How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT 2025: Every year, over 2 lakh aspirants take the Common Admission Test (CAT) with one dream — to secure a 99+ percentile and make it to the IIMs or other top B-schools in India. But only a small fraction achieve it.
🎯 How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT 2025 – Strategy, Tips & Study Plan
So, what makes these toppers different? Is it talent, hard work, or strategy?
The truth is — it’s a combination of all three.
In this blog, Prep4Study.in breaks down a practical and proven strategy to help you score 99 percentile in CAT 2025 or CAT 2026 — step-by-step. Whether you’re just starting or already in the middle of your prep, these insights will help you sharpen your focus and maximize your score.
🧠 Understand the CAT Exam Pattern-(How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT 2025)
Before diving into preparation, it’s crucial to understand what CAT actually tests. It’s not just about how much you know — but how well you can apply your knowledge under time pressure.
CAT Exam Structure (Expected for 2025):
| Section | Description | Questions | Time | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min | 72 |
| DILR | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 20 | 40 min | 60 |
| QA | Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 40 min | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 120 min | 198 |
To score 99+ percentile, you need to perform consistently well in all three sections, not just one.
📈 Step 1: Set Clear Targets
A 99 percentile in CAT usually means:
- Overall score: ~100–105 marks out of 198
- Sectional percentile: Around 95–97 percentile in each section
To reach that level, you need:
- High accuracy (80–90%)
- Speed with logic
- Consistent mock test improvement
📚 Step 2: Choose the Right Study Material
You don’t need 100 books — just the right resources and consistent revision.
Recommended Books:
For Quantitative Aptitude:
- Quantitative Aptitude for CAT – Arun Sharma
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT – Nishit K. Sinha
For DILR:
- How to Prepare for DILR for CAT – Arun Sharma
- Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation – Nishit K. Sinha
For VARC:
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- High School English Grammar & Composition – Wren & Martin
- Regular Reading Practice (The Hindu, The Economist, Aeon Essays)
These resources, when combined with mock tests and analysis, create a complete prep plan.
🕒 Step 3: Create a Smart Study Plan
You don’t need to study 12 hours a day — but you do need structured and disciplined preparation.
A 6-Month Plan to Score 99 Percentile:
| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Foundation (Month 1–2) | Learn all basic concepts from QA, VARC & DILR. Build fundamentals. |
| Practice (Month 3–4) | Solve 400–500 QA problems, 100+ DILR sets, and daily RC practice. |
| Mocks & Analysis (Month 5–6) | Take 2–3 mocks weekly. Analyze mistakes, improve accuracy & speed. |
📝 Pro Tip:
Keep a “CAT Journal” to track your weak areas, accuracy rates, and mock performance trends.
💡 Step 4: Focus on Each Section
🔹 Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Read daily — newspapers, blogs, editorials, and literature.
- Focus on comprehension rather than speed.
- Practice 3–4 RCs daily and analyze all answer explanations.
- Improve vocabulary using Word Power Made Easy and context-based learning.
🔹 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Practice sets from Arun Sharma and previous CAT papers.
- Focus on sets selection — not all questions are meant to be solved.
- Learn to identify easy-to-medium level sets quickly.
- Time management is the key — aim to solve 3–4 good sets in 40 minutes.
🔹 Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Start with Arithmetic and Algebra — they form 60–70% of QA questions.
- Focus on conceptual clarity and avoid rote memorization.
- Practice 20–30 questions daily with timed drills.
- Use books by Arun Sharma and Nishit Sinha for progressive difficulty.
📊 Step 5: Take Mock Tests Seriously
Mocks are your mirror — they show your true performance level.
- Take your first mock early — even if you’re not fully prepared.
- After every mock, spend 2–3 hours analyzing mistakes.
- Track:
- Accuracy %
- Attempted vs Correct ratio
- Time spent per question
- Topics of repeated errors
Gradually, your percentile will start improving.
🔥 Step 6: Build Mental Stamina & Exam Temperament
CAT is as much a psychological test as an academic one.
- Practice solving under real exam conditions.
- Stay calm if a section feels tough — remember, it’s tough for everyone.
- Focus on accuracy over attempts; 45–50 good attempts are enough for 99%.
- Avoid burnout — take breaks, exercise, and sleep well.
🧩 Step 7: Learn from CAT Toppers
CAT toppers often share common habits:
- Consistency: They study daily, even if for a short time.
- Reflection: They learn from every mock test.
- Focus: They master their weak areas one by one.
Many 99+ percentile scorers stress the importance of mock test analysis and topic-wise revision over last-minute cramming.
🚀 Final Words
Scoring 99 percentile in CAT is challenging, but completely achievable with the right plan, resources, and mindset.
Remember — the exam doesn’t reward how many hours you study; it rewards how effectively you prepare.
✅ Build your concepts
✅ Practice consistently
✅ Analyze your mocks
✅ Stay calm during the exam
Do this, and you’ll not just aim for 99 percentile — you’ll achieve it.
Your dream B-school — IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta — is waiting for you. Start today with Prep4Study.in, your trusted partner for CAT exam success.
