How Many Questions To Attempt In DILR? Set Selection And Mock Analysis For CAT 2026

In CAT DILR, the set you leave can matter as much as the one you solve. Spending too long on a complex arrangement or data-heavy set can leave you with little time for questions you could have answered accurately. Knowing when to commit, switch, or skip is central to making the most of the 40-minute section.

For CAT 2026, PW’s preparation strategy focuses on comparing DILR sets before solving, prioritising questions with better scoring potential, and balancing attempts with accuracy. Regular sectional mocks and detailed analysis help you identify missed opportunities, improve time management, and refine your set-selection approach. PW offers CAT preparation batches and resources to support your practice and exam readiness.

More Attempts Do Not Always Mean More Marks

A higher number of attempts does not automatically produce a higher score because incorrect MCQ responses attract negative marking.

For example:

• Student A attempts 10 questions, answers 8 correctly, and gets 2 incorrect. Score: 22 marks.

• Student B attempts 12 questions, answers 8 correctly, and gets 4 incorrect. Score: 20 marks.

Both students have the same number of correct answers, but Student A scores higher because of better accuracy. The specific questions answered correctly and the number of incorrect responses also matter.

The central principle is:

More attempts do not equal more marks unless accuracy is maintained.

Attempting only one set may not be sufficient, but solving more questions without control over accuracy can reduce the raw score. 

Target Score And Number Of Attempts In DILR

Recent CAT score trends show that a DILR raw score of approximately 30–37 has been associated with the 99th percentile in different years. The 2024 DILR section was described as comparatively easier. These scores may require around 10–12 questions answered with very high accuracy.

For a 22-question DILR section, a practical attempt calculation is:

50% of the total questions + 2 or 3

Therefore:

• 50% of 22 questions = 11

• Recommended attempt range = 13–14 attempts

However, attempting 12–14 questions is useful only when approximately 10 answers are highly accurate. The aim is not to solve all 22 questions.

Recommended Set Strategy

• Aim to complete two sets accurately.

• Attempt additional questions from a third set only when they are relatively straightforward.

• Completing three full sets within 40 minutes is generally highly impractical.

• Two five-question sets provide 10 questions.

• Two four-question sets provide only eight questions, so additional questions from another set may be needed.

A four-question set is often comparatively easier, while a five-question set may be more complex. This is only a general observation, not a fixed rule. The final decision must depend on the actual structure of the set.

A practical plan is to target 12–14 attempts, secure around 10 accurate answers, and use the remaining attempts mainly for questions with lower risk, especially TITA questions. (*Memory Tip: For a 22-question section, remember: 50% + 2 or 3 = approximately 13–14 attempts. Aim to secure around 10 highly accurate answers.)*

When To Skip A Question: MCQs And TITA

A difficult question should not be skipped automatically. A set may be easy overall but contain one or two complex questions involving maximum or minimum values, multiple arrangements, or an incomplete table.

MCQ Decision-Making

If two of four options can be eliminated, the question becomes a 50–50 decision. It may be marked for review and revisited if time remains. If no option can be eliminated, relying on intuition is unsafe.

DILR answers should be based on data and logical deductions. Guessing because an option “feels” correct is not a reliable strategy.

• MCQ With No Meaningful Elimination: Avoid random guessing because an incorrect answer attracts negative marking.

• MCQ With Two Options Eliminated: Mark the question for review and reconsider it if time permits.

• TITA Question: Attempt the question because there is no negative marking.

Why TITA Questions Should Not Be Skipped

TITA questions require a numerical answer to be entered in a text box. Their marking rules are:

• Correct answer: +3 marks

• Incorrect answer: 0 marks

• Not attempted: 0 marks

• No negative marking

Therefore, an incorrect TITA response and an unanswered TITA response have the same result: zero marks. A correct response, however, adds marks. This makes every TITA question worth attempting.

A TITA question should be attempted even when:

• The complete set has not been solved.

• Only part of the set is understood.

• More than one value appears possible.

• The full table or arrangement is incomplete.

If even one answer can be derived from the available information, enter it. The entire set does not always need to be solved. CAT may contain approximately 7, 8, 9, or even 10 TITA questions, though the exact number can vary by paper and slot.

Avoid Blind Guessing In MCQs

An MCQ has only two outcomes: correct or incorrect. There is no partial credit. If two options are eliminated, the remaining two create a considered 50–50 decision. If no option is eliminated, the chance of selecting the correct answer is approximately 25%, while the other 75% works against the guess.

Option patterns cannot be trusted. The order of questions and options may differ across test forms, even for candidates in the same slot. Therefore, selecting an option because a particular letter appears frequently is not a valid strategy.

For TITA questions, even a partial analysis may produce a range. If the answer is known to lie between 2 and 5, the possible entries are 2, 3, 4, and 5. Since there is no negative marking, attempting one of these values has no additional scoring risk compared with leaving the question unanswered.

View The Whole Paper Before Solving

The first set displayed should not automatically be the first set solved. The CAT interface provides a whole-paper view, which should be used to inspect all available sets before detailed solving begins.

A set may look simple initially but become difficult because of:

• Additional cases

• Trial-and-error work

• Misreading or correcting a statement

• Unexpected complexity during tabulation

• A large number of possible arrangements

Spending 25 minutes on an unproductive set leaves only 15 minutes for the rest of a 40-minute section. Even an easy second set may then become difficult because of limited time.

Set positions do not guarantee difficulty. The second or fourth set is not always easier, and the order of sets, questions, and options may change.

Do not spend the entire section on the first set displayed.

At the start of DILR:

1. View the entire paper.

2. Read the introductions to all available sets.

3. Judge which sets appear manageable.

4. Select those offering the best opportunity for accurate attempts.

How To Judge And Select The Right Sets

Set selection is the central DILR strategy. Before investing time, evaluate:

• The set’s introduction

• The type of information provided

• Whether the structure is familiar

• The likely time required

• Whether a table or flow chart is needed

• Whether the set may become case-intensive

• Whether it should be attempted, postponed, or skipped

A candidate should identify the elements, relationships, conditions, and representation required by the set. The important decision is not only whether a set appears easy, but whether it can be completed accurately within the available time.

Time Allocation For Set Selection

An average of 2–3 minutes per set may be required for initial evaluation. For five sets, this takes approximately 10–15 minutes and leaves around 25–30 minutes in a 40-minute section. This can be enough to solve two manageable sets.

Time spent understanding a set is not always wasted. If the set is later selected, part of its analysis is already complete.

Set selection improves through continuous practice, sectional mocks, and review of decisions. Compare the selected set with the sets that were skipped. This helps identify whether a set was correctly chosen, unnecessarily avoided, or pursued for too long.

How To Analyse DILR Mocks

Taking many mocks is not enough. For a 40-minute DILR section, approximately 3–4 hours should be spent on analysis.

After each mock:

1. Solve all five sets, including those not attempted.

2. Analyse every set.

3. Check whether the selected set was the best choice.

4. Determine whether it could have been solved faster.

5. Identify alternative methods.

6. Review whether each skipped set was correctly skipped.

7. Check whether a manageable set was missed.

8. Identify reasons for incorrect decisions or inefficient solving.

This process improves set selection, time management, method choice, and recognition of manageable structures.

Improvement in DILR comes from the analysis and experience gained after the mock, not merely from completing the mock itself.

Learn a practical CAT 2026 DILR strategy with MBA Wallah, covering question attempts, accuracy, set selection, time management, and mock-test analysis.

In this session, you will learn:

• CAT 2026 DILR strategy: balancing attempts and accuracy

• How many questions to attempt in CAT DILR

• How to identify the right sets

• Why you should not solve the first set blindly

• Time management for the 40-minute section

• MCQ vs TITA questions and negative marking

• When to skip an uncertain question

• How to analyse mocks and learn from missed opportunities

• How sectional mocks and regular practice improve performance

A strong DILR score comes from choosing the right sets, managing the 40-minute section wisely, and learning from every mock. Practise consistently and refine your approach based on accuracy and time spent. PW offers complete  CAT preparation resources to support your CAT 2026 preparation.