Introduction to CAT
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the premier MBA entrance exam in India conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) [1]. It is a computer-based test taken by over 2 lakh candidates each year for admission to the 20 IIMs and other top MBA colleges in India [2].
The CAT exam aims to evaluate candidates’ quantitative, verbal, logical and analytical skills to assess their suitability for pursuing management education. The exam structure has changed over the years and currently comprises three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Candidates get 60 minutes for each section with sectional time limits [3].
Based on the CAT score and performance in other exams like MAT, XAT etc., candidates are shortlisted for the next rounds by IIMs and other B-schools. The overall CAT score out of 300 plays a big role in determining admission chances at top MBA colleges.
Scoring System
The CAT exam is scored out of 300 marks. The exam consists of 3 sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section has 34 questions carrying 100 marks each. So the total marks each section can fetch is 100. This makes the total possible score 300.
The section-wise score is calculated based on the number of correct and incorrect responses. For each correct answer, a candidate gets +3 marks. For each incorrect answer, 1 mark is deducted. Questions that are left unattempted do not get any mark. The raw score for each section is calculated by adding the positive marks for the right responses and deducting the negative marks for the wrong responses. This raw score is then scaled to a percentage score between 0 to 100 for each section.
According to CAT Exam Pattern 2023, there is no sectional cut-off in CAT. The overall percentile score is calculated based on the aggregate scaled scores of all three sections.
Percentile Scoring
Percentile refers to the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below a particular percentile. In CAT, the percentile scoring system is used to normalize scores across different test forms and evaluate performance. This makes the CAT scores comparable across different years. The percentiles indicate the percentage of candidates who have scored equal to or below a particular percentile.
The percentiles are calculated based on the scores of all the candidates who appeared for CAT in a particular year. For example, if a candidate scores in the 90th percentile, it means the candidate has performed better than 90% of the other test takers. Similarly, a 70 percentile implies that 70% of candidates have scored equal to or lesser than that score.
The CAT percentile score is calculated using the following formula:
Percentile Score = [1 – (Number of candidates with equal or better scores/Total number of candidates)] x 100
For example, if 2,00,000 candidates appeared for CAT 2022 and 1,40,000 scored equal to or less than a candidate, then the candidate’s percentile score will be:
Candidate’s Percentile Score = [1 – (1,40,000/2,00,000)] x 100 = 30th Percentile
The CAT administering body IIM releases the percentile scorecard indicating percentiles corresponding to raw scores after the CAT results are declared. Candidates can use this to determine their approximate percentile based on their raw score (Cite: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/cat-percentile-predictor-blogId-19659)
70 Percentile Score
Scoring in the 70th percentile on the CAT indicates that the test taker has performed better than 70% of the other test takers. This places them in the top 30% of all test takers, which is a moderately competitive score.
A percentile score of 70 translates to an approximate raw score of 35 out of 100 in the CAT exam. However, the exact raw score varies from year to year depending on the difficulty level of the exam and performance of all test takers.
Achieving a 70 percentile CAT score requires thorough preparation and a well-rounded performance across all three sections – Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Test takers aiming for a 70 percentile score need to have good conceptual knowledge and sound exam strategy.
Scoring 70 percentile in CAT is considered a reasonably good score for admission to many good MBA colleges in India. However, for the top IIMs and premium MBA programs, candidates need an even higher CAT percentile score of 90+ for shortlisting.
With disciplined preparation over 4-6 months, 70 percentile in CAT is certainly achievable for most diligent test takers. However, one needs to thoroughly analyze their mock test performance and keep improving their test taking skills to reach this score level.
Section-wise Score Estimate
To achieve an overall 70 percentile in CAT, you need an estimated section-wise score of:
- Quantitative Aptitude – 70-75 percentile, scaled score of 60-65 [1]
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning – 70-75 percentile, scaled score of 60-65 [2]
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension – 70-75 percentile, scaled score of 60-65 [3]
The overall percentile is calculated based on the composite score of all three sections. So scoring 70-75 percentile in each section independently will likely lead to an overall 70 percentile in CAT.
College Admissions
A CAT score of 70 percentile indicates that the candidate has performed better than 70% of the test takers. This is considered a moderate score and many good colleges accept students with this percentile.
Some of the top colleges that accept CAT scores in the 70-80 percentile range include:
- IIM Shillong
- XIME Bangalore
- BITS Pilani
- BIMTECH Greater Noida
- Christ University Institute of Management
Candidates with a 70 percentile CAT score have decent chances of getting into reputed colleges like the above for MBA admissions. However, the final admission will also depend on other factors like academic record, work experience, extracurricular activities, etc. It is recommended to apply to 8-10 colleges to maximize your chances.
With a focused preparation plan and diligent effort, it is quite possible to improve one’s CAT score in future attempts. A good score in CAT along with other strong profile parameters will help secure admission to top MBA colleges.
Exam Preparation Tips
If you want to improve your CAT score from 70 percentile, here are some effective exam preparation tips:
Analyze your mock test performance – Identify your weak areas and focus more time practicing those topics. Look at which section you scored the lowest on and improve those skills.
Work on speed and accuracy – Practice solving questions quickly while maintaining accuracy. Set timed practice tests to simulate actual exam conditions.
Focus on your weaknesses – Don’t just practice what you already know. Spend more time understanding and applying concepts you struggle with.
Take more mock tests – Take at least one mock test every week leading up to CAT. Review where you lost marks and improve those areas.
Learn from previous years’ CAT papers – Practice with previous CAT papers to understand the level and pattern of questions asked.
Sharpen your quantitative skills – Improve your speed and accuracy in math, data interpretation and logical reasoning through regular practice.
Read extensively – Build your vocabulary and reading comprehension skills by reading newspapers, magazines, books etc. daily.
Stay motivated – Maintain a positive attitude and keep reminding yourself that you can score better with diligent preparation.
Manage exam stress – Practice meditation, go for walks and use other methods to reduce anxiety and stress before the exam.
Common Mistakes
To improve your score from 70 percentile to 99 percentile in CAT, it’s important to identify and avoid the common mistakes made by CAT exam takers. According to experts on Quora, one of the best ways to reach 99 percentile is to analyze where you are currently making mistakes and work on reducing those errors over time.
Some common mistakes to avoid for improving your CAT percentile include:
- Not managing time properly across sections – CAT has strict sectional time limits, so you need to pace yourself well and not spend too long on any single question.
- Making silly errors in Quant and DI/LR – Rushing through calculations or not reading questions properly often leads to easily avoidable mistakes. Slow down and double check your work.
- Not attempting questions you find difficult – Leaving questions blank significantly hurts your score. Make an educated guess rather than leaving it incomplete.
- Not revising formulae and concepts – Having a weak foundation in key quant and verbal areas leads to more mistakes. Strengthen your basics through regular revision.
- Faltering in accuracy for VA/RC – Read passages carefully and avoid assumptions. Follow the author’s tone and flow while answering questions.
By being aware of the error-prone areas and carefully avoiding the common mistakes listed above, you can steadily improve your CAT score from 70 to 99 percentile.
Future Attempts
One of the best things about CAT is that there is no limit on the number of attempts you can take. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria, you can appear for CAT every year.
Many students take CAT multiple times to try and improve their scores. It’s quite common for serious MBA aspirants to take the CAT exam 2-3 times or even more. Taking the exam again allows you to get familiar with the pattern and build speed and accuracy.
With unlimited attempts, you get the chance to rectify any mistakes from past attempts. If you are unhappy with your CAT percentile, you can always reappear and try to better your score. Just make sure to analyze your performance and create an effective preparation strategy for subsequent attempts.
Conclusion
To summarize, a 70 percentile CAT score indicates performance better than 70% of test takers. It corresponds to an overall score around 120-125 out of 300 marks. While 70% is considered a decent score, it may not guarantee admission into the top IIMs for General category students. However, with well-rounded academics and work experience, admissions at new IIMs or top private B-schools is possible.
Key highlights:
- CAT uses percentile based scoring that ranks test takers
- 70 percentile is a reasonably good score but highly competitive
- Section-wise scores of around 40 in each section would total ~120 marks
- Admissions chances increase with academics, profile and work experience
- With preparation, aim to improve percentile in future attempts
In conclusion, a 70 percentile CAT score reflects above-average performance. While admirable, strategic preparation and a well-rounded profile can help secure admission to a reputed MBA program.