What 99 Percentilers Do Differently From 90 Percentiles (And Why It Matters for CAT 2026)


A blunt truth most CAT aspirants don’t like hearing

The gap between a 90 percentile and a 99 percentile is not 10% more effort.

It’s a completely different way of thinking during the exam.

Both groups study.

Both take CAT mock tests.
Both attend CAT online classes or some form of CAT coaching.

Yet their outcomes are worlds apart.

This article breaks down exactly what 99 percentilers do differently, in ways you can apply to your CAT 2026 preparation, whether you’re a beginner, working professional, or repeater.

First, Let’s Kill a Common Myth

99 percentilers are not solving everything

They’re solving less, but solving better

  • Tries to maximise attempts
  • Gets emotionally attached to questions
  • Treats CAT as a speed test

A 99 percentiler:

  • Maximises decision quality
  • Walks away from tempting questions
  • Treats CAT as a filtering exam
This mindset shift alone can move you multiple percentiles.

Difference #1: How They Use CAT Mock Tests

90 Percentilers use mocks as scorecardsMocks are taken to:

  • Check percentile
  • Compare with others
  • Feel good or bad
Analysis stops at right vs wrong.99 Percentilers use mocks as mirrorsMocks are used to study:
  • Why a question was attempted
  • Whether the attempt made sense
  • Which mistakes repeat under pressure
They spend more time analysing than attempting. This is why good CAT coaching online emphasises mock analysis frameworks, not just mock volume.


Difference #2: Question Selection Beats Question Solving

90 Percentilers ask: “Can I solve this?”

99 Percentilers ask: “Should I solve this now?”

In CAT:

  • 3 bad attempts can erase 6 good ones
  • One poor DILR set can kill an entire section
99 percentilers:
  • Reject questions aggressively
  • Lock onto high-ROI problems 
  • Abandon questions mid-way without guilt

This skill is rarely taught explicitly in most CAT online classes, but it’s the biggest differentiator.

Difference #3: Section Strategy Is Fixed, Not Emotional

90 Percentilers improvise inside the exam

They : 

  • Change order impulsively
  • Chase lost time
  • Over-correct mistakes
99 Percentilers follow a pre-decided script

They :

  • Know exactly how first 10 minutes go
  • Know when to cut losses
  • Know when accuracy matters more than speed
This script is refined across mocks, not invented on exam day.That’s why structured CAT preparation always includes strategy simulation, not just practice

Difference #4: VARC Is Treated as Logic, Not Language

Many 90 percentilers believe:
“If my English is decent, VARC will take care of itself.”

It won’t.99 percentilers:

  • Treat RCs as argument maps
  • Eliminate options logically
  • Stay emotionally neutral to content
They don’t “feel” answers.
They reason through them.

Difference #5: DILR Is Played Like a Selection Game

Trying to solve every DILR set.

90 percentilers:

Start solving too early
Stick to the first set they touch
Hope it works out
99 percentilers:

Spend time not solving
Scan all sets calmly
Pick the 2 most doable sets
They know DILR is not about brilliance.
It’s about selection discipline.

Difference #6: Quant Is About Familiarity, Not Firepower

Contrary to popular belief, 99 percentilers are not math machines.

What they have:

  • Strong arithmetic comfort
  • Familiarity with common CAT structures
  • Zero obsession with rare question types
They avoid ego traps like:
“I should be able to solve this.”

Instead, they think:

“This is not worth my time today.”

That restraint protects their score.

This one is subtle but critical.90 Percentilers expect coaching to “teach everything” They depend on:
  • More videos
  • More questions
  • More content
99 Percentilers use coaching to structure thinking 

They look for:

  • Clear concept sequencing
  • Honest advice on what to skip
  • Strong mock and analysis systems
This is why aspirants aiming higher gravitate toward structured platforms like Rodha, where the emphasis is on decision-making, not content overload.

Good CAT coaching online doesn’t add information.

It removes confusion.
A Simple Comparison Table (Read This Carefully)90 Percentiler
  • Chases attempts
  • Solves emotionally
  • Uses mocks for validation
  • Studies more, improves slowly
99 Percentiler
  • Chases decisions
  • Solves selectively
  • Uses mocks for diagnosis
  • Studies smarter, improves faster
Same exam.
Different operating systems.

Q&A: The Questions Aspirants Actually Ask

Can a 90 percentiler realistically become a 99 percentiler?

Yes. Most 99 percentilers were once stuck in the 90–95 range.Is this difference about talent?
No. It’s about habits under pressure.

Does better coaching automatically mean 99 percentile?

No. Coaching provides structure. Execution still depends on you.

FAQs 

What do 99 percentilers do differently in CAT?

They focus on decision-making, question selection, and mock analysis rather than volume of practice.

Is CAT coaching online enough to reach 99 percentile?

Yes, if the coaching is structured and analysis-driven.

How important are CAT mock tests for high percentiles?

Extremely important, but only when paired with deep analysis.

Is Rodha good for serious CAT preparation?

Rodha is preferred by aspirants who want logic-driven prep and strong decision frameworks.
Key Takeaways
  • The 90 to 99 jump is about thinking, not effort
  • Question selection matters more than question solving
  • Mock analysis is the real preparation
  • VARC and DILR reward logic, not aggression
  • Structured CAT coaching accelerates improvement

Final Thought

CAT does not reward the hardest worker.

It rewards the clearest thinker under pressure. If your CAT 2026 preparation is pushing you to do more without thinking better, you’re likely stuck in the 90s.Change how you decide.
The percentile will follow.



{{Rodha Team}}