What is the Minimum Questions to Attempt in CAT?

Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most competitive management entrance examinations in India, which opens the door to the famous IIMs and other business schools. Lakhs of aspirants appear in the exam every year, yet only a small percentage can get the top percentiles needed to get into the elite institutes. Among the most frequently asked questions by the candidates is: “How many questions should I attempt in CAT to secure a good percentile?”

This question does not have a simple answer. It varies based on a few things- the level of difficulty of the paper, your accuracy, the section you are trying, and your targeted percentile. Although the goal should be to make as many attempts as possible, having the knowledge of the number of attempts that you should make can assist you in planning your exam. 

Understanding the CAT Exam Pattern

It is worth knowing how the CAT is structured before we discuss minimum attempts. There are three parts to the CAT exam:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

The time limit on each section is fixed at 40 minutes and negative marking is applicable on wrong answers (MCQs: -1 mark, TITA questions: no negative mark).

Here’s a quick look at the typical CAT exam structure:

Note: The pattern may vary slightly each year depending on the CAT committee’s decision.

The Role of Accuracy in CAT Attempts

Accuracy is one of the main determinants of the minimum number of questions to be attempted in CAT. You will get more marks by trying 30 questions with 90 percent accuracy than trying 45 questions with 60 percent.

This is because negative marking is quick to lower your net score. Accordingly, the CAT preparation must be aimed at the balance between the speed and precision. To this end, it is highly useful to solve CAT mock test papers and CAT exam previous year question paper to get a good idea of your natural attempt range with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Is there any minimum attempt to qualify CAT?

Technically, the exam authorities do not specify a certain minimum number of attempts. But to be called by top IIMs you must have attained a particular percentile.

The number of attempts does not constitute percentile- it depends on your raw score compared to other candidates. This implies that during a more difficult year, you may not have to attempt many questions to get a high percentile and in an easy year, you may have to attempt more questions to stand out.

Minimum Attempts vs. Target Percentiles

Let’s look at an approximate table based on past CAT trends that shows the average minimum attempts required for various percentile ranges (assuming around 85–90% accuracy):

Disclaimer: These are only estimates based on past data and are subject to change depending on paper difficulty.

Read More: Is CAT a 2 Hour Exam?

How Negative Marking Affects Minimum Attempts?

Let’s take an example. Suppose you attempted 40 questions with 85% accuracy:

• Correct answers: 34 × 3 = 102 marks

• Wrong answers: 6 × (–1) = –6 marks

• Net score: 102 – 6 = 96 marks

Now, if you attempted 50 questions but accuracy dropped to 70%:

• Correct answers: 35 × 3 = 105 marks

• Wrong answers: 15 × (–1) = –15 marks

• Net score: 105 – 15 = 90 marks

Clearly, higher attempts with lower accuracy can lead to a lower score. That’s why your strategy must balance both. Practicing with CAT VARC mock test and timed sectional practice is a great way to maintain this balance.

Can I clear CAT by attempting fewer questions with high accuracy?

Yes, it is possible. Many candidates have secured 95+ percentile with fewer attempts, simply because they focused on accuracy. For example, attempting only 40–42 questions with 90–95% accuracy can still lead to a high score if the paper is tough.

Section-Wise Minimum Attempts Strategy

VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)

In the case of VARC, a considerable part of the paper is devoted to reading comprehension. The safe bet to get 99+ percentile in VARC is to do 18-20 questions with 85%+ accuracy by many aspirants. Solving the CAT VARC mock test regularly will also assist you in knowing your good RC topics and question patterns.

DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)

DILR has been described as unpredictable. The attempts in this case will greatly depend on the sets that you use. The goal of 12 to 14 high-accuracy trials in a moderate paper may suffice to achieve a 95 to 98 percentile in this section.

QA (Quantitative Ability)

The trick in QA is time management and accuracy. Getting 13-15 right questions can put you in the 95+ percentile range, depending on the difficulty of the papers. The QA improvement is necessary by solving the CAT mock test papers cat varc mock testunder time constraints.

What happens if I attempt all questions in CAT?

Theoretically, one can try to answer all 66 questions, but in practice, it is dangerous. Negative marking and time constraints do not make blind guessing a good idea. You may be able to take all but your accuracy may plummet to a very low level, which may affect your percentile negatively.

Using Mock Tests to Identify Your Attempt Range

A smart approach to figure out your personal minimum attempt number is to:

1. Take multiple CAT mock test papers under exam-like conditions.

2. Review your accuracy rate and note the number of questions attempted in each section.

3. Calculate the attempt–accuracy sweet spot where your score is maximized.

You can use a simple analysis table like the one below:

From this, you can see whether slightly fewer attempts with higher accuracy give better results.

Factors Affecting Minimum Attempts in CAT

Several factors influence how many questions you should attempt:

• Paper Difficulty: Harder papers lower the attempt requirement.

• Accuracy Level: Higher accuracy means fewer attempts needed.

• Sectional Strengths: Strong sections can boost your score even if you attempt fewer in weaker areas.

• Exam Stress: Time pressure and mental fatigue affect performance.

• Preparation Quality: Solving previous year exam question papers regularly helps you adjust your strategy for various difficulty levels.

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Does the minimum attempt change every year?

Yes. The benchmarks of attempts change because the difficulty of the CAT paper varies each year. In a tough year, lower attempts candidates have a high percentile but in an easier year, you might have to make more attempts to secure the same percentile.

Conclusion

CAT has no minimum number of questions to be attempted-it is all about how accurate you are, which section you are good at, and how difficult the paper of that year is. Nevertheless, the historical patterns indicate that in the 95-99 percentile range, a target of 40-53 attempts and an 85-90 percent accuracy is a safe goal.

The trick is to practice smartly- study your performance in CAT mock test papers, read your favorite CAT preparation books, and revise concepts with the CAT exam previous year question paper to get a feel of the question patterns. To improve VARC, a game-changer would be to practice regularly with a CAT VARC mock test.

The eventual aim of the practice should not be to aim at a specific number of attempts but to maximize your net score by discovering your optimal range of attempts through practice and analysis.