Education · Free tool
CAT Percentile Calculator
Approximate the percentile from your raw score. Actual percentile depends on cohort, difficulty and slot normalisation.
For IIM cut-offs, sectional scaling matters as much as overall.
How it works
CAT (Common Admission Test) is scored out of 198 across three sections: VARC, DILR, QA, each 66 marks. We map your raw score to an overall percentile using a curve fitted on IIM Indore's published score-vs-percentile tables from CAT 2019–2024. Actual percentile is set by IIM Indore after slot-wise normalisation, so treat this as a planning estimate, not a guarantee.
Worked example
In CAT 2023 a raw score of ~70/198 mapped to roughly the 90th percentile, ~85/198 to the 95th, ~105/198 to the 99th, and ~120/198 to the 99.5th. To convert to IIM-A/B/C consideration you typically need 99+ overall plus 80+ in each section. New IIMs (Trichy, Rohtak, Sambalpur) usually call from 95+ overall.
When to use this
- Estimating your percentile after a mock CAT from TIME, IMS or CL
- Working backwards: how many more marks for a 99%ile shot at IIM Lucknow
- Comparing your CAT score with XAT, NMAT or SNAP cutoffs
Read our GATE vs CAT vs UPSC comparison for cohort-size context, or check the CLAT percentile estimator if you're also writing law entrances.
FAQ
Is overall percentile enough for IIM admission?
No. IIMs use sectional percentiles too — typically 80%ile minimum in each section (VARC, DILR, QA) for shortlist. Some IIMs (IIM-A) require 85%ile sectional. A 99%ile overall with 70%ile in one section won't convert.
How does CAT scoring work — raw vs scaled?
Each correct: +3. Each wrong: -1 (only in MCQ; TITA has no negative). Raw scores are then *normalised* across slots for time-of-day fairness. Scaled scores convert to percentiles based on the cohort.
How much does my percentile vary year to year?
±2-3%ile for a fixed raw score, depending on cohort difficulty and total taker count. CAT 2024 had ~3.3 lakh takers; pandemic-era CATs had varying counts.