Early VARC performance analysis from 4,000+ CAT mocks in 2023-2024 shows that students who maximise utilise their first 10 minutes can score 18-25% higher overall in the section. These initial minutes allow candidates to quickly assess passage difficulty, identify the two most scoring RCs, and avoid mistakes that can cause 40-45% of accuracy loss.
Expert reports from top coaching institutes like TIME and IMS indicate that nearly 70% of VARC errors occur if you begin with the wrong passage or panic-read the first RC. Starting strong by solving questions you are comfortable with helps build confidence and a steady rhythm, which can be maintained throughout the VARC section and the entire exam.
In this article, we will break down how to use the first 10 minutes to maximise your CAT VARC score.
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The Step - by - Step Strategy for the First 10 Minutes of VARC
The strategy revolves around the highly impactful steps to follow within the first 10 minutes of the VARC section.
- Instead of randomly solving any questions or passages, spend the first 2 minutes rapidly scrolling through the questions to identify the easier ones and passages.
- Next, choose the VA question types you are comfortable solving with high accuracy. Then move on to short RC questions with around 3-4 questions.
- Within the first 10 minutes, you should be ready with the picking order, in which you have to solve the passages.
Here is the step-by-step strategy for the first 10 minutes of VARC
| Step | Action | Purpose | Estimated Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick Scan | Spend 3 - 4 minutes glancing through all passages and VA questions. Identify 2- 3 easier RCs and obvious VA types. | Avoids Surprises; Builds familiarity without deep reading. Prevents choosing the wrong and dense passages. | 2 Minutes |
| Prioritise VA first, for starters | Attempt 2 - 3 easy VA questions (odd sentence out, para jumbles, etc) These are non-RC and easy and quick to solve | With VA, you can get 80- 90% accuracy with minimal reading | 2 - 3 Minutes |
| Solve easy RC | Select and fully attempt one short RC passage | You can secure 2 - 3 points; short RCs take less time and boost momentum | 4 - 5 Minutes |
| Decide the order of questions to solve | If time remains, decide the order you want to solve the passages. Avoid starting the long ones first. | Ensures that you are picking the passages based on themes that you are comfortable with and readability | 0 - 1 |
Check:
Ques. Should I always start with the VA in the first 10 minutes?
Ans. Not compulsorily, if you are comfortable with VA and if VA looks easy, start with VA. If one short RC looks familiar and easy, start with RC. The rule is to start with easier-looking questions first, whether it's VA or RC.
Ques. How much time is safe to spend only on scanning?
Ans. Try to spend only 1 - 2 mins, max 3 minutes. Not more than that.
CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions PDF (VARC)
| CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2024) | Question Paper PDF | Solution PDF |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 2) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 3) – VARC | Download PDF | Click Here |
Recommended Time Allocation for VARC Within the First 10 Minutes
- For the first 1-2 minutes to just glance through the passages and VA questions, identify the easy and readable passages, and easier VA questions.
- It is recommended to choose VA questions first because VA questions are lighter, require less effort to understand the questions and are easier to solve. It keeps the momentum.
- Solve 1 short Passage, which roughly consists of 3 - 4 questions, which can be solved in under 6 minutes. Decide the order of the passages you are going to solve as per your comfort level with the theme and readability of the passage.
| Task Type | Suggested Time | Target Attempts | Expected Accuracy | Quick Tips |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Scan of Section | 2 Minutes | - | - | VARC has 4 - 5 passagesScanning helps spot 70% RC weightage early. |
| Verbal Ability questions | 2 - 3 Minutes | 2 - 3 Questions | 80 - 100% | VA is easier and quicker and often TITA.Start here if the RC feels intimidating to build the momentum. |
| On short RC passage | 4 - 5 Minutes | 3 - 4 questions | 70 - 90% | Shorter RCs are solvable under 6 minutes. Prioritize these over denser and longer ones. |
| Peck order of passages to solve | 0 - 1 Minute | - | - | As per the comfortability of the theme of the passages and readability, choose the order you are going to solve the passages. |
CAT VARC Study Material
Candidates can check the topic-wise study material from the links provided below:
Ques. Can I attempt 2 RCs in the first 10 mins?
Ans. Only if both are very short ( 3 - 4 questions each) and are familiar to you. Otherwise, just solve 1 RC and 3 - 4 VA questions.
Ques. What to do in the last 30 - 40 seconds in the first 10 minutes?
Ans. Quickly review the answers you have marked, and if you still have some time left, pick the order you are going to solve the passages.
Prioritisation Tips for VARC: What to Pick vs. What to Skip?
Picking the right questions to solve sets the whole tone of the section and the entire exam.
- Pick short RCs that are faster to solve with higher accuracy, while skipping the longer RCs for the time being, which can take a longer time and can confuse you.
- Choose simpler VA types, such as para jumbles, odd sentences and can solve the critical analysis late,r post 10 minutes.
Here is the detailed what to pick and what not to pick in the first 10 minutes of the VARC section.
| Pick first (Easy momentum Builder) | Why Pick? | Skip initially (For the time being) | Why Skip? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short RCs(3-4 questions, familiar themes and readability) | Faster to solve (5 - 6 minutes), High inference /detail accuracy | Long RCs (5 - 6 questions, abstract or philosophy)themed paragraph | Can take 10+ minutes. Save these questions for 10 minutes after the momentum builds up. |
| Simple VA (Para Jumbles, Odd sentence) | 1 - 2 minutes per question, no deep reading or understanding needed. | Complex VA (arguments and critical reasoning) | Requires full focus; attempt after the RC for better flow. |
| Fact-based RC questions | Direct from text; quick if skimmed well. | Conclusion based on heavy or tone questions | It may trap you. Flag for later and better to solve with fresh eyes later. |
Quick Links:
Dos and Don’ts for the First 10 Minutes of VARC in CAT 2025
It is important to follow a strategy to build momentum as well to keep the momentum throughout the section and the entire exam.
- When you are on the way to the exam centre, read any article to build momentum before the exam, and try to read the instructions or anything that is in front of you to keep the momentum.
- Pick the easiest VA types and RC types to start with to build confidence. Don’t start with difficult and dense passages.
Here are the do’s and don’ts to follow in the first 10 minutes for the VARC section of CAT 2025.
| Do’s | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Maintain your concentration by reading articles before the exam and the computer's instructions during it to build momentum. | Don’t sit idle before the exam starts - you will lose the reading momentum. |
| Pick the easiest and comfortable passage first | Don’t start with a difficult, dense and abstract passage. |
| Read the passage naturally at your comfortable speed | Don’t increase the reading speed artificially. Don’t skip the parts while reading faster than usual. |
| Read the passage first, then move to the questions. | Don’t look at the questions while reading the passages. |
| Decide the complete order of all passages in the first 10 minutes. | Don’t keep changing the order later, it breaks the flow |
| Start with the VA type, you are most comfortable and fastest in (Para jumbles, odd sentence out, summary, etc) | Don’t start with difficult VA types (critical reasoning, or tough summary) |
Reddit’s Strategy to hit 95%+ in the VARC Section of CAT 2025
Reddit users’ advice on the Reddit posts is to pick the right questions and allocate the time to each passage, and try to solve within that time limit.
Scanning and identifying the easy passage is the key to time management and accuracy, according to this post on Reddit.
On the Reddit post , one user advised based on his personal experience that“I used to analyse which RC to attempt that would cost me 3 mins at least To eliminate just one RC Now I just go through the whole paper and if I find a Read comp tough, I don't pursue it or if I find a question tough or if It takes more than a min i leave it.”
The overall goal is to aim for 4 - 6 questions in these 10 minutes with 80%+ accuracy to hit 95%+ in VARC. In the post-10-minute transition to longer RCs(10-12 mins each), then the remaining VA in the last 10 - 15 minutes.
Spending the first 10 minutes choosing the right questions with the right strategy can help you win the VARC section in CAT 2025.
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