CAT Section-wise Marks vs Percentile 2025: How Much Score Do You Need in VARC, DILR & QA for 85-99+ Percentile

CAT Section-wise Marks vs Percentile 2025: How Much Score Do You Need in VARC, DILR & QA for 85-99+ Percentile

Team Careers360Updated on 28 Nov 2025, 04:11 PM IST

For clearing sectional CAT 2025 cut offs and getting PI calls, candidates must score 50-60% in each section of VARC/DILR/QA to get a 99 percentile. To be precise, a candidate appearing for the CAT 2025 exam must score in the range of 12-52 marks in VARC section, 33 to 61 marks in DILR section and 31-46 in the QA section to achieve overall CAT score of 99 percentile and get MBA admission 2026-28 into prestigious IIMs in India. This article helps you gather knowledge and target your desired percentile for the upcoming CAT exam scheduled to be held on November 30, 2025. Keep reading this article for more information.

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A candidate having a score above 110 is expected to obtain 99.95 percentile.

CAT percentile

CAT 2025 expected cut-off score

Previous year CAT cut-off score

99.95

110

130+

99.9

100-104

120+

99.5

90-92

104

99

78-82

95

97

66-68

65-67

95

56-58

70

90

45-48

57

85

40-42


80

35-36

43

75

32-33


70

30-31

34

60

25-26

27

Read More

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT 2025 Sectional Score vs Percentile (Expected)
  2. CAT Sectional Score vs Percentile 2024
  3. CAT Section-wise Score vs Percentile 2023
  4. Overall CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 (Expected)
  5. CAT Score vs Percentile 2024
  6. CAT Score vs Percentile 2023
  7. CAT 2025: Questions Attempt Required for 99 Percentile
  8. CAT Section-Wise Score for 99 Percentile: Top IIMs
CAT Section-wise Marks vs Percentile 2025: How Much Score Do You Need in VARC, DILR & QA for 85-99+ Percentile
CAT Section-wise Marks vs Percentile 2025

CAT 2025 Sectional Score vs Percentile (Expected)

Candidates should know the section-wise score to attain the 90-99 percentile in the CAT exam before starting to prepare for the exam. The table below shows slot-wise CAT 2025 expected scores for the three sections of VARC, DILR, and QA. The CAT will be held in three slots, and a slot-wise breakout gives you more clarity to know how much you need in each section for the 90-99 percentile.

CAT 2025 Percentile

CAT 2025 VARC Score (Expected)

CAT 2025 DILR Score (Expected)

CAT 2025 QA Score (Expected)

100

39.17

61.86

52.15

99+

12-52

33-61

31-46

98+

28

31-33

28-31

97+

31-42

12-33

15-24

89-90

54.79

63.99

61.14

CAT Sectional Score vs Percentile 2024

Before starting to prepare for the CAT exam straightaway, candidates must pay attention to the previous year's section-wise CAT marks vs percentile to get an idea of their section-wise target and overall expectations regarding MBA admission into top IIMs. Check the table below for more information related to the CAT score vs percentile 2024 in the range of 85-99 percentiles for your reference.

CAT 2024 Percentile

CAT 2024 VARC Score

CAT 2024 DILR Score

CAT 2024 QA Score

100

39.17

61.86

52.15

99.96

52.94

43.32

36.68

99.94

23.33

62.49

42.95

99.89

45.42

39.42

37.16

99.85

33.96

55.31

31.17

99.84

24.3

50.48

42.95

99.83

15.61

55.48

46.14

99.81

47.5

33.01

36.17

99.77

23.54

52.24

38.16

99.69

30.09

41.47

38.96

99.62

-

-

-

99.5

-

-

-

99.28

20.44

44.48

34.43

99.14

12.08

61.56

43.16

98.68

28.16

31.47

31.24

98.57

-

-

-

98.39

-

-

-

98.37

-

33.47

28.4

98.26

-

-

-

97.32

31.87

33.01

15.9

97.24

42.73

12.6

24.27

89.42

15.21

24.46

16.19

86

-

-

-

85

-

-

-

CAT Section-wise Score vs Percentile 2023

The table is in continuation of the CAT exam 2023 section-wise score vs percentile data for analysing 85-99 percentile chances for the candidates. The table below shows VARC, DILR, and QA scores vs the overall CAT score in the CAT 2023 exam.

CAT 2023 Percentile

CAT 2023 VARC Score

CAT 2023 DILR Score

CAT 2023 QA Score

99.95

36.94

46.45

22.7

99.62

32.12

30.54

24.72

99.61

24.53

28.83

38.65

99.61

24.53

23.83

38.65

99.58

21.67

29.48

34.96

99.39

43.69

17.62

20.69

99.21

11.88

27.56

93.71

99.08

37.9

26.57

12.62

94.07




86.63

14.77

14.64

10.6

Overall CAT Score vs Percentile 2025 (Expected)

The candidates need a score of 96 to 132 to get the 99+ percentile in the CAT 2025 exam. The 99 percentile opens the gate for top IIMs like IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Ahmedabad. Refer to the table for more details.

CAT Percentile 2025

CAT Overall Score 2025 (Expected)

100

153.17

99+

96-132

98+

97-98

97+

80.07

89-90

55.86

CAT Score vs Percentile 2024

candidates are advised to check the CAT score vs percentile 2024 to target the desired CAT score for the CAT 2025 exam. You can check the CAT score vs percentile 2024 in the table below.

CAT 2024 Percentile

CAT 2024 Overall Score

100

153.17

99.96

132.94

99.94

128.77

99.89

122

99.85

118.44

99.84

117.72

99.83

117.23

99.81

116.68

99.77

113.94

99.69

110.25

99.69

110.25

99.62

107.9

99.5

103.98

99.28

99.34

99.14

96.79

98.68

90.86

98.57

89.71

98.39

87.84

98.37

87.74

98.26

86.7

97.32

80.07

97.24

79.66

95

70

93

64

90

58

89.42

55.86

86

50.29

85

49

CAT Score vs Percentile 2023

Here are the CAT score vs percentile 2023 for the students appearing for the CAT 2025 exam. You can check the CAT score vs percentile 2023 in the range of 85-99 percentile in the table below.

CAT 2023 Percentile

CAT 2023 Overall Score

99.95

106.09

99.62

87.38

99.61

87

99.61

87

99.58

86.11

99.39

88.99

99.21

96.15

99.08

77.8

94.07

57.07

86.63

40

81.83

35.17

79.26

33.12

74.57

30

70.96

27.32

CAT 2025: Questions Attempt Required for 99 Percentile

Each CAT section has a time limit of 40 minutes, and candidates are advised to at least attempt the following number of questions to get 99 percentile in the upcoming CAT exam. For more information, refer to the table below.

CAT Exam Sections

Number of Questions

Attempted Questions

VARC

24

17-18

DILR

22

11-12

QA

22

14-15

Total

68

40-45

CAT Section-Wise Score for 99 Percentile: Top IIMs

Here are the top IIMs with their section-wise percentile for getting admission into the MBA program. For instance, IIM Ahmedabad needs 85 percentile in VARC, 85 percentile in DILR, and 75 percentile in QA, while it is 80 percentile for each section of VARC, DILR, and QA for admission to MBA programs. The table highlights IIMs and their required section-wise percentile for admission.

IIM Institutions List

CAT VARC Percentile

CAT DILR Percentile

CAT QA Percentile

IIM Ahmedabad CAT Cutoff 2025

85

85

75

IIM Bangalore CAT Cutoff 2025

80

80

80

IIM Kozhikode CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Lucknow CAT Cutoff 2025

85

85

85

IIM Mumbai CAT Cutoff 2025

80

80

75

IIM Calcutta CAT Cutoff 2025

80

80

75

IIM Indore CAT Cutoff 2025

80

80

80

IIM Raipur CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Trichy CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Ranchi CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Udaipur CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Rohtak CAT Cutoff 2025

97

IIM Vishakhapatnam CAT Cutoff 2025

70

70

70

IIM Sambalpur CAT Cutoff 2025

65

65

65

IIM Bodhgaya CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Sirmaur CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Jammu CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Amritsar CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

80

IIM Shillong CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Kashipur CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

IIM Nagpur CAT Cutoff 2025

75

75

75

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many questions to get right for 99 percentile in CAT?
A:

Candidates who are appearing for the CAT exam are expected to attempt 40-45 questions out of 68 questions for a score of 99 percentile in the CAT exam 2025. 

Q: How much to score in DILR for 99 percentile?
A:

Candidates are advised to attempt 11-12 out of the total 22 questions of DILR for 99 percentile in the CAT. The safe score will be around 31-32 for the desired 99 percentile in the CAT 2025.

Q: How many marks in VARC to get 99 percentile?
A:

You are required to attempt 17-18 questions in the CAT VARC section and score a total of 41-42 marks to get a 99 percentile in the CAT Exam 2025. 

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

For a raw score of 56 in CAT 2025 Slot 3, your expected overall percentile is likely to be in the range of the 90th-95th percentile. The exact percentile can vary slightly on the final normalization process and the process and performance of all test-takers. In this article you'll find more about the CAT result.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.

Good Morning,

NIT Rourkela CAT cutoff range is between 70-85 percentiles for the general category. 70 is the minimum percentile needed to apply, and 85 is the highest percentile. However, the maximum percentile depends on the particular year competition. It can be changed.

Thank You.

If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.


And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means you won’t get the EWS benefit.


So yes — you can still go for General category posts and Professor recruitment. Just don’t try to submit a fake/invalid certificate; that will get you disqualified.

Hello,
If your CAT admit card shows your surname first followed by your first name as entered in the form, it is correct. You do not need to worry about this format as long as it matches the details you provided. Ensure all other information on the admit card is accurate and carry it to the exam along with the required identification documents.
Hope this helps you.