CAT 2026 Section-Wise Cutoff: VARC, DILR & QA for Every IIM

What is a sectional cutoff in CAT?

A sectional cutoff is the minimum percentile you must score in each of the three sections, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA), to be considered by an IIM, in addition to the overall percentile cutoff. If you fall below the cutoff in even one section, you are typically not shortlisted regardless of your overall score.

What are the sectional cutoffs for each IIM?

How many marks do you need in each section?

IIMs do not publish sectional marks, but CAT 2025 coaching estimates show what the top of each section looked like:

Sectional cutoffs of 75–85 percentile sit well below these 99-level marks. As a safe target for CAT 2026, aim for 90+ percentile in every section, which keeps you clear of every IIM's sectional filter even if one section goes badly.

How is the CAT 2026 paper structured for sectional planning?

If CAT 2026 follows the CAT 2025 pattern, it has 68 questions across three sections of 40 minutes each: 24 in VARC, 22 in DILR and 22 in QA. You cannot move between sections during the exam, so each 40-minute block must be planned on its own. CAT 2026 is on 29 November 2026, conducted by IIM Indore in three slots, with sectional percentiles calculated after normalisation.

Why does a strong overall percentile still get rejected?

The most common reason is an unbalanced profile. In one scorecard published by CATKing, a candidate scored 98.57 overall but only about 83 percentile in QA. That is a healthy overall score, but it sits below the 85 QA cutoff used by some top IIMs. By contrast, a 99.37 scorecard with sectional percentiles of roughly 99.9 (VARC), 96 (DILR) and 93 (QA) clears every IIM's sectional requirement.

How do you plan to clear sectional cutoffs?

Find your weakest section using mock analysis, not gut feel.

Set a floor, not just a total: for example, "never below 90 percentile in any section."

Prioritise DILR volatility. DILR set difficulty swings the most between slots, so practise picking the two or three most solvable sets.

Protect VARC accuracy. With negative marking, wrong RC answers erode marks fast.

Use sectional mocks in Phase 1 and full mocks after that. See how many mocks to take.

How does CATKing help with weak sections?

CATKing pairs live VARC classes led by Sumit Singh Gandhi (CAT 99.9 %ile) with Quant and DILR faculty including Sahil Sir (CAT QA 99.9 %ile), Prantik Sir (IIM Lucknow, CAT QA 98.9 %ile) and Manoj Sir (IIM Mumbai). The mock analytics dashboard breaks your performance down by section, and sectional drills and 1-on-1 mentor calls target your weakest section first. See programs at catking.in.

FAQs: sectional cutoffs

What is the sectional cutoff for IIM Ahmedabad in CAT? Recent reports put IIM Ahmedabad's sectional cutoff at about 85 percentile in each of VARC, DILR and QA for General candidates, although some compilations list 70. Check the official brochure after CAT 2026 results.

What is the sectional cutoff for IIM Bangalore? IIM Bangalore's reported sectional cutoffs are 80 percentile in VARC and 75 each in DILR and QA for the General category.

Which IIM has the toughest sectional cutoff? IIM Lucknow and IIM Ahmedabad have the highest reported sectional cutoffs at about 85 percentile in each section. IIM Kozhikode has the lowest among the top six at 75.

Do all IIMs have sectional cutoffs? Most IIMs apply both an overall and sectional percentile requirement. Requirements differ by IIM, programme and category.

Can I get an IIM call if I miss the sectional cutoff in one section? Generally no. Clearing every sectional cutoff and the overall cutoff is a basic eligibility requirement at IIMs that apply them.