On the evening the CAT response sheet comes out, coaching groups from Delhi to Bengaluru flood with “What percentile will 85 get?”. The honest answer is that nobody knows exactly yet. CAT score vs percentile involves three steps (raw score, scaled score and percentile), and IIM shortlists depend on more than the overall number. This guide separates them clearly.
Step 1: the raw score
Raw score = 3 × correct MCQs − 1 × wrong MCQs + 3 × correct TITA (no negative marking for TITA)
The raw score is counted per section (VARC, DILR, QA) and in total. It is the only part a candidate can calculate exactly from the response sheet and the answer key.
Step 2: the scaled score
CAT runs in several slots with different papers. To make slots comparable, raw scores are scaled, adjusting for differences in difficulty and score spread. Scaled scores can be slightly higher or lower than raw scores.
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Step 3: the percentile
Scaled scores are converted into percentiles: overall and for each section. A 98 percentile means 98% of test-takers scored the same as or less than you after scaling.
Why do score-vs-percentile charts from last year mislead?
Each year's paper difficulty and the number of test-takers change. A score that meant 97 percentile one year might mean 95 or 99 the next. Use old charts only as a rough guide.
CAT score vs percentile: what IIMs look at
- Overall percentile above the institute's cut-off.
- Sectional percentiles: each section must clear its own minimum, so one weak section can block a call.
- Academic record (Class 10, 12 and graduation), work experience, and in some IIMs diversity factors.
- Each IIM publishes its own admission policy every year; that document is the final word.
TITA: the free marks
Type-in-the-answer questions carry no negative marking, so an attempt never costs marks. Mentors advise attempting every TITA you have time to work through, and keeping MCQ guesses for cases where options can be eliminated.
Estimating rank from percentile
Rank ≈ (100 − percentile) ÷ 100 × test-takers
With about 3 lakh test-takers, 99 percentile is roughly rank 3,000, and 95 percentile roughly 15,000.
The CAT percentile calculator counts section-wise raw scores from MCQ and TITA answers, and turns an expected percentile into an estimated rank for the number of test-takers you enter.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CAT score and percentile?
The score is marks (raw, then scaled); the percentile is your position among all test-takers after scaling.
How is the CAT raw score calculated?
+3 per correct answer, −1 per wrong MCQ, and no negative marking for TITA.
Why is the CAT score scaled?
To adjust for differences in difficulty between slots.
Do sectional percentiles matter for IIM calls?
Yes. IIMs set sectional cut-offs as well as an overall cut-off.
Should I attempt all TITA questions?
Attempting TITA never costs marks, so attempt those you have time to work through.
Keep reading
- CAT Percentile Calculator: the free tool this guide explains.
- All academic calculators
- SRM Grading System: Marks Bands, Internals and Your GPA
Sources: CAT information bulletin (marking scheme, scaling and percentiles); IIM admission policy documents.