CAT 2026 will be conducted on November 29, 2026, in three sessions across approximately 170 cities.
The exam has 68 questions divided into VARC (24), DILR (22) and QA (22), with 40 minutes allotted to each section. Candidates cannot switch sections during the test, making question selection and time management important when difficult questions appear.
Each correct answer carries 3 marks, while an incorrect MCQ attracts a penalty of 1 mark. Spending too much time on one difficult question can reduce the time available for easier questions.
Knowing when to attempt, skip or revisit a question can help candidates protect their score across all three sections. Read ahead to know how to handle difficult questions during the CAT 2026 Exam:
How to Handle Difficult Questions During the CAT 2026 Exam
Here are tips and tricks to handle difficult questions during the CAT 2026 Exam:
1. Identify Difficult Questions Before Attempting Them
Not every question needs the same amount of time. Some questions look complicated but require only a few calculations, while others involve lengthy reasoning and offer little progress after several minutes.
During the first read, check what the question asks, the information provided and the steps required to solve it. If the approach becomes clear quickly, start solving it. If you cannot identify a method after a reasonable attempt, move to another question.
Use these signals to decide whether to continue:
- Attempt immediately: You understand the question and know the method required to solve it.
- Give it more time: You have identified the approach but need additional calculations or reasoning.
- Skip temporarily: You cannot determine the method, the data is confusing, or you have made no progress after repeated attempts.
2. Set a Time Limit for Individual Questions
CAT 2026 allows 40 minutes per section, so candidates need to distribute their time carefully. There is no fixed time limit for every question, but spending several minutes on a single problem can affect the overall attempt.
In VARC, a reading comprehension passage may require more time than an individual verbal ability question. In DILR, understanding a complete set can take time before you can solve its questions. In QA, a lengthy calculation may need more effort than a direct arithmetic problem.
- Move on if you have spent around two minutes on a question without making meaningful progress.
- Allow additional time when you are close to a solution and the remaining steps are clear.
- Avoid spending five or six minutes on one question while several other questions remain unattempted.
- Keep enough time to review marked questions if you have completed the easier ones.
3. Handle Difficult Questions in the VARC Section
VARC contains 24 questions, with Reading Comprehension accounting for approximately 16 questions. Para jumbles, summaries and odd-sentence questions make up the remaining verbal ability component.
For Reading Comprehension: Read the passage to understand its central argument, supporting ideas and the author’s perspective. When an option appears confusing, return to the relevant paragraph and check whether the passage supports it. Avoid selecting an answer simply because it sounds logical or contains words used in the passage.
For summary questions: Identify the main argument before comparing the options. Eliminate choices that focus on a minor example, introduce an unsupported idea or change the author’s position.
For para jumbles: Look for clear opening sentences, connecting words, pronoun references and logical sequences. If multiple arrangements seem possible, avoid spending too long testing every combination.
For odd-sentence questions: Find the common theme connecting the sentences. The sentence that does not contribute to the central idea is a likely candidate for elimination.
Since there are 24 questions in VARC, do not allow one confusing passage or verbal ability question to consume the time needed for other solvable questions.
4. Choose DILR Sets Carefully
DILR has 22 questions, and the difficulty of a set can influence how many questions you can attempt within 40 minutes. Tables and charts, seating arrangements, puzzles, scheduling, games and tournaments, and Venn diagrams are among the areas to practise.
The main challenge is often choosing the right set before you start calculating.
Spend the initial few minutes scanning the available sets. Check the number of conditions, the clarity of the information and whether you can identify a starting point.
A set with several variables is not automatically difficult, and a lengthy-looking set may become manageable once its structure is clear.
- Start with a set whose conditions you can organise into a table, diagram or structured arrangement.
- Write down the given information clearly to avoid repeatedly reading the same conditions.
- Check whether one deduction helps answer multiple questions in the set.
- Leave a set temporarily if its conditions remain unclear after several attempts.
- Return to unfinished sets after solving the ones you understand better.
5. Solve Difficult QA Questions Without Wasting Time
The QA section has 22 questions. Arithmetic accounts for approximately 35-50% of the section, while Algebra contributes around 30-35%. Geometry and Mensuration, Modern Maths and Number System questions also feature in the syllabus.
A difficult QA question may involve lengthy calculations, multiple concepts or unfamiliar wording. Before solving it, identify the topic and check whether a direct method is available.
For arithmetic questions involving ratios, averages, percentages, profit and loss, or time and work, write down the known values and the quantity being asked for.
In Algebra, check whether substitution, factorisation or simplifying an equation can reduce the work. For Geometry, draw a labelled figure when it helps you understand the relationships between the given measurements.
- Use approximation when the question and answer options allow it.
- Avoid lengthy calculations if a shorter, valid method is available.
- Check units, signs and calculation steps before finalising an answer.
- Do not continue with an approach that repeatedly produces inconsistent results.
- Practise alternative methods for familiar question types before exam day.
6. Decide When to Skip and When to Guess
CAT 2026 follows a marking scheme of +3 for a correct answer and -1 for an incorrect MCQ. This makes random guessing risky. Candidates should attempt a question when they have a reasonable basis for selecting an answer.
If you can eliminate two options in a four-option MCQ and have no further information, choosing between the remaining options gives you a 50% chance of being correct, assuming one option is right.
The expected score from that choice is positive under those assumptions. However, this does not mean every uncertain question deserves an attempt, especially when it requires additional time.
Use elimination to remove clearly incorrect options. Recheck calculations, passage evidence and logical deductions wherever possible. If you still cannot narrow down the choices, consider skipping the question and moving forward.
Also, distinguish between MCQs and non-MCQs. The stated negative marking applies to incorrect MCQs, so check the question type before deciding whether to leave it unanswered. Do not assume that every question has identical answer and penalty rules.
7. Practise Difficult Questions Before CAT 2026
The ability to skip a question at the right time improves with practice. Solving questions without a time limit may help build concepts, but timed practice reveals whether you can make sound decisions under exam pressure.
Use MBA Karo CAT Previous Year Papers to practise questions from earlier CAT exams and understand how different question types are framed.
Attempt the papers under timed conditions, following the sectional time limits. After each attempt, review the questions you skipped, answered incorrectly or spent too long solving.
Maintain a short record of your mistakes. Note whether you struggled because of a conceptual gap, a calculation error, poor question selection or excessive time spent on one problem. This will help you identify patterns and adjust your preparation.
Take full-length mock tests to practise switching your approach across VARC, DILR and QA. Since CAT does not allow candidates to move between sections during the allotted time, your strategy must work within each 40-minute window.
Conclusion
Handling difficult questions in CAT 2026 requires clear question selection, controlled time allocation and accurate decision-making. Do not let one challenging problem affect your performance across an entire section. Practise skipping questions when necessary, returning to solvable problems and avoiding unsupported guesses.
Take the MBA Karo CAT Mock Test to practise under exam-like conditions, evaluate your sectional performance and identify where you lose time.
Reviewing each mock test can help you improve your question selection and build a more effective strategy before CAT 2026 on November 29.
