CAT Score Vs CAT Percentile: Know Difference Between The Two
The CAT score represents the total marks a candidate secures in the exam.
To secure admission to the top management colleges in India, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), clearing the CAT (Common Admission Test) is essential. Many candidates often confuse the CAT score with the CAT percentile, both of which are critical components of the exam results. Understanding their differences is crucial for evaluating your performance and eligibility for admissions. The CAT score represents the total marks a candidate secures in the exam. The CAT exam is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VA-RC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI-LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The scores obtained in each section are combined to calculate the total score, which typically ranges from 0 to 300. This score directly reflects how well a candidate has performed in the exam.
In contrast, the CAT percentile measures a candidate’s relative performance compared to other test-takers. It shows the percentage of candidates who scored lower than you in the exam, ranging from 0 to 100. For instance, a 99th percentile means you have performed better than 99% of the total candidates. This metric is widely used by management colleges to shortlist candidates, as it provides a comparative analysis of performance across the entire pool of examinees.
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A formula is used to calculate CAT Percentile. After the CAT result is released, you can calculate your percentile yourself.
Calculation of marks obtained in CAT: Firstly, the marks of the candidate are calculated. This calculation is done by adding the marks obtained in all three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VA-RC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI-LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Normalisation: The total marks obtained in the CAT exam are then normalised. This process ensures that the marks of all the candidates are on the same scale.
Calculation of Percentile: Based on the normalised marks, the percentile of the candidate is calculated. This percentile shows how the candidate has performed in comparison to other candidates.
Interpretation of Percentile: Percentile is interpreted at the end. This shows how many candidates the candidate has left behind in the CAT exam.
The CAT 2024 exam was conducted on November 24, 2024, with more than 3 lakh candidates appearing for it. The answer key is expected to be released in the second or third week of December 2024, and the results will follow soon after. Candidates can stay updated by visiting the official website: iimcat.ac.in.
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