How to Compress a PDF to Under 100 KB (for Exam and Job Forms)
Exam, scholarship and job portals often reject a PDF that is even slightly over the limit, commonly 100 KB or 200 KB. Here is how to get under it quickly and privately.
Why PDFs are too big
Most of a PDF's size comes from pictures: scanned pages and photos. Text is tiny. A phone scan of a few pages can easily be several megabytes.
Step by step
Open Compress a PDF and choose your file. Pick "Under a size I choose" and type the limit in KB, for example 100. Download the result. The tool tries stronger compression until the file fits.
If it is still too big
Very image-heavy documents may not shrink enough without becoming blurry. Split the document into parts, remove pages you do not need, or ask whether the portal allows a higher limit. For photos and signatures, use Resize photo or signature instead.
Is it safe?
Yes. Compression happens inside your browser. The file is not uploaded, which matters for documents with your ID or marks.
Common questions
Does compressing reduce quality?
Stronger compression makes images softer. Text usually stays sharp. Check the result before you submit.
Can I compress to exactly 50 KB?
You can set any limit. Tiny limits work best for documents with few pictures.