CAT 2025 marks vs percentiles: If you’re targeting top IIMs and premier B-schools, understanding the section-wise marks vs percentiles in CAT 2025 is just as important as knowing your overall score. CAT 2025 will have three sections, VARC, DILR, and QA with a total of 68 questions (204 marks) to be solved in 120 minutes, and a strict 40-minute sectional time limit.
Your sectional scores and percentiles are used for shortlisting as much as your overall CAT percentile. That’s why analysing the CAT score vs percentile 2025 (section-wise) is a crucial part of your strategy.
Latest Updates – Check Live CAT Percentile Predictor 2025 based on Response sheet Here
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Understanding Section-Wise Marks vs Percentile in CAT 2025
CAT does not simply look at raw marks; it uses scaled scores and percentiles. Your raw score (based on +3 for correct answers, –1 for incorrect MCQs and 0 for negative TITA questions) is normalised across slots and then converted into section-wise and overall percentiles.
B-schools, especially the IIMs, set individual sectional cutoffs in VARC, DILR and QA. So even if your overall CAT 2025 percentile is high, a weak section can stop you from getting a call. This is why aspirants search for terms like:
- CAT 2025 marks vs percentile
- Section-wise CAT score vs percentile
- VARC marks vs percentile in CAT
- DILR marks vs percentile
- QA marks vs percentile
Read in Detail: CAT Score Vs Percentile 2025
CAT 2025 Expected Section-Wise Marks vs Percentile (VARC, DILR, QA)
The following table shows the expected section-wise CAT 2025 scores vs percentile, along with approximate net correct questions based on recent trends:
Expected Overall Section-Wise CAT Scores vs Percentile 2025
Understanding how overall and sectional scores convert to percentiles is essential for setting realistic CAT 2025 targets. This table gives you a clear picture of the marks required across VARC, DILR, and QA to reach key percentile milestones.
| Percentile Rank | Score | Net Qs |
| 99.5 | 104 | 36 |
| 99 | 95 | 33 |
| 97 | 78 | 27 |
| 95 | 70 | 24 |
| 90 | 57 | 20 |
| 85 | 49 | 17 |
| 80 | 43 | 15 |
| 75 | 38 | 13 |
| 70 | 34 | 12 |
| 60 | 27 | 10 |
| 50 | 21 | 8 |
Also read:
CAT 2025 Score And Percentile for VARC Expected
VARC often has the widest percentile spread, making smart question selection crucial. Here’s how your expected VARC score may translate into percentile bands for CAT 2025.
| Percentile Rank | Score | Net Qs |
| 99.5 | 45 | 16 |
| 99 | 41 | 15 |
| 97 | 34 | 12 |
| 95 | 30 | 11 |
| 90 | 29 | 10 |
| 85 | 20 | 8 |
| 80 | 18 | 7 |
| 75 | 16 | 6 |
| 70 | 14 | 5 |
| 60 | 11 | 4 |
| 50 | 8 | 3 |
Also Read – CAT Response Sheet 2025 Release Date
CAT Score And Percentile 2025 For DILR Expected
DILR is often the volatile section, where even small score jumps can significantly boost your percentile. This breakdown helps you understand the score, percentile relationship for smarter set selection.
| Percentile Rank | Score | Net Qs |
| 99.5 | 41 | 14 |
| 99 | 38 | 13 |
| 97 | 31 | 11 |
| 95 | 28 | 10 |
| 90 | 23 | 8 |
| 85 | 19 | 7 |
| 80 | 17 | 6 |
| 75 | 15 | 5 |
| 70 | 14 | 5 |
| 60 | 11 | 4 |
| 50 | 8 | 3 |
CAT 2025 Score And Percentile For QA – Expected
The section-wise mapping shows how different QA scores typically convert into percentiles, so you can understand how much score you need to achieve for certain percentile.
| Percentile Rank | Score | Net Qs |
| 99.5 | 37 | 13 |
| 99 | 33 | 12 |
| 97 | 25 | 9 |
| 95 | 22 | 8 |
| 90 | 19 | 7 |
| 85 | 14 | 5 |
| 80 | 11 | 4 |
| 75 | 10 | 4 |
| 70 | 8 | 3 |
| 60 | 6 | 3 |
| 50 | 4 | 2 |
These are expected numbers, based on CL’s CAT 2025 marks vs percentile analysis, and actual figures may vary slightly depending on the difficulty level and slot-wise normalisation.
You can also cross-check your performance using CL’s CAT Score Calculator 2025 and AI-driven CAT Percentile Predictor, which use similar marks vs percentile logic to estimate your expected percentile and possible B-school calls.
Also read: CAT 2025 Question Paper
How to Use Section-Wise Marks vs Percentile for CAT 2025 Strategy
With this section-wise CAT 2025 marks vs percentile table in hand, you should:
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Set clear sectional targets
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Plan prep around your weakest section
Many aspirants are strong in one section (say QA) and weaker in VARC or DILR. Use the table to identify how many marks you are short in each section and then design your practice schedule accordingly. This fits into broader goal-setting fundamentals: specific, measurable, and time-bound targets.
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Align mock test analysis with this benchmark
After every mock:
- Check your VARC, DILR, QA scores.
- Map them to the nearest percentile row from the table.
- Decide whether your next focus is accuracy, speed, or question selection.
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Balance attempts and accuracy
With 68 questions and 204 marks, it’s not necessary to solve everything. Even 27–36 high-accuracy net attempts can place you in the upper percentile bands, as the “Net Qs” column suggests.
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Use tools like score calculators and percentile predictors wisely
Plug your section-wise raw scores into CL’s tools to get a more precise feel of your expected percentile, instead of guessing based on overall marks alone.
Also read: What is good percentile in CAT 2025
Key Takeaways for CAT 2025 Aspirants
- Section-wise marks vs percentile in CAT 2025 is the real game-changer, not just the overall score.
- Target balanced performance across VARC, DILR and QA, in line with the expected table from CL.
- Use mock tests, analysis dashboards, and AI-driven predictors to track whether you’re moving closer to your desired percentile band.
- Keep your goals specific “I want 30+ in DILR” is more actionable than “I want to improve DILR.”
Also Check: CAT 2025 Score Required for 99, 95, 90 Percentile
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do section-wise marks vs percentile mean in CAT 2025?
Section-wise marks vs percentile refers to how your raw or scaled score in each section VARC, DILR and QA translates into a percentile ranking among all test-takers in that section.
2. Why is section-wise percentile important for CAT 2025 admissions?
Top B-schools, especially IIMs, have individual sectional cutoffs. Even a high overall percentile isn’t enough if your VARC, DILR or QA percentile is below their minimum requirement.
3. What is a good section-wise score for 99 percentile in CAT 2025?
Based on expected trends, scoring around 41+ in VARC, 38+ in DILR, and 33+ in QA can place you near the 99 percentile bracket. Actual figures may vary based on difficulty and slot normalisation.
