CAT Score Vs Percentile

CAT Score Vs Percentile - Keeping in view the past records of IIMs, the result released includes CAT score as well as percentile secured by candidates. Following the trend, most of the top B-Schools have started using their own methodology for selecting candidates. Every year due to larger participation, CAT is conducted in two sessions hence the CAT percentile is also computed on account of the two exam sessions. This is done to create justified results and equivalence amongst test takers of CAT. One of the most common basic questions that test takers ask is "what is the difference between CAT score and CAT percentile?" To answer the same, Careers360 brings to you CAT score vs percentile trends and data of the past years. CAT is a computer-based test which is conducted annually by IIMs on a rotational basis for providing admissions to the MBA and other managerial programmes at the IIMs and other B-Schools. To know more about CAT score vs percentile, how it makes a difference during the selection process, computation method read the complete article.
Latest- CAT registration 2020 commences from August 5, 2020. CAT 2020 to be held on November 29.

What is CAT Score?

The marks that a candidate obtains on the basis of the CAT exam pattern marking scheme are called CAT score. To simply, CAT Score is the sum total of the marks obtained by the candidate/s in all three sections namely Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability. To calculate the CAT score, candidates can follow the below-mentioned process -

• Three marks for each correct answer are awarded

• For each wrong or incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted

• No negative marking for unattempted questions and TITA questions

• Total score (sectional-wise) is calculated by totalling the marks as per questions answered by the candidates

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Note that due to negative marking wrong attempts will lead to deduction of marks in total.

What is CAT percentile?

A CAT percentile is a measure that indicates the percentage of candidates below a candidate in the merit list. For example, if a candidate secured a position at 90 percentile refers that about 90 percent of candidates competing with that candidate in the test have scored less than him/her. In other words, CAT percentile is a measure of categorizing the candidates based on their performance. Hence, test takers who secured 90 percentile or above in CAT refers to the top 10 percent of the candidates in the merit list. Percentile secured according to marks obtained is the only an indication of the candidate’s position. However, this does not tell the exact marks scored in the test.

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CAT Participating Institutes 2020

How is the percentile for CAT calculated?

The percentile of CAT 2020 will be calculated on the basis of the scaled score of each section from which questions will be asked as well as the overall scaled score. CAT result 2020 cum scorecard will indicate sectional as well as the overall scaled score and the CAT percentile of candidates.

Now let us take an example and understand how is CAT percentile calculated? Here the VARC section is just taken as an example with regard to calculation of percentile.

Step 1: The first step will include calculating the total number of candidates (N) who are likely to appear for IIM Entrance Exam, in both sessions i.e. in the forenoon and afternoon session.

Step 2: Allot Rank (r) on the basis of the scaled score obtained in the VARC section to all the candidates who appeared in CAT. If two or more candidates score the same marks in the QA section, then assign identical ranks to the candidates.

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

Step 4: Now, round off the calculated percentile score (P) of a candidate up to two decimal points only. For example, all percentile scores greater than or equal to 89.995 are rounded off to 90

Follow the same methodology for computing the overall CAT percentile scores and for percentile scores of other sections.

What is Scaled Score?

As mentioned above that CAT 2020 is to be conducted in two shifts due to large participation. Hence, it is likely that the difficulty level of shifts may vary. IIMs use score equating process i.e. normalization process of CAT 2020 and the scaled score of CAT 2020 will be arrived at. The scaled score of CAT 2020 may be more or less than the raw score obtained by candidates.

What is CAT Score vs Percentile?

Careers360 brings to you the top ranges of percentile on the basis of normalized scores of CAT. Usually the candidates who have more than 80 percentile in CAT 2020 exam are likely to be selected and get a call for selection rounds from top B-Schools of India. Major four ranges on the basis of which CAT score vs percentile data can be presented are -

• 95.01 percentile and above

• 90.01 to 95 percentile

• 85.01 to 90 percentile

• 80 to 85 percentile

Section wise CAT Score vs Percentile Analysis (By IMS)

If candidates are willing to secure above 85 percentile then they can look at the given table that shows CAT score required by candidates in each section along with percentile range as given by IMS for CAT 2019.

CAT Score vs Percentile Analysis by IMS

IIMs Cutoff on the Basis of CAT Scores

Indian Institute of Management release individual cutoffs on the basis of CAT score. Candidates are further called upon for selection process of CAT by IIMs on the basis of scores obtained by them. Given below is the CAT cutoff of top 5 IIMs as per NIRF management ranking 2020.

IIM Ahmedabad CAT Score vs Percentile

IIM Bangalore CAT Score vs Percentile

IIM Calcutta CAT Score vs Percentile

IIM Lucknow CAT Score vs Percentile

IIM Kozhikode CAT Score vs Percentile

For more details, click on IIM Admission Criteria.

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CAT Result 2020

IIMs will declare the result of CAT 2020 tentatively by second week of January. Candidates who wish to check their CAT 2020 result will be required to enter valid login credentials to know their status. IIM will not send hard copy of CAT result 2020 to any candidate. The selection process of IIMs will begin only after the result declaration on the basis of cutoff of CAT 2020.

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