CAT score vs percentile previous year trends show the changes over the years due to difficulty level, competitiveness, and score normalisation. The change in exam pattern has changed in recent years. Specifically, in the past 5 years, scores vs percentiles have been changing quite significantly. In 2020, a raw score of 101 was required for the 99th percentile, while for the same in 2023, around 76 was needed.
For the 95th percentile and above percentiles, the score needed has been changing constantly over the years. For the 90+ percentile, the required score has been around 62-72 over the years. The required score for the 70th-90th percentile has also remained almost the same.
- CAT was out of 300 marks from 2017 to 2019. It dropped to 228 in 2020 due to COVID.
- From 2021 onwards, the maximum score has stayed 198-204.
- 175/300 raw score required in CAT 2017 for the 99th percentile, as the paper was easier.
- Get 2023 marked the toughest paper in recent years, and it required 76/198 for the 99th percentile.
- Despite fluctuation at the top, the 95th percentile has consistently ranged between 60-72 marks across all years.
- The majority of aspirants fall in the 70-90 percentile bracket.
- The 99th percentile zone remains limited to fewer than 200 candidates annually.
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Key Summary
- The CAT score versus percentile trend is shaped by exam pattern, normalisation, and difficulty each year.
- The 300 mark papers from 2017 to 2019 demanded a higher score for the top percentiles.
- The COVID year 228 saw the 99 percentile around 101/228.
- CAT 2021-22 had a moderate difficulty with a 99th percentile at 95 to 97 scores.
- CAT 2023 was the toughest in a decade, pulling the 99th percentile down to 76 marks.
- CAT 2024 required 96 to 98 marks for 9the 9th percentile.
- Across the years 90th percentile has stayed 50 to 55, and the 95th percentile required 60-72.
CAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years
- A score of 145-150 was required in 2020 to reach the 100th percentile.
- For the 99th percentile, scores fell to 76 in 2023 but rose again to 96 in 2024.
- The 95 percentile stayed steady, always between 54 and 76 marks.
- The 90 percentile for mostly needed 44-63 marks across years.
- Most students are in the 70-90 percentile range, scoring about 40-60 marks.
- Even with 1-2 marks, candidates can still secure a 1-10 percentile.
- Overall, 2020 & 2021 were high-scoring, and 2023 was the toughest, and 2024 balanced back with moderate-high requirements.
| Percentile | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 135-138 | 115-118 | 120-122 | 136-138 | 145-150 |
| 99 | 96 | 76 | 84 | 98 | 101 |
| 98 | 88-90 | 70 | 78-80 | 90-92 | 94-95 |
| 97 | 79 | 61 | 72 | 82 | 85 |
| 96 | 74-75 | 58-59 | 68 | 78 | 81-82 |
| 95 | 70 | 54 | 62 | 73 | 76 |
| 94 | 67-68 | 52-53 | 59-60 | 70 | 73-74 |
| 93 | 65 | 50-51 | 57-58 | 68 | 71-72 |
| 92 | 63 | 48-49 | 55-56 | 66 | 69-70 |
| 91 | 60-61 | 46-47 | 53-54 | 63-64 | 66-68 |
| 90 | 58 | 44 | 49 | 60 | 63 |
| 86-90 | 52-58 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 56-60 | 58-63 |
| 81-85 | 46-51 | 36-39 | 40-44 | 50-55 | 52-57 |
| 76-80 | 41-45 | 33-35 | 37-39 | 46-49 | 48-51 |
| 71-75 | 37-40 | 30-32 | 34-36 | 42-45 | 44-47 |
| 66-70 | 34-36 | 28-29 | 31-33 | 38-41 | 40-43 |
| 61-65 | 30-33 | 25-27 | 28-30 | 34-37 | 36-39 |
| 50-60 | 24-29 | 20-24 | 22-27 | 28-33 | 30-35 |
| 40-50 | 18-23 | 15-19 | 17-21 | 21-27 | 24-29 |
| 30-40 | 12-17 | 10-14 | 11-16 | 15-20 | 18-23 |
| 20-30 | 7-11 | 6-9 | 7-10 | 10-14 | 12-17 |
| 10-20 | 3-6 | 3-5 | 4-6 | 6-9 | 8-11 |
| 1-10 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 2-4 | 3-5 |

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CAT Topper 2024CAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years 2019-2015
- 2019-2015 CAT was written for a maximum of 300 marks.
- Top cut-offs were highest in 2017. Hundred percentile was at 208, and 99 percentile required a score of 173.
- 2015 had the highest 99 percentile score, which was 180. It was also one of the toughest at the top.
- 2019 was easier overall, 99 percentile dropped to 157, and 90 percentile fell as low as 90 marks.
- Below 50 percentile meant scoring between 30 to 55 marks, depending on the year.
- 95 percentile was stable across all years, staying within 120 to 145 marks.
| Percentile | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 196-198 | 192-194 | 208-210 | 196-200 | 180-185 |
| 99 | 157 | 155 | 173 | 170-173 | 180 |
| 97-98 | 140-150 | 135-145 | 155-165 | 150-160 | 160-165 |
| 95-96 | 1220 | 125 | 139 | 140-145 | 144 |
| 90-94 | 90-119 | 110-124 | 121-138 | 115-139 | 120-143 |
| 80-90 | 70-89 | 90-109 | 95-120 | 95-114 | 100-119 |
| 70-80 | 55-69 | 70-89 | 80-94 | 80-94 | 85-99 |
| 60-70 | 40-54 | 55-69 | 65-79 | 65-79 | 70-84 |
| 50-60 | 30-39 | 40-54 | 50-64 | 50-64 | 55-69 |
| Below 50 | <30 | <40 | <50 | <50 | <55 |

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CAT 2025 Marks Vs PercentileCAT Score vs Percentile Predictor
- The CAT Score versus Percentile predictor is a tool that helps aspirants estimate their percentile based on raw scores.
- Several platforms offer the CAT score vs the Percentile Predictor.
- Collegdunia CAT score vs Precentile predictor helps you get to know the possible IIM/Institutes with your score or percentile.
- Predictors usually show your expected percentile from 50 to 100.
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College Predictor 2025CAT Score vs Percentile Calculator
- On average, 10 to 12 leading coaching platforms provide a free percentile calculated each year for CAT aspirants to know more about the CAT score vs percentile previous years.
- Most calculators predict a percentile from 40 to hundred based on your entered score.
- These calculators also provide you with detailed cut-offs for 90, 95, 98, 99, and 100 percentiles.
- These CAT score versus percentile calculators are usually 90 to 95% accurate compared to official IIM results.
- Check the below cat percentile predictor by Collegedunia, which provides you a comprehensive breakdown of cut-offs, possible IIMs, and percentiles.
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CAT Percentile Predictor 2025CAT Score vs Percentile and Rank
| Percentile | Raw score | Scaled score | Rank (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 105-110 | 140-145 | Top 10-50 |
| 99-.9 | 95-104 | 125-139 | Top 300-600 |
| 99.5 | 85-94 | 115-125 | 1200-1600 |
| 99 | 72-84 | 98-14 | 3000-5000 |
| 95 | 50-54 | 75-85 | 12000-15000 |
| 90 | 40-43 | 60-70 | 25000-30000 |
| 85 | 35-38 | 53-58 | 45000-50000 |
| 80 | 32-35 | 48-52 | 60000-65000 |
| 70 | 18-31 | 42-46 | 80000-90000 |
| 60 | 24-27 | 37-41 | 110000-120000 |
| 50 | 20-23 | 32-36 | 140000-150000 |
| 40 | 15-18 | 26-31 | 175000-190000 |
| 30 | 12-14 | 20-25 | 210000-225000 |
| 20 | 8-11 | 14-19 | 240000-260000 |
| 10 | 5-7 | 9-13 | 275000-290000 |
| <5 | 0-4 | 0-8 | 290000-300000 |
CAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years: Quora & Reddit
- Quora and Reddit users have shared their responses on the CAT score vs percentile previous years, with certain percentiles and with their actual scorecards.
- The discussions are almost par with the figures that are shown by several prep platforms.
- Though new responses are limited to recent years’ scores, responses from 2021 and before give a detailed explanation.
- Along with scores and percentile information, the users also share useful insights on the exam and preparation.


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CAT Score vs Percentile Previous Years FAQs
Ques. Is getting 90 percentile in CAT easy?
Ans. Getting 90 percentile in CAT is easy with strong fundamentals.
- 90 percentile is also one of the brackets in which many candidates fall.
- 90 percentile requires a 90-100 raw score.
- Overall, 25-30 correct answers with 80% accuracy are needed for 90 percentile.
Ques. Is CAR 2025 expected to be tough?
Ans. CAT is generally considered tough. CAT 2025 is expected to be moderately tough.
- Each section may have 1-2 challenging questions.
- It is not just about the difficulty of questions, but also speed and accuracy.
- CAT has pressing time pressure.
- Some questions in QA and DILR can be unpredictable.
Ques. Which IIM will set the CAT 2026?
Ans.IIMs conduct CAT on a rotational basis.
- CAT 2026 will be conducted by IIM Indore
Ques. Which is the hardest year of the CAT exam?
Ans. In recent years, CAT 2023 has been considered to be the toughest.
- The QA section of Slot 3 was extremely tough in CAT 2023.
- CAT 2021 is also known for having tricky DILR and confusing VARC.
- CAT 2020 was difficult due to a pattern change in questions.
Ques. Who will make the CAT 2025 paper?
Ans. IIM Kozhikode will set the CAT 2025 paper.
- IIMs conduct CAT on a rotational basis.
- This year, it's IIM Kozhikode’s turn.
- Prof.P N Ram Kumar of IIM Kozhikode is the convener for CAT 2025.




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