How to Improve Your Accuracy in DILR for CAT 2026? Tips and Preparation Plan

Q: What types of questions can be expected in the Logical Reasoning part of the DILR section?

The Logical Reasoning part includes questions on topics such as arrangements (linear, circular, complex), puzzles (seating, scheduling, floor puzzles), blood relations, Venn diagrams, clocks and calendars, cubes, routes and networks, and more.

Q: What does the CAT DILR Syllabus 2026 include?

The CAT DILR Syllabus comprises two key areas: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Data Interpretation typically includes caselets, tables, bar graphs, line charts, and pie charts, while Logical Reasoning covers arrangements, puzzles, blood relations, direction sense, and logical sequences.

Q: How many questions from DILR should I attempt?

Attempt 2-3 sets (around 8-12 questions) accurately. Attempting all often leads to time loss and errors.

Q: How to maintain accuracy under time pressure?

Practice daily with timed mocks. Build a problem-solving framework and stick to it. Don’t guess blindly due to negative marking.

Q: Should I focus on DI or LR more?

Balance both but lean slightly towards DI if you find calculations easier, as many DI questions are straightforward once you practice.

Q: What resources help in DILR preparation?

Previous years’ CAT papers, sectional mocks, special DI and LR books like Arun Sharma’s and Nishit Sinha help. Also online mock platforms with detailed answer explanations.

Author : Lalita Vishwakarma

November 26, 2025

Overview: How to Improve Your Accuracy in DILR for CAT? Learn expert strategies, weekly plans, set-selection tactics, and exam-day tips to confidently crack the toughest section of CAT.

If you are preparing for CAT 2026, you must have heard that the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section is one of the trickiest parts of the exam.

Many aspirants struggle with managing time and accuracy simultaneously in this section. But here’s the good news: cracking DILR is not about brilliance alone; it’s about strategy, consistent practice, and smart time management.

In this blog, we’ll explore proven strategies and practical tips that will help you improve your accuracy in DILR for CAT. We’ll break down the challenges that students face in this section, and provide actionable insights to overcome them. By the end of this blog, you’ll have a roadmap to enhance your performance in DILR and maximize your chances of cracking the CAT with a high percentile

Don’t worry, here we have provided the step-by-step guidance to improve your speed and accuracy in DILR.

What Makes the CAT DILR Section Special?

The DILR section usually contains 20-22 questions divided into 4-5 sets, each with 4-6 questions. These sets combine two skill areas:

Data Interpretation (DI): Analyse numerical data through tables, graphs, charts, and statistics.
Logical Reasoning (LR): Solve puzzles based on seating arrangements, syllogisms, blood relations, orders, groupings, and games.

It’s important to understand that DILR is not about solving every question. Instead, your goal is to identify and solve the sets you are most comfortable with and do so accurately within the time limit of 40 minutes.

Understanding the CAT 2026 DILR Pattern

Before understanding “ How to improve your accuracy in DILR for CAT 2026” it is important to know the CAT DILR Pattern. Although the official CAT 2026 notification will clarify specifics, the DILR section in recent years has maintained this pattern:

Parameter	Details
Number of Questions	20 to 22
Number of Sets	4 to 5
Question Types	MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA)
Time Limit	40 minutes
Marking Scheme	+3 for correct MCQs, -1 for wrong MCQs, no negative for TITA

You can expect around 45-50% of the questions to be non-MCQs (Type In The Answer), which don’t penalise for wrong answers, so don’t shy away from taking educated guesses here.

For more clarification about the CAT exam, do check the CAT Exam Eligibility and CAT Exam Fees.

How to Improve Accuracy in CAT DILR Section?

To ace CAT DILR section with accuracy, you need to have a good and right set of planning. Here are the ways that you can follow to boost your DILR score in the CAT exam:

Step 1: Analyse Your Strengths and Weaknesses

To find out the answer for “How to improve speed and accuracy for DILR section”, it is very important that aspirants should be aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

They should know which DILR topics you find easy and which ones feel like hurdles. The first step is self-analysis.

Review the past 5 years' CAT papers focusing on DI and LR.
Note your accuracy and speed in solving different question types or sets.
Draw up a list of your strong topics (bar graphs, linear arrangements, tables) and weak areas (complex puzzles, Venn diagrams).
This will guide how you allocate your practice time in the coming weeks.

Given the limited time available (around 40 minutes for the section), students often struggle to strike the right balance between speed and accuracy. Therefore, it is vital to develop a strategic approach to improve your accuracy in DILR for CAT.

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Step 2: Follow a Weekly Study Plan

How to improve accuracy in DILR for CAT 2026 exam? To improve this, you need to follow consistency, as it is the key to improvement. Here is an effective 4-week weekly plan you can follow in your final month of CAT 2026 preparation:

Week	Focus Areas	Practice Goals
Week 1	Analyse the last 5 years of CAT DILR papers. Solve easier sets (tables, bar graphs). Start sectional mocks.	2 full mocks, 3 sets/day, accuracy above 85%
Week 2	Practice moderate-level LR puzzles like arrangements and syllogisms. Focus on time management per set.	3 mocks, 3-4 sets daily, reduce set time to 10 mins
Week 3	Attempt tough DI/LR sets, simulate exam conditions. Start full-length CAT mocks every 5 days.	4 mocks, focus on accuracy + speed, practice TITA questions
Week 4	Revise tricky topics, shortcuts, and formulas. Take 2 mocks and relax before the exam.	Focus on smart revision and rest

Also, attempt daily 2-3 DI or LR sets ranging from easy to moderate difficulty.

Step 3: Master Smart Set Selection

Set selection is the most crucial strategy during the exam:

In the first 2-3 minutes, skim through all the 4-5 sets.
Quickly identify 2-3 sets you find the easiest or that you have practised extensively.
Go for sets with more tables, bar graphs, and linear arrangements, because these are generally faster.
Avoid time-consuming, complex puzzles like networks or multi-layered logic unless you are very confident.
Allocate 8-10 minutes per set. Remember, solving 2-3 sets with 90% accuracy will fetch you a high score.

Step 4: Develop Calculation and Reasoning Shortcuts

Efficiency comes from smart shortcuts:

Practice approximation and quick calculations for DI, like estimating percentages or sums.
Train yourself in process-of-elimination for LR puzzles.
For seating or arrangement puzzles, start by fixing positions with the clearest clues.
Convert textual information into tables or diagrams to better visualise.
Learn to quickly recognise puzzle types and patterns from past mocks.

Step 5: Practice with Timed Sectional and Full-Length Mocks

Mock tests simulate exam pressure and build your stamina:

Take at least 2-3 sectional mocks a week during the final month.
Take full CAT mock tests every 7-10 days to build endurance and strategy.
After each test, spend quality time analysing every mistake:
- Did you read the question carefully?
- Was the error in calculation or logic?
- Did you waste time on any set?
Maintain a log tracking your errors and time spent on each set.

Mimicking exam conditions will help your brain adapt and improve over time.

Step 6: Exam Day Tips for Speed and Accuracy

Stay calm; anxiety kills speed and clarity.
When the DILR section starts, use your first 2-3 minutes for set selection only.
Confidently start with your easiest set. If stuck beyond 2 min on any question, move on.
Focus more on accuracy than attempting more questions.
Use the remaining 5 minutes for reviewing answers, especially TITA questions.

Topic-wise Weightage and Focus Areas

Here’s a quick summary based on past trends, providing you with what to prioritise:

DI Topics	LR Topics
Bar Graphs, Line Graphs	Linear and Circular Arrangements
Tables and Data Comparisons	Blood Relations, Syllogisms
Pie Charts	Puzzles (Games, Tournaments)
Venn Diagrams	Network and Scheduling Puzzles

Spend more time on high-frequency topics like bar graphs and seating arrangements that appear frequently on CAT 2025 Topic-wise Weightage.

Conclusion

Speed and accuracy in CAT 2026 DILR can transform your overall percentile. While the section is challenging, a structured approach focusing on smart practice, set selection, and time management will take you a long way.

Remember, it’s not about solving every question but solving the right questions with consistency. So, invest your time in practising past papers, timed mocks, and regularly analysing your strengths and weaknesses.

If you want to plan your whole CAT prep journey, explore the detailed CAT Exam resource page, and understand eligibility details at CAT Exam Eligibility.

Lastly, don't overlook the VARC section—improve your verbal skills too by checking out How to Improve Vocabulary for CAT.

All the best with your CAT 2026 preparation! Stay focused, practice smart, and success will follow.

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