CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile Explained (With College Mapping)

After the declaration of results, one of the most confusing aspects for aspirants is CAT 2025 score vs percentile. Many students panic after seeing their raw score, while others overestimate their chances based on percentile alone.

Understanding the difference between CAT score and CAT percentile, and how colleges use this data for shortlisting, is extremely important for making the right admission decisions.

This blog explains CAT 2025 score vs percentile in simple terms, followed by a clear college mapping to help you shortlist MBA colleges smartly.

What Is CAT 2025 Score?

The CAT score is the total number of marks you obtain in the exam based on correct and incorrect answers.

CAT score includes:

• Raw score (before normalization)

• Scaled score (after normalization across slots)

The scaled score is used to calculate your percentile.

What Is CAT 2025 Percentile?

The CAT percentile indicates the percentage of candidates you have scored higher than.

For example:

• 99 percentile means you scored better than 99% of candidates

• 90 percentile means you scored better than 90% of candidates

👉 MBA colleges shortlist candidates based on percentile, not raw score.

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile: Why They Are Different

Two candidates with the same score may have different percentiles, depending on:

• Difficulty level of the slot

• Overall performance of candidates

• Normalization process

That is why score alone does not guarantee admission—percentile is what truly matters.

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Expected Range)

CAT Score (Approx.)	CAT Percentile (Approx.)
115–120	99.5+
105–110	99
95–100	98
85–90	95
75–80	90
65–70	85
55–60	80
45–50	70

⚠️ These are indicative ranges and may vary slightly each year.

CAT 2025 College Mapping by Percentile

Colleges at 99+ Percentile in CAT 2025

• IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta

• FMS Delhi

• SPJIMR Mumbai

• IIM Lucknow

• IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)

This range is extremely competitive and requires strong academics and interview performance.

Colleges at 95–98 Percentile in CAT 2025

• IIM Kozhikode

• IIM Indore

• IIM Mumbai

• MDI Gurgaon

• IIT Delhi

• IIFT Delhi

• SPJIMR (profile-based)

This percentile range offers excellent MBA options with strong placements.

Colleges at 90–94 Percentile in CAT 2025

• New & Baby IIMs

• IMT Ghaziabad

• XIMB

• IIT Madras

• IIT Kharagpur

• TAPMI

Many candidates convert top colleges from this range with good interview preparation.

Colleges at 80–89 Percentile in CAT 2025

• KJ Somaiya

• FORE School of Management

• Great Lakes Institute of Management

• IRMA Anand

• NIRMA University

This range is ideal for candidates targeting good ROI private MBA colleges.

Colleges at 70–79 Percentile in CAT 2025

• Tier-2 private MBA colleges

• University-affiliated MBA institutes

• Colleges accepting CAT along with CMAT/XAT scores

Choosing the right college is crucial at this stage.

Why Sectional Percentiles Matter in CAT 2025

Even with a high overall percentile, failure to clear sectional cutoffs can lead to rejection.

Most top colleges require:

• VARC: 70–85 percentile

• DILR: 70–80 percentile

• QA: 70–80 percentile

Balanced performance is essential.

CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile: What Matters More for Admissions?

For MBA admissions:

• Percentile is used for shortlisting

• Interview performance decides final selection

A candidate with a slightly lower percentile but a strong interview can outperform a higher-percentile candidate.

Common Misconceptions About CAT Score and Percentile

• High score guarantees IIM admission (False)

• Percentile alone decides final selection (False)

• Private colleges are inferior to IIMs (False)

• Sectional scores do not matter (False)

Understanding these realities helps in better decision-making.

FAQs – CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile

What is the difference between CAT score and percentile?

CAT score is the marks obtained, while CAT percentile shows your relative performance compared to other candidates. Colleges use percentile for shortlisting.

Which is more important for MBA admission: score or percentile?

Percentile is more important, as MBA colleges shortlist candidates based on percentile cutoffs.

Can I get a good MBA college with a low CAT score but high percentile?

Yes. Since percentile is relative, a lower score can still result in a high percentile depending on exam difficulty.

Do all colleges use CAT percentile for shortlisting?

Yes, most IIMs and top B-schools primarily use CAT percentile along with sectional cutoffs and profile evaluation.

Is CAT percentile final for admission?

No. Final admission depends on GD-PI-WAT performance, academics, work experience, and diversity factors.