CAT Score Vs Percentile - Check Details for CAT 2020
CAT Score Vs Percentile - Keeping in view the past records of IIMs, the result released includes CAT scores or marks as well as CAT percentile secured by candidates. CAT 2020 scorecard will have 2 main scores; CAT scaled score and the CAT percentile associated with these CAT scores. 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 being conducted in three sessions hence the CAT percentile is also computed on account of the three exam sessions. This is done to create justified results and equivalence among 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?" or the doubt about CAT raw score vs percentile. To answer the same, Careers360 brings to you CAT score vs percentile 2020 trends and data of the past years. To know more about CAT 2020 score vs percentile, how it makes a difference during the selection process, the computation method, and using CAT percentile predictor read the complete article.
Latest CAT Update: IIM has declared CAT 2020 result on January 2, 2021. Also know about CAT cutoff 2020.

What is CAT Score?
CAT is a computer-based test that is conducted annually by IIMs on a rotational basis for providing admissions to the MBA and other managerial programs at the IIMs and other B-Schools. The marks that a candidate obtains on the basis of the CAT exam pattern marking scheme are called CAT score. To sum up, 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 totaling the marks as per questions answered by the candidates
Quick Links -
How to tackle TITA questions in CAT?
CAT 2020: When and how to start preparation
How to Calculate the CAT score?
This article will help you to understand the process of calculating the CAT marks vs percentile and the scaled CAT 2020 score vs percentile calculation. Before you know how much your CAT score is required for a 99 percentile of the CAT, it is good to understand the key elements of the process of converting your CAT score to a percentile score. For that, in this article, we provide a CAT score to percentile calculator. Use of that, you can easily know your percentile of CAT overall score as well as sectional score.
Candidate | Questions Answered | Correct Answers | Wrong Answers | Marks for Correct Answers | Marks for Wrong Answers | CAT Score |
ABC | 100 | 75 | 25 | 75*3= 225 | 25*1= 25 | 225-25= 200 |
XYZ | 88 | 80 | 8 | 80*3= 240 | 8*1= 8 | 240-8= 232 |
Note that due to negative marking wrong attempts will lead to deduction of marks in total.
Also Check: Take the official CAT Mock Test 2020 to gauge the performance.
What is the 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, the 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 only an indication of the candidate’s position. However, this does not tell the exact marks scored in the test.
Quick Link -
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 CAT 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 the calculation of percentile.
Step 1: The first step will include calculating the total number of candidates (N) who are likely to appear for the 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. Some of the students have a question like I got 70 to 90 percentile in CAT means how many marks?. This question will arise only before the declaration of CAT result 2020 to check the B-school admission cutoff eligibility. Once the CAT 2020 results are released, you will get the answer.
What is a Scaled Score?
As mentioned above that CAT 2020 is being conducted in three 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 Marks 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 2020 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 Marks vs Percentile Analysis (By IMS)
If candidates are willing to secure above 85 percentile then they can look at the given table that shows the CAT score required by candidates in each section along with percentile range as given by IMS for CAT 2019.
Overall CAT Marks Vs Percentile 2020 (Expected)
According to the previous year’s CAT exam analysis, below we present the CAT 2020 score vs percentile range prepared by experts:
CAT percentile range | CAT overall score |
99+ | 155-160 |
95-98 | 135-154 |
90-94 | 101-134 |
85-89 | 81-100 |
80-84 | 71-80 |
75-79 | 61-70 |
70-74 | 51-60 |
CAT Score vs Percentile Analysis by IMS
The overall and section wise CAT score for 99 Percentile as estimated by experts is given here. By looking at this table, you will get a clear idea about the CAT section-wise score and overall score.
Score in VARC | Score in QA | Score in DILR | Overall Score Required | Expected Percentile |
70 | 57 | 51 | 161 to 164 | 99 |
59 | 40 | 40 | 127 to 130 | 95 |
52 | 31 | 34 | 107 to 110 | 90 |
45 | 27 | 29 | 95-98 | 85 |
IIMs Cutoff on the Basis of CAT Scores
Indian Institute of Management releases individual cutoffs on the basis of CAT score. Candidates are further called upon for the selection process of CAT by IIMs on the basis of scores obtained by them. Given below is the CAT cutoff of the top 5 IIMs as per NIRF management ranking 2020.
IIM Ahmedabad CAT Score vs Percentile
Category | VARC | DI & LR | QA | Aggregate |
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
NC-OBC-cum-Transgender | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
PWD (General, NC-OBC-cum-transgender, SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
PWD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIM Bangalore CAT Score vs Percentile
Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
General | 80 | 75 | 75 | 85 |
NC-OBC | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
EWS | 70 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
Scheduled Caste | 65 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
Scheduled Tribe | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
PwD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
IIM Calcutta CAT Score vs Percentile
Category | VARC | DI & LR | QA | Aggregate |
General | 75 | 80 | 80 | 85 |
NC-OBC | 65 | 65 | 70 | 75 |
EWS | 65 | 65 | 70 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 65 | 70 |
ST | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
PWD | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
IIM Lucknow CAT Score vs Percentile
Category | VARC | DILR | QA | Aggregate |
General | 85 | 85 | 85 | 90 |
NC-OBC | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
PWD | 50 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
EWS | 77 | 77 | 77 | 82 |
IIM Kozhikode CAT Score vs Percentile
Not only 20 IIMs but also other top B-schools like SPJIMR, FMS Delhi, IIT, MTI, accept the CAT percentile score on the shortlist and provide weightage to the CAT score in the final selection process.
Category | CAT Sectional Percentile | Class 10th Percentile | Class 12th Percentile | Overall Percentile for CAT |
General | 75 | 60 | 60 | 85 |
NC-OBC/ EWS | 65 | 60 | 60 | 75 |
SC | 55 | 55 | 55 | 65 |
ST/ Pwd | 45 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
For more details, click on IIM Admission Criteria.
Quick Links -
Top Colleges In India Accepting CAT Score
Which B-Schools to apply for with 70-80 percentile in CAT
CAT Result 2020
IIMs has declared the result of CAT 2020 on January 2, 2021. Candidates who wish to check their CAT 2020 results are required to enter valid login credentials to know their status. IIM will not send a hard copy of CAT result 2020 to any candidate. The selection process of IIMs are begin only after the result declaration on the basis of the cutoff of CAT 2020. To get admission in IIMs, it is very important to clear the CAT sectional cut off or an overall cut off.
Quick Links -
Things you must not do during GD & PI round
How to prepare for GD-PI & WAT rounds of top B-schools
Top MBA Colleges in India Accepting CAT percentile
You can see here that some of the top IIM and other top MBA colleges also accept different percentile CAT scores.
IIMs and Other top B-Schools in India | Range of CAT 2020 cut off percentile |
IIM Bangalore | 94 to 97 |
IIM Indore | 91 to 93 |
IIM Ahmedabad | 95 to 98 |
IIM Calcutta | 97 to 98 |
IIM Kozhikode | 93 to 95 |
IIM Lucknow | 93 to 96 |
IIM Bodhgaya | 85 to 88 |
IIM Jammu | 84 to 87 |
IIM Sirmaur | 80 to 85 |
IIM Sambalpur | 80 to 85 |
MDI Gurgaon | 94 to 95 |
FMS, New Delhi | 97 to 98 |
JBIMS Mumbai | 95 to 97 |
SPJIMR | 90 to 95 |
IIT Bombay, Mumbai | 90 to 94 |
IIT New Delhi | 90 to 93 |
LBSIM New Delhi | 80 to 85 |
Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA) Chennai | 80 to 85 |
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - CAT Score Vs Percentile - Check Details for CAT 2020
Question: What is CAT?
Answer:
The entrance exam conducted by IIMs on rotational basis to provide admission to candidates in management PG level courses is called CAT. For the year 2021 admissions, CAT 2020 was conducted by IIM Indore.
Question: What is normalization of CAT score?
Answer:
The scores obtained by candidates on the basis of CAT exam pattern is called CAT score.
Question: What is CAT percentile?
Answer:
The percentage of candidates below a candidate in the merit list are indicated through measure of CAT percentile.
Question: What is CAT score?
Answer:
The scores obtained by candidates on the basis of CAT exam pattern is called CAT score.
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Questions related to CAT
can an mba college accept me if I score 80%ile in cat?
List of B-Schools
MBA/PGDM
Amity University, Raipur
Alliance School of Business - Alliance University, Bangalore
Amity University, Gwalior
Amity University, Mumbai
Amity University, Jaipur
Amity University, Noida
Amity Business School, Noida
Amity International Business School (AIBS), Noida
Amity University, Lucknow
Asia-Pacific Institute of Management (AIM, Delhi
Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida
Birla Institute of Technology and Science, BITS-Pilani, Pilani
Jagdish Sheth School of Management (Formerly IFIM Business School)
GITAM School of Business
Christ University-Institute of Management, Bangalore
CMS Business School, J.P. Nagar, Bangalore
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon
GNA University, Phagwara
IBS Business School, Ahmedabad
IBS Business School, Gurgaon
Infinity Business School, Gurgaon
Institute of Management, Nirma University, Ahmedabad
IIKM Business School, Calicut
IBS Business School, Bangalore
Indus Business School, IIEBM, Pune
ICOFP - International College of Financial Planning, Mumbai
ICFAI University, Mizoram
IBS Business School, Mumbai
IBS Business School, Pune
IBS Business School, Jaipur
JK Lakshmipat University-Institute of Management, Jaipur
Jaipur National University (JNU), Jaipur
JRE Group of Institutions (JRE), Greater Noida
Lotus Business School, Pune
Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
MATS University, Raipur
IIM Shillong
School of Petroleum Management, Gandhinagar
School of Business Studies - Sharda University
SRIRAM Group of Institutions, Greater Noida
Universal Business School, Mumbai
Vignan's University, Guntur
XIME Kochi
XIME Bangalore
Im studying btech 2nd year my absolute dream is to crack cat when should I start preparation for it?
The best time to study and preparing for cat is now itself you get enough time for preparing for it.
You have lot of time... Start preparation now so that you topics will be clear and study tension free.
Good luck!
WHICH MBA ONLY CONSIDERS CAT SCORES NOT CONSIDER ACADEMIC SCORES
The other top B-Schools: XLRI, FMS, JBIMS, MDI
These other premier B-Schools don't pay emphasis on your past academic records during the shortlisting procedure. A score of 99.7 percentile and more in your respective exams can fetch a call from these institutes (except JBIMS) with high chances of conversion.
I am physically handicapped person 44yrs old with no work experience and a gap of 15years .Can I get admission in Iim if I score sufficient marks.
IIM-A Eligibility
Eligibility for PGP
The candidate must hold a bachelors degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (in case of the candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Differently Abled (DA) or Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, this is relaxed to 45%)
A candidate appearing for the final year bachelors degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed the degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply. Such a candidate must produce a certificate from the principal/head of the department/registrar/director of the institution/university certifying that the candidate is currently in the final year/is awaiting final results and has obtained at least 50% marks or equivalent (45% in case of the candidate belonging to SC/ST/PwD category) based on latest available grades/marks.
I am physically handicapped person 44yrs with a gap of 15 years .Can I get admission in iim if I score sufficient marks.
IIM-A Eligibility
Eligibility for PGP
The candidate must hold a bachelors degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA (in case of the candidate belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC)/Scheduled Tribe (ST)/Differently Abled (DA) or Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, this is relaxed to 45%)
A candidate appearing for the final year bachelors degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed the degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply. Such a candidate must produce a certificate from the principal/head of the department/registrar/director of the institution/university certifying that the candidate is currently in the final year/is awaiting final results and has obtained at least 50% marks or equivalent (45% in case of the candidate belonging to SC/ST/PwD category) based on latest available grades/marks.