CAT does not publish a fixed marks-to-percentile chart. The mapping changes with paper difficulty and with how everyone performs in your slot, so treat any table as a guide, not a promise.
Indicative marks vs percentile
| Expected scaled score | Expected percentile | What it can mean |
|---|---|---|
| 170 and above | 99.5 - 100 | IIM A, B, C shortlist likely |
| 155 - 170 | 99 - 99.5 | IIM A, B, C possible with strong academics |
| 135 - 155 | 97 - 99 | IIM L, K, I, M shortlist possible |
| 115 - 135 | 93 - 97 | Newer IIMs likely |
| 95 - 115 | 85 - 93 | Newer IIMs and top non-IIM B-schools |
| 75 - 95 | 75 - 85 | B-schools with 75-85 percentile cutoffs |
| Below 75 | Below 75 | Non-IIM B-schools with lower cutoffs |
CAT publishes no fixed marks-to-percentile chart. These are indicative ranges from recent years; the real mapping depends on paper difficulty and how everyone performs. Sectional percentiles matter too.
How percentile is calculated
- Your raw section score is scaled to adjust for differences between slots.
- Scaled sectional scores are added to give a total scaled score.
- Percentile = share of candidates who scored below you.
- A tougher paper pushes the same marks to a higher percentile.
Use it well
CAT 2026 Marks vs Percentile FAQs
How many marks are needed for 99 percentile in CAT?+
It changes every year with difficulty. In recent years the range has been roughly 155-170 marks, but this is only a guide.
Is the percentile table official?+
No. IIMs do not release a chart; these are indicative ranges from recent trends.
More on CAT 2026
Source & Disclaimer
Official source: iimcat.ac.in
Information on this page is compiled from the official CAT notification at iimcat.ac.in and trends from earlier cycles. Dates marked Expected are estimates, not official announcements. Please confirm all details on the official website.