Every mark, and how to protect it.
CAT marking is simple to state and easy to get wrong under pressure. Here are the rules, the maths of guessing, and a counter for your mock scores.
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Left blank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice (MCQ) | +3 | −1 | 0 |
| Type in the answer (TITA) | +3 | 0 | 0 |
Marked for review counts
A question marked for review that also has an answer selected is evaluated like any other answered question.
No sectional minimum in the score
Your raw score has no sectional rule, but most IIMs set sectional percentile cut-offs at the shortlist stage.
Raw is not final
Raw marks are normalised across slots into scaled scores before percentiles are worked out.
The maths of guessing
A guess on an MCQ with k options left has expected value 3 × (1/k) − 1 × (1 − 1/k).
| Options still possible | Chance right | Expected marks |
|---|---|---|
| 4 (pure guess) | 25% | 0.00 |
| 3 (one ruled out) | 33% | +0.33 |
| 2 (two ruled out) | 50% | +1.00 |
The break-even accuracy is 25%. Above that, attempting helps on average. In practice aim for at least 75 to 80% accuracy in mocks, since a cluster of wrong answers also costs time.
TITA rule: there is nothing to lose, so always enter your best answer.
Accuracy beats attempts
Two candidates in QA:
A attempts 18 with 10 right and 8 wrong: 30 − 8 = 22.
B attempts 12 with 11 right and 1 wrong: 33 − 1 = 32.
B attempted a third fewer questions and still scored 10 marks more, roughly the gap between the 85th and 95th percentile in QA.
Score counter
Enter results from a mock or a response sheet to get your raw score.
VARC 24 Qs
Section score: 0 / 72
DILR 22 Qs
Section score: 0 / 66
QA 22 Qs
Section score: 0 / 66