CAT Percentile-Wise Colleges: B-Schools for You Based on Your CAT Score

Every year, the IIMs administer the Common Admission Test (CAT) on a rotational basis. The CAT Exam assesses candidates’ quantitative, data interpretation, verbal and logical thinking abilities in an effort to better support institutions in selecting students for their business and administration programmes. When the CAT scorecards are published, all management aspirants are faced with a decision over which management school to attend. This article will give you a comprehensive image of B-schools and their respective cut-off marks, as cut-off marks vary from year to year in various management colleges.

In this Article,

• Cat Percentile for IIMs
• Cat Percentile for Non-IIMs
• Factors Affecting the CAT Percentile

Candidates are required to secure a high percentile to get admission to any IIMs or other premier management colleges in India. Last year, the CAT percentile for the majority of the premier management colleges in India, like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Calcutta, was above the 95 percentile. The short-list percentile will determine whether a candidate is considered for group discussion or personal interview. When candidates receive a call from the IIMs, they usually set the cut-off percentile higher than the short-list cut-off percentile. CAT percentiles for each institution will be available once the results are released. Non-IIM colleges accept scores and percentiles above 80 percentile. Candidates must be well aware of the CAT percentile calculation and the difference between the CAT score and the CAT percentile.

CAT Percentile for IIMs

The CAT cut-offs, which are used to filter applicants for the group discussion, written ability test and personal interview, vary with each IIM. The CAT Exam cut-off varies from institution to institution, and each IIM publishes its own CAT cut-off on its official website. The table below shows the CAT percentiles necessary to get into IIMs for the last academic year. The CAT percentile, in its most basic form, is the aggregate proportion of test-takers who performed the same as or less than a specific individual. 99 percentiles, for example, indicate that an individual scored higher than 99 per cent of all test-takers.

CAT Percentile for Non-IIMs

The majority of the Non-IIM institutions consider the CAT percentile scores for admission, and shortlisted candidates are ranked by their percentile results for counselling. The CAT percentile is highly important, as it determines the future of aspirants and fulfils their dream of getting into their desired institution. Shortlisted candidates who succeed in passing those cut-offs are invited by the colleges for the subsequent rounds.

Factors Affecting the CAT Exam Percentile

Each IIM has varying standards for admission. Some IIMs place greater emphasis on CAT scores, while others place greater emphasis on the student’s achievement. Candidates are specifically concerned about reaching the required percentile after taking the CAT, which is the cut-off used by IIMs and other top B-schools for the subsequent phases of the selection process. In addition to the cut-off percentile, CAT Exam takers must understand all aspects and factors that determine the CAT percentiles. When selecting applications, different aspects are taken into account. The factors affecting the CAT percentile are listed below.

• Gender diversity: Academic and gender differences influence the CAT percentile. In recent years, the number of female candidates taking the CAT exam has increased dramatically. This is because IIMs encourage female applicants to pursue management studies. Gender is taken into account throughout the selection process at IIMs. As institutes expand possibilities for female applicants, this trend is projected to continue in the future. The gender diversity component is utilised to compute percentiles, and female applicants receive bonus points.
• Scholastic performance: Some institutions may consider the candidate’s previous academic performance during the percentile calculation. The scores of Classes 10 and 12 examinations and graduation marks are considered.
• Reservation category: The cut-off percentile varies based on the candidate’s reservation category. For some reserved categories and PwD candidates, the cut-off percentile is higher compared to others. According to Government of India regulations, the IIMs must follow the reservation criteria.
• The number of test-takers: The cut-off score and the level of difficulty are inversely proportional. The cut-off will be reduced if the CAT paper is comparable to the previous year’s and likewise. The cut-off is measured in terms of the score required to achieve a 99 percentile, which is the typical cut-off percentile for the top IIMs and business schools. Another factor that determines the percentile is the number of CAT test-takers. If there are more test-takers, the cut-off will be higher and likewise. A lower cut-off will come from a bigger number of test-takers combined with the difficulty of the exam.