CAT 2024 VARC Good Score

The CAT VARC cutoff 2024 for IIMs will be different for different categories:

• General category: 80 percentile in VARC and 85 percentile (overall)
• NC-OBC category: 75 percentile in VARC and 75 percentile (overall)
• EWS category: 70 percentile in VARC and 75 percentile (overall)
• SC category: 65 percentile in VARC and 70 percentile (overall)
• ST category: 55 percentile in VARC and 65 percentile (overall)
• PwD category: 50 percentile in VARC and 60 percentile (overall)

Yes, CAT uses negative marking to discourage guessing. 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer, applicable to all Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) throughout sections—including VARC. But Type In The Answer (TITA) questions do not carry negative marking, hence even if doubtful, it is advisable to try them. However, there is no penalty if you leave a question unanswered. To minimize negative marking, you must avoid random guessing, learn to eliminate options that are clearly incorrect, and identify the questions that you can confidently answer first.

The best approach to attend the CAT VARC section in 2024 includes understanding the CAT exam pattern and the weightage of topics asked in the VARC section first. Candidates must make it a habit to read a wide range of passages from various subjects (literature, science, philosophy, etc.) to adapt to different writing styles and answer questions within a set time limit to build efficiency. Aspirants must also brush upon basic grammar rules and expand their vocabulary using tools like flashcards or vocabulary apps.

To improve your score in the CAT VARC section, you must improve your reading speed and comprehension by developing the habit of reading articles from diverse sources like newspapers, journals, and magazines daily; increase your accuracy in RC passages through active reading and trying to understand the author’s main argument, and using the elimination technique; refining your verbal ability skills by practising parajumbles, odd sentence out, para summary, sentence completion, etc; and practising CAT previous year question papers and high quality mock tests.

To score a 90+ percentile in CAT VARC, you must aim to score around 25 to 28 out of a total of 72 marks. A total of 14 to 16 questions in the VARC section, with 10 to 12 RC questions and 4 to 5 VA questions with more than 85% accuracy can fetch you a 90+ percentile.

To score a 95+ percentile in CAT VARC, you must aim to score around 28 to 30 out of a total of 72 marks. An attempt of 16 to 18 questions in the VARC section, with 10 to 12 RC questions and 5 to 6 VA questions with more than 85% accuracy can fetch you a 97+ percentile.

To score a 97+ percentile in CAT VARC, you must aim to score around 30 to 32 out of a total of 72 marks. A total of 17 to 18 questions in the VARC section, with 12 to 13 RC questions and 5 to 6 VA questions with more than 85% accuracy can fetch you a 97+ percentile.

To obtain a 100 percentile in CAT VARC, you must aim to score around 40 to 45 out of 72 marks. For a 99+ percentile, you must score approximately between 35 to 40 out of 72 marks. A total of 18 to 22 questions in the VARC section, with 16 to 18 RC questions and 6 to 8 VA questions with more than 85% accuracy can fetch you a 99 to 100 percentile.

An attempt ranging from 18 to 22 questions out of the total 24 in the VARC section with above 85% accuracy can be considered a good attempt in CAT 2024 VARC. Since approximately 16 questions are asked from Reading Comprehension, candidates must aim to attempt around 12 to 14 RC questions with a high accuracy. Out of the 8 questions asked from VA, candidates must attempt 4 to 6 questions accurately. For securing a 95+ percentile, candidates must attempt 16 to 18 questions, and for a 90+ percentile, they must attempt 14 to 16 questions with high accuracy.

A score ranging from 35 to 40 out of 72 can be considered a good score in CAT 2024 VARC since it corresponds to a 99+ percentile. However, this can vary year-to-year depending on the difficulty level of the VARC section. Candidates obtaining scores within this range can seek admission to top IIMs. A score between 32 to 34 can also be regarded as a good score as it fetches a 98 percentile in the VARC section.