How to achieve 99.5+ percentile in VARC section of CAT exam: strategies and preparation tips from IIM Mumbai graduate

An IIM Mumbai 2024 alumnus who scored 99.6, 99.6, and 99.9 in VARC across three CAT attempts offers one of the more grounded perspectives we've come across on cracking this section. What stands out immediately is the attribution of success — not to any shortcut or coaching formula, but to being an avid reader since age 10 and working professionally as a content writer. In our experience, this tracks: the aspirants who consistently break 99+ in VARC tend to have reading woven into their lives, not just their preparation schedules.

Here's what the preparation approach actually looked like, broken down specifically:

On practice material, the guidance is clear and somewhat contrarian. The primary recommendation is to rely heavily on past 10–15 years of actual CAT VARC papers rather than mock tests. AIMCAT and SIMCAT are called out explicitly as unreliable sources with inconsistent logic — not because they're without value in other sections, but because VARC quality in mocks varies significantly. The reasoning is worth understanding: CAT produces only 3 papers annually, which means each paper is crafted with exceptional care and consistency. Mock providers, producing papers weekly, simply cannot maintain that standard. VARC1000 — a resource drawn directly from past CAT papers — is recommended as a reliable supplementary source. GMAT papers via GMATClub are also suggested as worthwhile supplementary material, given the passage quality and reasoning rigour they demand.

On how to actually read, the distinction between active and passive comprehension is central. The advice isn't to read faster or to skim strategically — it's to analyse statements and paragraphs while reading, rather than passively consuming text. If you find yourself stuck between two answer choices, the framing here is important: that's not a signal that you need better trick-identification skills. It's a signal that your passage comprehension was incomplete. The fix is deeper analytical reading, not a smarter elimination framework.

On attempt strategy, the approach is straightforward. Solve all RCs first, with high accuracy as the priority. Then move to VA questions. Use whatever time remains for review. There's no elaborate time-allocation formula here — the emphasis is on accuracy in RCs as the foundation of a strong VARC score.

For aspirants scoring 25–40 in mocks with significant fluctuation, the perspective shared is consistent with the broader point about mock unreliability. Don't use mock VARC scores as your primary validation signal. Redirect that energy toward working through authentic past CAT papers — that's where your comprehension gaps will actually surface and where your calibration will improve.

The picture that emerges from this is one we've seen reinforced across student conversations at Collvera: VARC mastery isn't a section you game. It's a capability you build over time — through sustained reading practice, professional or habitual writing exposure, active comprehension during reading, and deep engagement with authentic CAT materials. The aspirants who treat VARC as a skill to coach tend to plateau. The ones who treat it as a reading and reasoning practice tend to break through.