The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) has a major weightage in The Common Admission Test (CAT), thus, making it an important section for any aspirant with the vision to enter Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and top B-Schools in the country for Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
The official CAT 2026 notification is not out yet. As per expected trends, the CAT 2026 exam is likely to be conducted on the last Sunday of November 2026 (probably November 29, 2026). Registration is expected to start in the first week of August 2026 and continue till mid-September 2026.
1. CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Section
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) is the first section that comes up in the CAT exam. The section consists of 24 questions that need to be solved within 40 minutes. For information on marking scheme, take a look at the table below:
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Question Type
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Correct Answer
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Incorrect Answer
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Negative Marking
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Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
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+3 marks
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-1 mark
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Yes
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Type in the Answer (TITA)
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+3 marks
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0 marks
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No
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The VARC section holds equal importance in the CAT exam. They are framed to specifically target the candidate’s command over English. This is done through questions that emphasize inference, coherence, analytical reading along with comprehension..
The CAT entrance exam keeps getting more challenging every year, with assumed proficiency on speed, accuracy and time management. Annually, more than 2 lakh candidates appear for CAT, undoubtedly making it one of the most competitive exams.
2. CAT VARC Syllabus
It is important and wise to understand the syllabus for each section of the CAT exam. As the name suggests, VARC is divided into two sections, namely, Reading Comprehension (RC) and Verbal Ability (VA). Let us take a look at both the sections to see what they entail:
- Reading Comprehension (RC) takes up 16 questions from the 24 dedicated to the section. There are generally 4 passages, between 450 to 500 words that focus on main ideas, inferences, tone and structure. Further, the questions are an amalgamation of fact-based, inference-heavy and application based questions. To be able to ace this section, candidates are advised to quickly skim through dense text and directly answer the questions given in the passage.
- Next comes Verbal Ability (VA), which are the remaining 8 in number, often including TITA questions as well. The questions are designed to test logical arrangement through para jumbles, summaries, odd-sentence-out, completions and insertions. To crack these questions, candidates should practice multiple questions from previous year papers and mock test questions.
Now that you have understood the syllabus, it is wise to immediately start working on building foundation and strengthen your concept clarity. If you are unsure what resources to refer to, Hitbullseye has curated this Mockbook for CAT aspirants.
Login and download the free CAT VARC EBOOK NOW!
3. CAT VARC Section: Key Trends from 2021-2025
CAT trends from the year 2021-2025 have shown a uniform structure of 24 questions (16 RC + 8 VA) in the VARC section. Experts at Hitbullseye observed that the difficulty level has varied, with 2025 being moderate overall, though slightly tougher than 2024 in some slots due to inference-heavy RC questions.
Take a look at the table below to understand key trends of CAT VARC section from the year 2021-2025:
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Year
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Difficulty and Details
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RC Topics
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Question Analysis
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TITA
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Good Attempt
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2021
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- Moderate difficulty
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- Philosophy
- Sociology
- Literature
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- 3 para jumbles
- 3 para summaries
- 2 odd-sentence-out.
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5
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15-18
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2022
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- Moderate to slightly tough
- Minimal slot variations
- Abstract themes
- Deeper inferences
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- History
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- 3 jumbles
- 3 summaries
- 2 odd-sentence-out
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5
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14-16
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2023
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- Moderate to tough
- Competitive slot 3
- Dense & critical reasoning.
- Lengthier passages
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- Philosophy
- Socio-culture
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- 3 jumbles
- 3 summaries
- 2 para-insertions
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2
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12-15
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2024
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- Easy-moderate in
- Moderately difficult slot 1 & 3
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- Technology
- Exploration
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- No jumbles
- 3 summaries
- 3 completions
- 2 odd-sentence-out.
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2
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14-17
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2025
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- Moderate overall
- Slightly tougher than 2024 in some slots
- Inference-heavy RC
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- Varied (abstract, philosophy, etc.)
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- Mix of summaries, completions
- Para jumbles returned
- Odd-sentence-out
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4-6
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15-18
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4. Strategy and Preparation Tips for VARC
Ideally, it is projected that the candidate must have started his preparation around 8-12 months before the exam. However, when there are just a few months left until the exam day, the aspirant is advised to strengthen their concept clarity and expand their knowledge base as much as they can. In order to build confidence, speed and accuracy in VARC section, here are some key points the aspirant can adopt:
- To be efficient in this section, the candidate should know how to skim through large text to be able to catch hold of important points. Thus, it is recommended they build this skill by reading from reputable sources like The Hindu or The Economist. This small incorporation in your routine can also help the aspirant build their vocabulary and general knowledge.
- Now, the aspirant is ideally expected to read through the passages within the first 30-45 seconds whilst establishing a basic idea of the text. Following so, use the elimination method and learn how to focus on the main idea of the Rc and summarize each paragraph to be able to spot the details later when attempting the questions.
- Think of your own bracket based on your capacity and efficiency, then, learn how to cement those words and build vocabulary. Try and learn 15 new words daily through handwritten flashcards and revisit them before sleep. You may take help from apps like Quizlet, Duolingo and Memrize.
- There is no limit when it comes to giving mock tests! When you are practicing VA, learn how to spot connectors in jumbled sentences. With more and more consistent observation and practice, candidates can learn how to spot connectors.
- Practice at least 2 RC passages, 8-12 VA questions daily. Make sure to time yourself to learn time management. Ideally, dedicate 23-27 minutes for RC, with 5-7 minutes per passage and 12-14 for VA.
- Advise, attempt your strengths first and move on to the next one if you are stuck on one question for over 5 minutes.
- Bonus! Make sure to attempt all the TITA questions as there is no negative marking, thus making it safe to test luck!
Have you proficiently aced these Strategy and Preparation Tips for VARC? Would you like to test it out? Take this free CAT VARC sectional test to build confidence, know your strengths, master speed and accuracy.
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CAT VARC Sectional Test
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Take Actual Test
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CAT VARC Sectional Test
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5. CAT VARC Sample Papers and Practice Resources
To succeed in the CAT exam, students are encouraged to stimulate the exam environment. To do so, practice multiple sample tests to improve speed and accuracy amidst building confidence.
The more VARC sectional mock tests the candidate practices, the more they will build the ability to skim through 500-word long paragraphs, build vocabulary and notice the pattern to solve questions like para jumbles.
Download the FREE Sectional Sample Papers below and excel in CAT VARC!
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CAT VARC practice paper
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Download link
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Sample paper - I
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Sample paper - II
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Sample paper - III
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Sample paper - VI
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Sample paper - V
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6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the structure of the CAT VARC section?
A: The VARC section has a total of 24 questions divided into 16 Reading Comprehension (RC) questions from 4 passages and 8 Verbal Ability (VA) questions. The sectional time given to complete VARC is 40 minutes.
- What is the marking scheme for the VARC section?
A: For every correct answer, the candidate is awarded with 3 marks. The exam has -1 for incorrect MCQs only. There is no negative marking for TITA questions.
- What topics are covered in the CAT VARC syllabus?
A: VARC syllabus traditionally includes topics like main ideas, inferences, tone, structure, para jumbles, summaries, odd-sentence-out, completions and insertions
- How has the CAT difficulty evolved from 2021 to 2025?
A: The CAT exam pattern has remained stable with 24 questions in VARC since 2021. Difficulty varied, with 2025 being moderate but with more inference-based questions compared to easier 2024.
- What are the key preparation strategies for CAT VARC?
A: It is advisable to read reputable sources like The Hindu, practice skimming passages, build vocabulary with flashcards, use elimination methods and allocate 25-28 minutes for RC and 12-15 minutes for VA daily.
- How important are sample papers for VARC preparation?
A: Sample papers are crucial for simulating the exam environment, improving speed, accuracy, and confidence whilst mastering skills like skimming and solving para jumbles.
- What is a good attempt for the VARC section?
A: A good attempt is subjective to the respective year’s question paper and difficulty level. However, on an average, a good attempt is typically around 15-18 questions.
- When is the CAT 2026 exam expected?
A: As per trends, CAT 2026 is expected on November 29, 2026 (last Sunday of November).
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