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How To Improve CAT Score From 90 to 99 Percentile, Check Now

Dakshita Bhatia

102

Sep 03, 2025

Latest Updates:

  • September 03, 2025: Here we have discussed CAT Quant important topics 2025 with syllabus, weightage, scoring chapters, tricks, and strategy to score high percentile in QA.Read More
  • September 03, 2025: Here we have discussed how to improve CAT score from 90 to 99 percentile with proven strategies, mocks, and section-wise tips for CAT 2025 preparation.Read More
How To Improve CAT Score From 90 to 99 Percentile, Check Now

How to Improve CAT score from 90 to 99 Percentile

Are you preparing for CAT 2025 but don’t know how to boost your percentile? All you need is a better strategy. Many of the students are stuck at 90% even after learning their weak points and improving them. This is not because your foundation or understanding is low. You need to refine accuracy, speed, along tricks. Just be patient and do consistent analysis. The ability to attempt moderate and tough questions ultimately improves your score from 90 to 99 percentile in CAT. This blog's main view is to guide you to a high percentile in CAT. Before that you need to believe that it is possible. Let’s check the details and know how to improve your score from 90 to 99 percentile in CAT.

CAT Study Plan to Score 99 Percentile

A clear study plan is essential to move from 90 to 99 percentile. The focus must shift from just solving easy CAT questions to mastering moderate and difficult ones.

Step 1: Take and Analyze Mocks

  • After every mock, spend 3–4 hours analyzing it in detail.
  • Look at your accuracy in each section, the time wasted on wrong attempts, and the easy questions you missed.
  • This deep dive helps you spot strengths, weaknesses, and hidden scoring opportunities.

Step 2: Try Different Strategies

  • Experiment with different approaches while taking mocks.
  • For example, try starting with a different section or changing the order of questions.
  • By one week before the exam, finalize the strategy that works best for you.
  • Even small tweaks can save time and improve your percentile.

Step 3: Build Exam Stamina

  • Always practice in a timed setting, with zero distractions.
  • Take 2 full-length mocks every week.
  • This trains your brain and body to perform under real exam conditions, reducing stress on D-day.

Also Read, CAT Study Material 2025, Questions, Test Series, Formula PDF

CAT Last 3 Months Preparation Strategy

A clear plan is the foundation of success. In three months, the preparation should focus on concept strengthening, timed practice, and full-length mocks.

Month 1: Build the Base (Days 1–30)

This stage is about strengthening basics and understanding the exam pattern.

Goals for the month:

  • Revise fundamentals of Arithmetic, Algebra, and Numbers.
  • Build reading habits for VARC. You can use the free resources like CAT Daily articles for reading free articles daily.
  • Start with basic puzzles and data interpretation sets. Try to do at least 2 sets daily. Remember consistency is the key.

Sample Daily Plan:

TimeActivity
1 hrArticle reading + 1 RC practice
1-2 hrArithmetic/Numbers practice
1-2 hrDILR sets (bar graphs, pie charts)
1 hrCAT Daily Targets

Month 2: Practice + Sectional Tests (Days 31–60)

This phase focuses on increasing problem-solving speed.

Action Plan:

  • Solve topic-wise questions under time limits.
  • Take 1 sectional test per section every three days.
  • Build an error log to track repeated mistakes.

Month 3: Mock Tests + Strategy (Days 61–90)

The final month is about exam simulation and performance tuning.

Mock Test Strategy:

  • Attempt 2–3 full-length mocks every week.
  • Track accuracy, time spent per section, and question selection.
  • Revise all formulas and key shortcuts.

Also Read, CAT Percentile Predictor 2025, Check Colleges With Percentile

Section-Wise Tips to Improve from 90 to 99 Percentile

VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)

Improving reading and comprehension is the key here. If you are scoring around 90 percentile here could mean you are ignoring the VA part. Focus on VA and try to improve marks in that part of VARC section.

Tips:

  • Read opinion articles daily to strengthen comprehension.
  • Attempt one RC every day and avoid skimming.
  • Practice para jumbles and summary questions regularly.
  • Review wrong answers to understand interpretation errors.

DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)

This section decides ranks as it is unpredictable. Practice is the key in this section. As there is no set syllabus for this section, you need to practice as much as possible.

Tips:

  • Practice puzzles like Sudoku to sharpen logical skills.
  • Focus on accuracy, not just speed.
  • Do not waste more than 5 minutes if you feel stuck. Just move on.
  • Try different sets in mocks before finalizing a strategy.

Quantitative Aptitude

Quant is about accuracy and time management. As you are scoring 90 percentile already, this means your basics are clear. You just need to improve 5-10 marks by avoiding the mistakes.

Tips:

  • Master Arithmetic first, then move to Algebra and Geometry.
  • Revise all formulas and identify shortcuts.
  • Focus on speed through mental calculations.
  • Solve previous CAT quant papers to test preparedness.

Also Read, CAT Percentile Required for Top 5 IIM Colleges, Check Now

How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT

By the above details, you might have already gained the practice tips and plan; however, this section is for a better understanding of the overall CAT previous paper. Let’s check the details.

How to Identify and Solve Moderate to Difficult Questions

At 90 percentile, easy questions are already covered. To move ahead:

  • Increase difficulty of practice material gradually.
  • Solve CAT previous year papers for real-level practice.
  • Use sectional tests to improve confidence in weak areas.
  • Learn to skip tricky questions without wasting time.

Question Selection and Accuracy

The biggest shift from 90 to 99 lies in question selection.

Steps to refine selection:

  • Leave overly lengthy or confusing sets immediately.
  • Attempt easy questions first, then moderate ones.
  • Revisit skipped questions in the second round.
  • Accuracy should always be above 85% in mocks.

How Many Questions to Attempt for 99 Percentile?

The CAT has 66 questions across three sections. To reach 99 percentile, focus on accuracy instead of attempting everything.

Attempts40% Accuracy50% Accuracy75% Accuracy
Score%ileScore%ileScore%ile
241470th2488th4899.7th
201265th2085th4099th
161057th1675th3296th
12740th1265th2488th

If quant is your strength, target higher attempts here and balance other sections at an 85+ percentile.

How to Improve CAT score from 90 to 99 Percentile: Conclusion

Moving from 90 to 99 percentile in CAT is challenging but not impossible. The more you focus on practice and strategy, its not a big deal to be on top rank. Focus on your sectional strengths and topics, and learn tricks to boost your confidence. Make sure to maintain the time and be patient. Consistent practice is a step to success.

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