopt a CAT normalization process before releasing to ensure that no candidate faces discrimination in the final CAT scores in the CAT result 2025. This process of score normalization is meant to ensure rationality and veracity in the performance of candidates in the CAT exam. Read the complete article to know more about the CAT normalization process 2025.

What is the CAT Normalization Process 2025?

The entrance exam for CAT 2025 is conducted in a computer-based mode. To avoid any kind of discrimination in CAT results, the Indian Institute of Management follows the process of normalization for CAT 2025 which changes scale differences of score distributions across different forms.

The normalization process of CAT 2025 will be followed as an established practice that will compare the scores of candidates across different/various forms. The main purpose of the CAT 2025 normalization process will be that none of the candidates from either of the slots/ shifts get undue advantages or face disadvantages.

Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2026

IBSAT 2025-ICFAI Business School MBA/PGPM 2026

IBSAT 2025-Your gateway to MBA/PGPM @ IBS Hyderabad and 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR

The scaled score in CAT is then converted into the CAT percentile. The candidates who get shortlisted (based on CAT percentile) have to appear for the selection process of IIMs, which includes a Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.

Quick Links -

CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages
Comprehensive CAT prep guide with focused practice on Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Download Now

CAT Normalization Process 2025: How is it Conducted

The first normalization process of CAT 2025 will initially be applied to different forms, then the CAT scores will be further normalized across different sections. The normalization process has become a common trend and is widely used for almost all MBA entrance exams which are conducted in different slots/ shifts. The CAT normalization process 2025 will be conducted in two steps:

  • In the first step, IIMs adjust the exam scores for scale differences of distribution of the CAT scores in different forms.
  • In the second step, scores of different sections are normalized.
XAT- Xavier Aptitude Test 2026

75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools | Apply now

Symbiosis MBA - SNAP 2025

1 Exam accepted by 17 Top Symbiosis Institutes for 29 MBA programmes.

Scaled Normalized Marks: Calculation of CAT Scaled Scores

Complete details related to sectional scores and overall scaled scores will be mentioned in the result of CAT 2025. The below-mentioned steps will be followed by IIM in CAT result 2025, to calculate the normalized overall score in CAT for each section. Let us look at an example of how the scaled score is calculated for CAT 2025 and the normalization formula;

Step 1: First the mean & standard deviation (SD) will be calculated of the raw scores in the DILR section for all candidates who will appear in the morning shift

  • Let Mean = M1
  • Let SD = S1
  • Hence, G1 = M1 + S1

Step 2: Similarly, the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the candidates who will appear in the afternoon shift will be calculated from the raw scores in the same DILR section for all candidates.

  • Let Mean = M2
  • Let SD = S2
  • Hence, G2 = M2 + S2

Step 3: Now, calculate the mean and the standard deviation (SD) of the raw scores in the DILR section for all candidates appearing in both morning and afternoon shifts.

  • Let Mean be M
  • The standard Deviation be S
  • Therefore, G = M + S

Step 4: Calculate the mean raw score in the DILR section of the top 0.1% of candidates who will appear in the first-morning shift. Denote the same by ?1 0.1

Step 5: Similarly, For the top 0.1% of candidates of the afternoon shift, calculate the mean raw score in the DILR section. Denote it by ?2 0.1

Step 6: Now For the top 0.1% of candidates who will appear in CAT 2025 for both morning and afternoon shifts, calculate the mean raw score in the DILR section. Denote the same by ?0.1.

cat-example

A similar technique will be followed to calculate the scaled score of all three sections. i.e. Total scaled score = Sum of scaled scores of DILR, VARC, QA

Quick Links -

CAT Composite Score Formula

The composite score in Common Admission Test (CAT) is calculated by adding the nirmalized scores of each CAT section. The formula for calculating the CAT composite score is: Composite Score= Normalized Score (VARC) + Normalized Score (LRDI) + Normalized Score (Quant). The CAT composite score is then used to determine the CAT percentile rank of the candidate, which is the basis for shortlisting candidates for the further round of the MBA admission process.

How CAT exam score will be normalized and the composite score calculated?

The CAT 2025 composite score of each candidate is arrived at by calculating their points based on the following parameters.

  • CAT 2025 scaled score
  • Class 10th and 12th marks
  • Graduation score
  • Work experience
  • Diversity (Gender)
  • Diversity (Academic)

Check out the process of CAT composite score calculation for the shortlisting of students for the WAT-PI process by IIM Lucknow. The IIM L admission policy 2025 based on CAT 2025 will be announced soon on the official website.

cat-normalization

CAT Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

How to Calculate CAT Percentile 2025?

IIM releases the percentile calculation method of CAT. The rank obtained by a candidate will be termed as CAT percentile 2025. Based on the scaled score, the percentile of CAT 2025 will be calculated. Candidates must understand how their CAT percentile 2025 will be calculated and ranks will be allotted to them through CAT 2025 score predictor and normalization.

A higher rank will be provided to those candidates who score more marks in all sections. If two candidates score similar marks in the VARC section, then in such case both of them will be given Rank 1. The CAT 2025 percentile score will be calculated based on a defined formula. After the normalization formula is implemented, there will be a need to round off the calculated percentile score (P) of a candidate up to two decimal points.

The following steps will be used with regard to the calculation of the CAT 2025 percentile. For example, the QA section is chosen to know how the CAT percentile is calculated and a similar process will apply to other sections as well.

Step 1: Calculate the total number of candidates (N) who appeared for CAT 2025 (i.e. including morning, afternoon, and evening sessions).

Step 2: Assign a rank (r), based on the scaled scores obtained in the QA section, to all candidates who appeared for the CAT exam 2025. If two or more candidates get identical scaled scores in the QA section, then the same rank will be awarded to all those candidates.

As an example, suppose two candidates obtain the highest scaled score in the QA section, then both of those candidates are assigned a rank of 1. Moreover, the candidate(s) obtaining the second-highest scaled score in the QA section are assigned a rank of 3 and so on.

Step 3: Calculate the percentile score (P) of a candidate with rank (r) in the QA section as:

  • ? = ( (?−?) ? ) × 100

Step 4: Round off the calculated percentile score (P) of a candidate up to two decimal points.

For example, all percentile scores greater than or equal to 99.995 are rounded off to 100, all percentile scores greater than or equal to 99.985 but strictly less than 99.995 are rounded off to 99.99, and so on.

The method that is mentioned above is used for the computation of the overall CAT percentile scores and the percentile scores of other sections.

CAT Composite Score Calculator

To calculate the CAT 2025 composite score for each student, candidates can use a CAT 2025 score predictor or CAT composite score calculator for IIMs that takes into account the overall scaled score in CAT exam, the marks of 10th and 12th standard, the graduation score, the gender diversity, the academic diversity, and the work experience.

How to calculate composite score in CAT?

  • For IIM Kozhikode, your CAT composite score = 0.5*CAT Index Score + 0.15*Class 10 Score + 0.20*Class 12 Score + 0.1*Gender/Academic Diversity Score + 0.05*Work Experience Score.

* CAT composite score calculation value is different for each IIM.

CAT Result 2025

IIM is expected to announce the result of CAT 2025 in the third week of December 2025. CAT results will contain details related to the personal details of candidates, sectional scores obtained, percentile, as well as total, scaled score, and CAT percentile.

Candidates who will qualify will be called upon to take part in the further IIM admission process. CAT scores are accepted not only by the Indian Institute of Management but by various other top B-schools other than IIMs as well.

Quick Links -

How to Achieve Good CAT score?

According to the CAT paper pattern and syllabus, getting a good percentile in the CAT entrance exam is not easy; it requires a good preparation strategy, hard work, and determination.

Know more about How to Achieve Good Score in CAT exam

Check out for more details:


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the formula for CAT normalization process?
A:

CAT normalization process formula are as follows:

Raw Score= 3 x (No. of correct answer) - 1 x (No. of incorrect answer)

Q: What is scaled score in CAT and how is it different from raw score?
A:

The normalized score of a candidate in CAT is called the scaled score, which is obtained by adjusting the raw score for the variation in the difficulty level of different slots and sessions of the exam. The raw score in CAT is the sum of marks obtained by a candidate out of 198 based on the number of right and wrong answers.

Q: How is CAT score calculated?
A:

R= Rank of the candidate on the basis of CAT scaled score or total number of candidates. For example, 1000 aspirants take CAT entrance test and bag the top rank which means a total of 999 candidates scored less than you. Then candidates percentile will be 999/1000*100= 99.9

Q: How is CAT score scaling done?
A:

The CAT 2025 normalization process will be done by adjusting the location and scaled differences of CAT score distributions across the different shift CAT question paper. The CAT scaled scores will be converted into CAT percentiles.

Q: Is coaching necessary for CAT? Does accuracy matter in normalisation in CAT?
A:

No, coaching is not compulsory for CAT preparation.  CAT exam 2025 will be normalized which takes into consideration a score with higher accuracy and the least time when there are two students with the same marks.

Q: What is normalization in CAT? Will there be normalisation in CAT?
A:

CAT was conducted in three shifts and every shift has a different set of questions. There may be some differences in the difficulty level. The CAT Normalization process is used to adjust the candidate’s score for these differences. Yes, CAT 2025 has a normalization process.

Q: Why CAT scaled scored important?
A:

CAT scaled score is used to compare a candidate’s performance with another candidate for the same and other shifts. It will help candidates and such institutes that accept CAT scores to get a fair assessment of candidate’s performance in CAT 2025.

Q: Is there normalization in CAT exam? Why is normalization used in CAT?
A:

Yes, there is normalisation process in CAT 2025. CAT Normalization process is used to ensure that no candidate gets advantage or disadvantage of appearing in different shifts.

Q: How are CAT scaled scores calculated? What is raw score and scaled score?
A:

IIMs calculate the mean and standard deviation of the candidate's Raw scores and then they apply a formula to calculate the scaled score. A student's scaled score is based on their raw score. A raw score is the total number of marks a student receives on a test based on the number of questions answered correctly.

Q: What all factors are taken into consideration in the CAT scaled score calculation?
A:

Candidates must know that the raw scores of all candidates that appeared in CAT entrance test. Apart from that, CAT shifts will also matter to calculate the scaled score. 

Articles
|
Certifications By Top Providers
Online MBA Business Analytics
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
The Science and Business of Biotechnology
Via Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Online MBA
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Strategic Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Swayam
 236 courses
Emeritus
 231 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello Aspirant,

Since your payment status shows "S" , it means your payment is successful. The "payment unsuccessful" message on the form is likely a temporary system error or a delay in updating.

Do not make another payment.

Making a second payment could cause a double debit, which is difficult to get a refund for. You should:

  1. Wait 24-48 hours for the status to update automatically.

  2. Download and save a copy of your form and a screenshot of the "S" payment status as proof.

  3. Check your bank statement to confirm the money has been debited.

  4. If the issue is not fixed after 48 hours, contact the official CAT helpdesk immediately with your transaction details.

Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.

Yes, you can pursue an MBA at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, through the CAT exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university.

  • Entrance Exam: A valid CAT score is required for admission.

Admission Process:

  1. Application: Register online through the BBAU admission portal.

  2. Entrance Exam: Appear for the CAT exam and obtain a valid score.

  3. Counseling: Shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling based on their CAT scores.

  4. Document Verification: Submit necessary documents for verification.

  5. Fee Payment: Complete the fee payment to confirm admission.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 2 years (full-time).

  • Specializations: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, among others.

Placement Opportunities:
BBAU has a strong placement record, with top companies recruiting MBA graduates.

For more details and to apply, visit the  official BBAU MBA admission page

Hello Amgothu

With 305 marks in ICAR PG and being from ST category, your chances of getting an AIEEA (CAT) seat is good, especially in plant sciences and less competitive subjects