For CAT 2026, candidates targeting the 99th percentile may need a score of approximately 85- 95, while those aiming for the 95th percentile may need around a 60- 70 score.

  • In CAT 2025, approximately 84.8 marks were associated with the 99th percentile, compared with around 95 marks in CAT 2024 and 76 marks in CAT 2023.
  • CAT 2023 had the lowest estimated 99th percentile score in the 2021-2025 comparison, at approximately 76 marks.
  • VARC has shown relatively stable 99th percentile score requirements, while DILR has experienced greater year-to-year variation.
  • CAT raw scores are converted into scaled scores through slot-wise normalisation before the final percentile is calculated.
  • CAT Percentile shows the percentage of candidates who scored equal to or lower than you.
  • A 99 percentile means you performed better than 99% of the candidates who appeared for the exam.

Based on the previous year's trends and CAT 2025 analysis, the expected CAT Score vs Percentile 2026:

CAT Percentile

Expected CAT 2026 Score Range

99.9+ percentile

110-125+

99.5 percentile

100-110

99 percentile

85-95

98 percentile

73-82

97 percentile

68-78

95 percentile

60-70

90 percentile

45-55

85 percentile

35-45

80 percentile

25-35
Note: CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026; its actual CAT Score vs Percentile data is not available yet.

Related Links:

CAT Score vs Percentile: How Many Marks for 99 and 95 Percentile, Last 5 Years Analysis

Table of Contents

  1. What Is the Difference Between CAT Score and Percentile?
  2. How Many Marks for 99, 98, 95 and 90 Percentile in CAT 2026?
  3. Expected CAT Score vs Percentile 2026
  4. CAT Score vs Percentile Last 5 Years (2021–2025)
  5. CAT Raw Score, Scaled Score and Percentile: What Is the Difference?
  6. How Is CAT Percentile Calculated? Formula and Rank Table
  7. Expected CAT Score vs Percentile: Section-Wise Analysis
  8. Sectional Score vs Percentile: 5-Year Comparison
  9. How Many Correct Answers Do You Need for 99, 95 and 90 Percentile?
  10. How Many Candidates Are Above 99, 95 and 90 Percentile in CAT?
  11. How Many Marks in CAT Is Equal to Which Percentile?
  12. How Many Questions Should You Attempt for Each Percentile?
  13. Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: Category-Wise
  14. What Is a Good CAT Mark and Percentile?
  15. How Much Should You Score in CAT to Get into Top B-Schools?
  16. CAT Score vs Percentile 2026 FAQs

How Many Marks for 99, 98, 95 and 90 Percentile in CAT 2026?

For CAT 2026, the marks required for 99, 95, and 90 percentile will depend on the exam’s difficulty level, slot-wise normalisation, and candidates’ overall performance.

  • For 99 percentile, the expected score range is 95-104 marks, compared with 84.8 in CAT 2025 and 95.13 in CAT 2024.
  • Candidates may need 60-74 marks to secure 95 percentile in CAT 2026, compared with 62.3 in CAT 2025 and 70 in CAT 2024.
  • The expected range is 45-59 marks for 90 percentile in CAT 2026, compared with 51.5 in CAT 2025 and 58 in CAT 2024. The 2025 percentile was approximately 11% lower than in 2024.

Percentile

Planning Band for CAT 2026 (Estimated)

CAT 2025 Benchmark (Estimated)

Range Seen, CAT 2022–2025 (Estimated)

99.9

111–127

About 111

101–127

99.5

93–104

About 93

92–104

99

85–95

About 85

76–95

95

62–70

About 62

55–70

90

51–58

About 51.5

44–58

80

38–44

About 38

36–44
How many marks for 99, 95 and 90 percentile in CAT?

Source: CAT 2026 Score vs Percentile | How Many Marks for 99+, 95 & 90%ile

Check:

70 Marks in CAT Percentile 60 Marks in CAT Percentile
37 Marks in CAT Percentile 80 Marks in CAT Percentile
40 Marks in CAT Percentile 30 Marks in CAT Percentile
10 Marks in CAT Percentile 90 Marks in CAT Percentile
50 Marks in CAT Percentile 75 Marks in CAT Percentile

How Many Marks Are Required for 99 Percentile in CAT 2026?

Candidates may target approximately 85-95 marks to aim for the 99 percentile in CAT 2026. The historical benchmarks were approximately 84.8 marks in CAT 2025, 95 marks in CAT 2024 and 76 marks in CAT 2023.

How Many Marks Are Required for 98 Percentile in CAT 2026?

Candidates may target approximately 73-82 marks for the 98 percentile. This is an indicative planning range and can change depending on the difficulty level and score distribution.

How Many Marks Are Required for 95 Percentile in CAT 2026?

Candidates may need approximately 60-70 marks to target the 95 percentile in CAT 2026. In comparison, the estimated score requirement was around 62.3 marks in CAT 2025 and 70 marks in CAT 2024.

How Many Marks Are Required for 90 Percentile in CAT 2026?

Candidates may target approximately 45-55 marks for the 90 percentile. Historical estimates show that the required score was around 51.5 marks in CAT 2025 and 58 marks in CAT 2024.

Expected CAT Marks vs Percentile 2026

  • A scaled score of 111 or above may place candidates in the 99.9 percentile or higher, while 93-110 marks may correspond to the 99.5-99.9 percentile range.
  • Candidates scoring 85-92 marks can target the 99-99.5 percentile range. 
  • Scores between 62 and 75 marks may correspond to the 95-98 percentile range.
  • Candidates scoring 44-61 marks may fall between the 85 and 95 percentile range.
  • A score of 30-43 marks may place candidates in the 70-85 percentile range.

These estimates are indicative and may change depending on exam difficulty, slot-wise normalisation and overall candidate performance.

Scaled Score (Out of 204)

Estimated Percentile Band

Reading

111 and above

99.9 and above

Top 0.1 percent range

93–110

99.5–99.9

Safe zone for top IIM calls

85–92

99–99.5

At or above the 99 benchmark

76–84

98–99

Just below the 99 benchmark

70–75

97–98

Strong score, below 98

62–69

95–97

At the 95 benchmark or above

52–61

90–95

Between the 90 and 95 benchmarks

44–51

85–90

Between the 85 and 90 benchmarks

38–43

80–85

Around the 80 benchmark

30–37

70–80

Below the 80 benchmark

CAT Score vs Percentile Last 5 Years (2021-2025)

  • The marks required for 99 percentile fell from 98 in CAT 2021 to 76.15 in 2023, increased to 95 in 2024, and dropped to 84.8 in 2025.
  • For 95 percentile, the estimated score decreased from 73 in 2021 to 54.86 in 2023, increased to 70 in 2024, and fell to 62.3 in 2025.
  • For 90 percentile, the score dropped from 60 in 2021 to 44.36 in 2023, increased to 58 in 2024, and declined to 51.5 in 2025.
  • Overall, estimated marks for these percentiles were lower in CAT 2023, peaked in 2024, and fell by around 11% in 2025.
Percentile CAT 2021 CAT 2022 CAT 2023 CAT 2024 CAT 2025 5-year average
99.9 percentile 117 110 101.4 127 111.4 about 113
99.5 percentile 107 93 84.3 104 93 about 96
99 percentile 97 84 76 95 84.8 about 87
98 percentile 84 72 66.7 79 73 about 75
95 percentile 72 60–62 54.9 70 62.3 about 64
90 percentile 60 49 45.2 58 51.5 about 53
CAT Score vs Percentile Last 5 Years (2021-2025)

All figures are scaled scores from test-prep compilations of scorecard data. They are not an official IIM table. CAT 2021 rests on one compilation, and CAT 2022 differs by up to 2 marks across sources. Averages are our arithmetic on these rows.

Year Marks for 99 percentile Change from previous year Reading
CAT 2021 97 — Highest of the five years
CAT 2022 84 −13 Back near the five-year average
CAT 2023 76 −8 Lowest of the five years
CAT 2024 95 +19 Second highest, DILR very high
CAT 2025 85 −10 Near the five-year average

CAT 2021 had 66 questions, and CAT 2025 had 68, so raw totals do not compare directly. Question counts for 2022 to 2024 are not verified here.

Also Check:

Ques. In which year were fewer marks required for 99 percentile in CAT between 2021 and 2025?

Ans. CAT 2023 had the lowest estimated score requirement among these years, at approximately 76 marks for the 99 percentile. The corresponding estimates were 98 in 2021, 84 in 2022, 95 in 2024, and 84.8 in 2025.

Ques. Why do CAT Score vs Percentile figures change every year?

Ans. The score required for a percentile changes with the difficulty of the paper, candidate performance, and slot-wise normalization. Therefore, the same raw score may correspond to different percentiles in different years. Historical figures are estimates, not guaranteed conversions.

CAT Raw Score, Scaled Score and Percentile: What Is the Difference?

CAT uses raw scores, scaled scores and percentiles for different purposes.

  • Raw marks are calculated from responses,
  • Scaled scores account for differences between exam slots, and
  • Percentiles reflect relative performance.

Therefore, the same raw score can correspond to different percentiles across CAT years and slots.

CAT Marks vs Percentile vs Scaled Score

Parameter CAT Raw Marks CAT Scaled Score CAT Percentile
Meaning Marks calculated from correct and incorrect answers Score adjusted through CAT's slot-normalisation process Relative performance compared with other candidates
Calculation Based on the marking scheme Based on raw scores and the applicable scaling methodology Based on the prescribed percentile calculation
Main purpose Measures performance on the questions attempted Makes scores from different slots more comparable Indicates how a candidate performed relative to others
Effect of slot difficulty Reflected in the initial score Accounts for slot-level differences through scaling May change with the scaled score distribution
Example 80 raw marks Depends on the official scaling process Depends on the candidate's relative performance
Where it is used Estimating performance before results Official CAT score calculation Admission eligibility and shortlisting, subject to institute criteria

Example: Same CAT Marks give different percentiles

CAT year Approximate score associated with 99 percentile
CAT 2023 76 marks
CAT 2024 95 marks
CAT 2025 84.8 marks

Check:

How CAT Normalisation Works Across Three Slots

  • CAT 2026 runs in three slots on November 29, 2026, with different question sets, per IIM Indore's notification.
  • Published test-prep guides describe a mean and standard deviation step for each slot and section.
  • IIMs do not publish the exact scaling formula. The steps below are an illustration, not an IIM document.
  • In CAT 2025, the 99 percentile in DILR needed about 30 marks, against about 38 in CAT 2024 (estimated).

Step

What happens

Why it matters

1. Raw score

Marks are counted per section using +3, −1 for wrong MCQs and 0 for TITA

Gives a base score for each candidate

2. Slot statistics

Mean and standard deviation of raw scores are found for each slot and section

Measures how hard each slot was

3. Scaling

Each raw score is adjusted against the overall mean and spread

Makes scores from different slots comparable

4. Percentile

Candidates are ranked on the scaled score

Percentile depends on everyone else's score

5. Scorecard

Scaled score and percentile appear for each section and overall

Used by IIMs for shortlisting

Source: published test-prep descriptions of the CAT scaling method. Not an IIM document.

How Is CAT Percentile Calculated? Formula and Rank Table

  • CAT Percentile is calculated using this formula: percentile = (N − R) ÷ N × 100.
  • N is the number of candidates who appeared. R is the rank on the scaled score.
  • About 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2025, per Indian Express.

Percentile

Approximate rank (2.58 lakh pool)

Share of pool ahead of you

99.99

26

0.01%

99.9

258

0.1%

99.5

1,290

0.5%

99

2,580

1%

98

5,160

2%

95

12,900

5%

90

25,800

10%

Source: Collegedunia arithmetic on the Indian Express figure of 2.58 lakh candidates appeared in CAT 2025.

​For more details, check: CAT Score Calculation 2026: +3/-1 Marking Scheme, Normalisation Formula and Score vs Percentile

Expected CAT Score vs Percentile: Section-Wise Analysis

  • In VARC, the estimated score for the 99 percentile was 43 marks, compared with 30 marks in DILR and QA.
  • Candidates targeting the 95 percentile needed approximately 32 marks in VARC and 23 marks each in DILR and QA, based on these estimates.
  • Sectional percentiles and overall percentiles are calculated separately, so candidates should assess each section independently rather than rely only on their total score.

VARC Score vs Percentile (Slot-wise)

Percentile Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
99.9 51 52 53
99.5 45 45 46
99 40 40 41
98 34 34 35
95 30 32 32
90 24 25 25
85 20 21 21
80 18 18 18
VARC Score vs Percentile (Slot-wise)

DILR Score vs Percentile (Slot-wise)

Percentile Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
99.9 46 42 44
99.5 39 35 37
99 34 30 32
98 31 27 29
95 26 23 24
90 19 17 18
85 15 13 15
80 13 11 12
DILR Score vs Percentile (Slot-wise)

QA Score vs Percentile (Slot-wise)

Percentile Slot 1 Slot 2 Slot 3
99.9 48 43 45
99.5 40 35 37
99 33 28 30
98 30 25 27
95 25 20 23
90 18 15 17
85 16 13 14
80 14 12 12
QA Score vs Percentile (Slot-wise)

Check:

Sectional Score vs Percentile: 5-Year Comparison

  • VARC is the most stable section: 99 percentile needed 40 to 45 marks in every year from 2021 to 2025.
  • DILR moves the most: 99 percentile needed 27 marks in 2023 and 38 in 2024, an 11-mark swing.
  • QA fell after 2021: 99 percentile needed about 34 marks in 2021 and about 27 in 2025.
VARC percentile CAT 2021 CAT 2022 CAT 2023 CAT 2024 CAT 2025
99 percentile 45 41 40 41 44
95 percentile 34 29 29 30 32.5
90 percentile 28 24 23 24 26
DILR percentile CAT 2021 CAT 2022 CAT 2023 CAT 2024 CAT 2025
99 percentile 33 30–33 27 38 30
95 percentile 24 21–23 19 27 21.5
90 percentile 20 18–20 16 22 16.7
QA percentile CAT 2021 CAT 2022 CAT 2023 CAT 2024 CAT 2025
99 percentile 34 30–33 28 33 27.3
95 percentile 23 22 19 22 18.5
90 percentile 18 17 13 17 15

Sectional maximums differ by year and are not shown here. CAT 2022 DILR and QA are given as ranges because the sources swap the two sections. CAT 2023 QA at 99 percentile reads 25 to 28 across sources; the table shows 28.

Ques. Which section has the most stable cutoff marks?

Ans. VARC. Its 99 percentile score stayed between 40 and 45 from 2021 to 2025.

Ques. Why do DILR marks change so much each year?

Ans. Set difficulty varies. DILR needed 27 marks in 2023 and 38 in 2024 for the same 99 percentile.

Ques. Do I need 99 percentile in every section?

Ans. No. Some IIMs set sectional cutoffs, so check the cutoff page for each IIM before you plan

How Many Correct Answers Do You Need for 99, 95 and 90 Percentile?

  • The arithmetic is simple: score = 3 × correct − wrong MCQs. This table assumes every wrong answer is an MCQ with a −1 penalty.
  • Targets come from CAT 2025: about 85 marks for 99 percentile, 62 for 95 and 51.5 for 90.
  • Accuracy beats volume: At the same target, fewer attempts need higher accuracy, but they lose fewer marks to negatives.

Target percentile

Attempts

Correct

Wrong

Accuracy

Score

99 (about 85 marks)

30

29

1

97%

86

99 (about 85 marks)

35

30

5

86%

85

99 (about 85 marks)

40

32

8

80%

88

95 (about 62 marks)

30

23

7

77%

62

95 (about 62 marks)

35

25

10

71%

65

95 (about 62 marks)

40

26

14

65%

64

90 (about 52 marks)

30

21

9

70%

54

90 (about 52 marks)

35

22

13

63%

53

90 (about 52 marks)

40

23

17

58%

52

How Many Candidates Are Above 99, 95 and 90 Percentile in CAT?

A 99 percentile means a candidate has performed better than approximately 99% of the candidates who appeared for the examination. Similarly, a 95 percentile indicates performance above approximately 95% of test-takers.

Based on the approximate number of candidates who appeared in the last five CAT examinations, the following table estimates the number of candidates represented by each percentile range.

Year Candidates appeared Above 99 percentile (about) Above 95 percentile (about) Above 90 percentile (about)
CAT 2021 1.92 lakh 1,917 9,583 19,166
CAT 2022 2.22 lakh 2,222 11,109 22,218
CAT 2023 2.88 lakh 2,880 14,400 28,800
CAT 2024 2.93 lakh 2,930 14,650 29,300
CAT 2025 2.58 lakh 2,580 12,900 25,800
Note: These counts are simple arithmetic on the reported number who appeared (1%, 5% and 10% of the pool). They are not official rank lists, and the 2023 and 2024 appeared figures are rounded in the source.

Also Read: CAT Cutoff 2026: Expected IIM Percentile and Category Cutoffs

What Is the Approximate Rank at 99 Percentile in CAT?

  • A candidate securing the 99 percentile is approximately within the top 1% of test-takers. If 2.58 lakh candidates appear for CAT, the top 1% represents approximately 2,580 candidates.
  • Likewise, a 95 percentile represents approximately the top 5% of candidates, while a 90 percentile represents the top 10%.
  • This gives candidates a better understanding of the competition beyond the marks obtained in the examination.

How Many Marks in CAT Is Equal to Which Percentile?

  • Candidates scoring 95-100 marks can expect a percentile above 99.5, placing them among the highest-performing CAT aspirants.
  • A score of 80-90 marks may correspond to approximately the 98.3-99.4 percentile, making it a competitive range for top IIM shortlisting.
  • Candidates scoring 60-75 marks may fall between the 93rd and 98th percentile, depending on the difficulty level and slot-wise normalisation.
  • Scores between 30 and 50 marks may correspond to approximately the 70th-90th percentile. Candidates should focus on improving accuracy and attempting questions strategically.

CAT Marks (out of 204)

Approx. Percentile (CAT 2025 trend)

100 marks in CAT

99.6–99.7 percentile

95 marks in CAT

99.5–99.6 percentile

90 marks in CAT

99.2–99.4 percentile

85 marks in CAT

99.0–99.1 percentile

80 marks in CAT

98.3–98.6 percentile

75 marks in CAT

97.5–98 percentile

70 marks in CAT

96.5–97 percentile

60 marks in CAT

93–94 percentile

50 marks in CAT

88–90 percentile

40 marks in CAT

82–85 percentile

30 marks in CAT

70–75 percentile

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in CAT 2026 for 88 percentile?

Ans. Candidates can use approximately 20-25 attempts as an illustrative preparation target for 99+ percentile. However, accuracy and question selection are more important than the total number of attempts.

Ques. How many correct answers are required for 99 percentile in CAT?

Ans. The number of correct answers depends on the number of incorrect MCQs and the total score required. For example, 30 correct answers and 5 incorrect MCQs produce a raw score of 85 marks, assuming the remaining questions are unattempted or have no negative marking.

How many questions should you attempt for each percentile?

  • Candidates targeting the 99+ percentile should aim for around 34-35 overall attempts, with 18-19 in VARC, 13-14 in DILR, and 12-13 in QA, while maintaining high accuracy.
  • For the 95-98.99 percentile, approximately 25-33 overall attempts may be a useful target, including 14-17 in VARC, 9-12 in DILR, and 8-11 in QA.
  • Candidates aiming for the 90-94.99 percentile can target 21-24 overall attempts, with 11-14 in VARC, 8-9 in DILR, and 7-8 in QA.
  • For the 85th percentile and above, the table suggests 18-21 overall attempts, including 9-10 in VARC and 5-6 in DILR; the QA attempt range is not specified.
Target Percentile Overall Attempts VARC DILR QA
100 55-56 23-24 21-22 21-22
99+ 34-35 18-19 13-14 12-13
95-98.99 25-33 14-17 9-12 8-11
90-94.99 21-24 11-14 8-9 7-8
85 and above 18-21 9-10 5-6 Not specified

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in CAT 2026 for the 99 percentile?

Ans. Candidates can target around 34-35 overall attempts for the 99+ percentile, including 18-19 questions in VARC, 13-14 in DILR, and 12-13 in QA. Accuracy is essential, as incorrect MCQ answers attract negative marking.

Ques. How many questions should I attempt in CAT 2026 for the 95 percentile?

Ans. Candidates targeting the 95-98.99 percentile can aim for approximately 25-33 overall attempts, including 14-17 in VARC, 9-12 in DILR, and 8-11 in QA. The actual percentile will depend on accuracy, exam difficulty, and slot-wise normalisation.

Minimum CAT Percentile for IIMs: Category-Wise

As per expert analysis, the minimum CAT percentile required for IIM admissions varies significantly based on both the candidate’s category and the type of IIM.
  • For General category students, top IIMs select candidates with 99–99.5 percentiles, while newer and Baby IIMs accept 94–97 and 90–94 percentiles.
  • EWS and OBC-NC students have lower cut-offs, around 95–97 and 90–94 percentiles for top IIMs.
  • SC/ST students need even lower scores, with SC at 80–85 and ST at 70–75 percentiles for top IIMs, and 60–70 percentiles for Baby IIMs.

Category-wise Minimum Percentile Cut-offs for IIMs

Category IIM Ahmedabad/Bangalore/Calcutta Newer IIMs (Top 7) Baby IIMs
General 99–99.5 94–97 90–94
EWS 95–97 90–93 85–90
OBC-NC 90–94 85–90 80–85
SC 80–85 70–80 60–70
ST 70–75 60–70 55–65

Check:

Ques. Is 104+ Marks Enough for 99.5 Percentile in CAT?

Ans. A score of 104 marks will be considered sufficient to achieve around 99.5 percentile in CAT, as per the score-percentile analysis of the past few years. However, this differs according to the difficulty level, slot normalisation, and scaled score.

Overall Marks Expected Percentile What It Means
108+ 99.7–100 Safe for IIM A/B/C calls
104–108 99.4–99.6 Strong shortlisting band
100–104 99.2–99.4 Competitive but sensitive to scaling

Ques. Do CAT Sectional Scores Impact Percentile?

Ans. Yes, sectional percentiles impact the overall percentiles and are important for admission shortlisting. By scoring an overall score of 99+, by failing to meet the sectional cutoff of 80 to 90 percentile, or by disqualifying them from the Top IIMs criteria.

Section Score for 99 Percentile Score for 95 Percentile
VARC 45–48 37–40
DILR 34–36 27–30
QA 30–33 22–25

What Is a Good CAT Mark and Percentile?

A good CAT score depends on the MBA college a candidate is targeting, their category, sectional performance, and admission profile. A high percentile can improve shortlisting chances, but it does not guarantee an IIM interview call or admission.

CAT Percentile Approximate Score Benchmark What It May Indicate
99+ 85+ marks Strong performance for highly competitive MBA programmes
95–98.99 62–84 marks Competitive performance for several management institutes
90–94.99 51–61 marks May meet some institutes’ overall shortlisting thresholds
80–89.99 38–50 marks Opportunities depend strongly on institute and candidate profile
Below 80 Below 38 marks Options depend on college cut-offs, category and other criteria

Score benchmarks are approximate references based on the supplied CAT 2025 estimates, not guaranteed CAT 2026 conversions.

For example, IIM Indore’s published PGP admission procedure lists an overall CAT percentile threshold of 90 for General and EWS candidates, with sectional thresholds of 80 in VARC, DILR and QA. These are eligibility thresholds for further consideration, not guaranteed interview or admission scores.

Ques. Is 90 percentile a good score in CAT?

Ans. A 90 percentile can meet the published initial threshold at some institutes, but admission depends on sectional performance, category, academics and each institute’s selection policy.

Ques. Is 99 percentile enough to get into an IIM?

Ans. Not necessarily. IIMs use different selection criteria, and some consider academic marks, work experience, diversity factors, interviews and other components alongside CAT performance

How Much Should You Score in CAT to Get into Top B-Schools?

To get admission in top institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi, IIFT, and SPJIMR.

  • To get around 99 to 99.5th percentile, you will require around 95 to 104 marks, whereas the safe score will vary according to your category, performance in the program, and sectional performance.
  • A balanced performance in VARC, DILR, and QA is required for top colleges will shortlist the candidates after they clear the sectional cutoffs along with an overall competitive percentile.
College / B-School Safe Score Target (Scaled Marks) Expected Percentile Insights
IIM Ahmedabad 99–104 99.5–100 High focus on academic diversity & sectional balance
IIM Bangalore 98–103 99.5–100 Strong profile evaluation component
IIM Calcutta 96–102 99.3–99.8 QA usually heavier weightage historically
IIM Lucknow 90–96 98–99 Strong quant + diversity advantage
IIM Kozhikode 87–93 97.5–98.5 High shortlist tolerance for top-scoring males/non-engg
FMS Delhi 94–100 99–99.5 Highest ROI + sectional performance critical
SPJIMR Mumbai 85–92 97–98 Profile-based shortlist before score-based
MDI Gurgaon 80–85 96–97 Greater importance to the overall percentile
IIM Mumbai 78–84 96–97 Strong preference for engineers
IIFT Delhi 72–78 94–95 Quant score tends to drive the percentile more
IMT Ghaziabad 64–70 92–93 Balanced selection factors
XIMB Bhubaneswar 60–65 90–91 VARC heavy selection trend
How Much Should You Score in CAT to Get into Top B-Schools?

Check:

CAT Score vs Percentile 2026 FAQs

Ques. How many marks are required for 99 percentile in CAT 2026?

Ans. Candidates may target approximately 85–95 marks for the 99 percentile in CAT 2026. The actual score requirement will depend on the examination difficulty, slot-wise normalisation and candidate performance.

Ques. How many marks are required for 95 percentile in CAT 2026?

Ans. Candidates may need approximately 60–70 marks for the 95 percentile in CAT 2026. In CAT 2025, the estimated score requirement was around 62.3 marks.

Ques. How many marks are required for 90 percentile in CAT 2026?

Ans. Candidates may target approximately 45–55 marks for the 90 percentile. The actual percentile will depend on the final score distribution.

Ques. Is 80 marks enough for 99 percentile in CAT?

Ans. An 80-mark score may be competitive for a high percentile, but it does not guarantee 99 percentile. In CAT 2025, approximately 84.8 marks were associated with the 99 percentile benchmark.

Ques. What percentile is 70 marks in CAT?

Ans. The percentile corresponding to 70 marks changes every year. For reference, approximately 70 marks was associated with the 95 percentile benchmark in CAT 2024.

Ques. What percentile is 60 marks in CAT?

Ans. In CAT 2025, approximately 62.3 marks were estimated for the 95 percentile. A score of 60 marks was therefore close to that benchmark, although the exact percentile cannot be determined without the official score distribution.

Ques. What percentile is 50 marks in CAT?

Ans. A score of 50 marks was close to the 90 percentile benchmark in CAT 2022 and CAT 2025. The exact conversion depends on the examination year and difficulty level.

Ques. What percentile is 40 marks in CAT?

Ans. A score of 40 marks generally falls below the historical 90 percentile benchmarks in this analysis. The actual percentile depends on the score distribution for the relevant year.