Reading Comprehension forms more than half of the VARC section. In recent CAT examinations, 16 out of 24 questions are from RC, and the entire VARC section needs to be solved in 40 minutes. These 16 questions typically come from four passages, with four questions from each. The remaining 8 questions are from Verbal Ability, which contains paragraph summary, odd one out, and sentence placement.
Reading Comprehension for CAT has passages of 450 to 600 words. The exact number can vary slightly by year or slot, but the pattern of four passages and 16 RC questions has been consistent in recent exams. These figures are based on memory-based analyses of past papers, not an official fixed quota published by the IIMs.
Reading Comprehension matters for the CAT exam because it carries a high weightage of 16 questions, which means 2/3rd of the VARC section. A candidate's performance on these passages has a direct impact on the overall VARC score and percentile. Focusing on RC is usually more rewarding than spending equal time on every VARC topic.
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Parameters
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Details
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Conducted By
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IIMs (IIM Indore for CAT 2026)
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Exam Name
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Common Admission Test (CAT)
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Section
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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RC Questions
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16 questions
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RC Structure
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Usually 4 passages with 4 questions each
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VA Questions
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8 questions
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VA Topics
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Paragraph summary, odd one out, sentence placement, para jumbles
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Total VARC Questions
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24
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RC Share of VARC
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About 66–70%
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Passage Length
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Typically 450–600 words
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Time Limit
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40 minutes for the entire VARC section
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Marking Scheme
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+3 for correct, –1 for incorrect MCQ, no negative marking for TITA questions
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What Kind of Passages Appear in Reading Comprehension for CAT?
CAT Reading Comprehension passages are usually taken from serious, idea-driven writing: essays, academic articles, book extracts, and long-form journalism. They are dense, often abstract, and written for an educated general reader rather than a specialist. Knowing what to expect helps you walk into the exam feeling calm rather than thrown off by an unfamiliar topic.
Themes you are likely to see
- Economics: markets, inequality, behavioural economics, globalisation, and economic history. These passages usually argue a point of view rather than present data.
- Psychology: human behaviour, memory, decision-making, emotions, and cognitive biases.
- Science and technology: evolution, neuroscience, climate, AI, and the history or philosophy of science. The focus is on ideas and their implications, not formulas.
- Philosophy: ethics, free will, knowledge, language, and the nature of the mind. These tend to be the most abstract passages.
- Culture and society: art, literature, history, anthropology, music, language, and social change.
Many passages mix these areas, such as a piece on the psychology of consumer choice or the cultural history of a scientific idea.
Why you don't need to be an expert in these topics
CAT tests your reading and reasoning abilities, not your subject knowledge. Every question can be answered from the passage itself. You're asked to find the main idea, follow the author's argument, read their tone, make inferences, and spot what the passage does or doesn't support.
Applying external knowledge can actually hamper your score in this area. If you answer from what you know about a topic rather than what the author says, you're more likely to pick a trap option. A student with no background in philosophy who reads carefully will often score better than one who knows the subject but reads loosely.
How to get comfortable with unfamiliar subjects
The RC passages need to be dealt with carefully as they are likely to be tricky. At the surface level, they may seem straightforward, but can be deceptive. Read the text carefully and jot down important points to understand the inherent meaning and intent of the author. Do not mix your personal opinions or external knowledge into your interpretation and focus on what the author intends to convey. Here are some tips for tackling Reading Comprehension passages.
- Read widely and regularly: Spend 30–45 minutes a day on quality long-form writing, such as Aeon, The Guardian long reads, The Economist, and opinion pages of major newspapers. Pick topics you'd normally skip.
- Summarise as you read: After each paragraph, sum up its point in a few words. At the end, state the author's main argument in one or two sentences.
- Focus on structure, not facts: Ask what the author is claiming, what evidence they use, and where they agree or disagree with other views.
- Don't get stuck on jargon: Work out unfamiliar terms from context and keep moving. CAT questions rarely hinge on one technical word.
- Practise with timed RC sets: Solving passages across different themes under time pressure builds both speed and confidence.
- Review your mistakes: For each wrong answer, find the exact line in the passage that points to the right one. This trains you to answer from the text.
With regular reading and practice, unfamiliar topics stop feeling intimidating, because you learn that every passage is built the same way: an author, an argument, and evidence. Hitbullseye's CAT RC practice sets and mock tests cover all of these themes, so you can build that comfort well before exam day.
What Types of Questions Are Asked in Reading Comprehension for CAT?
CAT Reading Comprehension questions test how well you understand the passage, not how much you already know about the topic. Most questions fall into a few clear types.
Common question types include:
- Main idea or primary purpose: What is the central argument or why did the author write the passage?
- Inference: What can be reasonably concluded from the information given? These are often the trickiest.
- Author’s tone or attitude: Is the author critical, supportive, neutral or balanced?
- Specific detail: A fact or example stated directly in the passage.
- Strengthen, weaken or application: Which option supports or weakens the author’s claim, or how the idea applies in another situation.
Most students lose marks on inference and tone questions. The correct option is usually supported by the passage but not stated word for word. Extreme words such as “always”, “never” or “completely” are often traps. Options that introduce ideas not mentioned in the passage are also usually wrong.
A useful habit is to predict the answer in your own words before looking at the options, then eliminate the ones that go beyond the passage or reverse the author’s point. This reduces the chance of choosing a close but incorrect option.
How Can You Improve Your Reading Comprehension for CAT?
Improving Reading Comprehension for CAT starts with a daily reading habit that fits your schedule. Spend 30 to 40 minutes each day reading material from areas such as science, technology, politics, psychology and economics. Use a mix of short essays, academic articles and longer pieces so you meet different writing styles.
Begin with shorter essays of 200 to 300 words. Once you are comfortable, move to passages of 400 to 600 words, which is the length most CAT Reading Comprehension passages fall into. While reading, focus on the author’s tone, the structure of the argument and the vocabulary used in context. The goal is to understand how the ideas are connected, not simply to finish the passage.
After a few weeks of regular reading, start solving CAT-style passages under a timer. Review your mistakes to see whether you missed the author’s stance or chose an option that went beyond the passage. Consistent reading combined with timed practice improves both speed and accuracy.
How Much Time Should You Spend on Each Reading Comprehension Passage?
You have 40 minutes for the entire VARC section, which includes 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. A practical approach is to spend about 6 to 8 minutes on each RC passage, including the time needed to answer its questions.
Start by spending the first 1 to 2 minutes scanning all four passages. Choose the ones that look clearer or more familiar and attempt those first. This reduces the chance of getting stuck on a difficult passage early and running out of time.
If a passage is taking longer than 8 minutes and you are still unclear about the author’s main point, it is usually better to mark it and move on. Leaving one tough passage and attempting the others with higher accuracy is often more effective than forcing every question.
A simple target is to finish three passages with good accuracy and use the remaining time for Verbal Ability questions or a quick review. Consistent timed practice will help you judge which passages you can complete comfortably within this limit.
What Should You Read to Prepare for Reading Comprehension for CAT?
The best preparation for Reading Comprehension for CAT is regular reading of material that matches the style of CAT passages. You do not need to finish many books. Consistent exposure to clear, argumentative writing is more effective.
Good free sources include:
- Aeon Essays (psychology, philosophy, science)
- The Guardian and The Hindu editorials
- The Economist and Project Syndicate (economics and current affairs)
- Long-form articles on science, technology and culture
These sources help you get used to dense writing and varied subjects.
Books that improve comfort with longer texts include narrative non-fiction such as Sapiens, essays on economics or psychology, and collections of analytical writing. Start with topics you already find interesting so the habit is easier to maintain.
Hitbullseye’s RC Books Recommendation e-book lists 25 must-read books, recommended online resources and area-wise suggestions (psychology, sociology, business, science, economics and others). It also includes tips for effective reading.
Download the free e-book from the Hitbullseye e-book store and use it to build a focused reading list for CAT 2026.
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FAQs About Reading Comprehension for CAT
Q. How many Reading Comprehension questions come in CAT?
A. In recent papers, there have been 16 RC questions out of 24 in the VARC section. These usually come from four passages with four questions each. The figures are based on memory-based analyses.
Q. Is reading newspapers enough for CAT RC?
A. Newspapers and editorials help, but they are not enough on their own. You also need practice on CAT-style passages and exposure to longer, more analytical writing from sources such as Aeon or The Economist.
Q. How much time should I spend on one RC passage?
A. You should spend About 6 to 8 minutes per passage, including the questions, is a practical target inside the 40-minute VARC section. If a passage is taking longer and remains unclear, it is better to move on.
Q. Can I improve RC without reading full books?
A. Yes, daily reading of editorials and long-form articles (400–600 words) builds the same skills if you read actively and follow it with timed passage practice. Full books are helpful but not mandatory.
Q. What are the best free sources for CAT RC?
A. Aeon Essays, The Guardian, The Hindu editorials, Project Syndicate and selected articles from The Economist are commonly used by aspirants for CAT RC preparation. They match the analytical style of CAT passages.
Q. Where can I find a ready reading list?
A. Hitbullseye’s RC Books Recommendation e-book includes a list of 25 books, online resources and area-wise suggestions. You can download it from the Hitbullseye e-book store.
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