What is VARC in CAT?
VARC stands for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. It is the first section of CAT and runs for 40 minutes. In the last three years it had 24 questions: 16 from four reading passages and 8 verbal ability questions, according to coaching analyses.
What is the structure of VARC in CAT?
The IIMs do not publish the question count, so this structure comes from coaching analyses of the 2023, 2024 and 2025 papers and the official 2026 mock. The official mock instructions confirm that each passage has a group of four questions.
| Part | Questions | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reading comprehension | 16 (4 passages x 4) | All MCQ |
| Verbal ability | 8 | Mix of MCQ and TITA |
| Total | 24 | 20 to 22 MCQ and 2 to 4 TITA, depending on the year |
Coaching sources describe passages as about 400 to 450 words. VARC is always first, so it sets the tone for the other two sections. See the full CAT exam pattern for timing and marking.
What types of questions come in VARC?
- Reading comprehension. You read a passage and answer four MCQs on its main idea, details, inference and tone.
- Para summary. A paragraph is given with four alternate summaries. You pick the one that best captures its essence. MCQ.
- Sentence placement. A sentence is given and you pick the position (1, 2, 3 or 4) where it fits best in a paragraph. Some coaching sites call this para completion. MCQ.
- Odd sentence out. Five jumbled sentences are given, and you type the number of the one that does not belong. TITA.
- Para jumble. Four sentences are given and you type the correct order, for example 2413. TITA. It was in the 2023 and 2025 papers and absent in 2024.
| VA type | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Para summary | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Sentence placement | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Odd sentence out | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Para jumble | 2 | 0 | 2 |
These counts are from coaching reproductions of the slot papers, not from IIM files. The official 2026 mock uses the 2024 mix, and it says it is only indicative of the pattern.
How to prepare for VARC in CAT
Build a daily reading habit
Read one long, well-argued piece every day: a newspaper editorial, an essay or a magazine feature. Pick subjects you would not choose on your own, such as science, economics, history and philosophy. The goal is to follow an argument to the end at an even speed. Start with 30 minutes a day and increase it.
Use one method for every RC passage
Read the passage once at a steady pace. As you read, note in a few words what each paragraph does, for example “gives an example” or “raises an objection”. Then read each question, and go back to the passage for the line it refers to. Choose the option you can support with a line from the passage, not the one that sounds smart.
With four passages in 40 minutes, you have roughly 10 minutes per passage if you spend nothing on VA. In practice you will split the time unevenly, and it is fine to skip a passage that does not open up for you.
Treat verbal ability as its own skill
- For para summary, cut options that add a point not in the paragraph or that stretch a claim too far.
- For sentence placement, look at pronouns and linking words in the given sentence. They tell you what must come before it.
- For odd sentence out, find the theme shared by four sentences. The fifth either changes the subject or repeats a point.
- For para jumble, find the opening sentence first, then join pairs that clearly follow each other.
TITA questions carry no negative marks, so always enter an answer. A wrong MCQ costs 1 mark. Practise these types in timed sets with our free sample mock.
Common mistakes in VARC
- Reading the passage slowly to understand everything, and then running out of time for the last passage.
- Picking an option because it matches a word in the passage, when it changes the meaning.
- Starting with VA and rushing RC, or the other way round, without testing which order suits you in mocks.
- Leaving TITA blank. There is no penalty for a wrong TITA answer.
- Reading only in the weeks before the exam. Reading speed and comfort build over months.
- Never reviewing wrong answers. For each miss, note the line in the passage that decided it.
Where does VARC fit in your plan?
VARC is one of three sections, so compare it with DILR and Quant and read the CAT syllabus page for the full topic list. For the month-by-month plan, go to CAT preparation. After a mock, turn your score into an estimate with the percentile predictor.
Common questions
What is VARC in CAT?
VARC means Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. It is the first of three sections in CAT and is timed at 40 minutes. It tests how you read long passages and how you work with sentences and paragraphs.
How many questions are there in CAT VARC?
The IIMs do not publish the count. In 2023, 2024 and 2025 it was 24 questions, according to coaching analyses: 16 from four RC passages and 8 verbal ability questions.
How to ace VARC in CAT?
Read widely every day, use one steady method for RC, and practise each verbal ability type in timed sets. Review every wrong answer. No method guarantees a score, but a daily habit over months is the base.
What to read for CAT VARC?
Long-form articles, editorials, essays and magazine features on varied subjects such as science, economics, history and society. Choose pieces that make an argument, and sum up each in two lines after you read.
Is there negative marking in VARC?
A wrong MCQ costs 1 mark. TITA questions, such as odd sentence out and para jumble, have no negative marks.
Take free CAT mock 1 (full length)
Sources
Last checked 8 Nov 2026. Found an error? Tell us and it goes on the errata page.