The CAT Normalization Process involves scaling the raw CAT score to determine the CAT percentile. It is a key stage in preparing the CAT results. The testing agency explains the method each year to ensure transparency.
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The CAT Normalization Process, also known as the scaling and equating of CAT exam scores, is a key stage in the compilation of results. This is the procedure by which each candidate's performance is assessed for CAT percentile calculation.
The CAT exam will be conducted on November 30, 2025. The exam was divided into three slots, with three separate test forms (question sheets) administered in each slot. Because the difficulty levels of the three test types may vary, score Normalization in CAT 2025 will be used to judge each candidate's performance on a common scale. The examination body will ensure that all students are equally assessed for the CAT exam.
What is the CAT Normalization Process 2025?
The CAT exam has different papers across slots. If the same questions were used in each slot, it would give an unfair advantage to those taking the test later, as they could see questions from earlier slots. Instead, the CAT authorities create different papers for each slot. These papers test different topics, but they aim to keep the overall difficulty level similar.
Although IIMs try to make sure that the question papers are the same in their difficulty level, there may be some differences in the difficulty level of question papers.
The CAT normalization process occurs in 2 steps. First, the IIMs adjust scores to account for differences among various question papers. Second, after these adjustments, the scores from different sections are normalized.
CAT tests use a method called EP percentile normalization to compare scores accurately. This method considers key scores, like the highest score, the score for 10th place, and the score for 50th place. This is important because each test session has around 70,000 to 80,000 test-takers.
Also Check: Next Step After the CAT Results are Out
What is CAT RAW Score? How is it Calculated?
When a candidate takes the CAT exam, their 'Raw Scores' are calculated based on the number of correct and incorrect answers. To calculate the raw score, a candidate needs to know:
- CAT Marking Scheme (+3 for a correct answer, -1 for a wrong answer),
- The Total number of Right Answers,
- The Total Number of Wrong Answers.
The formula for calculating CAT Raw Score is:
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CAT Raw Score = 3 x (No. of Right Answers) - 1 x (No. of Wrong Answers). |
After calculating the raw scores, the CAT normalization process will provide a candidate's Scaled Score. The CAT scorecard released with the results shows the scaled scores. It also includes the CAT percentile, both overall and for each section, calculated using the scaled scores.
What is CAT Scaled Score?
To understand what is scaled score in CAT Exam, and how the scale score is calculated, it's important to know the factors that influence it and what you should focus on or not. The scale score formula depends on the raw score you achieved.
The IIMs calculate a candidate's scaled score based on the average and standard deviation of their raw scores. A student's raw score reflects how many questions they answer correctly on the CAT Exam.
The normalized score for a candidate in CAT is called the scaled score. This score adjusts the raw score to account for the differences in difficulty across various exam slots and sessions.
For students in the first group, we use G1, which is the mean plus standard deviation of that group. For the second group, we use G2, which is similarly calculated. This normalization accounts for the exam's difficulty: if the exam is harder, your scores will be adjusted upward; if it's easier, your scores will be adjusted downward.
Also Read: How to Calculate CAT Percentile?
CAT Scaled Score Calculator
The results for CAT 2025 will include complete details about sectional scores and overall scaled scores. IIM will follow these steps to calculate the overall normalized score for each section in CAT 2025.
Step 1: The Mean (Average) and Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores from the 1st shift are calculated and added up.
Formula: M1 = Mean of 1st Shift + SD of 1st Shift
Step 2: The Mean (Average) and Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores from the 2nd shift are calculated and added up.
Formula: M2 = Mean of 2nd Shift + SD of 2nd Shift
Step 3: The Mean (Average) and Standard Deviation (SD) of the raw scores from the 3rd shift are calculated and added up.
Formula: M3 = Mean of 3rd Shift + SD of 3rd Shift
Step 4: Mean and SD of the raw scores of all of the students who appeared across all three of the sections are calculated.
Formula: M = Mean of all three shifts + SD of all three shifts
Step 5: Mean of the raw scores of the top 0.1% of the students who were in the 1st shift is calculated.
Let this be M1.01
Step 6: Mean of the raw scores of the top 0.1% of the students who were in the 2nd shift is calculated.
Let this be M2.01
Step 7: Mean of the raw scores of the top 0.1% of students who were from the 3rd shift is calculated.
Let this be M3.01
Step 8: Mean of the raw scores of the top 0.1% of the students across both sections is calculated.
Let this be M0.1
Step 9: The scaled score of a candidate is calculated using the following formula. It should be noted that the formula given is for a candidate who appeared for the 1st shift only.
Formula for Scaled Score = M + {(R - M1) x (M0.1 - M) / (M1.01 - M1)}
To calculate the scaled score of a candidate in the other two shifts, the relevant values in this formula must be changed accordingly. Here, R is the Raw Score of the candidate whose scaled score is being calculated.
A similar formula can be used to calculate the scaled score of all 3 CAT exam sections.
Overall Scaled Score = Scaled Score in DILR + Scaled Score in QA + Scaled Score in VARC
Why is CAT Scaled Score Important?
A CAT Scaled Score is used to compare a student's performance with that of other students for the same shift and others. In this way, students and colleges that accept CAT scores will be able to assess their performance in CAT 2025 fairly.
Relevant Links Related to CAT Exams:
How do IIMs Calculate CAT Composite Score?
The CAT composite score considers factors such as work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities. One must also note that candidates with similar CAT scores may have different composite score due to differences in the parameters.
- Class 10th
- Class 12th
- Graduation Percentage
- Work Experience
- Academic Background
- Gender Diversity
Related Links:
- CAT Selection Process: IIM and Non IIM Admission Criteria, Imp Dates, PI Shortlist
- CAT Result 2025: Release Date (Jan), Download IIM CAT Scorecard
Factors Affecting the CAT Normalization Process
The CAT normalization process 2025 will focus on the following important factors to evaluate students fairly and accurately:
- Difficulty Level of Exam: Scores are adjusted based on the difficulty of each exam slot. Harder slots will see scores increased to align with easier ones.
- Exam Slot Variations: As the CAT exam occurs across multiple days, conditions can differ. The normalization process ensures that all students are evaluated fairly.
- Student Abilities: The process also takes into account the abilities of students in various slots. Scores for those taking a harder exam are boosted to accurately reflect their performance.
Every CAT aspirant should know how the normalization process works to understand their percentile scores. CAT Aspirants must also remember scoring lower in a harder slot does not mean they did poorly overall. Focus on answering easier questions and managing your time well. Spending too long on tough questions can make you run out of time while rushing through easier ones can hurt your score.
Adjust your strategy based on how difficult the test seems. Practising with sample tests will help you get used to different question types and improve your answering skills.
Check This: CAT Percentile wise College List
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