Choosing the right option is the most crucial factor in scoring well in competitive exams. Often, aspirants overlook this and make blind guesses, selecting answers that aren’t even close to the correct one. However, exams like CAT penalize such mistakes by deducting marks for wrong answers, ensuring accuracy matters. After all, if you can’t logically eliminate incorrect options, how can you find the right one?
This skill is essential not just for the VARC section, where answers can be subjective and require careful elimination, but also for DILR and Quant. Mastering this approach will significantly boost your overall score.
Eliminating Options–VARC section
The VARC section is where eliminating options can significantly boost your score. Let’s begin with a key insight: most answers in VARC are subjective, based on inferences, premises, arguments, conclusions, and tone. While some fact-based questions exist, most require careful reasoning.
Passages provide hints and premises that help eliminate wrong answers, yet many students either don’t practice this method or lack a critical reasoning approach. The key to VARC is understanding that there may not be a single “right” answer, but there is always the best answer among the four options. Your goal is to find that best option.
Here are a few elimination techniques to help you:
1. Options That Are Too Broad
These options cover the correct premise but also add unnecessary details. For example, if the correct answer is “Only a few members of X group do this,” a broad option might state “All members of X group do this.”
2. Options That Are Too Extreme
These answers suggest radical conclusions or actions. They are tricky because RCs often evoke strong emotions, making extreme options tempting. However, if an option sounds overly absolute or exaggerated, it’s likely incorrect.
3. Options That Are Outside the Passage’s Scope
These are the easiest to eliminate. They introduce information not discussed in the passage. For example, if the passage asks, “Why did the apple fall?” and an option states, “Where did the apple fall?” it is irrelevant.
4. Options That Sidetrack in the Second Half
Sometimes, options start correctly but introduce unrelated details in the second half, leading students to fall into a trap. Always read the entire option carefully.
5. Options That Are Too Narrow
While the correct answer should not be overly broad, it shouldn’t be too restrictive either. For example, if “Only a few of X group do this” is the best answer, a narrow option might say, “None of X group do this,” which would be incorrect.
Eliminating Options–LRDI
In the LRDI section of the CAT exam, option elimination works differently than in VARC since answers are definite and based on fixed numbers, leaving no room for guessing. However, smart elimination is possible during the solving process. Instead of fully calculating every detail, you can identify patterns or approximate values to eliminate unlikely options quickly. For example, in a data interpretation set, you can estimate percentages or relative values instead of solving exact figures. By comprehending the set logically, you can narrow down answer choices without unnecessary calculations, saving valuable time.
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Eliminating Options–Quants
In the Quant section of CAT, option elimination is useful but works selectively. Unlike VARC, where elimination is based on reasoning, and LRDI, where relative approximations help, Quants require precise calculations. The art of elimination is most effective in Arithmetic and Algebra, where you can use approximation, unit digit checks, or plug-in values to rule out incorrect options. However, in topics like Number System, Modern Maths, and Geometry, elimination is rarely useful, as these questions demand full solutions with exact calculations. Understanding when to apply smart elimination versus when to fully solve a question is key to maximizing efficiency in Quants.
How Can iQuanta Help You?
iQuanta trains aspirants in the art of elimination, ensuring smart, logical decision-making without trial and error. In VARC, we teach how to spot extreme, broad, or irrelevant options. For LRDI, we focus on approximation techniques and range-based deductions. In Quants, we help apply elimination in Arithmetic and Algebra while ensuring precision in other topics. With iQuanta’s guidance, you develop a sharp, logical mindset to eliminate options efficiently and boost accuracy in CAT.
