CAT Normalization Process involves scaling of the raw CAT score to arrive at the CAT percentile. It is an important step in preparation of CAT result. The process is explained by the examination agency every year for transparency. Read here to know all about CAT Normalization Process 2025.
CAT Normalization Process or the scaling and equating process for CAT exam score is an important step in result preparation. This is the process through which every candidate's performance is evaluated for CAT percentile calculation. The CAT normalization process is announced the at the time of declaration of the CAT exam schedule. According to the information bulletin, the CAT normalization process "shall adjust for location and scale differences of score distributions across different forms. After normalisation across different forms, the scores shall be further normalised across different sections.”
CAT 2025 exam will be conducted on November 30, 2025. The exam will be conducted in three slot and three different test forms (question papers) will be administered in every slot (slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3). As there could be differences in the difficulty level of the three the test forms, score normalization in CAT 2025 will be adopted for assessment of each candidates performance on a common scale. By doing this, the examination authority will ensure that every candidates is assessed for the CAT exam evenly.
- What is Normalization in CAT?
- What is Composite Score in CAT and How is it Calculated?
- GATE Normalization Process
- CAT cut offs 2024
What is Normalization in CAT?
CAT Score Normalisation can be understood as a process to ensure fairness and equity in the performances of candidates across all sessions. The CAT normalization process includes adjusting location and scale differences of score distributions across different question papers. The scaled scores obtained by this process will then be converted into CAT percentiles. Candidates will be shortlisted for Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds on the basis of CAT percentile.
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CAT 2025 result cum scorecard will contain, not the raw CAT exam score but scaled scores for each of the following sections along with the percentiles:
- Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA)
What is Composite Score in CAT and How is it Calculated?
The CAT composite score of each candidate will be arrived at by calculating their points on the basis of some parameters. These include:
- CAT score (scaled)
- Class 12 marks
- Class 10 marks
- Graduation score
- Work Experience
- Diversity (Gender)
- Diversity (Academic)
Take a look at CAT Composite Score calculator for shortlisting for WAT-PI, issued by IIM Lucknow:
CAT Normalization Process is based on GATE scoring, where the normalisation is based on the assumption that distribution of abilities of candidates is the same across all the sessions. The calculations are based on statistic equations.
In GATE, normalisation takes into account all the variations in the difficulty levels of the question papers across different session.
GATE Normalization Process
"The normalization is done based on the fundamental assumption that "in all multi-session GATE papers, the distribution of abilities of candidates is the same across all the sessions". This assumption is justified since the number of candidates appearing in multi-session papers in GATE is large and the procedure for allocation of session to candidates is random. Further, it is also ensured that for the same multi-session paper, the number of candidates allotted in each session is of the same order of magnitude," informs the official GATE website.
Here's GATE normalization formula:
Normalized marks based on the above formula will be calculated corresponding to the raw marks obtained by the candidate in CAT 2022.
Also Read:
CAT cut offs 2024
IIM CAT cut offs are usually high in the range of 98 to 100 percentile. For PI shortlisting, there is a great emphasis on Class 10 and Class 12 marks. Here’s the list of estimated CAT cut off percentiles for last year for reference.
IIMs |
CAT cut offs (percentile) |
---|---|
99-100 |
|
99-100 |
|
99 |
|
97-98 |
|
97-98 |
|
97-98 |
|
95-96 |
|
95-96 |
|
95-96 |
|
94-95 |
|
94-95 |
|
94-95 |
|
94-95 |
|
92-94 |
|
92-94 |
|
92-94 |
|
90 |
|
90 |
Read More:
- IIM eligibility criteria 2025
- Top MBA colleges accepting CAT scores
- Colleges accepting CAT scores range 60-70 percentile
- Colleges accepting CAT scores range 70-80 percentile
- Colleges accepting CAT scores 85 percentile and above
- Colleges accepting CAT scores range 80-90 percentile
- Colleges accepting CAT scores range 50-60 percentile

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Student Forum
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With a 300 SC category rank in CAT, your chances for NIT Trichy MBA are relatively high. Based on 2025 data, NIT Trichy generally shortlists SC candidates with CAT percentiles around 60-65. To achieve a 300 rank under SC category, you would need about a 65-70 percentile, or a score of roughly 60-65
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