CAT 2026 · Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
Free CAT VARC Mock Test — 24 Questions, 40 Minutes
A CAT VARC mock test is a 40-minute sectional paper of 24 questions that reproduces the first section of the CAT exactly — reading comprehension passages plus verbal ability questions, marked +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong MCQ. It is the same length and the same clock as the real section, so your accuracy and your passage-selection habits transfer directly.
- 24
- Questions
- 72
- Marks
- 40 min
- Time
- +3 / -1
- Marking
What comes in CAT VARC
- Four reading comprehension passages, carrying about 16 of the 24 questions.
- Roughly 8 verbal ability questions — parajumbles, para summary and odd-one-out.
- Verbal ability questions are usually TITA (type in the answer), so they carry no negative marking.
- Passage topics skew to economics, science, philosophy and culture — not current affairs.
What is a good CAT VARC score?
| Sectional score | Approximate percentile |
|---|---|
| 25 marks | ~90 percentile |
| 39–40 marks | ~99 percentile |
| 53 marks | ~99.9 percentile |
Percentile anchors are indicative, taken from published CAT 2025 slot analyses. They move a long way with paper difficulty — the 99th percentile in DILR needed close to 38 marks in CAT 2024 but around 30 in CAT 2025. Treat these as a direction of travel, not a target.
How to attempt CAT VARC
Read three passages properly, not four badly
Most 99-percentile VARC scores come from attempting three passages with high accuracy rather than rushing all four. Pick the two you understand fastest, bank those marks, then decide.
Parajumbles are where accuracy leaks
They are TITA, so there is no negative marking — attempt every one. That is free expected value most aspirants leave on the table.
Track passage-type accuracy, not just section score
If abstract philosophy passages cost you every time, that is a reading-diet problem, not a test-taking problem. The section score alone will never tell you that.
Free CAT VARC mock tests
Dedicated CAT VARC sectionals are being added. Start a full-length CAT mock in the meantime — it contains the same VARC section under the real clock.
CAT VARC mock tests — common questions
- What is a CAT VARC mock test?
- A CAT VARC mock test is a 40-minute sectional test of 24 questions matching the real CAT pattern — about four reading comprehension passages and eight verbal ability questions, marked +3 for correct and −1 for a wrong MCQ.
- Where can I find free CAT VARC mock tests?
- MockTestZone runs free CAT VARC sectional tests with no payment and AI explanations on every question. Cracku, Career Launcher and CATKing also publish free VARC sectionals, usually gated behind a signup.
- Is VARC easy in CAT?
- VARC usually carries the highest raw scores of the three sections, but the percentiles bunch tightly, which makes it deceptive. About 25 marks already sits near the 90th percentile while 99th needs roughly 39–40, so a handful of extra correct answers moves your percentile a long way.
- How do you score 99 percentile in CAT VARC?
- A 99-percentile VARC score is roughly 39–40 marks, which is about 14 correct answers out of 24 with very few wrong attempts. Selection matters more than speed — high scorers typically read three passages properly rather than skimming all four.
- How many VARC sectionals should I take before CAT?
- Take two to three VARC sectionals a week alongside your full mocks. Sectionals are for fixing passage selection and accuracy; full mocks are for stamina and cross-section time management.
- What is a sectional mock test in CAT?
- A sectional mock is a 40-minute test covering one CAT section only — VARC, DILR or QA — instead of the full 68-question paper. It is used to fix accuracy and strategy inside a single section without spending two hours on a full mock.
- Are these CAT sectional tests really free?
- Yes. Every CAT sectional test on MockTestZone is free with no payment at any stage. A free account unlocks saved results, AI explanations and percentile tracking across attempts.
- How many CAT mocks should I take in total?
- Most aspirants take 30 to 40 full-length mocks before CAT, with 20 to 25 being a workable minimum if you are starting late. Aiming past 99 percentile usually means 50 or more. Analysis quality matters more than the count — an unanalysed mock teaches almost nothing.
- When should I start taking CAT mocks?
- Start full-length mocks about four to five months before the exam, once you have covered roughly half the syllabus. Sectional tests can start earlier, as soon as you have finished a topic.
- How long should I spend analysing a CAT mock?
- Spend two to three hours analysing each full mock. Categorise every wrong answer as a concept gap, a silly error or a selection mistake, then track which category is costing you the most across mocks.
Practise the other CAT sections
The full CAT paper is 68 questions in 120 minutes, with a strict 40-minute lock on each section. Sectionals fix one section at a time; full mocks train the switch between them.