What is the difference between CAT score and percentile?

CAT Score vs Percentile: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis. The IIMs are a group of 20 autonomous public business schools of management located in India. They are among the most prestigious management schools in Asia and the world.
This year, the registration process commenced on August 2, 2023, marking the beginning of the application window.Candidates interested in taking theCAT exam had until September 21, 2023, to complete their applications. On October 25, 2023, the CAT Admit Cards will be issued, granting access to the examination centres. The CAT exam itself is scheduled for November 26, 2023, on which aspiring management students will undertake this significant test for admission to prestigious business schools and management programmes.
The CAT exam is held once a year, typically in November. The results are usually announced in December, and the selection process for MBA programmes begins soon after that.The CAT exam is a highly competitive exam, and the scores are used by the IIMs and other top B-schools in India to shortlist candidates for their MBA programmes. It is one of the most competitive exams in the country, with over two lakh candidates appearing for it each year.
The CAT exam is a computer-based test that consists of three sections:
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Ability (QA)
Each section has 24 questions, and the total exam duration is 180 minutes. There is no negative marking for the exam.
The CAT exam scores are used by the IIMs and other B-schools to shortlist candidates for their MBA programs. The selection process also includes other factors such as academic performance, work experience, and extra-curricular activities.
CAT score is the total number of marks obtained by a candidate in the CAT exam. It is calculated by adding up the marks obtained in all three sections of the exam: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
CAT percentile is a measure of a candidate’s performance relative to other candidates in the CAT exam. It is calculated by ranking all the candidates who took the exam based on their total CAT score, and then assigning a percentile to each candidate. The percentile indicates the percentage of candidates who scored lower than the candidate in question.
Difference between CAT score and CAT percentile:
Nature of Measurement
• CAT Score: It quantifies a candidate’s absolute performance in the CAT exam, reflecting the actual marks obtained.
• CAT Percentile: It assesses a candidate’s relative performance compared to other test-takers.
Score Type
• CAT Score: It is a raw score that directly represents the sum of marks secured by a candidate.
•CAT Percentile: It is a standardized score that indicates a candidate’s position relative to all other test-takers.
Calculation Method
• CAT Score: Calculated by summing the marks achieved in all three sections of the exam.
• CAT Percentile: Computed by ranking all exam takers according to their total CAT score, providing a percentile rank.
Interpretation
• CAT Score: CAT score is a direct representation of the sum of marks obtained by a candidate in the exam.
• CAT Percentile: CAT percentiles require a more nuanced interpretation as they reflect a candidate’s performance relative to others and can vary based on the overall performance of all test-takers.
Used for Selection
• CAT Score: Some institutions may consider CAT scores as a criterion for shortlisting candidates.
• CAT Percentile: CAT percentiles are the primary criteria used by most top management institutes for shortlisting and selecting candidates as they offer a fair comparison among test-takers.