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A strategy to nail with your performance in CAT 2026 VARC is how you tackle the section diligently and logically. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section is the game-changer and difference-maker for CAT aspirants. A VARC demands a good understanding of language, context, and strategic thinking to score in the 99+ percentile in the exam. In this article, we will understand how to work on accuracy optimization in CAT VARC.
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VARC is the deal-breaker for admission to top IIMs. In CAT 2024, the 99th percentile cutoff for VARC alone stood at approximately 42-44 marks, while the overall 99th percentile in CAT required around 158-162 marks. IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta maintain sectional cutoffs that typically hover around the 80-85 percentile for VARC. Even with 99.9 percentile in other sections, below-par VARC performance can eliminate you. The CAT 2026 needs accuracy optimisation, which we are going to discuss in this article.
To score 40+ marks in VARC (roughly 95+ percentile), understand the scoring dynamics. With 24 questions typically distributed as 16 RC and 8 VA:
Realistic 40+ Target Breakdown:
Attempt: 18-20 questions
Accuracy: 85-90%
Correct answers: 16-18
Raw score: 48-54 marks
Net score after negative: 40-44 marks
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You don't need to attempt all 24 questions. This is the cornerstone of the CAT 2025 Test VARC Strategy—strategic selection over exhaustive attempts. Rahul, a CAT 2024 99.7 percentiler, attempted only 19 questions but got 17 correct, scoring 43.72 marks. His classmate attempted 22, got 15 correct, and scored 36.84. The difference? Accuracy optimisation in CAT VARC.
It is very important to understand the structure, specifically the section, and the scoring scheme.
Section Structure:
Total questions: 24
Time: 40 minutes
RC: 16 questions (4 passages × 4 questions)
VA: 8 questions (3-4 Para Jumbles, 2-3 Para Summaries, 1-2 Odd Sentence Out)
Scoring Scheme:
+3 for correct
-1 for incorrect
0 for unattempted
CAT has evolved toward critical reasoning and comprehension-intensive questions rather than vocabulary-heavy ones. For example, the CAT 2024 exam featured passages on quantum computing ethics, medieval European economics, and postcolonial literary criticism—topics that require a deep understanding rather than mere word knowledge.
Reading Comprehension (RC) – Weightage & Question Types
RC dominates with approximately 67% weightage. Four passages typically follow:
Abstract/Philosophical (700-900 words): Toughest, dealing with complex ideas
Business/Economics (600-800 words): Contemporary economic debates
Science/Technology (600-800 words): Detail-heavy but accessible
Literature/Arts (700-900 words): Requires cultural awareness
Question Types:
Main idea/Primary purpose (1 per passage)
Inference-based (1-2 questions)
Detail-specific (1 question)
Tone/Author's attitude (1 question)
Verbal Ability (VA) – Types You Must Master
Para Jumbles (3-4 questions): Arrange 4-5 sentences in logical order. Focus on identifying mandatory pairs, opening sentences, and conclusions.
Para Summary (2-3 questions): Select the option that best summarises a paragraph in one sentence. Tests the ability to distil core ideas while eliminating peripheral information.
Odd Sentence Out (1-2 questions): Identify which of the five sentences doesn't belong. Tests coherence and logical flow.
Time management is the key to scoring high in CAT VARC. This practice one has to start from the mock itself so that one can reach different combinations.
Optimal Time Allocation:
First reading of all passages: 8-10 minutes
Solving RC questions: 20-22 minutes
Solving VA questions: 8-10 minutes
Review and marking: 2-3 minutes
The scoring scheme's negative marking makes accuracy optimisation in CAT VARC questions and answers critical. A hasty attempt with 60% accuracy: 15 attempts × 0.6 = 9 correct, 6 wrong = 21 marks. Strategic approach with 90% accuracy: 16 attempts × 0.9 = 14 correct, 2 wrong = 40 marks.
RC Question Types (Inference, Tone, Detail Specific)
Inference Questions: Require deriving conclusions not explicitly stated. How to increase your VA accuracy on the CAT in such questions? Never choose options that go beyond what can be reasonably inferred.
Tone Questions: Assess whether you understand the author's attitude—critical, appreciative, ambivalent, or analytical.
Detail-Specific Questions: Reward careful reading. They might ask specific percentages or facts mentioned in the passage.
Now the trend of CAT paper is towards double negatives, except for the type of questions and more on critical thinking-based questions.
VA Question Types (Para Jumbles, Summary, Odd One Out)
One has to be really good with para jumbles so that the maximum VA section can be well driven by an aspirant. This area needs consistent practice, and the target should be one question per day.
Para Jumbles Strategy:
Identify the introductory sentence
Find mandatory pairs
Determine logical sequence
Verify flow
Para Summary: Eliminate options that focus too narrowly or miss key dimensions of the paragraph.
Odd Sentence Out: Identify the tightest common thread among the four sentences, then find which requires the biggest conceptual leap.
Best fit: Identify the correct sentence to fill the blanks with the correct sentence.
A close understanding of the pattern trends is very important, as this creates the pillars for the CAT VARC syllabus preparation.
2020-2024 Analysis:
Decrease in vocabulary-based questions
Increase in para jumbles from 2-3 to 3-4
Para summaries became more nuanced
Passage topics: behavioural economics, linguistic relativity, environmental ethics, postcolonial studies, neuroscience, digital privacy
Prioritising Accuracy over Attempts
Scenario 1: High Attempt, Moderate Accuracy
Attempts: 22, Accuracy: 70%
Correct: 15, Wrong: 7
Score: 38 marks (~92 percentile)
Scenario 2: Strategic Attempt, High Accuracy
Attempts: 18, Accuracy: 90%
Correct: 16, Wrong: 2
Score: 46 marks (~97 percentile)
The 80% Confidence Rule: Before marking any answer, ask: "Am I 80% confident?" If not, skip it. This transforms VARC performance from 65-70% to 85-90% accuracy.
Strategic Attempt Order (RC First vs VA First)
RC-First Strategy (60% of students):
Builds reading momentum
Fresh mind for comprehension
Secures bulk marks early
VA-First Strategy (40% of students):
Quick scoring opportunities
Builds confidence
Good for slow readers
Hybrid Approach (Increasingly Popular):
Skim all passages (2-3 minutes)
Attempt the easiest passage first
Complete all VA questions
Return to the remaining RC passages
Choosing Which Passage to Attempt/Skip
Base decisions on:
Content familiarity: Target passages aligned with your reading background
Passage structure: Prefer clear organisation over meandering text
Question types: A mix of question types is easier than all inference-based
CAT VARC Strategy principle: Two passages at 85%+ accuracy beat four passages at 65% accuracy.
Improving Reading Speed & Comprehension
Progressive Overload Method:
Weeks 1-2: 600-word passages in 4 minutes
Weeks 3-4: 700-word passages in 4 minutes
Weeks 5-6: 800-word passages in 4.5 minutes
Weeks 7-8: 900-word passages in 5 minutes
Chunking Technique: Train eyes to capture 3-4 word phrases instead of word-by-word reading. Learn to skim from the words, not the whole sentence.
Active Reading Techniques
Mental Annotation System:
Identify the main idea of each paragraph
Note transition words (however, moreover, consequently)
Flag key statistics or examples
Two-Pass Method:
First pass (3 minutes): Read for main idea and structure
Second pass (while answering): Revisit specific paragraphs
Daily Reading Practice Plan
Months 1-2: Foundation
Morning: One editorial (20 minutes)
Evening: One article from The Atlantic/Aeon (20 minutes)
Months 3-4: Development
Morning: Complex article + 4 questions (25 minutes)
Evening: CAT passage focusing on structure (15 minutes)
Months 5-6: Simulation
Morning: 2 passages timed with questions (30 minutes)
Evening: Dense academic article (15 minutes)
Recommended Sources: The Hindu editorials, The Economist, Scientific American, The New Yorker
Techniques for Para Jumbles
Five-Step Framework:
Identify Opening: Generic statements introducing topics; no pronouns without antecedents
Find Mandatory Pairs: Pronoun-antecedent relationships, cause-effect links
Identify Conclusion: Contains "thus," "therefore," presents implications
Arrange Middle Sentences: Use chronological or logical cues
Verify Flow: Read complete sequence for natural flow
Common Traps:
Obvious opening trap
Pronoun trap (ensure genuine connection)
Conjunction trap (verify immediate contrast/addition)
Effective Para-Summary Methods
Three-Phase Method:
Phase 1: Identify Core vs Peripheral (30 seconds)
Main claim or observation
Examples (usually peripheral)
Conclusion or implication
Phase 2: Eliminate Wrong Options (45 seconds)
Focus on examples rather than main ideas
Include information not in the paragraph
Too broad or too narrow
Miss conclusion
Phase 3: Choose Best Fit (15 seconds)
Matches passage tone
Requires fewer assumptions
Stays closer to explicit text
Identifying the Odd Sentence Out
Three-Filter Approach:
Thematic Consistency: Common theme in four sentences
Structural Consistency: Logical sequence formation
Referential Consistency: Pronouns, determiners, transitions
90-Day Preparation Plan
Month 1: Foundation & Diagnosis
Weeks 1-2: Take diagnostic mocks, identify weak areas, begin daily reading
Weeks 3-4: 5 RC passages + 10 VA questions daily, focus on accuracy
Target: 35 passages, 70 VA questions, 80%+ accuracy
Month 2: Refinement & Speed
Weeks 5-6: Timed practice (4 passages in 25 minutes, 8 VA in 12 minutes)
Weeks 7-8: Error analysis, focus on weak question types
Target: Maintain 80%+ accuracy while building speed
Month 3: Simulation
Weeks 9-10: 4-5 full mocks weekly, strict timing
Weeks 11-12: 3 mocks weekly, fine-tune strategy
Target: Consistent 38-42 marks
Mock Test & Error Analysis Strategy
Working on the CAT mock test error log is very important as it takes you close to the point where you can realise how to work on the weak areas.
Error Categorisation:
Comprehension Errors: Misunderstood passage
Inference Errors: Went beyond reasonable inference
Time Pressure Errors: Rushed questions
Careless Errors: Misread questions
The Error Log: Track every mistake across mocks to identify patterns.
Exam-Day Time Management
Minutes 0-3: Strategic skim of all content. Minutes 3-10: First strike (easiest passage or all VA) Minutes 10-25: Core scoring phase Minutes 25-37: Selective third phase Minutes 37-40: Final review
Targeted Score Plan for 95+ Percentile
95 Percentile: 38-40 marks (18-19 attempts, 85% accuracy)
97 Percentile: 42-44 marks (19-20 attempts, 87% accuracy)
99 Percentile: 46-48 marks (21-22 attempts, 90% accuracy)
99.5+ Percentile: 50+ marks (22-23 attempts, 92%+ accuracy)
The jump from 95 to 99 percentile requires ~8-10 additional marks—achievable through accuracy optimisation, not dramatic attempt increases.
Overreading & Time Traps
Problem: Reading passages 2-3 times wastes time (12-15 minutes for two passages)
Solution: One-and-done reading. Train focused reading; revisit specific paragraphs while answering, not entire passage.
Quit Early Policy: If 2 questions from a passage go wrong, abandon it. Cut losses and move to another passage.
Ignoring VA Practice
Problem: Assuming VA is "common sense." CAT 2024 saw 68% average accuracy in VA versus 72% in RC.
Solution: Allocate practice proportionally:
65% time on RC
35% time on VA
Minimum: 10 para jumbles daily initially, 5 daily later
Inconsistent Study Habits
Problem: Weekend-only intensive study doesn't build comprehension muscles.
Solution: Non-negotiable daily 45-60 minute VARC slot. Daily consistency beats weekend intensity for VARC improvement.
Option Elimination Methods
Three-Tier Elimination:
Tier 1 (10 seconds): Eliminate options that contradict facts, use absolute language inappropriately, or mention absent concepts.
Tier 2 (15 seconds): Eliminate options too broad/narrow, focusing on examples over main ideas, or reversing cause-and-effect.
Tier 3 (20 seconds): Compare remaining options for tone match, fewer assumptions, and closeness to explicit text.
Inference vs Guessing Framework
Inference Validity Test:
Is this stated or unstated?
Is this a logical conclusion or speculation?
Does this require outside knowledge?
Conservative Inference Principle: Choose the more conservative option; prefer options one logical step from the passage text, not three.
Smart Attempt Decision Making
30-Second Confidence Framework:
Tier 1 (90%+ confidence): Attempt immediately
Tier 2 (70-85% confidence): Attempt if already secured 30+ marks
Tier 3 (50-65% confidence): Skip unless urgent
Tier 4 (<50% confidence): Skip immediately
Some best books available in the market which can help to prepare well for CAT 2026. Here is the list, and also the perfect reason to follow it.
Best Books & Passage Banks
Arun Sharma's VARC for CAT: Comprehensive, best for beginners
Nishit Sinha's VARC for CAT: Excellent VA section
RC99 Online: Curated passage bank for advanced practice
Previous Year CAT Papers (2015-2024): Gold standard
Best Online Mock & Practice Platforms
IMS Learning Resources: Close to actual difficulty
Career Launcher: Large question bank
TIME4Education: Excellent VARC section
Official CAT Mocks: Exact interface and difficulty
Career 360 Mocks: Updated questions by following the latest trends
Usage Strategy:
Months 1-2: Book-based practice
Month 2: Weekly sectional mocks
Month 3: 3-4 full mocks weekly
Last 2 weeks: Official CAT mocks
Recommended Daily Reading Sources
Without reading it's very difficult to excel in the CAT exam. Create vocabulary, and also helps in the formation of the different bases of topics.
Daily: The Hindu editorials, Indian Express "Explained"
Weekly: The Economist (3-4 articles), Aeon, The Atlantic, The New Yorker
Academic: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Scientific American, Harvard Business Review
It's not only one factor, but the whole set of factors that creates a deadly combination for one to score 99+ above.
Takeaways for this article will be the five pillars of success:
Accuracy Over Attempts: Fewer questions with higher accuracy
Strategic Selection: Identify which passages to attempt/skip
Structured Practice: Consistent daily preparation
Exam Temperament: Execute strategy under pressure
Continuous Adaptation: Evolve based on mock performance
All the best for CAT 2026!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Though it varies from year to year, the basic trend is this-
95 Percentile: 38-40 marks
97 Percentile: 42-44 marks
99 Percentile: 46-48 marks
99.5+ Percentile: 50+ marks
Most importantly, work on time Allocation:
Month 1: RC 60%, VA 40%
Month 2: RC 70%, VA 30%
Month 3: RC 65%, VA 35%
This respects question distribution while accounting for skill development curves.
Yes, with an intensive strategy. Plan and work on strategies. Be agile with the thought process, too.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
If you are looking to take admission in the MBA programme with a CAT score of 73, check out the list of MBA Colleges accepting 70-80 percentile .
All the best!
You can find all the information here:
CAT- https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-exam-dates
SNAP- https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/snap-exam-dates
Hi Minakshi,
You can find the details related to IIM Kashipur admission criteria by clicking on the link below:
Dear Saloni,
May i know which college you are looking to apply for? Because the MBA fee varies from one college to another. Please check MBA fees colleges wise here:
MBA Fees in India 2025: Top Colleges, Fee Structure, Courses, Cost of MBA
Check your devices and email; you may still have the soft copy of the Admit card. If not, don't panic, the CAT 2025 admit card may not be a huge requirement after the exam; the CAT scorecard is usually asked for the admission formalities.
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