1. More Attempts Do Not Always Mean More Marks

Many students assume:

More attempts = Higher score.

But CAT scoring doesn't work that way. Every incorrect answer carries a penalty, and every extra minute spent forcing an attempt comes at the cost of another opportunity.

Consider two students:

• Student A attempts 48 questions with several incorrect answers.
• Student B attempts 38 carefully selected questions with excellent accuracy.

In many cases, Student B ends up with the better score. Quality often beats quantity.

2. Chasing Attempts Leads to Poor Question Selection

When you become obsessed with hitting a target number of attempts, your focus shifts from solving the right questions to solving more questions.

This often results in:

• Attempting borderline questions
• Ignoring warning signs
• Spending time on low-probability problems
• Guessing under pressure

Good CAT performance starts with choosing the right battles. Not every question deserves your time

3. Every Extra Attempt Has an Opportunity Cost

Time is your most valuable resource during CAT. If you spend five additional minutes trying to solve one difficult Quant question, you

may lose the chance to solve:

• Two easier Quant questions
• An additional RC question
• A manageable DILR set

Many students don't lose marks because they couldn't solve difficult questions. They lose marks because they didn't leave them in time.

Knowing when to move on is just as important as knowing how to solve.

4. Accuracy Creates Bigger Percentile Gains

Imagine improving your accuracy from 70% to 90%. Without increasing your attempts, your score can improve significantly. Now compare that with increasing attempts while accuracy drops. Often, the second approach leads to disappointing results.

This is why many high-percentile scorers focus first on:

• Reducing silly mistakes
• Improving decision-making
• Choosing questions wisely

Only then do they think about increasing attempts. Accuracy builds confidence. Confidence eventually increases attempts naturally.

5. Every Section Demands a Different Approach

Some students carry the same mindset into every section. They believe every minute should be spent attempting more questions. But each section rewards a different strategy.

For example:

• In VARC, careful reading often improves accuracy.
• In DILR, selecting the right set is more important than attempting multiple difficult ones.
• In Quant, skipping one lengthy question may create time for two easier ones.

A fixed attempt target ignores the reality of the paper. Your strategy should adapt to the exam—not the other way around.

6. Mock Analysis Should Focus on Missed Decisions

After a mock, students usually ask:

"How many attempts did I make?"

Instead, ask:

• Which questions should I have skipped?
• Which questions should I have attempted earlier?
• Where did I waste time?
• Which incorrect attempts were avoidable?

These questions lead to improvement. Simply counting attempts does not. Mock analysis is about understanding your decisions, not just measuring your activity.

7. Confidence Should Come From Judgment, Not Numbers

Many students leave the exam feeling anxious because they attempted fewer questions than planned. But if those attempts were:

• Well-selected
• Accurate
• Completed efficiently

They may still have performed exceptionally well. Your confidence should come from knowing you made smart decisions throughout the

paper. Not from crossing an arbitrary attempt target. Remember, CAT does not display your number of attempts on the final scorecard.

It only reflects your score.

8. Smart Attempts Increase Naturally With Better Preparation

Ironically, the students who score the highest often do not force more attempts. They simply become better at:

• Recognizing solvable questions quickly
• Eliminating time traps
• Solving familiar concepts efficiently
• Staying calm under pressure

As these skills improve, attempts increase naturally. They are a result of better preparation—not the goal itself. Trying to increase attempts before improving these skills often has the opposite effect.

Final Takeaway

Chasing attempts is one of the most dangerous habits in CAT preparation because it shifts your focus away from what truly matters.

Instead of asking:

"How many questions should I attempt?"

Start asking:

"Which questions deserve my time?"

Remember, CAT rewards:

• Smart question selection
• High accuracy
• Efficient time management
• Good decision-making
• Consistent execution

Not simply the highest number of attempts. The next time you take a mock, resist the temptation to chase numbers. Focus on making better decisions. Because in CAT, it is not the student who attempts the most questions who succeeds. It is the student who attempts the right questions.