According to post-exam analysis by Career Launcher, Cracku, and IMS, the difficulty level of the VARC section of CAT 2025 has varied slotwise. Slot 3 is moderately difficult, requiring an estimated 2-4 marks higher to match the performance level of Slot 2.
- Experts of Collegedunia noted, even a small change of 3-4 marks in VARC may lead to percentile changes of 6-10 points, and in the 90-99 percentile range, actual changes may exceed this.
- The section had moderate to hard passages on RC with questions where the required inferences are heavy, and the answer choices are of a longer type.
- CAT 2025 VARC consisted of 24 questions that consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension (RC) questions that included 4 passages, and the remaining 8 Verbal Ability (VA) questions, which consisted of Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Para Completion, and Odd Sentence questions.
Check:
- Cat 2025 question paper with solutions VARC slot 3
- Cat 2025 question paper with solutions VARC slot 2
- Cat 2025 question paper with solutions VARC slot 1
With the number of CAT 2025 test-takers falling to 2.58 lakh, compared to 3.28 lakh in 2024, experts say the competitive levels have shifted. This reduction makes accurate score-to-percentile mapping even more critical for aspirants planning their B-school applications and expected shortlists.
Also Read:
- CAT Marks Vs Percentile Trends for Last 4 Years (2025-2022)
- How Raw Scores Convert to Scaled Scores and Percentiles Across Slots
- CAT 2025 Expected Cutoff Marks Needed for 99%ile in the General Category
Actual Post-Exam Analysis of VARC Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025
According to post-exam action analysis, the actual VARC scores against the percentile of CAT 2025 are as shown below:
- In Slot 1, VARC marks were revised up by 2 marks for 99 percentile after detailed analysis showed passages required deeper comprehension
- Slot 3 was the most difficult verbal reasoning slot, according to which VARC increased its marks by 4 marks.
- A score between 38-42 marks indicates that the candidate should answer 18-20 questions with an accuracy percentage of 85-90, which is attainable when the candidate goes through passages he can handle and be precise under moderate to difficult situations.
- Percentiles below 85, having 10-14 correct attempts, accuracy can be gained between 65-75 percentages on the VARC paragraph.
| Percentile | Actual Score (Marks) | Approximate Attempts Needed | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 48-51 | 20-22 questions (90%+ accuracy) | Moderate-Difficult |
| 99-99.5 | 38-42 | 18-20 questions (85%+ accuracy) | Moderate-Difficult |
| 95-98 | 30-33 | 15-17 questions (80%+ accuracy) | Moderate |
| 90-94 | 24-27 | 12-14 questions (75%+ accuracy) | Moderate |
| 85-89 | 18-21 | 10-12 questions (70%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 80-84 | 15-18 | 8-10 questions (65%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 70-79 | 10-14 | 6-8 questions (60%+ accuracy) | Easy |
Also Read: CAT scaled score and normalisation explained with examples
Ques: What is the score needed to score 99 percentile in CAT 2025 VARC?
Ans: VARC was considered to be getting 99th percentile upon analysis of the post exam results by IMS and Career Launcher, a mark score of 38-42 is mandatory section-wise in CAT 2025. This is a medium level of difficulty, having passages that are heavily inferred.
Ques: How many questions do you need to attempt in VARC in CAT 2025?
Ans: Quality is more important than quantity in VARC. With 85 percentile, one can get 95 or more in case of 18-20 questions attempted with 85 percent accuracy.
VARC Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025: Slot-wise Detailed Analysis
Following IMS India's revised predictions, Collegedunia's consolidated analysis on CAT 2025 VARC showed significant slot-wise variation:
- Slot 2 was the easiest and most stable for VARC, requiring lower scores for the same percentile
- Slot 1 difficulty was moderate, with VARC marks revised upward by 2 marks after normalisation
- Slot 3 was the toughest, with VARC marks jumping up by 4 marks for 99 percentile
- The gap between 95 to 99 percentiles remained around 8-10 marks across all slots.
Actual Analysis of Slot 1 (Morning Session - 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM)
- The level of the content was Medium.
- The themes of the passages were COVID distribution patterns, Economics (income inequality), Law, mental illness, Music (electronic music evolution) etc.
- VA Question Pattern: 2 TITA Para Jumbles (new pattern), 2 Para Completions, 2 Para Summaries, 2 Odd Sentence questions
| Percentile | Actual Score | Difficulty Level | Question Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 49-51 | Moderate-Difficult | 24 questions |
| 99 | 39-41 | Moderate | 24 questions |
| 95 | 31-33 | Moderate | 24 questions |
| 90 | 25-27 | Easy-Moderate | 24 questions |
| 85 | 19-21 | Easy-Moderate | 24 questions |
Slot 2 (Afternoon Session - 12:15 PM to 2:15 PM) - Actual Analysis
Overall Difficulty: Moderate (Easiest among three slots)
Key Characteristics:
- Passages remained readable and accessible
- Questions were trickier with lengthier options
- RCs were slightly easier with one additional question compared to previous years
| Percentile | Actual Score | Difficulty Level | Question Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 47-49 | Moderate | 24 questions |
| 99 | 37-39 | Moderate | 24 questions |
| 95 | 29-31 | Easy-Moderate | 24 questions |
| 90 | 23-25 | Easy-Moderate | 24 questions |
| 85 | 17-19 | Easy | 24 questions |
Slot 3 (Evening Session - 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM) - Actual Analysis
Overall Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult (Toughest slot)
Key Characteristics:
- The VARC section showed an unexpected spike in difficulty with passages demanding far greater precision
- Passages covered Behavioural Economics, species extinction in Australia, Craftsmanship versus Materialism, and cultural shifts by OTT platforms
- Passages were easy to read, but options were lengthier
- Inference-based questions increased significantly
| Percentile | Actual Score | Difficulty Level | Question Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 50-52 | Difficult | 24 questions |
| 99 | 41-43 | Moderate-Difficult | 24 questions |
| 95 | 33-35 | Moderate-Difficult | 24 questions |
| 90 | 27-29 | Moderate | 24 questions |
| 85 | 21-23 | Moderate | 24 questions |
Also Read: CAT 2025 Slot 1 vs Slot 2 vs Slot 3 comparison: difficulty, good attempts & percentile impact
Ques: What was the most challenging slot of CAT 2025 to VARC?
Ans: Slot 3 was the hardest with 41-43 marks of 99 percentile as opposed to Slot 2, which had 37-39 marks. These differences in difficulty were fair with the normalisation process.
VARC Score vs Percentile in CAT 2024 - Comparison Data
The CAT 2024 VARC section had 24 questions with 4 RC passages and approximately 42-45 marks needed to achieve 99 percentile. This marked a higher requirement compared to CAT 2023's 35-38 marks.
Here's the actual performance data from CAT 2024:
| Percentile | Actual Score (Marks) | Approximate Attempts Needed | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 54-58 | 22-23 questions (90%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 99-99.5 | 42-45 | 19-21 questions (85%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 95-98 | 33-36 | 16-18 questions (80%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 90-94 | 27-30 | 14-16 questions (75%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 85-89 | 22-25 | 12-14 questions (70%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 80-84 | 18-21 | 10-12 questions (65%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 70-79 | 13-17 | 8-10 questions (60%+ accuracy) | Easy |
Also Read:
- How to calculate the CAT raw score for 99 Percentile
- CAT score vs percentile with section-wise, slot-wise and previous-year analysis.
Ques: What did students think of the CAT 2024 VARC section?
Ans: VARC was significantly easier to learn than it used to be because most students reported that the passages were scaled down, and the questions involved immediate understanding as opposed to critical interpretation. This had the effect of increasing cutoffs.
CAT 2025 vs CAT 2024: Complete VARC Comparison
Here's a comprehensive comparison between 2025 and 2024 patterns:
| Parameter | CAT 2025 (Actual) | CAT 2024 (Actual) | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 24 questions | 24 questions | Same pattern maintained |
| RC Passages | 4 passages (16 Qs) | 4 passages (16 Qs) | Consistent structure |
| VA Questions | 8 questions | 8 questions | No change |
| 99 Percentile Score | 38-42 marks | 42-45 marks | 3-4 marks lower |
| 95 Percentile Score | 30-33 marks | 33-36 marks | 3 marks lower |
| 90 Percentile Score | 24-27 marks | 27-30 marks | 3 marks lower |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate-Difficult | Easy-Moderate | More challenging |
| Passage Complexity | High inference required | Direct comprehension | Significantly tougher |
| Time Pressure | Higher | Moderate | More challenging |
| Organizing IIM | IIM Kozhikode | IIM Calcutta | Different approach |
| Registrations | 2.58 lakh appeared | 3.28 lakh registered | Significant drop |
Ques: Was CAT 2025 VARC tougher than CAT 2024?
Ans: Yes, CAT 2025 VARC was moderately more difficult, with inference-heavy passages and lengthier options. The 99 percentile cutoff dropped from 42-45 to 38-42 marks, reflecting increased difficulty.
Section-wise Cutoffs for Top IIMs (2025 Actual vs 2024 Actual)
Based on historical patterns and post-CAT 2025 analysis, here are the expected VARC sectional cutoffs:
| IIM | VARC Cutoff 2025 (Expected) | VARC Cutoff 2024 (Actual) | Overall Percentile Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 85+ | 85+ | 99+ |
| IIM Bangalore | 85+ | 85+ | 99+ |
| IIM Calcutta | 85+ | 85+ | 99+ |
| IIM Lucknow | 85+ | 85+ | 97+ |
| IIM Kozhikode | 80+ | 80+ | 96+ |
| IIM Indore | 80+ | 80+ | 95+ |
| IIM Rohtak | 75+ | 75+ | 94+ |
| IIM Ranchi | 75+ | 75+ | 94+ |
| IIM Trichy | 75+ | 75+ | 93+ |
| IIM Raipur | 70+ | 70+ | 92+ |
Note: These are expected cutoffs. Official cutoffs will be announced by individual IIMs during shortlisting.
Check: Top MBA Colleges Accepting 80 Percentile in CAT
Ques: How important is the VARC percentile for IIM calls?
Ans: Extremely important. Even with a high overall percentile, a weak VARC score below the sectional cutoff (typically 80-85 for old IIMs) will prevent shortlisting. VARC is non-negotiable for top IIM calls.
Topic-wise Performance Analysis (CAT 2025)
Based on post-exam feedback and coaching institute analysis:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 (4 passages × 4 Qs) | Moderate-Difficult | 60-70% |
| Para Jumbles | 2 (including TITA) | Moderate | 65-75% |
| Para Summary | 2 | Moderate | 70-80% |
| Para Completion | 2 | Easy-Moderate | 75-85% |
| Odd Sentence | 2 | Moderate | 70-80% |
RC passages required candidates to not only read but also interpret ideas with depth and nuance, making them the most challenging component.
Read More: CAT 2025 score calculation, marking scheme and raw vs scaled score explained.
Normalisation Process in CAT 2025
Understanding normalisation is crucial for interpreting your VARC percentile:
How CAT Normalises VARC Scores:
- Raw Score Calculation: +3 for correct, -1 for wrong MCQs, 0 for TITA errors
- Slot-wise Analysis: Average and standard deviation calculated for each slot
- Scaled Score Generation: Raw scores converted using statistical formulas
- Percentile Assignment: Scaled scores ranked to assign percentiles
The normalisation process ensures fairness across all three slots despite difficulty variations.
Example:
- Slot 2 raw score 36 = Scaled score 38 = 99 percentile
- Slot 3 raw score 40 = Scaled score 38 = 99 percentile (harder paper)
Ques: Does normalisation favour easier or tougher slots?
Ans: Normalisation is neutral and fair. It adjusts for difficulty differences, ensuring candidates in tougher slots aren't penalised, and those in easier slots aren't unfairly advantaged.
As candidates wait for the CAT 2025 results, many are now realising that success in VARC ultimately depends on a few core elements. Smart question selection often mattered more than attempting all 24 questions, and those who maintained 85%+ accuracy are likely to get a good percentile in this section.
Students who had built strong reading habits found it easier, while effective time management between RC and VA proved essential across slots.
Above all, adaptability played a crucial role, as several slots, especially Slot 3, presented unexpected difficulty spikes. With the exam shifting more towards moderate-to-difficult passages this year, performance in these areas will now significantly influence how candidates finally score once normalisation is applied.
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