100 Percentile in CAT Exam; Know What 100 Percentile Means?

Common Admission Test 2024 ( CAT )

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Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Dec 19, 2024 22:40 IST

CAT score of 100 percentile is an ideal score but tough to achieve. On an average, only about 9-11 candidates score 100 percentile in CAT exam, out of over lakh test takers. So what does CAT 100 percentile mean? Read here.

100 percentile in CAT

100 percentile in CAT

100 percentile in CAT is a dream score. And it is not difficult to understand why. CAT 100 percentile means that you are not only eligible for the top IIMs, you are in a position to choose from the best MBA colleges – IIMs as well non-IIMs.

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But what does 100 percentile in CAT mean? It means that a candidate has performed better than all of the other test takers (2. 50 lakh+). To explain further, it is a representation of the relative performance of a CAT candidate compared to other test takers. Similarly, if a candidate gets 99.99 percentile in CAT exam, then their performance is better than 99.99 percent candidates.

Q:   How much percentile is a good score in CAT exam?

A:

The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to various management programs offered by top business schools in India. The percentile score in CAT exam is based on the relative performance of the test taker compared to all the other test takers.

The cutoff percentile for admission to top business schools varies from year to year and also depends on factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. In general, a percentile score of 90 or above is considered a good score and can help you secure admission to some of the top business schools in India. However, to increase your chances of admission to the top-tier business schools, a percentile score of 95 or above is preferred.

Q:   What is sectional cutoff in CAT exam?

A:

Sectional cut off in CAT exam refers to the section wise percentiles required by the candidate for making it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut offs are lower than overall cut offs of any institute. To understand better, check the table below for sectional CAT cut offs for IIM Ahmedabad:

Category

VARC percentile

DILR percentile

QA percentile

Overall percentile

General

70

70

70

80

NC-OBC-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

For sectional cut offs of all IIMs, check this article – IIM shortlist and selection criteria

Q:   How many questions should I solve to score 99 percentile in CAT exam?

A:
It is tough to give an accurate number as an answer to this questions are the number of questions have been changing in CAT in the last three years. Moreover, percentile also depends on the difficulty level of the exams and the number of test takers in a particular year. However, one can say that it is safe to solve at least 2/3rd of the total questions in each section of the CAT. So, if CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section has 24 questions, candidate must attempt 16-18 questions correctly. If the CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning has 20 questions, the candidate must solve about 12-14 questions correctly. If the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions then candidates must solve about 14-15 questions correctly. For further understanding you can check detailed analysis here: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/how-many-questions-to-attempt-in-cat-to-score-99-percentile-blogId-19639.

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CAT 2024 toppers - 14 candidates score 100 percentile, 29 score 99.99 percentile

What CAT percentile means? How to calculate?

To calculate every test taker’s CAT percentile, the examination authority, applies a formula. The CAT percentile of every candidate is calculated from their raw score. First of all, the raw scores of test takers across each session of the CAT exam are normalized to bring them on a common scale. The raw scores of the exam are then converted into percentile on the basis of the following formula:

P = (R/N) × 100

where,

P= Percentile score

R= Rank of the candidate arrived at on the basis of scaled CAT score or the total number of test takers ranking below a particular candidate.

N= Number of candidates who appeared in CAT exam (all three sessions)

Suppose, 1,000 people take CAT and once candidate scored 196 out of 198 (scaled score) and the rest 999 scored below 196. Then the CAT percentile of the candidate who got the highest raw score will be 999/1000*100 = 99.9.

Also Read:

Q:   What is the CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow?

A:
The CAT cut offs for IIM Lucknow is usually around 97-99 percentile. The two courses - PGP Agri-Business Management (ABM) and PGP Sustainable Management (some) are extremely popular among MBA aspirants who wish to make a career in these areas. The institute also offers PGP programme. The qualifying CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 90 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST and PwD candidates, it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Lucknow PGP course. General category: 85 VARC 85 DILR 85 Quantitative Aptitude 90 (Overall) NC-OBC category: 77 VARC 77 DILR 77 Quantitative Aptitude 82 (Overall) EWS category: 77 VARC 77 DILR 77 Quantitative Aptitude 82 (Overall) SC category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall) ST category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall) PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall) Click here for detailed IIM Lucknow admission and selection criteria: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-lucknow-shortlist-admission-criteria-blogId-18509.

Q:   Are CAT cut offs announced along with the CAT result?

A:
CAT cut offs are not announced along with the CAT result. The cut offs also not released publicaly. They are known after a few days of result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs will open shortlist window basis the CAT cut offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for Written Ability Test (What), Group Discussion GD and Personal Interview, PI can be considered the cut off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with CAT percentile of 99 belonging from General category is selected for the What/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who will make it to the What/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut offs.

Q:   What is the minimum percentile required for IIM Trichy?

A:

IIM Trichy accepts minimum CAT percentile for shortlisting candidates for the Personal Interview round. For IIM Trichy MBA admission 2024, the estimated overall CAT cutoff for the General category students is 92 percentile. Candidates can refer to the table given below to check out the section-wise minimum CAT percentile required for various categories: 

Category

PVRC

PDILR

PQA

Overall percentile rank

(PT)

General

70707092

NC-OBC

45454574

EWS

40404070

SC

35353554

ST

252532.540

DAP

252532.540

Q:   What is the CAT cut off for IIM Ahmedabad?

A:
The qualifying CAT cut off for IIM Ahmedabad is 85 percentile for 2023-25 batch. However, the final CAT cut off for IIM Ahmedabad will go up to 99-100 percentile. The qualifying CAT cut off is the minimum score required to be eligible for shortlisting of IIM Ahmedabad PI round. The score on which a candidate is selected is called the final cut off and is much higher than the qualifying cut off. Given below is the qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Ahmedabad: General/EWS: 70 VARC 70 DILR 70 (QA), 80 (Overall) NC-OBC/transgender: 65 VARC 65 DILR 65 (QA), 75 (Overall) SC: 60 VARC 60 DILR 60 (QA), 70 (Overall) ST: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 (QA), 60 (Overall PwD (General/ EWS, NC-OBC/transgender, SC): 60 VARC 60 DILR 60 (QA), 70 (Overall) PwD (ST): 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 (QA), 60 (Overall). .

Q:   What are the qualifying CAT cutoffs for all the IIMs?

A:
Qualifying CAT cut off percentiles of Iims for Written Ability Test (What) and Personal Interview PI for the batch of 2023-25 are listed below. Candidates who MET the qualifying CAT cut off, were eligible for What-PI round. These qualifying CAT cut offs are for General Category. The cut offs for Reserved category students are lower: 1. IIM Ahmedabad: 85 percentile 2. IIM Bangalore: 85 percentile 3. IIM Calcutta: 85 percentile 4. IIM Lucknow: 90 percentile 5. IIM Kozhikode: 85 percentile 6. IIM Indore: 90 percentile 7. IIM Udaipur: 93 percentile 8. IIM Shillong: 75 percentile 9. IIM Trichy: 93 percentile 10. IIM Visakhapatnam: 80 percentile 11. IIM Rohtak: 95 percentile 12. IIM Nagpur: 85 percentile 13. IIM Jammu: 93 percentile 14. IIM Ranchi: 90 percentile 15. IIM Sirmaur: 92 percentile 16. IIM Bodhgaya: 93 percentile 17. IIM Sambalpur: 93 percentile 18. IIM Kashipur: 94 percentile 19. IIM Raipur: 93 percentile 20. IIM Amritsar: 90 percentile For complete details of IIM selection and admission process read this article: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/iim-shortlist-selection-admission-criteria-blogId-18787.

How Many Candidates get 100 percentile in CAT?

On an average, about 9-11 candidates score 100 percentile in CAT every year. Most of the CAT 100 percentilers are from engineering background. Check here some data points:

  • In CAT 2024, the total number of 100 percentilers in 14, out of which 13 are from engineering background.
  • In CAT 2023, the total number of 100 percentilers was 14, out of which 11 were from engineering background. 
  • In CAT 2022, a total of 11 candidates got 100 percentile, out of which 10 were from engineering background and 1 was from non-engineering background
  • In CAT 2021, a total of 9 candidates scored 100 percentile and all were from engineering background.
  • In CAT 2020 as well, 9 candidates had scored 100 percentile. Out of 9, only 1 candidate was from non-engineering background.
  • In CAT 2019, the number of 100 percentilers was 10. All candidates were males and belong to engineering or technical background.
  • In CAT 2018, the total number of CAT 100 percentilers was 11. All the 11 toppers are from engineering and technical backgrounds.

Also Read: 

100 Percentile in CAT Exam: Admission Chances

Candidates who score 100 percentile in CAT exam definitely get interview calls from the top IIMs – IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta. 100 percentile is the highest CAT cut offs for PI shortlisting for these IIMs, for General category students.

If CAT 100 percentilers have a good academic record and they perform well in the WAT-PI rounds, are sure to get the final call for admission. Candidates having 100 percentile can not only get the top IIMs but they can actually get any B-school they wish. Being the top rankers with a good profile, every B-Schools will be willing to accept their candidature happily.

Does CAT 100 percentile help in admission to foreign universities?

No, candidates will 100 percentile in CAT cannot apply to foreign universities as the exam score is not accepted internationally. CAT is a national level exam and accepted by only domestic institutions.

Also Read: Top 30 MBA colleges accepting CAT score

CAT 2024 Expected Marks vs Percentile Estimation

Given below is the table indicating conversion of CAT score into CAT percentile. These are slot wise CAT 2024 expected marks vs percentile arrived at by calculating number of correct attempts.

CAT Percentile

VARC Score

DILR Score

QA Score

Overall Score

99.9 %ile

48

36

48

106

99.5 %ile

44

32

32

89

99 %ile

40

28

28

80

98 %ile

36

25

24

71

95%ile

30

19

19

57

90%ile

25

16

15

49

85%ile

21

13

12

40

80%ile

19

11

10

36

75%ile

17

10

9

31

70%ile

15

9

8

29

Expected CAT Cut Offs 2024

Check the below table indicating expected CAT cut offs 2024 for IIMs and other to MBA colleges in India.

B-Schools

*CAT cut offs 2024 (percentile)

IIM Ahmedabad

99-100

IIM Bangalore 

99-100

IIM Calcutta

99 

IIM Lucknow

97-98

IIM Indore

97-98

IIM Kozhikode

97-98

IIM Amritsar

95-96

IIM Nagpur

95-96

IIM Sambalpur

95-96

IIM Trichy

94-95

IIM Raipur

94-95 

IIM Ranchi

94-95 

IIM Kashipur

94-95 

IIM Vizag

92-94 

IIM Rohtak

92-94 

IIM Udaipur

92-94

IIM Bodhgaya

92-94 

IIM Shillong

90

IIM Sirmaur

90

IIM Jammu

90

IIM Mumbai

94

FMS, Delhi

98-99

IIFT Delhi

95-99

SPJIMR, Mumbai

95-99

IMT, Ghaziabad

95-97

JBIMS, Mumbai

96

MDI, Gurgaon

97-99

IMI, New Delhi

90

XIM, Bhubaneshwar

91

GIM Goa

85

K J Somaiya, Mumbai

86

TAPMI, Manipal

80

FORE, New Delhi

85

IFMR, Chennai

80

IRMA, Anand

80

MICA, Ahmedabad

80

LIBA, Chennai

70

XIME, Bangalore

70

Read More:

Check CAT cut offs and predict calls from IIMs and Non-IIMs accepting CAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

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Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

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