CAT Score vs Percentile 2022: How to Calculate Them?

CAT Score vs Percentile 2022 is the analysis of the score required by a CAT test-taker to obtain a certain percentile for MBA admission at IIMs and other B-Schools in India. While the CAT score is the total marks a candidate attains in the exam as per the marking scheme, the CAT percentile denotes his performance with respect to the total number of candidates who qualify for the exam.

For example, if a student's CAT percentile is 95, then it means that his CAT score is greater than 95% of the candidates who took CAT 2022. While the CAT score and the CAT percentile are two different things, they have equal importance. Both of them directly influence a candidate’s chance of getting admission into the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and other Top B-Schools in India. The higher the CAT percentile, the better the chances for MBA admission.

CAT Percentile is the most common term used by candidates when it comes to taking MBA admission. But, understanding the CAT score vs percentile relationship seems confusing to them. They often wonder, “What is the difference between the CAT score and percentile, and which one is more important?” To help you understand these two terms clearly, we have put down a detailed analysis of the CAT score vs percentile 2022 in this article.

Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by IIMs on a rotational basis every year. Over 2 lakh MBA aspirants apply for CAT every year, which makes it one of the toughest entrance tests in India. CAT 2022 was conducted on November 27, 2022, and the result was announced on December 21, 2022, by IIM Bangalore.

Now let's move forward to understanding CAT score vs percentile 2022 in detail, how to calculate them, and their basic differences. We have also provided the expected CAT score vs percentile in 2022, along with the previous years’ analyses.

Also Read: 

CAT 2022 Result Link	CAT 2022 Score Requirement for IIMs
CAT 2022 Topper List	CAT 2022 100-Percentile Scorers

CAT Score vs Percentile 2022: How to Calculate?

To understand the CAT score vs percentile relationship, one must first understand the CAT 2022 exam pattern and marking scheme provided in the table below.

Three marks will be awarded for each correct answer and one mark will be deducted for every wrong answer. There is no negative marking for non-MCQs and unanswered questions. Now let us move forward to understanding what is the CAT score and what is the CAT percentile. This will help us grasp the logic behind the CAT 2022 score vs percentile analysis.

What is CAT Score?

Before moving on to the CAT score vs percentile 2022 analysis, let us understand what CAT score is. The total mark that a student obtains in the CAT exam on the basis of its marking scheme is the CAT score. In simple words, the marks a candidate scores in all three sections (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability) will be his CAT score.

How to Calculate CAT Score?

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned below to calculate their CAT score:

• Calculate the number of correct answers you marked in the CAT exam and multiply each by 3 (Three marks are awarded for each correct answer).

• Now calculate the number of incorrect answers and minus the total with the total number of correct answers multiplied by 3.

• The obtained result will be your CAT score.

Here's the CAT 2022 score calculator formula:

What are CAT Scaled Scores/Marks?

The CAT exam is conducted across multiple sessions (two or three). The question papers for each session are slightly different from one another, and a scaled score is generated through the normalization process to assure fairness and equity in performance comparison. This scaled score could differ from the raw score in both directions.

What is CAT Percentile?

CAT percentile represents the rank of a student in the exam, relative to the rest of the students who appeared in the same time frame, along with a few other parameters. In simple words, the CAT percentile points to a candidate’s position among all applicants for CAT, based on which the ranking of the candidate is decided. It is a unit used to calculate/evaluate the percentage of students above or below you in the merit list.

How to Calculate CAT Percentile?

Percentiles in the CAT exam are just like percentiles in other exams. The percentiles are just a representation/ indication of the number of people who are behind you in the test. Here's the CAT 2022 percentile calculator formula:

Example 1: Let us assume that 50 candidates appeared for the CAT exam. You have done well in the exam and scored 3rd rank on the entrance test, which means that 47 students scored less than you. Now, your percentile should be calculated as follows: -

47/50*100 = 94 Percentile.

Therefore, you scored 94 percentile in CAT as per the above example.

Example 2: Let us assume that 2,000 candidates appeared for the CAT exam. You have topped the exam by securing the first rank, which means that 1,999 candidates scored less than you. Now, your percentile should be calculated as follows: -

1999/2000*100 = 99.95 Percentile.

Therefore, you scored 99.95 percentile in CAT as per the above example.

After having a look at the above examples, you might wonder how multiple people secure the 100 percentile in CAT. Well, it happens because of rounding off. Candidates should note that the CAT scorecard shows the percentile up to two decimal digits. Therefore, we will have to round it off. If we will have to round this off to two decimal places, we should round it up to the 100 percentile.

The aspirants must note that there is no specific method for CAT through which they can figure out the exact score they will have to achieve to feature in the elite list of the CAT 99 percentile league. The percentile in the CAT exam is evaluated at par with the difficulty level of the exam.

CAT Score vs Percentile 2022: Section-wise

Given below are the expected CAT 2022 score vs percentile that students can expect. The information will change based on various factors related to the exam:

Percentile	VARC Score	DILR Score	QA Score	Overall Score
99.5	44	36	39	101
99	41	31	36	91
98	35	28	31	80
95	29	22	24	66
90	24	18	17	53
85	20	15	14	45
80	17	13	11	40

(Source: IMS India)

CAT 2022 Percentile Calculation Process: Key Changes

Candidates should be aware of every major and minor change regarding the CAT 2022 exam to avoid confusion during the selection process. This is to ensure that candidates are not faced with any sort of confusion when going through the CAT 2022 marks vs percentile analysis. IIM Bangalore is expected to keep the CAT percentile calculation process the same as last year with the following criteria:

• All percentile scores greater than or equal to 99.995 have been rounded off to 100.

• All percentile scores greater than or equal to 99.985 but strictly lower than 99.995 have been rounded off to 99.99 and so on.

CAT Score vs Percentile: Conversion Stages

There are several steps involved in converting CAT scores to percentile scores. Understanding the different stages of this process is crucial to understand what is the CAT 2022 score vs percentile analysis. The CAT 2022 raw scores will first be converted to scaled scores. CAT percentile will next be determined by the scaled scores. However, the CAT Scaled Score and CAT Percentile Score are the two key numbers on the CAT scorecard. The CAT scorecard does not show the core marks earned in the CAT exam. The scorecard will only show a candidate’s Scaled CAT score Vs Percentile 2022, both overall and section-wise. The three stages of converting raw CAT score into the final percentile include:

• CAT Raw Scores: This can be calculated based on the CAT 2022 marking scheme and the level of precision with which a candidate answers the questions. Additionally, candidates can check it using the answer keys that IIMs make available following the CAT exam.

• CAT Raw Score to CAT Scaled Score: This calculation is done by the IIMs after the normalization of raw results for all CAT exam slots.

• CAT Scaled Score to CAT Percentile Score: This stage of calculation is done by IIMs depending upon the number of test takers across the CAT exam slots.

Also Read:

IIM Bangalore Placements 2022	IIM Ranchi Placements 2022
IIM Indore Placements 2022	IIM Trichy Placements 2022
IIM Kozhikode Placements 2022	IIM Udaipur Placements 2022

CAT 2022 Marks vs Percentile: Expected IIMs Cutoff

IIMs CAT cutoffs are released on the basis of CAT scores. Here are the expected CAT 2022 score vs percentile for the top 5 IIMs based on NIRF rankings 2021.

CAT Score vs Percentile: IIM Ahmedabad

Aspirants can check the expected CAT 2022 Marks vs Percentile for IIM Ahmedabad in the table mentioned below. 

CAT Score vs Percentile: IIM Bangalore 

Aspirants can check the expected CAT 2022 Marks vs Percentile for IIM Bangalore in the table mentioned below. 

CAT Score vs Percentile: IIM Calcutta

Aspirants can check the expected CAT 2022 Marks vs Percentile for IIM Calcutta in the table mentioned below. 

CAT Score vs Percentile: IIM Lucknow

Aspirants can check the expected CAT 2022 Score vs Percentile for IIM Lucknow in the table mentioned below. 

CAT Score vs Percentile: IIM Kozhikode

Aspirants can check the expected CAT Score vs Percentile 2022 for IIM Kozhikode in the table mentioned below. 

CAT 2022 Score vs Percentile: IIM Scaling and Normalization Process 

CAT 2022 exam will be conducted in different shifts. IIMs follow a smart scaling and normalization process for calculating CAT 2022 score vs percentile with the objective to determine the merit of the candidates appearing for the CAT 2022 exam in different sessions. The scaling and normalization process came into existence after the CAT was revamped into a computer-based test.

The normalization process followed by IIMs for the CAT exam ensures complete justice when it comes to appraising equity and fairness in performance across multiple sessions. The CAT normalization process is a clear practice of comparing the CAT scores of candidates across different forms and is similar to other popular entrance exams in India such as the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). For normalization across sections, IIMs use percentile equivalence.

To put it simply, the CAT normalization process is based on the primary guesswork that in all sessions of the CAT exam, the ability of the candidates remains the same without any changes.

Let us try to interpret the CAT scoring system to get a fair idea of the percentile more clearly. The CAT paper comprises 100 questions and three marks are awarded to each correct answer while one mark is deducted for a negative answer. The original score secured by the candidates in CAT is not based on this typical marking system due to the prevalence of the normalization process.

In recent years, the normalization process is not too aggressive as the CAT exam is being conducted in two slots on a single day (morning and afternoon). Therefore, the scaled score mentioned in the CAT scorecard remains too close to the actual marks secured by the candidates.

Also Read: What is a Good CAT 2022 Percentile/Score?

How IIMs Calculate CAT Composite Score?

The composite score is the final score calculated by IIMs for admission to their programs. CAT score is only a part of a candidate and many other parameters are considered to calculate their composite score.

Based on various parameters, two candidates with the same on-paper score may have different composite scores. Here are the other parameters that are considered while drawing a composite score:

• Class 10th Marks
• Class 12th Marks
• Graduation Percentage/ Grade
• Work Experience
• Academic Background
• Gender Diversity

The formula for calculating CAT Composite Score used by the IIMs is as follows:

CAT score vs percentile for 2022 will be announced by IIM Bangalore in the first week of January 2023 after the announcement of CAT 2022 results. The score vs percentile of the CAT 2022 exam will be calculated based on the candidates’ rank as per their score.

Also Read: How to Get Admission into Top B Schools in India With Low CAT 2022 Scores

CAT 2021 Score vs Percentile

Provided below is the section-wise CAT score vs Percentile for 2021. Students who appeared for CAT 2022 can refer to the table to get an idea of the relation between these two parameters.

CAT 2020 Score vs Percentile

In 2020, a total of 9 candidates and 19 candidates out of 2,27,835 acquired 100 and 99.99 percentile respectively in CAT. Aspirants were from various backgrounds such as engineering or technology, mathematics, electronics, management, etc. The CAT score vs percentile 2020 has been provided in the following table:

CAT 2019 Score vs Percentile

CAT 2019 witnessed 10 candidates out of 2.09 lakh candidates scoring 100 percentile. Those who scored 100 percentile in the CAT are from Engineering backgrounds. The highest number of toppers in CAT 2019 are from Maharashtra where four candidates scored 100 percentile. Almost 21 candidates scored 99.99 percentile, and 19 of them were from Engineering backgrounds. The table below explains the score vs percentile analysis of CAT 2019.

So, this was all about the CAT percentile vs marks analysis. Hope you now have a fair understanding of what the CAT score and CAT percentile are, the difference between them, and how to calculate them.

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