CAT VARC practice papers include reading comprehension, summaries, para jumbles, odd-sentence questions and paragraph completion. The 2025 section had 24 questions: 16 in reading comprehension and eight in verbal ability. Practise with the papers and original reading passage below for CAT 2026 preparation.

The CAT paper archive includes the other sections and earlier years.

VARC Skills to Practise

Reading comprehension and verbal ability share one section. In 2025, the eight verbal-ability questions included two each on summaries, para jumbles, odd sentences and paragraph completion.

Skill	What the answer must do
Main idea	Identify the argument that connects the passage
Inference	Distinguish supported conclusions from speculation
Function	Explain why an example or paragraph is included
Summary	Preserve scope and important qualifications
Ordering / odd sentence	Track references and paragraph coherence
Sentence placement	Check the text before and after the insertion

A passage about science may test the author's argument rather than a scientific fact. A summary option can use the same words as the passage yet change its meaning. The VARC syllabus separates the skills from the subject of a passage.

How to Compare Close Answer Choices

A question asking what strengthens an argument needs new support for the claim. A question asking what the passage states needs information already given. For an EXCEPT question, identify the one option that does not satisfy the stated condition.

For example, a museum reports more weekend visits after extending its opening hours but does not measure spending. The increase in visits is supported. A claim that every visitor spent more is not: spending was not measured, and the claim also applies to every visitor.

For paragraph summaries, compare the option with the main claim and its qualification. For sentence placement, read on both sides of the proposed gap. A sentence can connect to the preceding line and still make the following line incoherent.

CAT VARC Marking Scheme and Timing

A correct answer earns 3 marks. A wrong MCQ loses 1 mark. Wrong typed answers and unanswered questions receive zero.

Response	MCQ	Typed answer
Correct answer	+3	+3
Incorrect answer	-1	0
Unattempted question	0	0

For a 2025 sectional attempt, use 40 minutes. PwD candidates had 53 minutes and 20 seconds per section. The CAT exam pattern covers the full paper and current timing rules.

RC and verbal-ability questions share the VARC timer. There is no separate time limit for passages within the section.

Common Mistakes in VARC Answers

After a wrong answer, identify the exact word or relationship that made it fail. An option may be too strong, too broad, causal without support, or an accurate detail that does not answer the question.

Error	Correction
Option too broad	Compare the population or period named
Certainty strengthened	Check whether may became always
Cause assumed	Ask whether the text proved causation or only reported a sequence
Author misread	Separate described views from endorsed views
EXCEPT missed	Resolve the logical reversal before judging options

The VARC paper analysis covers recent passages and question types. The VARC preparation guide focuses on passage selection and timed practice.

CAT VARC Practice Papers FAQs

Using the VARC Practice

Are these practice questions from a previous CAT paper? Are these inline questions official CAT PYQs?

No. The rooftop-garden passage is original practice. Previous-year papers are grouped separately by year and slot.

Should I use outside knowledge to answer the passage?+

Use the information and argument in the passage. Outside knowledge should not replace a qualification or introduce a fact the passage does not establish.

Why can a factually plausible option still be wrong?+

It may not follow from this passage, or it may answer a different question. The task is not to choose any statement that could be true in the real world.

Can I retry only the questions I missed?+

Yes. Choose Retry mistakes after submission to attempt incorrect and unanswered questions again. Restart set brings back all the questions.

Does a perfect drill result predict my VARC percentile?+

No. It measures this short original set only. It does not reproduce the complete section, its time pressure or the candidate population.

Option changes	Why it matters
Visits to spending	Different measure
Some visitors to every visitor	Broader population
Followed by to caused by	Stronger causal claim
Qualified claim to absolute claim	Lost limitation

Item	Rule
VARC standard timer	40 minutes
RC / VA separate timers	No
Correct CAT answer	+3
Wrong MCQ / typed answer	-1 / 0
Original drill output	Practice accuracy, not percentile

CAT VARC Practice Papers 2026: Questions and Solutions

VARC Skills to Practise

How to Compare Close Answer Choices

CAT VARC Marking Scheme and Timing

Common Mistakes in VARC Answers

What do you need right now?

Try a VARC Passage

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VARC Paper Downloads

Reading and Verbal Tasks

Check a Close Option

Timing and Marking

VARC Error Review

CAT VARC Practice Papers FAQs

Using the VARC Practice

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