What is Scaled Score in CAT 2026? How is it Calculated for Three Slots?

IIM Indore, the CAT 2026 conduting IIM, willl use the same formula of Scaled CAT score calculation for three different slots, as used in previous years. Read below to understand what is scaled score in CAT and how it is calculated and the formula that has been applied to prepare the CAT 2026 result.  

CAT Score Calculation Formula

What is scaled score in CAT? The exam is held in three slots every batch of candidates got  different set of questions. The examination authority normalize the CAT scores of all candidates to assess their performance on a standardised scale. This is critical to ensure none of the candidates have any advantage or disadvantage over another due to varied difficulty levels of the test slot. For result preparation, CAT authorities calculate raw scores of candidates and then evaluate each performance on a common scale so that there is fairness in percentile calculation. CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29 in three shifts and the CAT question paper of all three shifts will have different set of questions. Read below to know how CAT 2026 score will be calcuated for result preparation.

What is Scaled Score in CAT Exam?

The CAT exam pattern changed in 2020 and it became a three slot exam (earlier there were only two slots). The exam authorities introduced a modified process of Scaled CAT Score calculation in line with three-slot system. CAT exam will follow the same method of Scaled Score calculation for preparation of candidate scorecards. Read below to understand the scaled score in CAT and its calculation for performance normalisation and assessment. 

Scaled CAT Score Calculation for All Three Slots

IIMCAT has shared the formula of scaled CAT score calculation of students appearing in the exam in three different slots this year. In the process below, the CAT scaled score calculation has been explained with the example of Quantitative Aptitude section, same methodology is applied for scaled score calculation for VARC and DILR. If any candidate’s scaled score is more than 100, it will be rounded down to 100.

Step 1: Calculate the Mean (M) and the Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores in QA section for all candidates appearing in the morning session. Let Mean = M₁ and SD = S₁ and G₁ = M₁ + S₁.

Step 2: Calculate the Mean (M) and the Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores in QA section for all candidates appearing in the afternoon session. Let Mean = M₂ and SD = S₂ and G₂ = M₂ +S₂.

Step 3: Calculate the Mean (M)  and the Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores in QA section for all candidates appearing in the evening session. Let Mean = M₃ and SD = S₃ and G₃ = M₃ + S₃.

Step 4: Calculate the Mean (M) and the Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores in QA section for all candidates appearing in CAT (i.e. including all the three sessions). Let Mean = M and SD = S and G = M + S.

Step 5: Calculate the Mean (M) raw score in QA section of the top 0.1% candidates in the morning session and denote it by M₁^0.1 

Step 6: Calculate the Mean (M) raw score in QA of top 0.1% candidates in the afternoon session and denote it by M₂^0.1

Step 7: Calculate the Mean (M) raw score in QA of top 0.1% candidates in the evening session and denote it by M₃^0.1

Step 8: Calculate the Mean (M) raw score in QA of top 0.1% candidates appearing in CAT (i.e. considering all the three sessions) and denote it by M^0.1.

Suppose now XYZ is a candidate who appeared in the morning session and her raw score in QA section is R. Then the scaled score of XYZ in QA, say r given by:

r = (R − G₁ ) M^0.1 − G

-------------------------------- + G

M₁^0.1 − G₁

In case XYZ is a candidate who appeared in the afternoon session and her raw score in QA section is R. Then the scaled score of XYZ in QA, say r given by:

r = (R − G₂ ) M^0.1 − G

---------------------------------------- + G

M₂^0.1 − G₂

In case XYZ is a candidate who appeared in the evening session and her raw score in QA section is R. Then the scaled score of XYZ in QA, say r given by:

r = (R − G₃ ) M^0.1 − G

----------------------------------- + G

M₃^0.1 − G₃

CAT Score vs Percentile 2026

Check the table below for a comparison of CAT scaled score vs percentile to understand the calculation of exam score better. This is an estimation of CAT score vs percentile 2026.