CAT 2026: When to attempt, when to skip and how to maximise your score on exam day

With CAT 2026 approaching, aspirants must remember that cracking the exam is not about attempting every question. Knowing when to attempt, when to skip and how to manage time across sections can make all the difference.CAT 2026 exam strategy: Section-wise tips for VARC, DILR, QA and time managementNew Delhi,Nov 6, 2026 14:20 ISTWith CAT 2026 approaching, aspirants must remember that cracking the exam is not about attempting every question. Knowing when to attempt, when to skip and how to manage time across sections can make all the difference.The Common Admission Test (CAT) is not just a test of conceptual knowledge or problem-solving ability. It is equally a test of decision-making under pressure. After months of preparation, mock tests and revisions, what ultimately matters on exam day is how effectively candidates use the limited time available to them.A candidate may know how to solve a difficult question, but spending too much time on it could mean missing out on several easier questions. The key is to stay calm, choose wisely and remember that CAT is an aptitude test, not a battle against every question on the screen.In this article, Dr S Priya, Director, School of Management, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS), Chennai, shares key strategies to help CAT aspirants build an effective exam-day plan. WHEN CAT MEETS THE DOG DAY!After months of mock tests, late-night revisions and percentile swings that can ruin a perfectly good weekend, D-Day finally arrives. For some, it can feel like a Dog Day! Butterflies in your stomach are inevitable; just make sure they fly in formation.STRATEGY WITH SPEED: MASTER THE ART OF SKIPPING!1. VARC (VERBAL ABILITY AND READING COMPREHENSION): READING BETWEEN THE LINESHave you ever read a passage three times and still wondered what the author was trying to say? Avoid passages that consume too much time without yielding clarity. Instead, focus on passages you can comprehend comfortably, eliminate implausible options and remember that your opinion is not necessarily the author's.2. DILR (DATA INTERPRETATION AND LOGICAL REASONING): WHERE EINSTEIN MEETS A TRAFFIC JAM! DILR can make or break your CAT performance in the first five minutes! Five friends, six cities, four professions and enough clues to give even Einstein a headache!Scan all the sets before diving in. If your logic is stuck in a traffic jam for six to seven minutes, stop honking, change lanes and move on! CAT is an examination, not a relationship. Do not let emotional attachment to a stubborn set derail your overall score.3. QA (QUANTITATIVE ABILITY): WHEN NUMBERS GET PERSONAL!You might have calculated your chances of getting into an IIM a hundred times, to the extent of making even AI chatbots feel fatigued. But when a question appears at hyperloop speed, even your brain might decide to take a platform break!Start with familiar questions, follow a two-pass approach and leave lengthy, multi-concept problems for later. Accuracy beats ego every time!THE MOCK-TEST ROLLER COASTERA 95-percentile mock score, and suddenly you are at IIM Ahmedabad, virtually booking your seat through a VR headset! Alas, a 65-percentile score the next day, and you are back to reality, questioning your preparation, your calculator and even the person who invented CAT!So, relax. Mock scores are not your destiny. Treat every mock as a reality check, analyse your mistakes and learn when to fight and when to take flight. Make a conscious effort to correct your mistakes before D-Day rather than simply accumulating mock-test scores.YOU CAN DO IT!Having cracked CAT on my first attempt and secured admission to IIM Ahmedabad despite coming from a science background, my message to aspirants is simple: your undergraduate discipline need not define your future.You do not need a commerce degree to pursue management. Analytical thinking, disciplined preparation and sound decision-making matter far more than your undergraduate discipline.YOUR CAT 2026 D-DAY CHECKLISTA little preparation beyond academics can go a long way in ensuring a stress-free examination experience. Keep these points in mind:Check your admit card: Download it in advance and verify all the details.Know your examination centre: Check the location, travel route and reporting time well in advance.Get adequate sleep: Avoid late-night revisions and ensure you are well-rested.Avoid last-minute cramming: Do not attempt to learn entirely new concepts just before the examination.Reach the centre on time: Account for possible traffic and travel delays.Stay calm under pressure: If a section feels difficult, do not panic or let it affect your performance in the remaining sections.Focus on accuracy: Avoid random guesses and prioritise questions you can solve confidently.Manage your time: Keep track of the time available and avoid getting stuck on a single question or set.Ultimately, CAT is your first management exercise. Good managers do not chase every opportunity; they choose their battles wisely. Trust your preparation, keep your head cool and remember: you do not have to catch every question to reach your destination!- Ends