CAT 2018 Afternoon Slot: Analyzing Your Expected Percentile with 167 Marks

The Consortium of Management Entrance Exams (COME) conducts the Common Admission Test (CAT) every year to assess the eligibility of candidates for management programs. The CAT 2018 was no exception. Understanding your expected percentile can help you gauge where you stand among other aspirants. If you scored 167 marks in the afternoon slot of the CAT 2018, this article will help you determine your likely percentile and the factors that influence it.

Understanding the CAT Exam Pattern

The CAT exam is divided into three sections: Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). Each section carries equal weightage, and the total marks available are 300. The exam is designed to test the candidate's analytical, logical, and verbal skills.

Difficulty Level and Crowd Performance

The difficulty level of the CAT 2018 varied across the slots. Generally, the third slot of the afternoon was considered to be more moderate compared to the other two slots. Given that you gave the test in the afternoon, the difficulty level likely aligned more with the third slot. Here’s a brief analysis of the difficulty levels of the sections:

Quantitative Ability (QA): Moderately difficult, focusing on conceptual clarity and numerical ability. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Slightly more challenging due to complex and data-intensive questions. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Relatively easier, with an emphasis on understanding English language and comprehension skills.

Given this pattern, your 167 marks suggest a solid performance in the sections. However, to gauge your exact percentile, we need to consider the overall performance of the candidates who took the same slot.

Expected Percentile Calculation

Based on the performance analysis and the difficulty level, you can expect to fall in between the 99.6th to 99.8th percentile. This range is indicative, and the final percentile will be determined by the actual cutoffs set by the CAT organizing committee.

Here's a breakdown of the expected percentile based on your score:

99.6th Percentile: You would be in the top 0.4% of the candidates. 99.7th Percentile: You would be in the top 0.3% of the candidates. 99.8th Percentile: You would be in the top 0.2% of the candidates.

Keep in mind that these estimates are based on the average candidate performance and might vary depending on the final cut-off scores.

Factors Influencing the Final Percentile

Several factors can influence your final percentile, including:

The difficulty level of the paper. The crowd performance and how many candidates scored higher and lower than you. The scoring pattern and the weightage given to different sections. The presence of any exceptional performances that skew the overall distribution.

While your score in the afternoon slot of the CAT 2018 is a strong indicator, the final percentile will only be confirmed when the results are officially released.

Conclusion

In summary, if you scored 167 marks in the CAT 2018 afternoon slot, you can expect to be in the 99.6th to 99.8th percentile. However, the official percentile will be the pure reflection of your performance and the overall test-takers' performance in that slot. Staying informed and keeping track of the official CAT result will give you the exact percentile you achieved.