What is the best strategy for CAT on exam day?

Don't try to attempt all questions. Focus on accuracy over attempts. In VARC: attempt 3 of 4 RC passages plus all VA. In DILR: attempt 3–4 sets with 100% accuracy within each. In QA: identify and skip the hardest 4–5 questions immediately.

Should I attempt difficult questions in CAT?

No. CAT rewards selective attempts. Getting 18 questions right out of 20 attempted is better than getting 20 right out of 28 attempted with 8 wrong (because of negative marking). Always prioritise accuracy over coverage.

What is the ideal time allocation in CAT?

Each section gets exactly 40 minutes — it's strictly enforced. In QA: 2 minutes per question max. In DILR: 5 minutes on set selection + 8–9 minutes per set. In VARC: 7–9 minutes per RC passage + 1 minute per VA question.

CAT Strategy

CAT Strategy 2026: Section-wise Tips for 99 Percentile

By Bharatiya Pathshala

14 min read

Updated June 2026

CAT isn't just a test of knowledge — it's a test of strategy. Two students with the same level of preparation can score vastly different percentiles based on how they approach the exam. This guide gives you the exact in-exam strategy used by 99+ percentile scorers.

The Core Principle: Accuracy Over Coverage

In CAT's +3/−1 marking system, every wrong MCQ answer costs you 4 marks (−1 received, +3 missed). This means 90% accuracy on 18 questions (54 marks) is significantly better than 70% accuracy on 26 questions (54.6 − 7.8 = 46.8 marks after negative marking).

Rule: Never attempt a question you are less than 70% confident about.

VARC Strategy — 40 Minutes, 24 Questions

First 5 min

Passage Selection

Skim all 4 RC passages (first + last line). Rank them by difficulty. Decide which 3 to attempt.

Next 28 min

Attempt 3 RC Passages

Read each passage actively (find the central argument). 7–9 minutes per passage including answers.

Last 7 min

VA Questions

Attempt para jumbles and para summary. OSO (odd sentence out) last — these can be tricky and time-consuming.

DILR Strategy — 40 Minutes, 20 Questions

First 5 min

Set Scanning

Read the opening line of all sets. Avoid sets with >8 conditions or unfamiliar DI types. Pick your 3 best sets.

Next 30 min

Solve 3–4 Sets

10 minutes per set. Build your representation (table/diagram) first — 2 minutes. Then solve all questions in that set together.

Last 5 min

Revisit

If you've finished early, attempt an additional set. If not, review your current work for any quick mistakes.

QA Strategy — 40 Minutes, 22 Questions

First 2 min

Quick Triage

Glance through all 22 questions. Mark the easy ones (Arithmetic, direct formula application). Skip Geometry and complex Algebra on first pass.

Next 25 min

Attempt Easy/Medium Questions

Solve your marked questions. 2–2.5 minutes max per question. If it takes longer, move on and return later.

Last 13 min

Return to Skipped Questions

Attempt the harder questions you skipped. Any question taking >3 minutes should be left unattempted.

Exam Day Strategy — Final Checklist

Sleep 7+ hours the night before. Fatigue kills accuracy more than any knowledge gap.
Eat a light meal 90 minutes before. Avoid heavy carbs that cause mid-exam drowsiness.
Reach the centre 30 minutes early. Rushing to the exam kills focus.
In the first 5 minutes of each section, breathe and plan — don't dive in impulsively.
Trust your preparation. Don't change strategy on exam day based on how a section feels.
If a section is unusually hard, remind yourself — it's hard for everyone. Your relative score is what matters.

Build your strategy through mock tests

Strategy only becomes instinct through practice. Take 25+ mocks on Bharatiya Pathshala and refine your approach after each one.

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