What is a Good CAT Score? A Detailed Guide for 2025

“I got a 95 percentile in CAT, but still didn’t get a call from IIM Ahmedabad. What went wrong?”

Every year, thousands of aspirants find themselves asking this question after the CAT results are out. The confusion often arises from one key misunderstanding: a “good CAT score” is not a fixed number. It varies based on your target B-school, academic profile, category, and even the individual section scores.

In simple terms, a good CAT score helps you get shortlisted by your dream college — and that could be a 99+ percentile for someone targeting IIM A, or even an 85 percentile for someone aiming at a good Tier-2 B-school.

In this detailed guide, we will break down:

• The difference between raw scores, scaled scores, and percentiles
• How much do you need to score to get the 99th, 95th, or 90th percentile
• What score is considered “good” for different categories and colleges
• How many questions do you need to attempt to reach your goal
• Sectional cutoffs, profile weightage, and much more

Whether you are preparing for CAT 2025 or helping someone else prepare, this blog will help you set realistic, data-backed score targets — and prepare accordingly.

Quick Summary Table: What is a Good CAT Score?

Percentile Range	Score Range (Approx)	Target B-Schools	Competition Level
99+	150+	Top IIMs (IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, etc.)	Extremely High
95-99	120-149	Newer IIMs, FMS, SP Jain, MDI, IMT Ghaziabad	Very High
90-94	100-119	Private B-Schools like XLRI, XIMB, TAPMI, Great Lakes	High
80-89	80-99	Tier-2 and Tier-3 B-schools, Institutes with lower cutoffs	Moderate to High

This is not just a numbers game. Scoring well in CAT requires a smart strategy, accuracy, time management, and clarity about your goal. And it all begins with understanding — what is a good CAT score for you?

CAT 2025 Exam Overview (Brief Context)

Before diving into what qualifies as a good CAT score, it’s crucial to understand how the CAT exam works, because the score you aim for is directly tied to the exam pattern and marking scheme.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern (Expected)

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test conducted annually for admission into the IIMs and other top B-schools in India. The exam is divided into three sections, each with a fixed time limit:

Section	Number of Questions	Time Limit	Type of Questions
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes	MCQ, Non-MCQ
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	40 minutes	MCQ, Non-MCQ
Quantitative Ability (QA)	22	40 minutes	MCQ, Non-MCQ
Total	68	120 minutes	Computer-based Test

Marking Scheme in CAT

Understanding how marks are awarded (and deducted) is key to setting realistic score targets.

Question Type	Correct Answer	Wrong Answer	Unattempted
MCQs	+3 marks	–1 mark	0 marks
TITA (Type in the Answer)	+3 marks	0 marks	0 marks

Why This Matters for Your Score

Because CAT uses section-wise time limits and includes negative marking, a high score isn’t just about attempting more questions — it’s about maximising accuracy in each section.

Additionally, CAT scores are scaled and normalised across different slots. That means your raw score is converted into a scaled score, and your percentile is calculated based on how others perform.

We’ll explore that more in the next section — but for now, remember:

• A good CAT score starts with understanding the structure and strategy of the exam.
• It’s not just how many questions you attempt, but how smartly you navigate each section.

Understanding CAT Scores: Raw Score vs Scaled Score vs Percentile

A common source of confusion for CAT aspirants is the difference between raw score, scaled score, and percentile. These terms are not interchangeable, and understanding them correctly is critical to assessing what score you should target.

1. Raw Score

The raw score is the total marks you earn based on your correct and incorrect answers before any normalisation is applied.

Formula:

Raw Score = (Number of Correct Answers × 3) – (Number of Incorrect MCQ Answers × 1)

• No negative marking for TITA (Type in the Answer) questions.
• The raw score gives you an immediate idea of your performance before slot-based adjustments.

2. Scaled Score

Since CAT is conducted in multiple slots with potentially varying difficulty levels, your raw score is normalised to a common scale. The result is your scaled score.

Why is this done?

• To ensure fairness across all exam slots.
• If Slot 1 was slightly tougher than Slot 2, a student scoring 90 raw marks in Slot 1 may get a higher scaled score than a student with 90 marks in Slot 2.

Note: You don’t need to worry about the formula — IIMs use a statistical method to scale. Just remember that scaled scores are what finally count.

3. Percentile Score

A percentile tells you how you performed relative to other candidates.

Example:

If your percentile is 99, it means you performed better than 99% of the total candidates.

• Percentiles are calculated section-wise and overall.
• Top B-schools use both sectional and overall percentiles in shortlisting.

Key Takeaways

• The raw score is what you get based on your attempts.
• Scaled score adjusts the raw score for difficulty level across slots.
• The percentile reflects where you stand among lakhs of aspirants.

Understanding this framework helps you set realistic goals because aiming for a “good CAT score” is about targeting the right percentile, not just a high raw score.

What is Considered a “Good” CAT Score in 2025?

If you’ve gone through any MBA prep forum, one question comes up again and again: “What is a good CAT score?”

The truth is — there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

A “good score” in CAT 2025 depends on:

• Your target colleges
• Your academic profile and category
• The sectional cutoffs
• The competition level that year

Let’s break it down.

Understanding the Benchmarks

A score that is considered “excellent” for one institute might just be “average” for another. Below is a tier-wise breakdown based on past trends:

Percentile Range	Raw Score (Approx)	What It Means	Target B-Schools
99+	150+	Exceptional. Top 0.5% of all test-takers	Top IIMs (IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, etc.)
95-99	120-149	Competitive score for New IIMs + top private	Newer IIMs, FMS, SP Jain, MDI, IMT Ghaziabad
90-94	100-119	Decent shot at good non-IIM B-schools	Private B-Schools like XLRI, XIMB, TAPMI, Great Lakes
80-89	80-99	Acceptable for Tier-2 and Tier-3 private colleges	Tier-2 and Tier-3 B-schools, Institutes with lower cutoffs

Category-wise Considerations

Your reservation category can significantly change what score is “good enough.”

These are last year cutoffs and can vary year-to-year depending on applications and IIM shortlisting criteria.

What Should You Aim For in CAT 2025?

Ask yourself:

1. Which colleges are you targeting?
2. What is your profile strength (academics, work ex)?
3. What category do you belong to?
4. How strong is your sectional balance?

Once these are clear, your “good CAT score” will be the one that meets:

• The overall percentile cutoff
• All three sectional cutoffs
• Your college’s shortlisting benchmark

CAT Score vs Percentile 2025: Scores Needed for 99%, 95%, and 90%

It’s essential to understand the CAT scores needed to achieve 99%, 95%, and 90% percentiles, as these are commonly the cutoff benchmarks for admission into top-tier B-schools in India. Look at the expected scores required to reach the 99, 95, and 90 percentiles in CAT 2025 below.

Target Score for 99, 95, and 90 Percentiles (Based on Past Trends)

Understanding the scores that correspond to various percentiles is essential for setting practical and ambitious targets in CAT 2025. While exact numbers vary slightly each year due to changes in paper difficulty and normalisation, historical trends provide a clear benchmark.

The following section uses past year data and industry insights to give you a breakdown of the raw scores typically required to hit top percentiles like 99, 95, and 90.

Overall Raw Score vs Percentile (CAT Past Trends)

The CAT score vs percentile data changes yearly based on the test’s difficulty and the number of test-takers. CAT 2024 was easier, leading to a higher score vs percentile ratio.

CAT Score vs. Percentile 2024 – Sectional Score vs. Percentile Estimates

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Quantitative Aptitude

What Should You Aim For Based on Your Goal?

Here’s a practical way to interpret the data above:

If Your Goal is…	Target Percentile	Target Raw Score (Approx.)
Top 3 IIMs (A/B/C)	99.5+	160+
Older IIMs (I/K/L), FMS, IITs	98–99	135–150
Newer IIMs, SPJIMR, MDI, IMI, IMT	95+	120–135
Good private colleges (GIM, TAPMI, Great Lakes)	90+	100–115
Backup/Acceptable Tier-2 or Tier-3 colleges	80–89	80–100

Pro Tip: If you are from a reserved category (SC, ST, OBC, EWS), your required score for a 95–99 percentile can be significantly lower. Focus on sectional cutoffs too — they’re equally critical!

Important Considerations

• The level of difficulty in the CAT varies each year. In an easy paper, a high raw score may not mean a high percentile.
• The normalisation process ensures fairness but can cause fluctuations in scaled scores across slots.
• Your accuracy and section balance matter as much as your total score. Even with a 99+ percentile overall, failing a sectional cutoff can disqualify you from IIM calls.

How Many Questions to Attempt for a Good Score?

Once you know the raw score you need for a target percentile, the next logical question is: “How many questions should I attempt in CAT to reach that score?”

Let’s break this down using a section-wise analysis. The CAT exam has 3 sections, and each has a 40-minute time limit, which means smart question selection and high accuracy are the keys to scoring well.

Quick Reminder of CAT Marking Scheme

Question Type	Correct Answer	Incorrect (MCQ)	Unattempted / TITA Wrong
MCQ	+3	-1	0
TITA	+3	0	0

Target Attempts for 99, 95, and 90 Percentiles (with ~85% Accuracy)

Percentile Target	Estimated Raw Score	Target Net Correct Answers	Ideal No. of Attempts
99+	150+	50+	58–62
95–98	120–135	40–45	48–54
90–94	100–115	34–38	42–48

These assume ~80–85% accuracy. If your accuracy is lower, you’ll need more attempts to hit the same score.

Section-Wise Attempt Strategy (Based on CAT 2024 Trends)

VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

• Total Questions: ~24
• For 99%ile: 18–20 attempts with high accuracy (~80%)
• For 95%ile: 15–17 attempts
• Focus: RCs are crucial – attempt at least 2 full passages + high-confidence VA

DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)

• Total Questions: ~22
• For 99%ile: 16–18 attempts with high accuracy
• For 95%ile: 12–14 attempts
• Focus: Select 2 full sets that are doable. Don’t waste time on stuck puzzles.

QA (Quantitative Aptitude)

• Total Questions: ~22
• For 99%ile: 16–18 attempts with ~85% accuracy
• For 95%ile: 13–15 attempts
• Focus: Maximize easy-medium arithmetic questions before trying higher algebra/geometry

Should You Attempt All Questions?

Absolutely not. CAT rewards accuracy far more than random attempts. A candidate who attempts 50 questions with 90% accuracy will outscore someone attempting 66 questions with 60% accuracy.

Key Takeaways

• Aim for attempts that match your accuracy level.
• Don’t chase question count — chase clarity and confidence.
• Spend the first 5–7 minutes of each section identifying your strengths and picking the right sets/questions.Ready to move on?

Factors That Determine What Score You Should Aim For

When we say, “a good CAT score depends on your goals,” we mean it literally. The raw score or percentile you should aim for in CAT 2025 isn’t just about general benchmarks — it depends on several personalised factors.

Let’s look at the key variables that shape your target score.

1. Your Target B-Schools

Every B-school has its own cutoff, and that includes:

• Overall Percentile Cutoff
• Sectional Cutoffs
• Profile Evaluation Criteria

For example:

• IIM Ahmedabad may demand 99.6+ for General category students.
• IIM Rohtak or Ranchi may shortlist candidates at the 92–95th percentile.
• Colleges like IMT, GIM, and TAPMI may accept scores in the 85–90 percentile range.

Pro Tip: Make a shortlist of 6–8 colleges and note their average cutoffs to reverse-engineer your goal.

2. Academic & Work Profile

IIMs give considerable weightage to:

• Class 10th & 12th marks
• Graduation percentage
• Work experience (quality + duration)
• Academic discipline (Engineering vs Non-Engineering)

Profile Type	Implication on CAT Score Goal
Excellent academics + work-ex	Can get shortlist with slightly lower CAT percentile
Poor academics (esp. below 80%)	May need 99.5+ for shortlist at older IIMs
Freshers or non-engineers	Diversity advantage may reduce required CAT score slightly

3. Reservation Category

Reservation makes a major difference in shortlisting cutoffs. Here’s an idea of how percentiles required can differ:

Category	Top IIM Cutoffs (Approx)
General	98.5–99.8
NC-OBC	90–95
EWS	90–95
SC	75–85
ST	65–75
PwD	55–70

While the bar is lower for reserved categories, clearing sectional cutoffs and excelling in other rounds (WAT-PI) is still essential.

4. Section-Wise Strengths and Weaknesses

You must clear all three sectional cutoffs to be eligible for most IIMs. Many students lose out despite high overall scores due to one weak section.

Section	Typical 85%ile Cutoff	99%ile Score (Approx)
VARC	28–32	45–50
DILR	20–26	38–42
QA	22–28	40–45

Know your strong and weak zones — and aim for balance to avoid disqualification.

Final Thought

There’s no universal number you can aim for.

A “good CAT score” for YOU is one that:

• Aligns with your college list
• Matches your academic & work profile
• Clears your category’s cutoffs
• Meets all sectional thresholds

So before you chase 99+ blindly, pause and ask yourself:

“Which score gets me to the institute I truly want?”

What is a Good Sectional Score?

Scoring well overall in the CAT is important, but it’s not enough. Every top B-school has sectional cutoffs that you must clear in VARC, DILR, and QA independently to even be considered for the shortlist.

Many students with a 99+ overall percentile don’t get calls simply because they missed one sectional cutoff by a few marks.

Let’s break down what a “good” sectional score looks like in CAT 2025.

Section-Wise Cutoffs: General Category (Based on CAT 2023–24)

Section	Good Score (99+%ile)	Minimum Cutoff (85–90%ile)	IIM Shortlist Safe Score
VARC	45–50	28–32	32–35
DILR	38–42	22–26	26–30
QA	40–45	23–28	28–32

These are approximate raw scores. Actual cutoffs vary year to year depending on paper difficulty and normalisation.

Section-Wise Percentile Targets

Here’s a quick guide to what you should aim for in each section based on your overall percentile goal:

Overall Goal	VARC (Target %ile)	DILR (Target %ile)	QA (Target %ile)
99+	97–99+	95–98+	97–99+
95–98	90–94+	85–90	90–93+
90–94	80–85+	75–80	80–85+

Why Sectional Scores Matter

1. IIMs Reject Without Sectional Clearance

Even a 99.9th percentile overall won’t get you shortlisted if you score 60th percentile in one section.

2. Weightage in Final Selection

Some institutes like IIM Bangalore and IIM Indore factor in section-wise performance in their final composite score.

3. Red Flags for WAT-PI

Low scores in reading-heavy sections (VARC) may raise concerns during interviews.

Tips to Improve Sectional Scores

• VARC: Focus on reading comprehension daily. Start with editorials and analysis-based reading.
• DILR: Solve 2 sets daily. Prioritise set selection skills during mocks.
• QA: Strengthen arithmetic and algebra basics. Time-bound practice is key.

Remember a  “good CAT score” is a combination of:

• High overall percentile
• AND consistent sectional scores across VARC, DILR, and QA

So while you’re working toward your dream percentile, make sure your preparation covers all three sections equally, because missing even one sectional cutoff can close doors, no matter how high your total score is.

Common Misconceptions About Good CAT Scores

Aspirants often fall into traps created by half-baked advice, unrealistic expectations, or social media hype. Let’s clear the air around some of the biggest misconceptions about what a “good CAT score” really means.

Misconception 1: “You need 99+ percentile to get into IIMs”

Not true.

While the top IIMs (A, B, C) may require a 99+ percentile, many other IIMs (K, L, I, and the newer ones) shortlist candidates with percentiles ranging from 90–95, especially if:

• You belong to a reserved category
• You have a strong academic or professional profile
• You have a non-engineering or gender-diverse background

Reality: IIMs use a composite scoring system, not just CAT percentiles.

Misconception 2: “Attempting more questions = Higher score”

Many students believe that attempting 100% of the questions boosts their chances. However, in CAT, accuracy matters more than attempts.

Example:

Candidate A: 60 attempts, 90% accuracy → Raw Score = High

Candidate B: 66 attempts, 60% accuracy → Raw Score = Moderate

Reality: Attempting more with poor accuracy hurts your score due to negative marking.

Misconception 3: “Only the overall percentile matters”

Nope.

Most top colleges have sectional cutoffs. Even if you score in the 99.5th percentile overall but fall below the 80th percentile in VARC, you won’t be shortlisted by IIM Ahmedabad or IIM Bangalore.

Reality: You must clear all sectional cutoffs to be eligible for shortlisting.

Misconception 4: “All B-schools value the same CAT score”

Different B-schools weigh CAT scores differently in their admission process. Some give:

• 60–70% weight to CAT score (e.g., FMS Delhi)
• Others may consider it only 30–40% and give more weight to academics, work experience, or interviews (e.g., IIM Bangalore)

Reality: Know the weightage distribution of your target college before setting a score goal.

Misconception 5: “I’ll get calls if I clear the cutoff”

Just clearing the cutoff does not guarantee a call.

The cutoffs you see online are minimum thresholds, but actual shortlisting happens based on relative ranking, profile quality, and competition.

Reality: Treat cutoff scores as the bare minimum, not the finish line.

Summary Table: Myths vs. Reality

Myth	Reality
Need 99+ percentile for IIMs	Depends on category, profile, and college
More attempts = Better score	Accuracy is more important due to negative marking
Overall percentile is enough	Sectional cutoffs are equally crucial
All colleges treat CAT score equally	Varies by institute – check weightage criteria
Clearing cutoff guarantees shortlist	Only makes you eligible; final shortlist depends on multiple factors

How to Improve Your Score & Percentile

Whether you’re starting early or feel stuck at a certain score in mocks, the good news is: CAT performance can be improved significantly, with the right approach. It’s not just about solving more questions, but solving them smarter.

Let’s break down a proven strategy to boost your CAT percentile.

1. Set Monthly Score Targets (Backwards Planning)

Instead of saying “I’ll score 99 percentile,” break it down month-wise. This keeps you accountable and tracks progress.

Month	Ideal Raw Score Target	Mock %ile Goal
May–June	45–60	70–80 percentile
July–August	60–75	80–85 percentile
September	75–90	85–90 percentile
October	90–105	90–95 percentile
November	105+105+	95–99 percentile

Tracking your mock scores every 2 weeks will tell you where you stand — and how fast you’re improving.

2. Identify Your Strong & Weak Sections

Use mock test analysis to:

• Track section-wise accuracy
• Note the time spent per question
• Identify high-error topics (e.g., RC tone questions, Venn diagrams, geometry)

Focus on strengthening weak zones rather than doubling down only on strengths.

3. Improve Accuracy Before Attempt Rate

• First, hit 80 %+ accuracy consistently
• Then slowly increase attempts
• Avoid blind guessing, especially in MCQs with negative marking

Tactic: Use “3-scan strategy” in mocks

1st pass: Easy questions

2nd pass: Medium questions

3rd pass: Time-bound attempts for tougher ones

4. Prioritise High-Yield Topics

Some topics consistently contribute more questions. Mastering these can boost your score fast:

Section	High-Yield Topics
VARC	Reading Comprehension, Para Summary, Odd One Out
DILR	Bar Graphs, Logical Games, Caselets
QA	Arithmetic (TSD, Percentages, Ratios), Algebra, Modern Math

5. Take Full-Length Mocks + Analyse Deeply

• Take 1 full-length mock every week (increase to 2 in October)
• Post-mock, spend 2–3 hours analysing:
  • Which questions were guesswork?
  • Which easy ones did you miss?
  • Which questions took too long?

Your improvement lies not in the test itself, but in the quality of post-mock analysis.

6. Revise, Reattempt, Reinforce

• Maintain an error log of repeated mistakes
• Reattempt solved questions from mocks after 2 weeks
• Practice under timed conditions daily

Bonus Tip: Build Test-Taking Endurance

CAT is 2 hours of high focus. Simulate real exam conditions:

• Take mocks at actual exam slots (morning/afternoon/evening)
• Minimise distractions during practice
• Improve mental stamina and focus window

Improving your CAT score isn’t about how much you study — it’s about how well you plan, analyse, and adjust.

Start where you are, track everything, and be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. With consistent effort, a 99 percentile is not just possible — it’s predictable.

College-wise CAT Score Requirements

Now that you understand what a good CAT score looks like in general, it’s time to look at what specific top colleges actually require in terms of percentile, sectional cutoffs, and profile weightage.

Not all colleges treat your CAT score the same way. Some emphasise CAT heavily, while others give more importance to academics, work experience, and diversity.

Let’s explore this in detail.

Top Colleges and Their CAT Cut-Offs

Note: These numbers are indicative and based on trends from CAT 2023–24. Final shortlists may vary in CAT 2025 depending on difficulty level, diversity criteria, and applicant pool.

What Is “Profile Weightage”?

This refers to the non-CAT components used in shortlisting:

• Class 10th, 12th & Graduation marks
• Work experience (quality & duration)
• Gender and academic background diversity
• Written Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI) performance

Colleges like IIM Ahmedabad and Bangalore have been known to reject high CAT scorers in favor of candidates with consistent academics and work profiles.

Important Advice

Don’t aim for a CAT score in isolation. Instead:

• Know your target colleges
• Understand their selection process
• Prepare to meet both score and profile expectations

The better your research, the more strategic and realistic your preparation plan will be.

Final Verdict: How to Know If Your Score is “Good Enough”

So, after all the breakdowns, benchmarks, tables, and strategies, we come to the most important question:

“Is my CAT score good enough?”

The answer depends not just on numbers, but on your goals, your profile, and your chosen colleges. Let’s simplify the decision-making for you.

Checklist to Know If Your Score is Good Enough

Use the table below to self-assess:

Criteria	If YES → You’re On Track
Did you meet the overall percentile required by your target college?	Yes = Eligible for shortlisting
Did you clear all sectional cutoffs (VARC, DILR, QA)?	Yes = Avoids instant disqualification
Does your academic/work profile match the college’s criteria?	Yes = Higher chance of shortlist/convert
Are you from a reserved category and meeting their specific cutoffs?	Yes = Lower CAT score may still qualify
Have you performed well in mock PI/WAT rounds?	Yes = Increases conversion probability

If you answered “Yes” to at least 4 out of 5, your score is likely good enough for your goal.

Examples: Understanding “Good Enough” with Context

Scenario	Verdict
97 percentile, strong profile, Gen category → FMS	Good enough; high chance with great WAT-PI
91 percentile, engineer, no work ex → IIM Indore	Borderline; depends on academics & PI
85 percentile, SC category → IIM K or New IIMs	Yes; very likely to get shortlisted
99 percentile, weak in QA (60%ile) → IIM A	Not eligible due to sectional cutoff

Don’t Just Chase Scores. Chase Strategy.

Many candidates waste a year targeting a magical 99+ score when they:

• Could have made it to a good B-school with 92+
• Didn’t work on PI/WAT or profile-building
• Ignored sectional prep and disqualified themselves

Final Words

CAT is not just about “topping the test” — it’s about matching your score with the right college and preparing to convert that call.

• A “good CAT score” is unique to your context.
• It should get you shortlisted without compromising sectional cutoffs.
• From there, your profile and PI-WAT performance will decide your B-school destiny.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Is Considered a Good CAT Score in 2025?

A good CAT score in 2025 depends on your target college, category, and profile. For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta, a raw score of 150+ or a 99+ percentile is generally considered good. For newer IIMs or private colleges, even a 90–95 percentile may suffice.

2. What’s the Difference Between Raw Score, Scaled Score, and Percentile?

The raw score is your total based on correct and incorrect answers. The scaled score adjusts for difficulty across slots. The percentile shows your relative performance compared to other candidates.

3. How Much Do I Need to Score for the 99th Percentile?

To score in the 99th percentile in CAT, you typically need a raw score of around 150 or more, depending on the paper’s difficulty that year.

4. How Many Questions Should I Attempt for a Good Score?

You should aim to attempt around 50–60 questions with 85% accuracy to reach a 99+ percentile. The number varies based on your accuracy and speed.

5. Can I Get IIM Calls With Less Than 99 Percentile?

Yes, you can. Many IIMs shortlist candidates at the 90th–95th percentile, especially if you belong to a reserved category or have a strong academic profile.

6. What Happens If I Miss a Sectional Cutoff?

Missing even one sectional cutoff disqualifies you from IIM shortlists, even if your overall percentile is high.

7. What Is a Good Sectional Score in CAT?

A good sectional score is typically above the 85th to 90th percentile mark in each section. For top IIMs, scoring 32–35 in each section is usually safe.

8. How Do I Know If My Score Is Good Enough?

Your score is good enough if it meets your target college’s overall and sectional cutoffs and aligns with your profile and category.

9. Do All B-Schools Treat CAT Scores Equally?

No, different colleges assign different weightage to CAT scores. For example, FMS gives 60% weight to CAT, while IIM Bangalore emphasises academics and profile more.

10. Is It Better to Attempt More Questions or Focus on Accuracy?

Focus on accuracy. Attempting too many questions with low accuracy leads to negative marking and lowers your score.

11. How Important Is My Academic Background in IIM Shortlisting?

Very important. IIMs consider your class 10th, 12th, and graduation marks. Some give profile-based shortlists where academics play a big role.

12. What Is the Role of Reservation in CAT Shortlisting?

Reserved category candidates often have lower cutoffs. For instance, SC/ST/PwD aspirants can get calls at percentiles as low as 70–85, depending on the IIM.

13. Can I Get Into IIM With a Gap Year?

Yes, but you should be able to justify the gap during interviews. Many candidates convert IIM calls with gap years if they perform well in PI-WAT.

14. How Can I Improve My CAT Score in the Last 3 Months?

Take weekly full-length mocks, analyse them thoroughly, revise key concepts, and focus on time management and high-yield topics.

15. Are All Questions in the CAT of Equal Importance?

Yes, all questions carry equal marks. However, selecting the right questions to attempt is what differentiates top scorers.

16. Do I Need Coaching to Score Well in CAT?

Coaching helps with structured preparation and mock tests, but it’s not mandatory. Many students succeed with self-study and discipline.

17. How Is CAT Normalised Across Slots?

CAT uses scaled scoring to adjust for differences in slot difficulty. So even if one slot is tougher, your scaled score reflects fairness.

18. Can I Crack CAT in 6 Months?

Yes, with consistent study, daily practice, and mock test analysis, six months is enough to crack CAT with a high percentile.

19. What Are the Common Mistakes CAT Aspirants Make?

Focusing only on the overall percentile, ignoring sectional balance, attempting too many questions with low accuracy, and not analysing mocks are common mistakes.

20. What Should I Do If I Score 85–90 Percentile?

You still have great options. Target good private B-schools, prepare well for WAT-PI, and consider a retake if your profile supports a higher percentile.