Varc Cutoff CAT 2026: Iims, Sectional Percentiles & Admission Trends
VARC Cutoff CAT 2026: IIM Ahmedabad General category sectional percentile at 85, IIM Bangalore at 80, and IIM Calcutta also at 80 — with 2026 figures awaited. The VARC cutoff CAT is the minimum percentile required in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of the Common Admission Test for admission to various Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools. For the 2025 exam, IIM Ahmedabad’s overall qualifying cutoff for General candidates increased to 95 percentile from 80 in 2024, reflecting a rising competitive landscape. 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release.
CAT 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited) Notification, Application & Exam Date Schedule
The table below outlines the key dates for the CAT 2025 examination, providing a timeline for notification, application, and exam events.
| Event | Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | July 27 |
| Application Start | August 1 |
| Application Close | September 13 |
| Admit Card Release | November 5 |
| Exam Date | November 30 |
| Result Announcement | December 24 |
CAT 2025 (Latest — 2026 awaited) VARC Sectional Cutoff: IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta & Lucknow
This table presents the minimum VARC sectional percentiles required by top IIMs for various categories in the CAT 2025 examination.
| IIM | Category | VARC Sectional Percentile (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | General | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | EWS | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | NC-OBC | 80 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | SC | 75 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | ST | 65 |
| IIM Bangalore | General | 80 |
| IIM Bangalore | EWS | 70 |
| IIM Bangalore | NC-OBC | 70 |
| IIM Bangalore | SC | 65 |
| IIM Bangalore | ST | 55 |
| IIM Calcutta | General | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | EWS | 70 |
| IIM Calcutta | NC-OBC | 70 |
| IIM Calcutta | SC | 65 |
| IIM Calcutta | ST | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow (MBA) | General | 85 |
| IIM Lucknow (MBA) | EWS | 77 |
| IIM Lucknow (MBA) | NC-OBC | 77 |
| IIM Lucknow (MBA) | SC | 55 |
| IIM Lucknow (MBA) | ST | 50 |
CAT VARC Sectional Cutoff Trends: 2024 vs 2025 for Top IIMs
Analyzing the VARC sectional cutoff trends reveals shifts in the competitive landscape for leading IIMs.
| IIM | Category | VARC Sectional Percentile (2024) | VARC Sectional Percentile (2025) | Change (2024 to 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | General | 70 | 85 | +15 |
| IIM Bangalore | General | 80 (approx.) | 80 | No significant change (qualifying) |
| IIM Calcutta | General | 80 (approx.) | 80 | No significant change (qualifying) |
CAT 2026 Counselling Schedule: Shortlisting & Interview Dates
The following schedule outlines the expected timeline for the CAT 2025 counselling process for the 2026-28 MBA batch.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Counselling Process Start | January |
| Shortlisting for WAT/PI | February – April |
| Interviews (WAT/PI) | February – April |
| Final Admission Offers | May |
| Document Verification/Formalities | June |
FAQs
Q? When will the CAT 2026 VARC cutoff be released?
A. The official CAT 2026 VARC cutoff, along with overall cutoffs, is expected to be released by individual IIMs after the CAT 2026 results are announced, likely in December 2026 or early January 2027. The CAT 2026 exam itself is tentatively scheduled for November 29, 2026.
Q? What is a good VARC percentile in CAT for top IIMs?
A. For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, a VARC sectional percentile of 80-85 for the General category is typically considered a good qualifying score. However, for actual interview calls, the required percentile can be higher, often above 90-95 overall.
Q? Do all IIMs consider sectional cutoffs for VARC?
A. Yes, most IIMs consider sectional cutoffs for VARC, DILR, and QA, in addition to the overall CAT percentile, for shortlisting candidates for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. IIM Rohtak is an exception that does not consider sectional cutoffs.
Q? How has the VARC cutoff trend changed in recent years?
A. The VARC cutoff trends can vary annually based on exam difficulty and applicant pool. For instance, the CAT 2025 VARC section was considered moderately more difficult than CAT 2024, leading to a slight drop in the raw score needed for a 99 percentile. IIM Ahmedabad notably increased its General category VARC sectional cutoff from 70 in 2024 to 85 in 2025.
Q? What is the difference between qualifying and final VARC cutoffs?
A. The qualifying VARC cutoff is the minimum percentile set by IIMs to be eligible for the next stage of the admission process (WAT/PI). The final VARC cutoff, or call cutoff, is typically higher and represents the actual percentile at which candidates are shortlisted for interviews, considering their overall profile and competition.
Q? Are VARC cutoffs different for reserved categories?
A. Yes, VARC cutoffs are generally lower for reserved categories such as EWS, NC-OBC, SC, ST, and PwD compared to the General category. The specific relaxations vary across different IIMs and categories.
