What Marks Do You Need for 98 Percentile in CUET 2025? Complete Guide

To get a 98th percentile in CUET 2025, candidates need to score around 212 to 225 marks out of 250 in a subject. This means candidates should aim for at least 85% to 90% of the total marks. The exact marks may change slightly each year because of the exam’s difficulty and the performance of all test takers. A score in this range enables candidates to apply to top universities, such as DU, BHU, and JNU. Achieving the 98th percentile means candidates performed better than 98% of all other test takers.

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CUET Percentile Explained: How Scores Convert to Percentile Ranks?

A percentile mark in CUET indicates the number of applicants who scored your normalised mark or lower. Your performance, based on percentile rates, compares you against other performers across the general shifts.

Normalization, through the computation of percentiles, adjusts the raw scores to account for differences in the difficulty between shifts. Your percentile compares you to your shift and to all of the CUET candidates.

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Why 98 Percentile Matters for Top CUET Admissions?

A 98th percentile ranks a candidate in the top 2 per cent of all test-takers. This percentile places the student approximately among the top 21,000 ranks, with about 10.7 lakh students taking the CUET exam 2025. High-demand general category seats available in top central universities such as DU, BHU, and JNU may have a cutoff of 97 to 99 percentile. A 98 percentile is frequently necessary to be competitive in BA (Hons) Economics, B.Com (Hons), or BA English.

CUET Marks Range Needed to Achieve 98 Percentile

In CUET, raw scores between 190–210 out of 250 typically result in a 98 percentile after normalisation.

• Language Example: scoring 200 out of 250 in English leads to approx. 98 percentile.
• Domain Example: scoring 195–210 out of 250 in Accountancy or Physics usually matches 98 percentile.

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What Determines CUET Marks-to-Percentile Conversion?

Raw marks do not form your percentile in CUET in a consistent manner, and this is primarily affected by three main factors:

• The variation in difficulty among the shifts influences the required marks needed to finish in a high percentile.
• The number of different candidates in various shifts alters the level of competition, which in turn affects the scores required.
• The equipercentile normalisation procedure adjusts raw marks to a comparable scale on which scores are equated across shifts.

CUET Normalization: How Equipercentile Method Adjusts Marks

CUET employs a system of numerous shifts with different question papers. The level of every paper is different. To maintain a fair score, NTA ensures the application of a normalisation strategy, thereby converting the raw marks obtained in every shift into a uniform scale. The Equipercentile method allows aligning the percentile ranks of scores across shifts. Doing this means that your normalised score will determine your final percentile, not just your raw marks.

How Marks Lead to 98 Percentile in CUET?

Below is a realistic example of how marks lead to a 98 percentile in CUET. Candidates can refer to the example below to understand the process of scoring marks that lead to the 98th percentile in CUET.

Approximate CUET Marks vs. Percentile Chart

Approximate marks-to-percentile conversion for CUET based on recent exam trends. Candidates with raw marks of 220-250 can expect 99.5 to 100 percentile.

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How 98 Percentile Affects Your Admission to Top Universities

A 98 percentile ranks you among the top 2 percent of all CUET candidates. This score will give you a great opportunity at the best schools with popular programs in the general category.

Expected cutoff percentiles for CUET 2024–2025 admissions: