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CAT VARC Score vs Percentile 2025: The CAT VARC section in the 2025 exam paper was easy compared to other sections. Some students have reported the CAT VARC section as tricky and lengthy. Each section of the CAT exam carries sectional scores and percentile. Both CAT VARC score as well as percentile are important criteria to determine your overall score/percentile.
If you have scored around 53 marks in the VARC section of the CAT exam, your sectional percentile is estimated to be around 99.9. With a 99.9 CAT VARC percentile, you may get calls from top IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta. Many aspirants also use an IIM call predictor to evaluate their overall and sectional percentiles together and estimate their chances of receiving interview calls. On the other hand, if you found the VARC challenging as it was the case in CAT 2025 Slot 2 which presented tricky questions, your CAT score vs percentile may change due to the difficulty level of the paper.
CAT VARC Scaled Score vs Percentile 2025
Check the VARC sectional score vs percentile comparison table given below for a percentile range between 99.9% to 60%. Each VARC sectional cutoff determines the relative position of the candidate through the corresponding CAT VARC percentile. This data shows the rough estimates of CAT score vs percentile of all the slots combined.
| Percentile | VARC scaled score |
| 99.99% | 60.34 |
| 99.95% | 54.60 |
| 99.90% | 53.01 |
| 99.50% | 46.48 |
| 99.00% | 42.77 |
| 98.00% | 38.42 |
| 97.00% | 36.33 |
| 95.00% | 32.52 |
| 90.00% | 26.18 |
| 85.00% | 22.12 |
| 80.00% | 19.21 |
| 75.00% | 17.04 |
| 70.00% | 14.31 |
| 65.00% | 12.98 |
| 60.00% | 11.02 |
| 55.00% | 9.94 |
| 50.00% | 8.83 |
| 40.00% | 5.89 |
| 30.00% | 3.84 |
| 20.00% | 0.76 |
| 10.00% | -3.26 |
| 5.00% | -6.3 |
| 1% | -8.46 |
VARC Raw Score vs Scaled Scores 2025
This table compares the raw scores with the corresponding scores achieved in each slot. This is the EXPECTED data. It shows how raw scores translate into actual scores across the three slots.
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| VARC Raw Score | VARC Scaled Score | VARC Scaled Score | VARC Scaled Score |
| -24 | -24 | -22.5 | -24 |
| -23 | -24 | -21.5 | -24 |
| -22 | -24 | -20.5 | -24 |
| -21 | -24 | -19.5 | -24 |
| -20 | -24 | -18.5 | -23.8 |
| -19 | -23 | -17.5 | -22.8 |
| -18 | -21.9 | -16.5 | -21.8 |
| -17 | -20.8 | -15.4 | -20.7 |
| -16 | -19.7 | -14.4 | -19.7 |
| -15 | -18.6 | -13.4 | -18.7 |
| -14 | -17.5 | -12.4 | -17.7 |
| -13 | -16.4 | -11.4 | -16.7 |
| -12 | -15.3 | -10.4 | -15.6 |
| -11 | -14.2 | -9.3 | -14.6 |
| -10 | -13.1 | -8.3 | -13.6 |
| -9 | -12 | -7.3 | -12.6 |
| -8 | -10.9 | -6.3 | -11.5 |
| -7 | -9.8 | -5.3 | -10.5 |
| -6 | -8.7 | -4.3 | -9.5 |
| -5 | -7.6 | -3.3 | -8.5 |
| -4 | -6.5 | -2.2 | -7.4 |
| -3 | -5.4 | -1.2 | -6.4 |
| -2 | -4.3 | -0.2 | -5.4 |
| -1 | -3.2 | 0.8 | -4.4 |
| 0 | -2.1 | 1.8 | -3.3 |
| 1 | -1 | 2.8 | -2.3 |
| 2 | 0.1 | 3.8 | -1.3 |
| 3 | 1.2 | 4.9 | -0.3 |
| 4 | 2.3 | 5.9 | 0.8 |
| 5 | 3.3 | 6.9 | 1.8 |
| 6 | 4.4 | 7.9 | 2.8 |
| 7 | 5.5 | 8.9 | 3.8 |
| 8 | 6.6 | 9.9 | 4.9 |
| 9 | 7.7 | 11 | 5.9 |
| 10 | 8.8 | 12 | 6.9 |
| 11 | 9.9 | 13 | 7.9 |
| 12 | 11 | 14 | 9 |
| 13 | 12.1 | 15 | 10 |
| 14 | 13.2 | 16 | 11 |
| 15 | 14.3 | 17 | 12 |
| 16 | 15.4 | 18.1 | 13.1 |
| 17 | 16.5 | 19.1 | 14.1 |
| 18 | 17.6 | 20.1 | 15.1 |
| 19 | 18.7 | 21.1 | 16.1 |
| 20 | 19.8 | 22.1 | 17.2 |
| 21 | 20.9 | 23.1 | 18.2 |
| 22 | 22 | 24.1 | 19.2 |
| 23 | 23.1 | 25.2 | 20.2 |
| 24 | 24.2 | 26.2 | 21.3 |
| 25 | 25.3 | 27.2 | 22.3 |
| 26 | 26.4 | 28.2 | 23.3 |
| 27 | 27.5 | 29.2 | 24.3 |
| 28 | 28.6 | 30.2 | 25.4 |
| 29 | 29.7 | 31.3 | 26.4 |
| 30 | 30.7 | 32.3 | 27.4 |
| 31 | 31.8 | 33.3 | 28.4 |
| 32 | 32.9 | 34.3 | 29.4 |
| 33 | 34 | 35.3 | 30.5 |
| 34 | 35.1 | 36.3 | 31.5 |
| 35 | 36.2 | 37.3 | 32.5 |
| 36 | 37.3 | 38.4 | 33.5 |
| 37 | 38.4 | 39.4 | 34.6 |
| 38 | 39.5 | 40.4 | 35.6 |
| 39 | 40.6 | 41.4 | 36.6 |
| 40 | 41.7 | 42.4 | 37.6 |
| 41 | 42.8 | 43.4 | 38.7 |
| 42 | 43.9 | 44.5 | 39.7 |
| 43 | 45 | 45.5 | 40.7 |
| 44 | 46.1 | 46.5 | 41.7 |
| 45 | 47.2 | 47.5 | 42.8 |
| 46 | 48.3 | 48.5 | 43.8 |
| 47 | 49.4 | 49.5 | 44.8 |
| 48 | 50.5 | 50.5 | 45.8 |
| 49 | 51.6 | 51.6 | 46.9 |
| 50 | 52.7 | 52.6 | 47.9 |
| 51 | 53.8 | 53.6 | 48.9 |
| 52 | 54.9 | 54.6 | 49.9 |
| 53 | 56 | 55.6 | 51 |
| 54 | 57.1 | 56.6 | 52 |
| 55 | 58.2 | 57.6 | 53 |
| 56 | 59.2 | 58.7 | 54 |
| 57 | 60.3 | 59.7 | 55.1 |
| 58 | 61.4 | 60.7 | 56.1 |
| 59 | 62.5 | 61.7 | 57.1 |
| 60 | 63.6 | 62.7 | 58.1 |
| 61 | 64.7 | 63.7 | 59.2 |
| 62 | 65.8 | 64.8 | 60.2 |
| 63 | 66.9 | 65.8 | 61.2 |
| 64 | 68 | 66.8 | 62.2 |
| 65 | 69.1 | 67.8 | 63.3 |
| 66 | 70.2 | 68.8 | 64.3 |
| 67 | 71.3 | 69.8 | 65.3 |
| 68 | 72 | 70.8 | 66.3 |
| 69 | 72 | 71.9 | 67.4 |
| 70 | 72 | 72 | 68.4 |
| 71 | 72 | 72 | 69.4 |
| 72 | 72 | 72 | 70.4 |
How CAT VARC Percentile Is Calculated?
The CAT exam VARC percentile is calculated using scaled scores. Scaled scores are different from CAT raw scores. Calculation of CAT VARC percentile is a multi-step process. It involves calculating the raw scores, CAT normalisation to adjust slot difficulty levels and a ranking formula application based on a scaled score against the total number of students who appeared for the exam. After understanding how CAT VARC percentile is calculated, it is important to know why CAT VARC percentile is calculated.
It is calculated to determine a candidate’s relative performance in the VARC section compared to other test takers. CAT VARC percentile is not to be confused with the percentage of marks. It is a more advanced score which helps determine the comparative rank of a candidate using estimation and statistical formulas based on averages, standard deviation and K constant. The final CAT VARC percentile is calculated by the IIM and an estimate may be made by the candidate.
Steps to Calculate CAT VARC %ile | Detailed Instructions |
Calculate Raw Score | Use the marking scheme of +3 for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect MCQ to get the total of correct and incorrect MCQs. Calculate raw score using the formula: |
Raw Score Normalization | It is usually done by the IIM conducting the CAT exam and involves a statistical formula to adjust scores to a common scale across all 3 slots. |
CAT VARC Percentile | A rank is assigned based on your CAT VARC score, test takers having the same scaled score get the same rank. |
CAT VARC Percentile Formula | Components of the CAT VARC Percentile formula include P, N, and R, where P is the Percentile, N is total number of candidates and r/R is the rank or count below you. |
Slot-Wise CAT VARC Difficulty Level and Its Impact on Percentile
Each slot of the CAT 2025 exam presented with a varying difficulty level. Students who gave the CAT 2025 slot 1 reported the section’s difficulty level as moderate while slot 2 test takers found the VARC section slightly difficult with a mix of moderate difficulty level questions. Check the table below for detailed slot-wise CAT VARC difficulty level and its impact on percentile.
CAT Exam Slots | VARC Difficulty Level | Impact on Percentile |
Slot 1 | Moderate | An attempt of 13-14 questions with 60% accuracy may equate to 85%. |
Slot 2 | Moderate to Difficult | Causes tighter score ranges across percentiles |
Slot 3 | Easy to Moderate | 8-9 net correct answers could equate to 90% |
Overall | Moderate | 17-18 attempts with an accuracy of about 70% for the correct answers shall equate to 95+% in VARC. |
Ideal VARC Score for 90, 95 and 99 Percentile in CAT
If you have scored between 25-41 marks in the CAT VARC section, your score is ideal and lands in the 90-99 percentile range. Check the table below to know the ideal VARC score for 90, 95, and 99 percentile in CAT 2025.
CAT VARC Percentile | Ideal CAT VARC Score |
90 | 22.7 |
95 | 32.52 |
99 | 42.77 |
CAT VARC Score vs Percentile 2025: Conclusion
Understanding the CAT VARC score vs percentile 2025 trends helps aspirants know what score is needed for top percentiles and IIM calls. The raw score, scaled score, and slot-wise difficulty comparison gives a clear idea of how performance is evaluated. With key benchmarks like 22 marks for 90 percentile, 32 marks for 95 percentile, and 42 marks for 99 percentile, students can easily estimate their standing.
To score well in VARC, aspirants should focus on accuracy, understanding question patterns, and planning smart attempts. Strong reading habits and consistent practice are essential for improving this section. By checking the tables, difficulty levels, and percentile mapping, candidates can prepare better and set realistic goals for CAT 2025.
