CAT Normalization Process 2025: How Your Raw Score Becomes a Percentile?

The CAT Normalization process is a method used by the IIMs to ensure fairness in scoring. Since the exam will be held in a single day, there will be multiple slots with different question papers.

To objectively evaluate each candidate and determine their percentile, the CAT 2025 normalization procedure will be utilized, standardizing performance across various test settings. The normalizing results will be out once all the CAT 2025 Exam (scheduled for November 30, 2025) shifts are finished.

To ensure fairness and prevent discrimination in the final CAT scores, the IIMs will implement a normalization process before releasing the result. This process is designed to maintain authenticity at the shift difficulty level. The normalizing procedure makes sure that everyone is fairly and accurately gets score by the performance.

CAT 2025 Normalization: What is It?

The CAT 2025 normalization process is a system used by the IIMs to ensure fair scoring across different test sessions. Since there's a chance that one slot's question paper might be easier than another's, this process prevents any candidate from facing discrimination in their final scores. It ensures rationality and fairness in the CAT results.

How is the CAT Normalization Performed?

The CAT 2025 normalization process has two main steps below:

First, the IIMs will adjust raw scores to account for any differences in the difficulty of the various question papers. This ensures fair and comparable scores across all test shifts.

Second, the scores for each individual section (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability) will be normalized.

This two-step method is a standard practice for many multi-shift MBA entrance exams, and it ensures that no candidate is unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged based on their specific test session.

CAT 2025 Raw Score Calculation

IIM will use a multi-step process to calculate the normalized raw scores for each section of CAT. Same process is applied to all three sections: DILR, VARC and QA. The final total scaled score is the sum of the scaled scores from each of these sections. The general approach for each section involves these steps.

A breakdown of the calculations for each section, using the DILR section as an example is given below.

• Step 1: The mean and standard deviation of raw scores are calculated for each individual test session (e.g., morning shift) and for all candidates combined.
  • For the morning shift, let the mean be M1 and the standard deviation be S1.
  • For the afternoon shift, let the mean be M2 and the standard deviation be S2.
  • For all candidates across both shifts, let the mean be M and the standard deviation be S.
• Step 2: The mean raw score of the top 0.1% of candidates is calculated for each shift and for all candidates combined.
  • Let the mean raw score of the top 0.1% in the morning shift be M^10.1.
  • Let the mean raw score of the top 0.1% in the afternoon shift be M^20.1.
  • Let the mean raw score of the top 0.1% of all candidates be M^0.1.

The final CAT scaled score is then calculated using this normalization formula:

Scaled Score = (MT - M^T) x (M - M^) (M - M^) x (M^T - MT) x (R - M) + M^

Where:

• R = Raw score of the candidate
• M = Mean of raw scores of the group (specific shift)
• M^ = Mean of raw scores of the top 0.1% of the group
• MT = Mean of raw scores of all candidates in all shifts
• M^T = Mean of raw scores of the top 0.1% of all candidates

Total Scaled Score Calculation

The total scaled score for a candidate is simply the sum of their individual scaled scores from each of the three sections:

Total Scaled Score = Scaled Score DILR + Scaled Score VARC + Scaled Score QA

Composite Score Calculation

As per the table provided, the composite score is calculated out of 100 points, with specific weights assigned to different components. This score is used to create the shortlist for the Personal Interview (PI) stage.

How each component contributes to the composite score is given below:

• Scaled CAT Score (45% Weight):
  1. A candidate's scaled CAT score (or GMAT score) is the most heavily weighted factor.
  2. The points are calculated using the formula:

CS = (Highest CAT score or GMAT maximum score / Candidate's CAT or GMAT Score) x 45

1. This ensures that the candidate's score is scaled relative to the highest performance in the examination.

• HSC Marks (12th Grade - 20% Weight):
  1. Points are assigned based on the candidate's Class 12th percentage.
  2. The scoring method is:

12M = [20Max (P,80) /20] x 20

Where:

P = Candidate's Class 12th percentile based on applicant's pooled data for the respective Boards and Disciplines.

• Graduation Marks (25% Weight):
  1. Graduation scores are normalized to account for differences across various academic disciplines such as Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts, and others.
  2. The formula for calculation is:

GM = [{(Candidate's Grad. % Score - x ) / m } x {50 / 3} + 50] x 25 / 100

1. Here, x is the mean and m is the standard deviation of scores for that specific academic discipline.
2. The final marks are adjusted to fall between 0 and 25.

• Work Experience (5% Weight):
  1. A candidate's full-time work experience after graduation is considered.
  2. Points are assigned based on the number of completed months (x) as of July 31st.
  3. The calculation is:
     1. If x>6:

WE = min{(x - 6) x 0.50,5}

1. ELSE:

WE = 0

1. This formula rewards candidates with at least six months of experience, with a maximum of 5 points.

• Diversity Factor (5% Weight):
  1. This factor is included to promote diversity in the IIM classes.
  2. For Gender Diversity, 5 points are assigned if the candidate is female, otherwise 0.
     1. DFb = 5

if Gender = Female

1. DFb=0, otherwise
2. The provided table doesn't specify a scoring method for Academic Diversity, but it is listed as a parameter.

The Composite Score is the sum of the points from all these components, with a total potential score of 100.

How to Calculate CAT 2025 Percentile?

This calculating process is applied to both individual sections and the overall score to determine one's final CAT percentile, given below:

• Total Candidates (N): The total number of candidates who appeared for CAT 2025 is determined.
• Rank (r) Assignment: Candidates are ranked based on their scaled scores, with identical scores receiving the same rank.
• Percentile Formula: The percentile (P) is calculated using the formula: P = ((N - r) / N) x 100.

Where:

• N is the total number of candidates who appeared for the exam.
• r is the rank of the candidate based on their scaled score.
• Rounding: The final percentile is rounded to two decimal places.

Read More:

• CAT 2025 Admit Card (12th Nov): Error Correction & Exam Day Guidelines
• CAT 2025 Exam Expected Difficulty Level, Slot-wise Analysis   
• CAT Exam Preparation 2025; How Many Days Required, Strategy, Free Mock Test

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is normalization used in CAT? +

Ans: Normalization is used in CAT to ensure that no candidate has an unfair advantage or disadvantage from appearing in a specific shift with a different difficulty level.

What is the difference between a raw score and a scaled score? +

Ans: A CAT raw score is based on correct and incorrect answers, while a scaled score is the normalized version, adjusted for exam session difficulty.

Can marks be reduced after CAT normalization? +

Ans: Yes, normalization can lead to a decrease in the raw marks of candidates who scored highly in an easier exam shift. However, this is done to ensure a fair comparison with candidates from more difficult shifts, and the overall relative performance of a candidate remains intact.

Related News