CAT Score Calculator
Calculate your CAT score with official marking scheme and percentile prediction
Enter Your Question Attempts
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Your CAT Score
VARC Score
DILR Score
QA Score
Total Correct
Accuracy Analysis
CAT Score Analysis
CAT 2025 Percentile Predictions
Based on analysis of previous years' trends and expected difficulty level for CAT 2025:
Expected Correct Questions for Percentiles (CAT 2025)
| Target Percentile | Expected Correct Questions | Expected Score Range |
|---|---|---|
| 99.9%ile | 40 Correct (approx) | 120-122 Marks |
| 99%ile | 30 Correct (approx) | 90 Marks |
| 95%ile | 22 Correct (approx) | 66 Marks |
| 80%ile | 13-14 Correct | 39-42 Marks |
Section-wise Target for CAT 2025
| Section | 99.9%ile | 99%ile | 95%ile | 80%ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 18 Correct | 14 Correct | 8 Correct | 6 Correct |
| DILR | 15 Correct | 11 Correct | 8 Correct | 5 Correct |
| QA | 14 Correct | 10 Correct | 8 Correct | 4 Correct |
CAT 2025 Strategy Tips
Accuracy is Key
With 90% accuracy, you need 10 attempts for 9 correct. Focus on high accuracy to maximize percentile.
Section-wise Planning
Target 11 correct in DILR with 13 attempts for 99%ile. Solve one 5Q set and two 4Q sets correctly.
Paper Assessment
Assess paper difficulty in first few minutes. Adjust attempts based on whether paper is difficult or easy.
Smart Selection
Don't get disturbed by first few difficult questions. Identify and attempt easier questions first to build momentum.
CAT Score Calculator – Calculate Your MBA Entrance Exam Score & Percentile Instantly
Get Your CAT Score Before Official Results—Plan Your MBA Journey Smart
You’ve just finished your CAT exam. The clock stops, you submit your answers, and immediately the questions start flooding in.
How did I actually perform? What’s my approximate CAT score going to be? Can I make it to my dream IIM? Which business schools should I target?
Waiting weeks for official CAT results while these questions haunt you is unnecessary stress you don’t need.
The CAT Score Calculator gives you answers right now. Simply enter your correct and incorrect attempts across all three sections, and within seconds you’ll see:
- Your total CAT exam score out of 198 marks
- Individual section scores for VARC, DILR, and QA
- Estimated percentile for IIM admission chances
- Predicted business school options based on your performance
- Accuracy analysis showing attempt strategy effectiveness
- Visual performance charts across all sections
No guesswork. No manual calculations. Just accurate numbers that help you start planning your MBA applications confidently.
Why Every CAT Aspirant Needs This MBA Score Calculator
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is India’s most competitive MBA entrance exam, opening doors to IIMs and top business schools. But calculating your CAT score isn’t straightforward:
- The exam has three distinct sections—VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Ability)—each with different question counts.
- Each section is strictly time-bound at 40 minutes—you cannot switch between sections during the exam.
- The CAT marking scheme gives +3 marks for correct answers but deducts -1 for wrong MCQ attempts.
- Some questions are non-MCQs (TITA) with no negative marking, making strategy crucial.
- Your sectional percentiles matter as much as overall percentile—IIMs have sectional cutoffs.
- Even one mark difference can mean hundreds of ranks and drastically different college options.
Manually calculating all this while remembering which questions had negative marking? That’s a recipe for errors that could mislead your entire MBA planning.
That’s precisely why this CAT calculator is essential for every management aspirant:
Powerful Features Built for CAT Test Takers
We designed this tool specifically for MBA aspirants preparing for CAT exam. Here’s what makes it genuinely valuable:
1. Official CAT Marking Scheme
- Automatically applies +3 marks for every correct answer
- Deducts -1 mark for each incorrect MCQ response
- Handles TITA (Type In The Answer) questions appropriately
- Zero marks for unattempted questions
- Matches exactly what IIMs use for CAT evaluation
2. Section-Wise CAT Score Analysis
- VARC score calculation (24 questions, 72 marks)
- DILR performance breakdown (20 questions, 60 marks)
- QA section results (22 questions, 66 marks)
- See which MBA section boosted or hurt your total
- Understand sectional strengths for IIM shortlisting
3. Percentile & IIM Prediction
- Estimates your overall CAT percentile
- Based on previous years’ CAT score distributions
- Predicts potential IIM and top B-school options
- Helps set realistic MBA admission expectations
- Useful for planning business school applications
4. Attempt Strategy Analysis
- Visual accuracy percentage display
- Shows correct vs total attempted ratio
- Helps identify if you’re taking too many risks
- Accuracy data guides future mock test strategy
- Essential for improving CAT preparation approach
5. Interactive Performance Charts
- Color-coded bar graphs for each CAT section
- Total score prominently displayed
- Easy visual comparison across VARC, DILR, QA
- Identify which management aptitude areas need work
- Professional charts for clear performance review
6. Smart Input Validation
- Prevents entering more than available questions per section
- Error alerts for impossible number combinations
- Intelligent checks ensuring realistic CAT inputs
- Reset option to recalculate different scenarios
- Custom marking scheme for mock test practice
How to Use This CAT Exam Score Calculator (Step-by-Step)
Using this calculator is straightforward, even immediately after your intense CAT exam experience.
- Count your VARC (Verbal) attempts
- How many Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension questions did you get right?
- How many VARC questions did you mark incorrectly?
- Remember, VARC has 24 questions total.
- Don’t count questions you left unattempted.
- Enter DILR (Data Interpretation & Logic) numbers
- Count correct DILR attempts and enter them.
- Count incorrect DILR responses separately.
- DILR section contains 20 questions.
- Accuracy matters more than attempts in DILR.
- Add QA (Quantitative Ability) attempts
- Enter how many Quant questions you solved correctly.
- Enter your incorrect QA attempts.
- QA section has 22 questions total.
- Include both MCQ and TITA questions.
- Select marking scheme
- Standard CAT (+3/-1) is pre-selected.
- Choose custom marking only for mock tests.
- Official CAT always uses +3 for correct, -1 for incorrect.
- Calculate your CAT score
- Click the “Calculate CAT Score” button.
- Your complete results appear instantly.
- Review all sections carefully.
- Analyze your MBA entrance performance
- Check total score and estimated percentile.
- Review section-wise CAT scores.
- Study the accuracy analysis.
- See predicted IIM and B-school options.
- Examine performance visualization charts.
- Reset for different scenarios
- Want to calculate best-case or worst-case scores?
- Click reset and enter different numbers.
- Helpful for understanding score ranges.
Understanding CAT Marking Scheme Thoroughly
The CAT scoring pattern is unique and understanding it helps you appreciate your calculated score better:
| Answer Type | Marks Awarded | Question Types | Impact on Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Correct Answer (MCQ) | +3 marks | Multiple Choice Questions | Adds 3 marks to your CAT score |
| Correct Answer (TITA) | +3 marks | Type In The Answer | Adds 3 marks with no negative risk |
| Incorrect Answer (MCQ) | -1 mark | Multiple Choice Questions only | Reduces score by 1 mark |
| Incorrect Answer (TITA) | 0 marks | Type In The Answer | No penalty—safe to attempt |
| Unattempted | 0 marks | All question types | No impact on CAT score |
This marking pattern means TITA questions are golden opportunities—they carry full marks but no negative marking. Smart CAT takers always attempt all TITA questions.
Realistic CAT Score Example:
Let’s say in VARC section you attempted 20 out of 24 questions:
- 15 correct answers = 15 × 3 = 45 marks
- 5 incorrect answers = 5 × (-1) = -5 marks
- 4 unattempted = 0 marks
Your VARC score = 45 – 5 = 40 marks out of 72
This translates to approximately 55-60 percentile in VARC depending on exam difficulty.
CAT Exam Pattern 2024 Section-Wise Breakdown
Understanding how CAT questions are distributed helps contextualize your calculated score:
| CAT Section | Questions | Time Limit | Max Marks | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 minutes | 72 | Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary |
| DILR | 20 | 40 minutes | 60 | Data Sets, Logic Puzzles, Arrangements |
| QA | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math |
| Total CAT | 66 | 120 min | 198 | All MBA aptitude areas |
Notice the strict sectional timing—you get exactly 40 minutes per section with no flexibility to switch. This makes time management critical during the actual CAT exam.
How CAT Percentile Really Works for IIM Admissions
Many MBA aspirants confuse CAT score with percentile. Here’s the critical difference:
Your CAT percentile indicates what percentage of test-takers scored lower than you. It’s entirely relative to other candidates’ performance, not absolute marks.
For example:
- 99.5 percentile in CAT = You outperformed 99.5% of approximately 2 lakh CAT takers
- 95 percentile = You’re in the top 5% of all MBA aspirants
- 90 percentile = Better than 90% of candidates, top 10% club
- 80 percentile = Top 20%, decent tier-2 B-schools possible
The same raw CAT score yields different percentiles each year depending on overall exam difficulty and candidate performance. A score of 120 might be 95 percentile in a tough year but 92 percentile in an easier year.
Our calculator estimates percentiles based on historical CAT data trends, giving you realistic expectations for your IIM interview calls and MBA admission chances.
What Your CAT Score Means for Top IIMs and Business Schools
Understanding your calculated CAT score’s implications for MBA admissions is crucial for realistic planning:
CAT Score Range: 150-198 (99+ Percentile)
- IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta – Strong chances with good academics and interview
- IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore – Very good probability of interview calls
- FMS Delhi, XLRI, MDI Gurgaon – Excellent prospects
- Elite tier MBA programs within reach with balanced profile
CAT Score Range: 120-150 (95-99 Percentile)
- New IIMs (Ranchi, Raipur, Trichy, Udaipur, etc.) – Good interview chances
- IIMs Shillong, Kashipur, Rohtak – Strong prospects
- Top non-IIM B-schools – NMIMS, SIBM, SCMHRD, IMT, IMI
- Solid tier-1 and tier-2 MBA colleges accessible
CAT Score Range: 90-120 (85-95 Percentile)
- Newer IIMs – Chances with good academic background
- Reputed private B-schools – Great Indian Institute, TAPMI, XIMB
- State-level top institutions – Nirma, BIM Trichy
- Multiple good MBA program options available
CAT Score Range: 60-90 (70-85 Percentile)
- Good regional B-schools – BIMTECH, Fore School, LBSIM
- Specialized MBA programs – Sectoral MBA, Executive MBA
- Tier-2 private institutions – Various decent options
- Quality MBA education still achievable
Remember, these are approximate guidelines. Actual IIM calls and B-school admissions depend on multiple factors including academic background, work experience, diversity, and interview performance. CAT score is just the first filter.
Common CAT Score Calculation Mistakes to Avoid
We’ve seen these errors repeatedly among MBA aspirants. Don’t fall into these traps:
1. Ignoring Negative Marking Impact
Students count their correct answers, multiply by 3, but completely forget the -1 deduction for wrong MCQs. This creates unrealistic IIM expectations. Always subtract incorrect attempts!
2. Mixing Up MCQ and TITA Questions
TITA questions have no negative marking—they’re essentially bonus opportunities. If you got a TITA wrong, it’s 0 marks, not -1. This distinction matters for accurate CAT score calculation.
3. Not Tracking Section-Wise Performance
Your overall CAT percentile matters, but so do sectional percentiles. IIMs have sectional cutoffs—you could score 98 percentile overall but miss IIM calls if one section is below cutoff. Always calculate all three sections separately.