Introduction
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the national-level entrance exam for admission into India’s top management institutes like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) [1]. The exam is conducted annually by the IIMs to screen candidates for their business administration programs.
This article aims to provide an overview of CAT exam scores, analyzing what is considered a good score and the factors that determine it. Scores are evaluated section-wise and percentiles are used to determine cut-offs and shortlists. In general, scoring above the 90th percentile is considered very good, while 70-80th percentile is decent for making it past initial shortlists.
About the CAT
The CAT stands for the Common Admission Test.[1] This is a prestigious national-level entrance exam administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission into postgraduate and fellow management programs. The CAT tests a candidate’s quantitative, verbal, and logical reasoning skills.[2]
The purpose of the CAT is to evaluate a candidate’s overall aptitude and suitability for pursuing management education at top B-schools in India like the IIMs and other premier institutes.[3] It serves as a common entrance test score accepted by numerous institutes. The CAT score is used for shortlisting candidates for subsequent rounds like group discussions, written tasks, and personal interviews.
The CAT exam has been conducted by the IIMs every year since 2009 when the exam went online. Previously, the exam was administered in paper-based mode. Every year, over 2 lakh candidates appear for the CAT across test centers in India.
[1] https://mba.hitbullseye.com/CAT/About-CAT.php
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Admission_Test
[3] https://byjus.com/cat/exam-info/
Exam Format
The CAT exam is a computer-based test with a total of 100 questions divided into 3 sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension – 34 questions
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning – 32 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude – 34 questions
The total time duration is 120 minutes. Candidates get 40 minutes for each section, which have to be attempted in sequence. There is a sectional time limit, so test takers cannot switch between sections or go back to previous sections once the time limit expires (Source: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-pattern).
Scoring Process
The CAT exam uses a scaled scoring system without negative marking. Candidates receive a scaled score for each section – Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC). The scaled scores for each section are then used to calculate the candidate’s overall percentile.
Scaled scoring normalizes the raw marks across different forms and difficulty levels of the exam. This allows fair comparison of scores across different years and test forms. The raw scores are statistically normalized based on the performance of all test takers and converted to scaled scores ranging from 0 to 300 for each section.
CAT does not have any negative marking for wrong answers. This means candidates should attempt to answer all questions within the sectional time limit, since there is no penalty for wrong responses. Attempting more questions helps improve the chances of getting a good percentile.
In addition to sectional scaled scores, CAT also provides an overall percentile for the composite score which indicates the candidate’s performance relative to all other test takers. For admission to top B-schools, an overall percentile above 90 is generally considered good. A higher sectional percentile indicates stronger aptitude and proficiency in that particular section.
For more details on the CAT scoring process, refer to the official website: CAT Normalization Process 2023: Composite Score Calculation
What is a Good Score?
What is considered a good CAT score depends primarily on the aspirant’s target institute and course. Since CAT is taken by over 2 lakh students every year, it uses percentiles rather than raw marks to normalize scores across different exam slots and difficulties. A CAT percentile indicates the percentage of test takers who have scored equal to or below that particular percentile.
In general, a CAT percentile above 90 is considered good, while 99+ percentile is excellent and usually required for securing interview calls from the top IIMs. However, the exact cutoff varies from institute to institute and also depends on category and work experience. For instance, IIM Ahmedabad’s cutoff percentile for general category candidates was 99 in 2022, while IIM Bangalore had a cutoff of 98.5 percentile.1
Candidates targeting the flagship IIM programs like PGP or PGDM need to score 99+ percentile on CAT to have a strong chance. However, for other institutes and courses like IIM Executive MBA, a percentile between 90-95 may suffice. Ultimately, aspiring MBAs should aim for the highest possible percentile to keep multiple options open.
Section-wise Marks
To be considered for admission to most IIMs, a minimum sectional cut-off must be achieved in each section. The minimum cut-offs for IIMs vary between 70–80 percentile in each section.
According to CAT Score vs Percentile 2023 – Collegedunia, the ideal section-wise scores for top IIMs are:
- Quantitative Ability: 70-75%
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning: 70-75%
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 70-75%
Achieving a score above the 70th percentile in each section indicates a well-rounded performance across all three sections. Candidates with very high scores in one section, but scores below the cut-off in other sections may not make the cut.
Other Factors
In addition to CAT score, IIMs consider several other factors in the admission process:
Academic record
Your scores in 10th, 12th, and graduation are evaluated. Consistency in academic performance throughout your education is preferred. IIMs typically look for 80%+ in 10th and 12th, and 65%+ in graduation. However, these cutoffs vary by IIM and the specific program.
According to this article, your academic profile contributes around 25% weightage in the overall selection process.
Work experience
The quality and relevance of your work experience is assessed. Leadership roles, career growth and accomplishments are valued. Work ex helps showcase your managerial and leadership potential.
As per this source, work experience accounts for around 20% of the selection criteria weightage.
Diversity
IIMs aim to create a diverse cohort with students from different backgrounds. Geographic, academic, gender and socio-economic diversity is considered.
Interview performance
Your communication skills, personality, confidence and clarity of thought is judged in the interview. You need to demonstrate your motivation and fit for an IIM program.
The PI contributes around 25% weightage as per this source.
How to Improve Score
There are a few key strategies that can help improve your CAT score:
First, focus on your strengths. Spend more time practicing and sharpening your skills in your best sections. For example, if you excel at verbal ability, do more reading comprehension passages and vocabulary exercises.
Time management is also critical. Practice taking mock exams within the allotted time to improve your pacing. Learn shortcuts and strategies to solve questions quickly without sacrificing accuracy.
Taking regular mock tests is one of the best ways to improve your performance. Mocks expose you to the exam format and difficulty level. Review them to identify weak areas to improve. CAT takers should take at least 15-20 mock tests before the exam.
Finally, be cautious of negative marking. Avoid randomly guessing on questions you don’t know, as 1⁄3 marks are deducted for incorrect answers. It’s better to skip unknown questions and maximize your score on ones you’re confident about.
For more tips, check out these excellent resources: How can I improve my score from 50% to 99% in CAT?, How to improve my CAT Mock Percentile?, and How to Improve CAT4 Test Scores.
Latest Trends
Over the past 5 years, the CAT exam has been increasing in difficulty according to a CAT Past 5 years Analysis and Trends report by Careers360. The quantitative ability section in particular has become more challenging, requiring quicker math skills. The exam has also shifted towards becoming more gender-neutral in recent years, with less emphasis on topics that tend to favor male test takers.
Another notable trend is the increasing number of non-engineering applicants taking the CAT exam. Traditionally engineers made up a large percentage of CAT test takers, but that ratio has been declining. More students with diverse academic backgrounds including commerce, humanities, and sciences are attempting the CAT and pursuing management degrees.
Conclusion
To summarize, a good CAT score depends on many factors like the difficulty level of the exam, sectional cutoffs of different IIMs, and personal target scores. However, aiming for an overall percentile above 90 is advisable to get shortlisted for top B-schools. Beyond just the overall score, sectional scores also play an important role.
Having a strong preparation strategy is critical for achieving a high CAT score. This involves taking mock tests, analyzing weak areas, managing time efficiently during the exam, and staying focused. With thorough preparation over 4-6 months, achieving a good CAT score is very much possible.