Introduction
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission to postgraduate management programs. It is one of the most prestigious and competitive exams in India with over 2 lakh candidates appearing each year.
CAT follows a percentile based scoring system. Percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below a particular raw score in the exam. A candidate with a 100 percentile has scored higher than all the other candidates who took the test. It means the candidate has obtained the highest possible score. Typically, 100 percentile is achieved by scoring between 98 to 100 percentage of the total marks.
What is 100 Percentile in CAT?
In the CAT exam, 100 percentile does not literally mean scoring 100% marks. Due to the competitive nature of the exam with over 2 lakh test takers, a 100 percentile score simply indicates that a candidate has scored better than 100% of the other test takers in the exam. Scoring a 100 percentile means that the candidate has secured the highest possible scaled score out of all candidates who took the CAT that year (Source).
Achieving 100 percentile is an exceptional feat, as it indicates that the candidate has outperformed every single test taker in the entire CAT exam for that year. Only a miniscule fraction of candidates, usually less than 100, are able to score a 100 percentile each year. The 100 percentile score typically corresponds to around 90-95% raw marks, but varies from year to year depending on the difficulty level of the exam and calibre of test takers.
How Many Marks for 100 Percentile?
The total marks in CAT is 198. To score a 100 percentile, a candidate needs to score very high marks in the exam. As per experts, scoring above 190 out of 198 marks (95%+ marks) is usually required to get a 100 percentile [1].
The exact marks range for 100 percentile varies from year to year depending on the exam difficulty and performance of test takers. In CAT 2022, 100 percentile was achieved at 186.82 marks out of 198, while in CAT 2021 it was around 185 marks. The highest ever 100 percentile score was 190.83 marks in CAT 2015 [2].
Overall, aiming for above 185-190 marks out of 198 is a good target to achieve 100 percentile in CAT.
Historical 100 Percentile Cutoffs
The 100 percentile cutoff for CAT has fluctuated over the past several years. Here is a look at the 100 percentile cutoffs for the previous CAT exams:
In CAT 2022, the 100 percentile cutoff stood at 90.83 overall and 100 in each section. For General category candidates, it was 90.83 while for NC-OBC and SC candidates it was 82.63 and 65.63 respectively.
In CAT 2021, the 100 percentile cutoff was 86 overall and 100 in each section. For General category candidates, it was 86 while for NC-OBC and SC candidates it was 75.75 and 58.75 respectively.
In CAT 2020, the 100 percentile cutoff stood at 83 overall and 100 in each section. For General category candidates, it was 83 while for NC-OBC and SC candidates it was 73 and 60 respectively.
These historical 100 percentile cutoffs give an indication of the score range required to achieve 100 percentile in CAT exam.
Difficulty Level of 100 Percentile
Achieving 100 percentile in CAT is an extremely difficult feat due to the intense competition and rigorous exam format. As per Quora, over 2 lakh candidates appear for CAT each year, all vying for a perfect 100 percentile score. The difficulty level has also increased over the years, with CAT incorporating harder question types testing advanced quantitative ability, logical reasoning, and verbal skills.
According to CATKing, 100 percentile requires mastering all sections and attempting questions with over 90% accuracy under time pressure. Candidates must have exceptional analytical thinking, problem-solving speed, and cognitive abilities. The competition is fierce, as Careers360 notes that only 9-10 candidates secure 100 percentile each year. Consistent preparation over 6-12 months through mocks and learning from errors is key.
Overall, a 100 percentile in CAT requires the ability to maintain speed and accuracy across all sections. Given the high difficulty level and cut-throat competition, only the top 0.01% are able to achieve this score through rigorous practice.
Key Factors for 100 Percentile
Achieving a 100 percentile score on the CAT exam requires thorough preparation and a strategic approach. Some of the key factors that contribute to scoring in the top percentile include:
Preparation Time – Students aiming for 100 percentile typically spend 4-6 months preparing intensively for CAT. Having adequate time to go through the syllabus, solve previous years’ papers, take mock tests, and work on weak areas is crucial. Starting preparation early provides the required time frame.
Quality Test Series – Taking high quality mock tests and test series that closely mimic the actual CAT is important. This helps a student analyze their performance across different test patterns and identify areas of improvement.
Section-wise Strategy – Having customized sectional strategies for Quant, DILR and Verbal Ability helps maximize scores in each section. Understanding the sectional time limits and difficulty levels is important.
Accuracy over Speed – For difficult CAT questions, focusing on maximizing accuracy is more important than just attempting many questions quickly. Rushing through questions to improve attempts often leads to negative marks which can drastically pull down percentiles.
Consistency – Being consistent with CAT preparation over the 4-6 month duration is vital. Taking weekly mock tests, analyzing performance, improving test taking strategy and working on weaknesses should be done regularly.
Avoid Silly Mistakes – Silly errors in calculations, not reading questions correctly etc can cost easy marks. Candidates should thoroughly revise basic concepts and focus on avoiding such errors under exam pressure.
Section-wise Strategy
Scoring 100 percentile in CAT requires an excellent strategy for attempting each section.
For the Quantitative Ability section, focus on speed and accuracy. Go through the basic concepts and formulas thoroughly. Solve previous years’ CAT papers to get familiar with the type of questions asked. Aim to attempt 22-24 questions correctly in this section.
In the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section, focus on logic and speed. Go through the question statements carefully and avoid silly mistakes. Attempt to solve at least 18 questions correctly in this section.
For the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section, build your vocabulary, understand passage structure and practice reading comprehensions extensively from various topics. Aim for attempting around 22-24 questions correctly in this section.
Additionally, attempt the sections which are your strengths first. This allows you to maximize your score in those sections without time pressure. Manage your time well and do not get stuck on any question for too long.
With consistent practice and a strategic approach, scoring 100 percentile in CAT is achievable.
Recommended Study Resources
To prepare for CAT and aim for 100 percentile, here are some of the most recommended study resources:
- “How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT” by Arun Sharma – This book provides in-depth coverage of all quantitative topics with plenty of solved examples and practice exercises (https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-books-for-preparation-of-the-CAT-100-percentile-What-is-the-best-mock-test-institution-or-online-web-name)
- “How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT” by Meenakshi Upadhyay and Shalini Verma – Comprehensive guide for verbal preparation with tips, strategies and exercises (https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-books-for-preparation-of-the-CAT-100-percentile-What-is-the-best-mock-test-institution-or-online-web-name)
- TIME Mock CAT Test Series – Take regular mock tests for better time management and to analyze performance across sections (https://indiablooms.com/life-details/L/3194/books-to-prefer-for-getting-99-percentile-in-cat.html)
- Online courses like TIME, IMS and Career Launcher – Structured preparation through video lectures, mock tests, doubt solving etc.
- Sectional ebooks from publishers like Arihant and Disha – Useful for topic-wise preparation and question banks
A combination of books, mock tests and online coaching is recommended for comprehensive CAT preparation. Solve previous years’ papers, take regular mocks and focus on improving speed and accuracy.
College Admissions for 100 Percentilers
100 percentile scorers in CAT have excellent options when it comes to MBA admissions in India. The top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow typically have cutoffs between 99 to 100 percentile for their flagship MBA programs [1]. In addition to the IIMs, other top business schools like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, XLRI Jamshedpur and SPJIMR Mumbai also have 100 percentile cutoffs for their best MBA programs [2].
Candidates with a 100 percentile score in CAT 2021 can expect calls from the top IIMs as well as other leading institutes like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur for their MBA programs. Most top public and private business schools in India offer admission to 100 percentile scorers, provided the candidate also has a strong academic profile.
In terms of programs, the flagship 2-year full-time MBA remains the most coveted program at the IIMs and other top business schools for 100 percentile scorers in CAT. With consistently excellent placements, high-quality faculty and alumni networks, the full-time MBA programs at the IIMs as well as FMS Delhi, XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR and others are the top choices for 100 percentilers.
Conclusion
Scoring 100 percentile in CAT is certainly an ambitious goal that requires exceptional aptitude and months of diligent preparation across all three sections of the exam. The 100 percentile cutoff has historically been around 99.95 to 99.99 percentile, which equates to getting nearly all questions correct. Such perfectionism demands sharp quantitative skills, verbal proficiency, logical reasoning abilities and speed, along with extensive practice across past year CAT papers.
While it is undoubtedly challenging, the rewards of scoring 100 percentile are significant. You become eligible for admission to the top IIMs and other prestigious institutes, gain valuable scholarship opportunities, and demonstrate your intellectual abilities at the highest quantifiable level. The sense of achievement and confidence gained from this benchmark can set you up for continued success in your management education and career ahead.
With meticulous preparation using the right study resources, techniques and time commitment, a focused attempt adhering to sectional strategies, and a cool head under pressure, achieving the rare 100 percentile milestone is within the grasp of the most talented and hardworking CAT aspirants. The journey to get there will undoubtedly expand your knowledge, sharpen your skill set, and reveal your true capabilities.