CAT Score Vs Percentile

CAT Score Vs Percentile - IIM Khozikode has released the CAT 2019 scores and percentile along with the result on January 4, 2020. However, most IIMs and top Bschools use their own methodology for selection. CAT percentile is computed on account of the two exam sessions to create equivalence amongst test takers. All students generally hear the arguments for CAT score vs percentile for admissions in all good institutes. So, what is the CAT score vs percentile? This is best answered with the help of the CAT score vs percentile trends and data of the past years. CAT is a computer-based test held in 156 cities for admissions to the MBA and other management programmes at the IIMs and other institutes. To know how the CAT score vs percentile makes a difference during the selection process, factors involved in its computation, composite and final scores are some answers dealt within this article.
Latest: CAT result 2019 has declared on January 4, 2020.

Latest: Know Your Chances, Eligibility & Required Cut-offs for getting Calls from IIMs & other Top MBA Colleges through CAT 2019 - CAT Pathfinder - IIM & Non-IIM MBA Call Predictor

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Before starting, it is pretty important to understand what percentile is and what score is. CAT percentile is the position indicator among all the test takers while CAT score is the actual marks obtained in the exam. Careers360 here brings you a thorough analysis of the correlation between the two terms and also the importance of the two in determining your admission opportunities to your preferred CAT participating institutes.

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CAT Score vs Percentile

One big question is how much should I score to get a 99 percentile? Well, there is no clear answer to this as percentile is computed taking into consideration the number of tests takers which differs every year. Still, a basic understanding of the CAT score vs percentile based on past data can help narrow down the understanding. Also to be noted is that each IIM has its own methodology to compute the CAT scores and percentile for selection which again can be seen from the table given below in this article. The actual CAT Marks Vs Percentile data from the previous years are analysed below to get you a fair idea of the CAT score you will need to get a call from top B-schools.

What is percentile?

Before we bring to you the CAT score vs percentile, let us understand what percentile actually means. A percentile is a measure indicating the percentage of students below you in the merit list. For example, your position at 90 percentile refers to your place in the merit list where about 90 percent candidates competing with you in the test have scored less than you. Hence, test takers securing 90 percentile or above refers to the top 10 percent of the test takers in the merit list. So, if the total number of actual test takers is near 2 lakh, approximately 20,000 candidates (ten percent) would come under the percentile range of 90 to 100. Hence, the percentile secured according to marks is only indicative of your position and does not tell the exact marks you score in the test.

Now let us take a look as to how is percentile calculated. Here Quantitative Ability is just taken as an example with regard to calculation of percentile.

The first step includes calculating the total number of candidates (N) who will appear for CAT 2019 both in the forenoon and afternoon session.

Rank (r) will be allotted to the candidate on the basis of scaled score which the candidate has got in the QA section to all the candidates who appeared in CAT. If two or more candidates score same marks in the QA section, then identical ranks will be awarded to the candidates.

The percentile score will be calculated (P) will be calculated of a candidate with rank (r) in the QA section as:

There is need to round off the calculated percentile (p) of a candidate upto two decimal points.

Similar methodology will be used for the computation of the overall CAT percentile scores and for percentile scores of other sections.

CAT Marks Vs Percentile - What is IIM scaling and normalization process?

The scoring process of CAT involves scaling and normalisation which is a complex calculation process for determining the merit of candidates appearing for the same test in multiple sessions.

This scoring process was implemented since IIMs introduced the computer-based mode of CAT in the year 2009. In the initial years of computer-based testing, CAT was held in a window of 20 days in two slots each. In order to equate the performance of candidates across sessions, the normalization process was followed.

According to IIMs, the CAT normalization process ensures fairness and equity in performance comparison across sessions. “The process of Normalization is an established practice for comparing candidate scores across multiple Forms and is similar to those being adopted in other large educational selection tests conducted in India, such as Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). For normalization across sections, we shall use the percentile equivalence,” mentions IIMs.

According to the GATE normalization methodology followed by IIMs, normalization is applied to take into account any variation in the difficulty levels of the question papers across different sessions. This factor also determines CAT score vs percentile. The normalization is done based on the fundamental assumption that "in all multi-session CAT papers, the distribution of abilities of candidates is the same across all the sessions".

Let us understand the scoring system before you take a look at CAT score vs percentile. The CAT paper comprising 100 questions has a marking scheme where three marks are awarded for each correct answer and test takers are penalised with one negative mark for a wrong answer. The CAT paper carries 100 questions – Quantitative Ability (34), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (34), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (32).

But the actual score that candidates get in their CAT scorecard is not exactly based on the outcome of this marking scheme owing to the normalisation process being an integral part of the process. However, experts suggest that since the CAT exam is now conducted in two slots in a single day only, the impact of normalisation is minimal and the scaled score appeared in the CAT score card is very close to the actual marks scored by the candidate.

Now we bring to you last year’s CAT scaled scores vis-a-vis the percentile.

CAT Result 2019

IIM, Kozhikode announced CAT result 2019 in online mode on January 4. Those candidates who appeared for the entrance exam on November 24 can check result of CAT 2019 by entering the registered ID and password. The CAT 2019 result includes the score and percentile. Applicants will also got to know the marks scored by them in different sections as well as overall score.

How is the percentile for CAT calculated?

The percentile of CAT 2019 is calculated on the basis of the scaled score of each section from which questions are asked and the overall scaled score. The CAT score is indicative of candidate's performance in the entrance exam. CAT result 2019 cum scorecard will indicate section wise and the overall scaled score as well as the percentile. Check the calculation of CAT 2019 composite score as given by IIM Lucknow.

CAT Score Vs Percentile

While most of the prestigious B-schools shortlist candidates, who stand around 80 percentile or more in CAT, we bring you the top ranges of percentile based on the actual normalised scores of CAT takers in 2017.

The four ranges of CAT percentiles for which we present the actual CAT score Vs Percentile data are below:

• 95.01 percentile and above

• 90.01 to 95 percentile

• 85.01 to 90 percentile

• 80 to 85 percentile

What are the admission criteria for top IIMs?

Well, the selection process involves a preliminary screening on the basis of the CAT scores, class 10/ 12 marks, graduation, gender, work experience and so on. These factors play an important role in the selection of a candidate for the written test and interview. The composite score which is the general term used is the compilation of the normalised scores after considering all factors in a given weightage. The score calculation for the top IIMs are

The pictorial depiction of the calculation of the composite score is best depicted as below

* Source of the above image is IIM Lucknow.
CAT Marks Vs Percentile – 95 to 100 Percentile

For CAT 2017, the highest scaled score to be obtained by a candidate out of 300, which is the total score. As per the CAT scoring process, each question carries three marks and for each wrong answer, there is negative marking of one mark. For the non-MCQs or Type in The Answer (TITA) questions, there is no negative marking scheme involved.

With a CAT the above 95 percentile, you will get calls from the premium B-schools including IIMs, FMS, MDI Gurgaon, DMS IITs to name a few.

B-schools to apply if you have 95-100 Percentile

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CAT Score Vs Percentile – 90.01 to 95 Percentile

B-schools which you can aim for the new IIMs such as IIM Nagpur, Visakhapatnam, IIM Sirmaur etc. The non-IIM B-schools you can target for include XIM Bhubaneswar, Goa Institute of Management, Great Lakes Institute of Management among others.

CAT Marks Vs Percentile: Top B-schools to aim with 90+ Percentile in CAT

CAT Score Vs Percentile – 85.01 to 90 Percentile

Some of the top B-schools you may apply with CAT percentile between 85 to 90 percentile are as follows:

CAT Marks Vs Percentile: Top B-schools to apply if you get 85-90 percentile in CAT

Click here to know more B-schools in this CAT percentile range.

CAT Score Vs Percentile – 80 to 85 Percentile

If you are wondering, which are the top B-schools to apply with this CAT percentile, here we bring to you a comprehensive list of B-schools you may apply based on their CAT cutoff.

CAT Marks Vs Percentile: Which B-schools you can apply with CAT 80-85 Percentile

The result of CAT 2019 declared on January 4, 2020. This year 244,169 candidates registered for CAT 2019. Previous year, approximately 2.41 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. In 2017, six candidates secured 100 percentile. Out of the toppers, two were female candidates and three belonged to non-engineering background. CAT 2019 was conducted in 156 cities across India.