How to Maintain Accuracy While Increasing Speed

Smart Prep Strategies for CLAT, CAT, CUET Aspirants
Presented by Career Launcher South Ex, Delhi

Introduction

In every competitive exam — whether CLAT, CAT, or CUET — aspirants face a core dilemma:
“How do I increase my speed without sacrificing accuracy?”

Speed helps you attempt more questions. Accuracy helps you score better. But often, when one rises, the other drops. Students rush to finish papers only to lose marks to avoidable mistakes.

At Career Launcher South Ex, Delhi, we’ve guided thousands of students to success by helping them strike that critical balance. This guide shares tested strategies, practice techniques, and mental models that will help you boost speed without compromising accuracy.

Why Accuracy + Speed Matters

Key Insight:
If you're fast but inaccurate, your score drops. If you're accurate but too slow, you won’t attempt enough questions. You need a smart balance of both.

For context:

• CAT has 66 questions to be done in 120 minutes (avg ~1.8 mins/question).

• CLAT has 120 questions in 120 minutes (avg ~1 min/question).

• CUET varies by section but can demand speeds of less than 1 minute/question.
  All have negative marking, which punishes poor accuracy.

Phase 1: Laying the Groundwork — Know What to Improve

1. Benchmark Yourself

Take a timed mock test and record:

• Total questions attempted

• Number correct and incorrect

• Time spent per section

• Average time per question

Now compare with top-performer metrics:

• CLAT: 105+ attempts with 85–90% accuracy

• CAT: 45–55 attempts with 85–95% accuracy

• Time per question should be ~60 sec (CLAT) or ~100 sec (CAT)

This tells you whether speed or accuracy is your main bottleneck.

2. Identify Your Error Types

Analyze your mistakes:

• Conceptual Errors: Caused by weak fundamentals. Revisit theory.

• Calculation Mistakes: Often due to rushing. Slow down and write steps.

• Reading Errors: From skipping keywords. Highlight or underline key parts of questions.

• Option Errors: Misjudging similar options. Use elimination methodically.

• Time Mismanagement: Caused by poor pacing. Practice with sectional time drills.

Phase 2: Building Speed Without Losing Accuracy

Let’s break it down by exam:

For CAT Aspirants:

1. Time Boxing + Tiered Questions
During mocks, sort questions into three levels:

• L1 (easy): Solve in under 90 seconds

• L2 (medium): Takes 90–150 seconds

• L3 (hard): Over 150 seconds

Attempt L1s and selected L2s first. Leave L3s for the final round. This saves time, avoids traps, and builds early momentum.

2. Quant Shortcut Audit
Track standard vs shortcut solving time and accuracy. Prioritize learning shortcuts for topics that recur and still maintain high accuracy.

3. RC & DILR Skimming
For RC:

• Read the questions before the passage

• Highlight names, dates, extremes
  For DILR:

• Scan the data set

• Identify variables and structure before solving

This saves time and ensures you don’t start solving before understanding.

For CLAT Aspirants:

1. Active Reading
CLAT rewards smart reading, not fast reading.

• Underline key terms: “most likely,” “except,” “inference,” etc.

• Mark line numbers where answers are located

• Predict answer types while reading to reduce re-reading

2. Legal Reasoning Without Prior Knowledge
Apply principles methodically:

• Paraphrase principles

• Separate facts from rules

• Eliminate extreme options

3. GK Speed Booster
Use daily 1-line fact revision and MCQ drills:

• Classify answers as Confident, Doubtful, or Guess

• Review Doubtfuls weekly
  If you can’t eliminate two options, skip — avoid guesswork here.

For CUET Aspirants:

1. Domain Subject Practice Grid
Use timed 10-question practice sets. For each question, track:

• Time taken

• Whether you were confident

• Whether you were correct

This shows where you overthink or need more revision.

2. General Test Strategy
Use quick drills:

• 20 questions in 15 minutes

• Target 85%+ accuracy
  Apply this to Reasoning, Maths, and GK.

Universal Techniques to Increase Speed Without Errors

A. 3-Round Attempt Strategy

Round 1: First 30–40% of time — Attempt only easy (L1) questions
Round 2: Next 40–50% — Try medium (L2) questions, skip if unsure
Round 3: Last 10–15% — Return to skipped questions or review guesses

This prevents you from getting stuck early or wasting time.

B. Use a “Panic Pause” Rule

If stuck for more than 45 seconds:

• Pause

• Re-read the question

• Decide: Solve or skip

This helps you avoid solving emotionally just because of sunk time.

C. Maintain an Error Log Book

Track after every mock:

• Question number

• Type of error

• Topic

• Cause

• Fix or takeaway

Helps spot recurring mistakes and build awareness.

D. Use Sectional Timers During Practice

Train with strict sectional time limits:

• CAT Quant: 20 questions in 35 minutes

• CLAT Reading: 5 passages in 30 minutes

• CUET Maths: 25 questions in 25 minutes
  Always leave a 2-minute review window.

How We Train at Career Launcher South Ex

Our methods include:

• Timer-based topic drills

• Workshops on solving logic, not just shortcuts

• Post-mock accuracy analysis

• One-on-one mentor feedback

• Customized time management plans

We don’t just teach “how to solve.” We train you to solve smartly, under pressure, with precision.

Sample Drills for Daily Practice

CAT Quant Drill (15 mins):

• Percentages – 2 min

• Time-Speed-Distance – 3 min

• Geometry – 4 min

• Averages – 2 min

• Ratio-Mixture – 4 min

CLAT RC Drill (12 mins):

• Passage 1: 6 questions in 4 minutes

• Passage 2: 5 questions in 4 minutes

• Passage 3: 4 questions in 4 minutes

CUET General Test Drill (10 mins):

• Reasoning: 10 questions in 5 minutes

• Arithmetic: 5 questions in 3 minutes

• GK: 5 questions in 2 minutes

Final Tips

• Accuracy comes from confidence, and confidence comes from repetition

• Speed comes from pattern recognition, which grows with practice

• Always take mocks in exam-like conditions

• Slow is smooth, and smooth becomes fast

Conclusion

You don’t need to choose between being fast or accurate — you need to become both, systematically.
That starts with:

• Knowing your current metrics

• Training like an athlete: with drills, logs, and expert feedback

• Building smart habits — not just more speed, but better judgment

At Career Launcher South Ex, Delhi, our training combines all three for CAT, CLAT, CUET, and IPM aspirants.

Ready to take a 7-day Speed + Accuracy Challenge with mock drills and expert review?
Tell us your exam, and we’ll build a personalized plan for you.