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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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 |
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 | - | - | - |
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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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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)
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.
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.
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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