The VARC section decides your CAT percentile more than any other, because Reading Comprehension alone carries two-thirds of the questions and rewards the students who read fast and interpret cleanly. On this page you get ten free CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension sample papers built to the latest pattern, each with detailed explanations so you can train close reading, para-jumbles, para-summary and odd-sentence-out the way the real exam tests them.
Official website: iimcat.ac.in
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Papers 2026
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 1
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 2
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 3
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 4
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 5
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 6
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 7
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 8
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 9
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Paper 10
Download any of the sample papers above and solve it in a single 40-minute sitting to build real reading stamina. Each paper carries 24 questions in the exact CAT mix of Reading Comprehension MCQs and Verbal Ability questions, with full explanations so you can review your reasoning after you finish.
You can download these papers here on Collegedunia, and you should also check the official website iimcat.ac.in for the latest exam notification and slot timings before you plan your mocks.
- Section questions: 24 questions in VARC, carrying 72 marks at 3 marks each.
- Time limit: A fixed 40-minute sectional window, which works out to around 100 seconds per question.
- Marking scheme: +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ; the TITA verbal questions carry no negative marking.
- Question mix: Roughly 16 Reading Comprehension MCQs from four passages and about 8 Verbal Ability questions.
- Mode: Computer-based test with an on-screen timer and no calculator needed for this section.
- Syllabus base: Reading Comprehension, para-jumbles, para-summary, odd-sentence-out and sentence placement.
- CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Sample Papers 2026
- CAT VARC Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution 2026
- CAT VARC Sample Papers - Why Recent Papers Matter Most
- CAT VARC Chapter Wise Weightage - High Scoring Topics to Focus in Sample Papers
- CAT VARC Sample Paper Video Solutions 2026 - Watch Before You Start Solving
- How to Use CAT VARC Sample Papers to Clear in First Attempt
- CAT VARC Negative Marking and Time Management Strategy
- CAT VARC 4 Week Preparation Plan Using Sample Papers
- FAQs on CAT VARC Sample Papers 2026
CAT VARC Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution 2026
Knowing the VARC pattern helps you set a reading plan before you open a paper. With negative marking on MCQs, your aim is clean interpretation, not a rushed high attempt count.
- Questions: 24 in total, with about 16 Reading Comprehension MCQs and 8 Verbal Ability questions.
- Marks: 72 for the section, with each question worth 3 marks.
- Marking: +3 correct, -1 for a wrong MCQ, and zero penalty on the TITA verbal questions.
- Time: 40 minutes for the section, with no extra time carried from other sections.
- Passages: Four passages of about 450 to 500 words, each followed by four questions.
Key advice: A realistic strong attempt in VARC is around 16 to 19 questions with high accuracy, which is usually enough to cross the 95-plus percentile mark in the section.
![CAT VARC Sample Paper]()
CAT VARC Sample Papers - Why Recent Papers Matter Most
CAT VARC Sample Papers - Why Recent Papers Matter MostCAT has no fixed syllabus, so the recent papers are your best guide to the style of passages and verbal questions that actually appear. VARC has been leaning on abstract and inference-heavy passages, and recent practice keeps you tuned to that difficulty.
- Reading Comprehension now fills two-thirds of the section, so newer papers give you more of the question type that decides your score.
- Passage topics have moved toward economics, philosophy, science and the arts, so fresh sets widen your reading comfort.
- The Verbal Ability set stays TITA-heavy with para-jumbles, para-summary and odd-sentence-out, so recent papers train the exact no-negative questions to bank safely.
CAT VARC Chapter Wise Weightage - High Scoring Topics to Focus in Sample Papers
This breakdown shows where the marks sit inside VARC so you can decide what to master first. Use it to plan your reading practice and to set time targets while solving the sample papers.
| Chapter | Questions | Difficulty | What to Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (four passages) | 16 | Moderate to High | The biggest scoring block; train main-idea, inference and tone questions as they decide the section. |
| Para-jumbles (sentence rearrangement) | 2-3 | High | Mostly TITA with no negative; find the opening sentence and logical links to order the set. |
| Para-summary | 2-3 | Moderate | Pick the option that keeps the author's core point without adding new or extreme claims. |
| Odd-sentence-out | 2-3 | Moderate to High | TITA type; spot the sentence that does not fit the single coherent paragraph the rest forms. |
| Sentence placement and completion | 1-2 | Moderate | Read the flow of ideas and match the connector logic to slot the sentence correctly. |
Note: Do not neglect the Verbal Ability set, since these are mostly TITA questions with no negative marking, so a careful attempt gives you safe 3-mark gains that MCQ passages cannot.
CAT VARC Sample Paper Video Solutions 2026 - Watch Before You Start Solving
Watching a strong solver read a passage and reason through the options teaches you the interpretation skills that decide your VARC percentile. The goal is to learn how to eliminate close options, not just to see the final answer, so you can copy the method on your own papers.
The video below is a complete CAT VARC preparation guide that walks through how to approach Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability, making it a useful watch before you attempt any of the sample papers on this page.
Watch:
Source: CAT VARC self-preparation guide, covering how to prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension including passage reading and question approach (YouTube)
How to Use CAT VARC Sample Papers to Clear in First Attempt
A sample paper only helps if you treat it like the real test and review it harder than you solve it. Build a fixed routine around each paper so every attempt sharpens your reading and reasoning.
- Solve each paper in one strict 40-minute block with no breaks, just like the live section.
- Read the passage once for structure, then attack the questions rather than rereading line by line.
- Flag every guessed MCQ so you can revisit the passage and see where your reasoning slipped.
- After each paper, note whether you lost marks to misreading, close options or running out of time.
- Re-solve the passages you rushed without a timer to learn the cleanest line of reasoning.
- Keep a log of trap options that pulled you in so the same trap never catches you again.
CAT VARC Negative Marking and Time Management Strategy
VARC rewards accuracy over volume because of the -1 penalty on MCQs, so your strategy must protect your score from blind guesses. The TITA verbal questions are your safe attempts since a wrong answer there costs nothing.
- Always attempt the TITA verbal questions when you can justify an order or choice, because they carry no negative marking.
- Guess a passage MCQ only after eliminating at least two options using the text, not your outside opinion.
- Budget about 8 to 9 minutes per passage set and move on if a single question is not resolving.
- Spend the last five minutes on flagged questions and the TITA set rather than opening a fresh passage.
CAT VARC 4 Week Preparation Plan Using Sample Papers
- Week 1: Build a daily reading habit across varied topics and attempt Sample Papers 1 to 3 to set your baseline.
- Week 2: Drill Verbal Ability question types like para-jumbles and para-summary, and solve Sample Papers 4 to 6 under the 40-minute clock.
- Week 3: Attempt Sample Papers 7 to 9, and spend more time reviewing wrong options than solving new passages.
- Week 4: Re-solve your weakest paper and attempt Sample Paper 10, then keep the last two days for light revision of your error log only.
FAQs on CAT VARC Sample Papers 2026
Ques.How many questions are in the CAT VARC section in 2026?
Ans.The VARC section has 24 questions worth 72 marks, to be solved within a fixed 40-minute sectional time limit, with about 16 Reading Comprehension MCQs and 8 Verbal Ability questions.
Ques.Is there negative marking in CAT VARC?
Ans.Yes, each wrong MCQ costs you -1 mark, while the TITA verbal questions such as para-jumbles and odd-sentence-out carry no negative marking, so they are the safest attempts.
Ques.Are these CAT VARC sample papers free with solutions?
Ans.Yes, all ten sample papers on this page are free to download as PDFs and come with detailed explanations for every question, including the reasoning for each passage answer.
Ques.Which VARC area carries the highest weightage in CAT?
Ans.Reading Comprehension carries about 16 of the 24 questions, roughly two-thirds of the section, so it is the highest scoring area to focus on while practising.
Ques.How many VARC sample papers should I solve before CAT?
Ans.Solve all ten papers here at least once with a full review, alongside daily reading and a few official previous year VARC sections, and revisit your weakest passages.
Ques.How much time should I spend on each VARC passage?
Ans.With 24 questions in 40 minutes you get around 100 seconds per question, so budget about 8 to 9 minutes for each four-question passage set and keep the verbal questions for quick, safe marks.
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