On November 30, 2025, the CAT 2025 exam was attempted by over 2.93 lakh candidates. A large number of examinees who appeared for the test are now trying to figure out their percentiles by calculating their raw scores, as the response sheets have been released.
Understanding how a candidate's raw score translates into the percentile is essential for assessing their chances of getting into prestigious business schools if they scored 90 marks in the CAT.
- Depending on slot difficulty and the normalisation used across all sessions, a raw score of 90 marks in the CAT Percentile usually corresponds to the 99-99.5 percentile range.
- The raw score of 90 usually gets converted to around 94-96 marks after the scaling.
- Wherever the category and academic profile are, the candidates of this percentile range have a chance to appear in the shortlists of first-tier IIMs that comprise mostly the IIMs A/B/C cluster ones.
A 90 score means that the person is among the top 1% to 1.5% of all CAT test takers.
Also Read:
Expected CAT 2025 Score vs Percentile (Overall)
After analyzing the data of the past years and considering the trends of coaching institutes, the score–percentile conversions for CAT 2025 are expected to be as follows:
| Raw Score Range | 2025 Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 120+ | 99.9+ |
| 100–110 | 99.5–99.9 |
| 90–95 | 99–99.5 |
| 80–85 | 98–99 |
| 70–75 | 97–98 |
| 60–65 | 95–97 |
| 50–55 | 92–95 |
| 40–45 | 85–90 |
| 30–35 | 70–76 |
| 25–30 | 65–70 |
Also read:
CAT Score vs Percentile Trends for 90 Marks
The table shows how fluctuations in exam difficulty and candidate participation change the percentile for a similar raw score across previous years.
- Across CAT 2021-2024, a 90 raw score consistently delivered a 99+ percentile, showing strong stability in top-percentile mapping.
- Despite candidate numbers rising from 2.3 lakh to 2.93 lakh, the scaled score range (92–96) for the 99 percentile remained almost unchanged.
- This trend confirms that exam difficulty and normalisation, not candidate volume, primarily determine percentile outcomes.
| Year | Total Candidates | 90 Marks Raw Score | Expected Percentile | Scaled Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2024 | 2.93 lakh | 90 | 99–99.5 | 94–96 |
| CAT 2023 | 2.88 lakh | 90 | 99.3–99.5 | 94–96 |
| CAT 2022 | 2.33 lakh | 90 | 99.2–99.4 | 92–95 |
| CAT 2021 | 2.30 lakh | 90 | 99–99.3 | 93–96 |
Also read:
Slot-Wise Impact: How 90 Marks Converts Across CAT 2025 Slots
Experts indicate that a raw score of 90 marks may result in different percentile outcomes depending on the slot attempted. The variation is a direct reflection of the difficulty differences and the normalisation mechanism.
Slot 1 (Morning: 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM)
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Expected Percentile for 90 Marks: 99–99.3
- Strongest Section for 90 Marks: QA (arithmetic-friendly distribution)
- Toughest Section: VARC (tricky elimination patterns)
Slot 2 (Afternoon: 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM)
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate (a bit easier)
- Expected Percentile for 90 Marks: 98.8–99.2
- Strongest Section: VARC (straightforward RCs)
- Toughest Section: DILR (most difficult among the slots)
Slot 3 (Evening: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM)
- Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
- Toughest Section: QA (algebra-driven with several TITA)
Slot-Wise Section Performance Table for 90 Marks
| Section | Slot 1 Percentile | Slot 2 Percentile | Slot 3 Percentile | Best Slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall (90 marks) | 99–99.3 | 98.8–99.2 | 99.2–99.5 | Slot 3 |
| VARC (90 marks) | 99.5–99.7 | 99.7–99.8 | 99.4–99.6 | Slot 2 |
| DILR (90 marks) | 99.4–99.6 | 99.6–99.8 | 99–99.3 | Slot 2 |
| QA (90 marks) | 99.2–99.5 | 99–99.4 | 99.4–99.6 | Slot 3 |
Also check:
Colleges Accepting 90 Marks in the CAT Percentile
90 marks in CAT Percentile (99–99.5 percentile) opens the doors to top management institutes, including:
- IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Shillong
- New IIMs (IIM Ranchi, IIM Trichy, IIM Udaipur, IIM Rohtak)
- Baby IIMs (IIM Nagpur, IIM Jammu, IIM Sambalpur, etc.)
- MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai (profile-based), IIT-DoMs, NITIE (now IIM Mumbai)
Over 150+ premier MBA colleges shortlist candidates in this percentile segment.
Also read:
Maharashtra MBA Colleges Accepting 98-99.5 Percentile in CAT 2025
| Institute Name | CAT Cutoff (2025 Expected) | Type | Categories Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBIMS Mumbai | 99.8 | Government | General, OBC, SC, ST, PwD |
| NITIE (IIM Mumbai) | 99–99.5 | Government | General, OBC, SC, ST |
| SIMSREE Mumbai | 99 | Government | All categories |
| PUMBA, Pune | 98–99 | University | General, OBC, SC, ST |
| Welingkar Mumbai | 97–99 | Private | General, OBC |
Also read:
Karnataka MBA Colleges Accepting 98–99.5 Percentile in CAT 2025
| Institute Name | CAT Cutoff (2025 Expected) | Type | Categories Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore (reference range) | 99.5+ | Government | All categories |
| TAPMI Manipal | 98–99 | Private | General, OBC |
| Christ University | 97–99 | Private | General |
| Alliance University | 97–99 | Private | General |
| PES University | 97–99 | University | General |
Check:
- The most important WAT topics for IIMs you must prepare.
- Key PI tips and commonly asked interview questions in IIMs.
Tamil Nadu MBA Colleges Accepting 98–99.5 Percentile in CAT 2025
| Institute Name | CAT Cutoff (2025 Expected) | Type | Categories Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Chennai | 98–99 | Private | General, OBC |
| BIM Trichy | 98–99 | Government | General, OBC |
| PSGIM Coimbatore | 97–99 | Private | General, OBC |
| VIT Business School | 97–99 | Private | General |
Also Read:
Delhi MBA Colleges Accepting 98–99.5 Percentile in CAT 2025
| Institute Name | CAT Cutoff (2025 Expected) | Type | Categories Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMS Delhi | 99–99.5+ | Government | All categories |
| DMS, IIT Delhi | 98.5–99 | Government | General, OBC, SC, ST |
| JIMS Rohini | 97–98 | Private | General, OBC |
| DSB Delhi | 97–98 | Private | General |
Also read:
Uttar Pradesh MBA Colleges Accepting 98–99.5 Percentile in CAT 2025
| College Name | CAT Cutoff (2025 Expected) | Type | Categories Accepted |
| IIM Lucknow (reference range) | 99+ | Government | All categories |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 98–99 | Private | General, OBC |
| Jaipuria Noida | 97–98 | Private | General, SC, ST, OBC |
Also read:
Strategy for 90-Mark Scorers: What Next?
Immediate Steps
- Download the official response sheet from iimcat.ac.in
- Match answers using the official marking scheme
- Use percentile predictors for precise estimation
- Shortlist IIMs and top private institutes based on expected percentile
Enhancing Profile for Selection Rounds
- Strong WAT performance
- Well-prepared PI answers with structured storytelling
- Highlight work experience, internships, and academics
- Add quantified achievements for application forms
Category-Based Leverage
- SC/ST/PwD candidates: 10–15 percentile relaxation
- OBC/EWS: 3–8 percentile relaxation
- Women applicants: Gender diversity points in many IIMs
Alternative Options
- Retaking CAT 2026
- Appearing for XAT, NMAT, SNAP
- Gaining relevant work experience
Scoring 90 marks in CAT percentile 2025 places you in an exceptional percentile bracket, strengthening your chances at a large number of top IIMs, IIT DoMs, and India's leading private management schools. 90 marks in CAT percentile requires a high level of dedication and discipline from the candidate's side.
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