What is a Good VARC Score in CAT 2025?

What is a good VARC score in CAT 2025?

Nov 28, 2025

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A good VARC score in CAT 2025 typically falls between 35 and 40, depending on your target percentile. To aim for the 100th percentile, you should aim to score around 33 to 35 marks in the VARC section.

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In CAT 2025, a good VARC score could be between 35 - 40, depending on your target percentile. Your score ultimately depends on multiple factors, including the level of overall difficulty of the exam, the distribution of questions, vocabulary knowledge, reading speed, comprehension skills, etc.

If you are targeting a score of 100, you should score around 33-35 in the VARC section. The VARC section is still labelled as challenging because it evaluates the variations of comprehension, interpretation, and language skills. "What is a good score in VARC?" is a frequently asked question among students, especially since the CAT 2025 is percentile-based and not simply marks weighted.

What’s Considered a Good VARC Score?

For candidates aiming for top IIMs (A, B, C, L, K, I), a VARC percentile above 90 is generally expected, with 95+ being ideal.
A score of around 36–40 (i.e., getting 12–14 questions right out of 24) can put you in the 97–99 percentile range.
For non-IIMs or newer IIMs, a percentile of 85–90 in VARC can also be considered good.

However, it is important to remember that IIMs often have sectional CAT cut-offs (usually around 80–85 percentile), so clearing that in each section, including VARC, is crucial even if your overall percentile is high.

How to Achieve a Good Score in CAT 2025 VARC?

Follow the tips below to achieve a good score in the CAT 2025 VARC.

Read regularly: Newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, and journals like The Economist can help build comprehension skills and vocabulary.
Practice RCs daily: Focus on accuracy rather than speed in the beginning.
Work on para jumbles and summaries: These question types often appear without options (TITA), making them trickier.
Analyse mocks thoroughly: Understand the reasoning behind right and wrong answers.
Improve time management: Don't get stuck on one passage or one question. Know when to move on.

Also Read:

Slot-Wise Expected Score in CAT 2025 VARC Section

The CAT exam will be conducted in three slots on November 30, 2025. The following table shows the expected CAT score in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT 2025.

CAT VARC Slot 1 Expected Score

Here are the expected scores for the VARC section in Slot 1.

Score Range	Percentile
33-35	100
28-30	99+
22-24	95+
18-20	90+
14-16	85+
12-14	80+

CAT VARC Slot 2 Expected Score

Here are the expected scores for the VARC section in Slot 2.

Score Range	Percentile
32-34	100
28-30	99+
22-24	95+
18-20	90+
14-16	85+
12-14	80+

CAT VARC Slot 3 Expected Score

Here are the expected scores for the VARC section in Slot 3.

Score Range	Percentile
32-34	100
28-30	99+
22-24	95+
18-20	90+
14-16	85+
12-14	80+

Also Read: Can a Final Year Student Apply for CAT 2025?

Conclusion

In the CAT exam, a good VARC score is one that not only boosts your overall percentile but also clears the necessary sectional cut-offs. For aspirants targeting the top IIMs and elite B-schools, scoring 36+ marks (above 97 percentile) in VARC is ideal. However, with the right strategy, consistent practice, and smart reading habits, even those who find English challenging can significantly improve their performance in this section.

Ultimately, what matters most is consistency across all three sections, so while VARC is important, it should be prepared in balance with DILR and QA for the best overall result.