CAT Score vs Percentile for the LRDI Section (CAT 2024)

The Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI) section of the Common Admission Test (CAT) continues to be the true game-changer for aspirants targeting India’s top IIMs. In CAT 2024, this section once again proved its unpredictable yet decisive nature — testing not only reasoning skills but also time management and data intuition.

Why LRDI Defines Success in CAT 2024

Understanding the LRDI score-to-percentile conversion is vital for every CAT aspirant. It reveals how your raw score translates into a national percentile ranking and helps benchmark your preparation for CAT 2025 and beyond.

99.9 Percentile – The Elite Benchmark

A score of ≈50 marks in LRDI placed aspirants in the top 0.1 percentile, representing fewer than 400 candidates nationwide. Such performance required flawless accuracy, completing three sets, and quick rejection of traps — the hallmark of advanced test-takers aiming for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta.

99 – 99.5 Percentile – The IIM-Call Zone

Scores between 37–41 mark secured a 99+ percentile, enough for interview short-listing at IIM Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, and other top-tier B-schools. Candidates in this band demonstrated strong set selection and consistent 85–90% accuracy.

95 Percentile – Competitive Cut-Off Tier

With ≈27 marks, aspirants stood around the 95th percentile, which typically aligns with the cutoff for newer IIMs (Udaipur, Trichy, Raipur) and reputed non-IIMs like IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, MICA, and GIM Goa. Achieving this level required solving two complete sets with precision and speed.

85 – 90 Percentile – Safe Zone for New IIMs

Scoring between 19–22 marks places candidates near the 85–90 percentile, sufficient for Baby IIMs (Jammu, Sirmaur, Bodh Gaya) and Tier-1 private B-schools. Accuracy above 80 percent was the differentiator.

75 – 80 Percentile – Strong Foundation Range

Marks between 15 and 17 represented the learning consolidation zone. Although not an IIM-call territory, this range often belonged to serious aspirants in their first attempt, forming a solid baseline for CAT 2025 retakes.

Trend Analysis: How LRDI Evolved (2020 – 2024)

Observation:

• Post-2021, IIMs stabilized LRDI difficulty but increased data-logic integration.
• CAT 2024 balanced analytical and interpretive reasoning, ensuring that accuracy outweighed brute speed.
• The top scorers focused on smart set selection, not exhaustive attempts.

Factors Influencing Score-to-Percentile Conversion

1. Normalization Across Slots
   CAT 2024 was conducted in three sessions; normalization adjusted for slot difficulty, compressing percentile differences at the top end.
2. Overall Difficulty Level
   Even a few mark fluctuations (~3–4 points) could shift the percentile by 0.5–1 due to the steep curve beyond the 99th percentile.
3. Candidate Volume
   With ~2.9 lakh registrants and ~2.5 lakh test-takers, the dense mid-range between 75–95 percentile saw maximum clustering.
4. Sectional Balancing
   Since IIMs use both sectional and overall percentiles, strong LRDI performance often compensates moderate QA or VARC scores.

Key Insights for CAT 2025 Aspirants

• Set Prioritization > Attempt Count: Choose three solvable sets first; avoid ego-traps.
• Data Familiarity: Practice caselets from finance, logistics, and scheduling contexts — CAT 2024 leaned on real-world analytics.
• Consistency Matters: Mock tests reveal score volatility; aim for ≥85 percent accuracy before increasing speed.
• Visualization Skills: Converting textual data into tables/graphs quickly separates 95+ percentiles from the rest.
• Post-Analysis Routine: Review error types (mis-read data vs concept gaps) to improve percentile predictability.

Expected LRDI Cut-offs for IIM Shortlists (CAT 2024)

How to Benchmark Your LRDI Score

1. Use Normalization Tools: Convert raw marks into scaled scores using MyCollegeRoute’s online predictor.
2. Compare Sectional Balance: Maintain ± 10 percent variance across LRDI, QA, and VARC.
3. Assess Readiness via Mocks: Target stable performance across 10 mocks to predict the CAT score within ± 2 marks.
4. Map to Target IIMs:
   • 99 + percentile → Top 6 IIMs
   • 95 – 98 → New IIMs / XLRI Delhi / SPJIMR
   • 85 – 94 → Baby IIMs / IMT / TAPMI / GIM

Key Observations from CAT 2024 LRDI Data

• High Discrimination Power: Even a 5-mark gain could elevate the percentile from 90 to 95.
• Balanced Section: No “killer set,” but time pressure remained severe.
• Real-World Contexts: Logistics, AI ethics, and business analytics were recurring data themes.
• Rising Non-Engineers: 2024 saw a 17 percent rise in non-engineering high-scorers, proving LRDI’s neutrality.
• Data-Driven Learning Advantage: Aspirants using structured analytics platforms scored consistently higher.

Expert Commentary (MyCollegeRoute Research Cell)

“CAT 2024 LRDI re-established logical reasoning as the ultimate equalizer. The shift toward realistic business scenarios demands contextual understanding, not rote practice. For CAT 2025, the differentiator will be adaptability and analytical calm under timed conditions.”
— Prof. Route, Academic Advisor at MyCollegeRoute.com

Conclusion: LRDI as the Strategic Game-Changer

The LRDI section of CAT 2024 reaffirmed that logical thinking, structured decision-making, and time discipline matter more than formulaic speed. Whether your goal is IIM Ahmedabad or IMT Ghaziabad, understanding the score-percentile mapping is essential for benchmark preparation and accurately predicting short-list chances.

MyCollegeRoute’s analysis shows that even incremental improvements in LRDI can push an aspirant several percentile points higher, amplifying the composite score and widening the IIM short-listing window.

Stay focused, analyze mocks deeply, and remember — in CAT 2025, intelligent reasoning will outperform raw speed every single time