What is Normalization in CAT Exam 2025?

The CAT test is conducted in various times on a single day. Each slot will have a question paper. Some students are allocated the morning slot. Some get in the afternoon. Some get evening. This poses a general query among all the aspirants. What in case one slot is more complicated than the other? How will my score be fair?

This is where CAT normalisation process enters in. It also ensures that students are graded equally. Although their paper might have been harder than others. Normalisation corrects your raw score such that you do not lose out on your slot.

The Reason Why CAT Normalisation is Required?

The CAT 2025 will be conducted in three slots. Different questions will be asked in each slot. The test is computer-based, and therefore, the papers are not the same in each shift.

These shifts are:

• Morning session
• Afternoon session
• Evening session

Even if the IIMs try to keep the difficulty level the same, some papers may turn out harder. To fix this gap, IIMs use a statistical method called normalisation. This process ensures that your performance is judged fairly compared to all other candidates. Not just the ones in your slot.

Let us now look at what normalisation means in simple terms.

What is Normalisation in CAT?

Normalisation is a process that adjusts your raw score. It makes scores fair for all students who appeared in different shifts. It is done using statistical formulas. This is also called scaling. After normalisation, your raw score is converted into a scaled score. This scaled score is then used to calculate your final percentile.

Normalisation is based on two things:

• How tough your slot was?
• How you performed compared to others in that slot?

Your score is mapped to others in your slot. Then it is matched with other slots using percentiles. This creates a level playing field for all students.

CAT Scoring Flow

Check out the CAT exam scoring flow mentioned in the table below.

How the CAT Raw Score is Calculated?

Before normalisation happens, your raw score is calculated. This is based on the marking scheme of the CAT exam.

The formula is:

This raw score is calculated separately for each section. There are three sections in CAT:

• VARC
• DILR
• QA

The raw score is not your final score. It is only the first step.

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How Slot-Wise Scoring Works in CAT?

The level of difficulty can be different since the exam is conducted in three slots. One slot may feel harder. One of them may appear to be easier. So IIMs make scores fair through slot-wise scaling.

The process happens in steps. The average and standard deviation of each slot is then calculated. Thereafter the average and standard deviation of the 0.1 per cent best students in each slot are also computed. The scores are adjusted using these values.

A formula is used in calculating the scaled score. This formula corrects your raw score such that it equals the average performance of all students in slots.

Sample Comparison of Slot Scores

The sample of the comparison of slot scores are shared here.

This table shows how different raw scores from different slots can result in the same scaled score. That is the purpose of normalisation.

How Percentile is Calculated in CAT?

The percentile is not your score. It is your rank among all candidates. It tells you how many people scored less than you. The CAT percentile is based on scaled scores, not raw scores.

The percentile formula is simple:

Let us take an example. If 2 lakh students appeared and you are ranked 2000, then:

• Percentile = [(200000 − 2000) ÷ 200000] × 100
• Percentile = (198000 ÷ 200000) × 100
• Percentile = 99

So your CAT percentile will be 99.

Percentile vs Rank Example

The percentile vs rank example of the CAT examination is given here.

This table gives you an idea of how your percentile is linked to your rank.

Normalisation for Each Section

The scaling is carried out in sectional stages. The VARC raw score is first obtained. Then for DILR. Then for QA. Scaling is done on each section. Then the scores are summed up to obtain the summative scaled score.

Then you have to do good in every part. You cannot rely on a single powerful section.

Does Normalization Increase or Decrease My Marks?

Normalisation is not necessarily going to raise your marks. Nor does it necessarily weaken them as well. It is based on your slot and your performance. When your slot was more difficult and you have done well then you can get a greater scaled score. When your slot was easy and you failed to perform well, then you might not get a significant increase in your score.

then the thing to do is to do your best in your slot. There is no need to worry about which shift is not easy or difficult.

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The Reason why CAT Normalisation is Fair

Other students believe that normalisation is bewildering. Some think it is unfair. But that is not true. The entire motive of normalisation is to render things equitable. This method has been in use by IIMs. It assists in eliminating slot difficulty.

It is a process that is founded on proven formulas. It makes sure that no student receives a disadvantage or advantage due to the paper he/she received.

Final Thought

Normalisation in CAT 2025 is no gimmick and no short cut. It is a scientific way of ensuring that the exam is fair. You may get any slot. You may face a tough paper. But there will be fairness in your performance. It is the guarantee of normalisation.

So do not worry about the slot. Concentrate on your speed and accuracy. Solve the paper with focus. The score will indicate how hard you work. And normalisation will see to the rest.