(And can YOU really make it? Spoiler: Hell yes, if you're smart about it)
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Quantifiers CAT Academy, Chandigarh
99+ percentile = Needed for IIM ABC and FMS (General category)
95–98 percentile = Target for IIM Indore, Lucknow, Kozhikode, IITs, SPJIMR, MDI
90–95 percentile = Baby IIMs, IIM Trichy, Udaipur, Ranchi, TAPMI, IMT, etc.
<90 percentile = Still possible to get calls with strong profile and reservation benefits
Your profile (academics, work experience, diversity, GD-PI-WAT) matters as much as your CAT score
A raw score of ~85–90/198 usually gives 99 percentile
You don’t need to be a topper — you need consistency and strategy
If you’re reading this, you’re probably in CAT prep mode or thinking about diving in. So, let’s break it down real quick:
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the ultimate ticket to the holy trinity of Indian B-Schools — IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta (IIM ABC). And yeah, it’s also your gateway to FMS Delhi, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, and a bunch of newer IIMs that are rising fast.
The CAT exam is highly competitive, with over 2.5 lakh candidates appearing annually, many of whom rigorously prepare with multiple mock tests. But here’s the twist: you’re not just competing against 2.5 lakh people. You’re up against the most disciplined, smart, mock-giving maniacs in the country. A 99.5+ percentile — which is the top 0.5% of all CAT takers — is typically required for admission to IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta.
Now, take a breath. You don’t need to be a genius. You just need a plan. A strategic preparation plan matters more than intelligence when aiming for a 99+ CAT percentile. And that starts with knowing what a “good” CAT percentile is for the colleges you dream of.
In short:
99 percentile = You scored better than 99% of all CAT takers.
It’s not about your marks. It’s about how well you did compared to everyone else.
| 🎓 College/Institute | ✅ Target Percentile (General Category) |
| IIM Ahmedabad / Bangalore / Calcutta | 99–100 (yes, really!) |
| IIM Lucknow / Kozhikode / Indore | 97–99 |
| FMS Delhi | 98–99 |
| SPJIMR / MDI Gurgaon / IIFT Delhi | 95–98 |
| IIM Trichy / Ranchi / Udaipur etc. | 90–95 |
| Tier 2 Colleges (IMT, TAPMI, etc.) | 85–90 |
Here’s the twist — NOPE. Clearing the CAT exam is only the first stage; B-school admissions also weigh academic scores, work experience, and interview performance. So, to get that final offer letter, you have to work on improving your overall profile too.
You could be a 99.6 percentiler and still get rejected if your interviews are dull.
🔥 BUT — you could also be a 97 scorer and bag IIM-A if you kill it in the GD-PI. True story. We’ve seen it happen at Quantifiers.
Let’s get into the numbers. Here’s a rough score-to-percentile conversion (based on past years):
| 🎯 Percentile | 📊 Raw Score (Approx.) |
| 99.9 | 100+ |
| 99 | 85–90 |
| 98 | 75–80 |
| 95 | 60–65 |
| 90 | 50–55 |
So, no – you don’t need a perfect paper. But you do need consistency across all 3 sections – VARC, DILR, QA.
Even one weak section can cost you that dream B-school call.
Real success stories from CAT toppers show that consistent mocks and strong interview preparation are key to cracking IIM admissions. But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our toppers say:
“Mocks weren’t just practice – they were my mirror. I gave 2/week consistently and reviewed every single one.”
“I wasn’t the highest scorer in my batch. But my interview prep with Quantifiers changed the game completely.”
So… yeah. If they can do it, so can you.
💬 Want to get into one of these?
Start now, stay consistent, and give mocks smartly.
You’ve got the data. You’ve got the motivation.
Now it’s time to put in the work. 📈
At Quantifiers CAT Academy, we’ve helped hundreds of students (just like you!) go from 70s to 99+ — with smart prep, mock strategies, and personal mentorship.
✨ You don’t need to be a topper.
✨ You just need to trust the process.
Your dream B-school isn’t out of reach. It’s just a few good decisions away.
Let’s make it happen. 💪
Possibly FMS if your profile is very strong; for IIM Indore, yes with a good profile.
Yes, 12–24 months is ideal for many B-schools.
No. They consider academics, category, gender, work ex, GD-PI performance, etc.
It’s based on your performance relative to other test-takers — not just your raw marks. A formula using scaled scores ranks you against everyone else.
Around 100+ typically puts you above 99.9 percentile, based on recent year trends
Consistency in preparation and regular mock test practice are key strategies recommended by CAT mentors for securing top B-school calls.
Even a 99.6 percentile in CAT does not guarantee admission; performance in GD-PI-WAT is critical.
Candidates scoring below 90 percentile may still receive interview calls if they have strong academic records, diversity advantage, or belong to reserved categories.
Scoring above 100 marks in CAT typically corresponds to a percentile above 99.9, based on previous year trends.
Yes. Some IIMs award diversity points to candidates from underrepresented academic backgrounds or gender.
Some IIMs give weight to 10th/12th/grad marks during shortlisting. A strong CAT score can still balance average academics in some cases.
Yes. Most top B-Schools have minimum sectional cutoffs along with overall percentile requirements.
To connect with us, for mentorship and daily test practice
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We at Quantifiers understand and deliver on the personal attention each of our students requires. Whether it is through our pedagogy that enables non-engineers or non-math background students, our constant effort to proactively provide solutions, or our focus on our student’s goals.
