How to Improve Your CAT 2026 Mock Scores: Step-by-Step VARC Section Strategy

 

CATKing is a Mumbai-based MBA entrance exam coaching company founded by Sumit Singh, offering preparation for CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CET, GMAT, and GRE through online and offline classes. CAT 2026 is on November 29, 2026, about 47 days from today, and many aspirants are stuck with low VARC scores in mocks. This guide explains CATKing's step-by-step VARC strategy for CAT 2026: how to test your baseline, when to reset, which questions to attempt first and how to scale your attempts across mocks.

What Is the Best VARC Strategy to Improve CAT 2026 Mock Scores?

The best strategy is to treat VARC in three phases: test your baseline, reset to a high-accuracy approach, and then scale up your attempts step by step. The table gives the full picture at a glance.

 

Note: These targets are rough guides shared by CATKing mentors and vary with paper difficulty. Confirm the CAT exam pattern on iimcat.ac.in. See also our CAT 2026 60-day study plan.

What Is Phase 1: The Baseline Test of All 24 Questions?

When you start CAT mock preparation, it is hard to know the right balance between attempts and accuracy. CATKing recommends a simple trial to find out.

• Attempt everything: in your first 3 to 4 mocks or sectional tests, try all 24 VARC questions to gauge your raw speed and instinct.

• Check your error rate: if you get only about 10 questions right and 14 wrong, negative marks are draining your score.

• Know when to pivot: do not continue the all-attempt approach if wrong answers outweigh right ones. After 3 to 4 mocks, stop and rebuild.

What Is Phase 2: The 1 RC + 4 VA Precision Reset?

Once you find an accuracy problem, reset your approach to focus on careful question selection rather than volume.

 

How do you apply the precision reset in a mock?

• Identify 1 easy RC: spend the first 20 to 25 minutes searching for and completing the easiest passage.

• Solve 4 VA questions: pick Para Jumbles and Para Summary questions you are confident about.

• Reach the threshold: answering these 8 questions correctly puts you close to the 90th percentile, as per CATKing mentors.

Why Is Verbal Ability Your Secret Weapon in CAT VARC?

Many aspirants underestimate Verbal Ability compared with Quant or Reading Comprehension. This is a mistake, because VA offers some of the safest marks in the paper.

• No negative marking for TITA: questions that need a typed-in answer, such as many Para Jumbles and Para Summary questions, do not carry negative marking, so you can build accuracy at low risk.

• Comparable weightage: the 8 VA questions are worth as much as the entire Arithmetic module in Quant, which covers Time, Speed and Distance, Time and Work, and Mixtures and Alligations.

• Accuracy target: aim for at least 50 percent accuracy, which is 4 out of 8. Top performers often get 6 out of 8.

How Do You Scale from 1 RC to 3 RCs Across Mocks?

Improving your mock score is a gradual process. Instead of rushing to finish the whole paper, increase your attempts in stages.

 

Why Should You Practise on the Real CAT Interface?

A critical factor in mock performance is practising on an interface that looks and feels like the actual CAT. It helps you get comfortable with navigation, the question palette and timers, builds exam stamina and reduces test-day anxiety. CATKing students also use strategy sessions and video guidance to refine their approach before each mock.

VARC Mock Strategy: Quick-Reference Rules

 

Note: Targets and percentile figures are rough guides from CATKing mentors. Confirm all CAT details on iimcat.ac.in.

What Should CAT 2026 Aspirants Do Now?

• This week: take a VARC sectional with all 24 questions and note your correct and wrong counts.

• Next 3 to 4 mocks: if negatives dominate, switch to 1 easy RC plus 4 VA questions.

• Every day: read for at least an hour and practise Para Jumbles and Para Summary questions.

• As accuracy improves: add a second RC, then a third.

• Stay on track: join CATKing's mentor-led preparation, including strategy sessions and mocks on the real CAT interface.

Frequently Asked Questions About CAT 2026 VARC Mock Strategy

How many questions should I attempt in CAT VARC to reach the 90th percentile?

CATKing mentors suggest that answering about 8 questions correctly, for example 1 easy Reading Comprehension passage (4 questions) plus 4 Verbal Ability questions, can take you close to the 90th percentile in VARC. The exact percentile depends on the difficulty of the paper.

What should I do if my CAT mock score is not improving?

If attempting all 24 VARC questions leaves you with more wrong answers than right ones, for example 10 correct and 14 wrong, stop that approach after 3 to 4 mocks. Rebuild your strategy by choosing 1 easy RC and 4 Verbal Ability questions first, and build accuracy before expanding your attempts.

Do Verbal Ability questions have negative marking in CAT?

In CAT, questions that need a typed-in answer (TITA), such as many Para Jumbles and Para Summary questions, do not carry negative marking. This makes these questions a low-risk way to collect marks. Always confirm the marking scheme for the current year on iimcat.ac.in.

Why is Verbal Ability so important in CAT VARC?

The 8 Verbal Ability questions are worth as many marks as 8 questions from any other area. CATKing mentors compare the scoring potential of VA to the entire Arithmetic module in Quant, which covers Time, Speed and Distance, Time and Work, and Mixtures and Alligations.

What accuracy should I aim for in Verbal Ability?

Aim for at least 50 percent accuracy, which means 4 correct answers out of 8. Top performers often reach 6 out of 8.

How should I scale my RC attempts across CAT mocks?

Start with 1 RC plus 4 VA questions for your first 5 mocks. Once your accuracy is stable, move to 2 RCs plus VA, and then gradually build up to 3 RCs plus the full VA set as your reading speed and accuracy improve.

How long should I spend on the first RC in a mock?

Spend the first 20 to 25 minutes of the VARC section scanning the passages and completing the easiest RC. Do not rush into a difficult passage just because it comes first.

Why should I practise mocks on an interface that matches the real CAT?

The CAT is a computer-based test. Practising on an interface that mirrors the real exam builds familiarity with navigation, question palettes and timers, and helps you build stamina and reduce test-day anxiety.

How many days are left for CAT 2026?

CAT 2026 is on November 29, 2026, conducted by IIM Indore. As of October 13, 2026, there are about 47 days left, which is enough time to move through all three scaling stages if you start now.