If you're aiming for a specific "score" in CAT 2026, stop right now. As the data from 2022 to 2025 shows, the goalposts move every single year. In 2023, you could get a 99 percentile with just 76 marks. In 2024, you needed nearly 20 marks more for that same rank! The takeaway? Don't obsess over raw scores in your mocks. Focus on accuracy and percentile

• The 2025 Reality: CAT 2025 saw a significant "inflation" at the very top (99.99 percentile requiring ~133 marks), but the scores for the 99th percentile (84.8) were actually lower than CAT 2024. This suggests a paper that was top-heavy—easier for the geniuses but still challenging for the general pool.

• The 99 Percentile Benchmark: Notice how the score required for a 99 percentile fluctuates between 76 and 95. This is a 20-mark swing, roughly equivalent to 7 extra correct questions.

• The Stability of the 80th Percentile: Interestingly, the score required for the 80th percentile remains relatively stable (between 36 and 44). This is the "safety net" for many non-engineers or those targeting specific sectional cutoffs.