As the CAT 2025 exam, conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 30, 2025, was over, 2.5 lakh test takers are now wondering what score will be the 99.9th percentile in CAT 2025?
- According to iQuanta estimates, candidates may need around 120 marks in Slot 1, 121 marks in Slot 2, and 115 marks in Slot 3 to reach the 99.9 percentile.
- Data shared by IMS Coaching indicates a similar but slightly varied trend, projecting that aspirants would require approximately 122 marks in Slot 1, 115 in Slot 2, and 119 in Slot 3 to hit the 99.9th percentile.
- First-hand exam feedback from GradSquare mentors also aligns closely with these estimates.
Varun Krishnan and Kushal Bohra (Slot 1), Richard (Slot 2), and Ajay Zener (Slot 3) reported that an expected score of 120 in Slot 1, 120 in Slot 2, and 118 in Slot 3 may be needed to reach the 99.9 percentile.
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Comparative Analysis: 99.9 Percentile Estimates Across Sources
Based on estimates from coaching institutes and expert test-takers, Collegedunia has compiled a consolidated expected score range for the 99.9th percentile in CAT 2025, presented in the detailed slot-wise analysis in this article.
| Source | Slot 1 Marks | Slot 2 Marks | Slot 3 Marks | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iQuanta | 120 | 121 | 115 | Algorithmic predictions based on difficulty analysis |
| IMS Coaching | 122 | 115 | 119 | Historical data and test-taker performance patterns |
| GradSquare Mentors | 120 | 120 | 118 | First-hand exam feedback from actual test-takers |
| Collegedunia Consolidated | 120-122 | 115-121 | 115-119 | Average of all three estimates |
Ques. What exact marks guarantee 99.9 percentile in CAT 2025?
Ans. Based on consolidated estimates from iQuanta, IMS Coaching, and GradSquare mentors, achieving 99.9 percentile requires approximately 120-122 marks in Slot 1, 115-121 marks in Slot 2, and 115-119 marks in Slot 3, with variations reflecting slot-wise difficulty and normalisation adjustments applied by IIM Kozhikode.
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Slot-wise 99.9 Percentile Score Breakdown
Slot 1 (Morning Session: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM)
Based on analysis from leading coaching institutes, Collegedunia estimates that Slot 1 requires the highest marks among all three slots for the 99.9th percentile, with a consolidated range of 120-122 marks. iQuanta predicts 120 marks, IMS Coaching suggests 122 marks, while GradSquare mentors report 120 marks based on first-hand test experience. The morning slot was moderately difficult.
Collegedunia's Expected Score Requirements:
- 99.9 Percentile: 120-122 marks
- 99.5 Percentile: 108-112 marks
- 99.0 Percentile: 98-102 marks
| Percentile | Expected Marks | Section Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 120-122 | VARC: 42-44, DILR: 38-40, QA: 38-40 |
| 99.5 | 108-112 | VARC: 38-40, DILR: 34-36, QA: 34-36 |
| 99.0 | 98-102 | VARC: 34-36, DILR: 30-32, QA: 32-34 |
| 98.0 | 88-92 | VARC: 30-32, DILR: 28-30, QA: 28-30 |
Slot 2 (Afternoon Session: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM)
Collegedunia's analysis shows interesting variation in Slot 2 estimates, with a consolidated range of 115-121 marks for the 99.9th percentile. While iQuanta predicts at 121 marks, IMS Coaching suggests 115, and GradSquare mentors report 120. This six-mark variation reflects differences in difficulty, particularly in the DILR section, which featured numerous TITA questions.
Collegedunia's Expected Score Requirements:
- 99.9 Percentile: 115-121 marks
- 99.5 Percentile: 105-110 marks
- 99.0 Percentile: 95-100 marks
| Percentile | Expected Marks | Section Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 115-121 | VARC: 40-42, DILR: 36-38, QA: 38-40 |
| 99.5 | 105-110 | VARC: 36-38, DILR: 32-34, QA: 34-36 |
| 99.0 | 95-100 | VARC: 32-34, DILR: 30-32, QA: 32-34 |
| 98.0 | 85-90 | VARC: 28-30, DILR: 28-30, QA: 28-30 |
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Slot 3 (Evening Session: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM)
Collegedunia's analysis reveals that Slot 3 has the most consistent estimates among experts, with a range of 115-119 marks for the 99.9th percentile. iQuanta predicts 115 marks (the lowest across all slots), IMS Coaching suggests 119 marks, while GradSquare mentors report 118 marks. This indicates Slot 3 was more difficult than CAT 2024 Slot 3.
Collegedunia's Expected Score Requirements:
- 99.9 Percentile: 115-119 marks
- 99.5 Percentile: 105-108 marks
- 99.0 Percentile: 94-98 marks
| Percentile | Expected Marks | Section Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 115-119 | VARC: 40-42, DILR: 36-38, QA: 38-40 |
| 99.5 | 105-108 | VARC: 36-38, DILR: 32-34, QA: 34-36 |
| 99.0 | 94-98 | VARC: 32-34, DILR: 30-32, QA: 30-32 |
| 98.0 | 84-88 | VARC: 28-30, DILR: 28-30, QA: 28-30 |
Ques. How does slot-wise difficulty affect 99.9 percentile scores?
Ans. The three sources show varying slot difficulties: Slot 1 consistently requires the highest marks (120-122), while Slot 2 shows the widest variation (115-121) and Slot 3 remains moderate (115-119). This demonstrates how normalisation compensates for difficulty variations, though raw score requirements still differ by 3-7 marks across slots at ultra-high percentiles.
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Section-wise Analysis for 99.9 Percentile
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section remained consistent across all three slots with 24 questions, though difficulty varied based on passage complexity and answer options. Slot 3 proved toughest due to lengthy and confusing answer choices, while Slot 2 featured straightforward reading comprehension passages and easier para-jumbles.
99.9 Percentile Targets:
- Slot 1: 42-44 marks (17-18 questions)
- Slot 2: 40-42 marks (16-17 questions)
- Slot 3: 40-42 marks (16-17 questions)
| Section Component | Questions | 99.9 Percentile Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | Attempt 13-14 with 90%+ accuracy |
| Para Jumbles | 4 | Attempt 3-4 with 85%+ accuracy |
| Odd One Out | 4 | Attempt 2-3 with 80%+ accuracy |
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Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Slot 3 had the easiest DILR section with two easy and one doable set, while Slot 2 proved hardest with numerous TITA questions and logic-heavy problem sets. The DILR section emerged as the percentile differentiator at higher score ranges.
99.9 Percentile Targets:
- Slot 1: 38-40 marks (15-16 questions)
- Slot 2: 36-38 marks (14-15 questions)
- Slot 3: 36-38 marks (14-15 questions)
| Difficulty Level | Number of Sets | 99.9 Percentile Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 1-2 sets | Complete all questions (5-6 per set) |
| Moderate | 1 set | Attempt 4-5 questions selectively |
| Difficult | 1-2 sets | Skip or attempt 1-2 high-confidence questions |
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Quantitative Ability (QA)
Slot 3 emerged as the most difficult QA section due to 9-10 algebra-heavy questions, while Slots 1 and 2 featured more arithmetic problems that were scoring opportunities for prepared students.
99.9 Percentile Targets:
- Slot 1: 38-40 marks (15-16 questions)
- Slot 2: 38-40 marks (15-16 questions)
- Slot 3: 38-40 marks (15-16 questions)
| Topic Area | Slot 1 Questions | Slot 2 Questions | Slot 3 Questions | 99.9 Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8-9 | 8-9 | 6-7 | Prioritize, 85%+ accuracy |
| Algebra | 6-7 | 6-7 | 9-10 | Select carefully, avoid traps |
| Geometry | 3-4 | 3-4 | 2-3 | Focus on conceptual clarity |
| Number System | 3-4 | 3-4 | 3-4 | Solve methodically |
Ques. Which section matters most for achieving 99.9 percentile?
Ans. All three sections require strong performance, but DILR often acts as the differentiator at 99+ percentiles. DILR showed clear slot-wise variation, with Slot 2 reportedly being the toughest, reflected in score dips across most percentiles, making consistent sectional balance more critical than dominance.
CAT 2025 Percentile Predictor Tool
Collegedunia offers a free CAT percentile predictor tool that helps you in calculating your expected percentile based on your CAT 2025 score. The Percentile Predictor tool uses the previous year’s cutoff data to provide the most accurate results.
CAT Cutoff Highlights
- The cutoff percentile for the top-rated IIM is usually at 97+
- Other top B-schools accept a 91 - 98 percentiles
- Other good B-schools also admit students with 70-80 percentiles.
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CAT 2025 was overall tougher than last year, mainly because DILR was difficult and QA was much harder in Slot 3. VARC stayed mostly similar. Due to this, score gaps between percentiles may be smaller, so accuracy and choosing the right questions mattered more than attempts to get 99.9 percentile.
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