The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam preparation often proves challenging for many aspirants. With a mix of reading comprehension passages, para-jumbles, sentence completions, and critical reasoning questions, this section tests your command over the English language and your ability to comprehend and analyze complex texts. Enhancing your accuracy in this section can significantly boost your overall percentile. This guide provides actionable strategies to improve accuracy during your CAT preparation for the VARC section.
Understanding the Importance of Verbal Ability in CAT Exam Preparation
The VARC section contributes substantially to your overall CAT score. A high score here can compensate for average performance in other sections, especially for students with a background in humanities or non-technical fields. However, mastering this section requires consistent effort, a clear understanding of concepts, and smart strategies.
Here are some essential tips to help you ace the VARC section and enhance your accuracy during your CAT exam preparation:
1. Build a Strong Reading Habit
Reading regularly is one of the most effective ways to prepare for the VARC section.
- Read Diverse Content: Include newspapers, novels, journals, and online blogs in your reading list. Focus on editorials and opinion pieces from reputed publications like The Hindu, The Economist, or The Guardian. This helps you get comfortable with different writing styles and tones.
- Expand Your Vocabulary: Make note of unfamiliar words you encounter while reading. Use tools like flashcards or apps such as Anki to revise them regularly.
- Focus on Speed and Comprehension: Time yourself while reading articles to improve both speed and understanding. This is a crucial skill for handling lengthy reading comprehension passages.
2. Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
A key component of effective CAT preparation is understanding what to expect. For the VARC section, the questions can broadly be categorized into:
- Reading Comprehension (RC): Accounts for about 70% of the VARC section.
- Verbal Ability (VA): Includes para-jumbles, odd-one-out, and summary-based questions.
Knowing this breakdown helps you prioritize your focus areas during preparation.
3. Master Reading Comprehension (RC)
RC passages dominate the VARC section, making accuracy here critical. Here’s how you can improve:
- Active Reading: While reading the passage, actively underline or mentally note the main points, arguments, and tone of the author.
- Skim and Scan: Learn to identify key points quickly without reading every word in detail. Practice identifying the main idea, supporting arguments, and conclusion.
- Practice Inference Questions: CAT often tests your ability to infer information that is not explicitly stated. Solve inference-based RC questions regularly to build this skill.
- Eliminate Options: For multiple-choice questions, use the elimination method to narrow down to the most accurate answer.
4. Ace Verbal Ability (VA)
Verbal Ability questions in CAT require precision and practice. Focus on these key areas:
- Para-Jumbles: These questions involve rearranging sentences to form a coherent paragraph. To improve accuracy:
- Look for sentence pairs that are logically connected.
- Identify the opening and closing sentences.
- Practice regularly with online tools or books like Arun Sharma’s Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT.
- Odd-One-Out: Similar to para-jumbles, but you need to identify the sentence that doesn’t fit. Pay attention to the central theme of the paragraph.
- Summaries: Practice writing concise summaries of passages to improve your ability to identify the crux of a paragraph. Use practice questions from previous year CAT papers or mock tests.
5. Solve Mock Tests and Analyze Performance
Mock tests are indispensable in how to prepare for CAT exam effectively:
- Take Sectional Tests: Focus on VARC-specific mock tests to identify weak areas within this section.
- Review Mistakes: After every mock test, analyze your mistakes to understand where you went wrong.
- Track Your Progress: Maintain a log of your scores to monitor improvement and identify patterns in errors.
6. Focus on Time Management
Time management is key to improving accuracy and completing the section within the stipulated time.
- Set Time Limits: Allocate specific time for each RC passage or question type during practice.
- Skip Difficult Questions: If a question takes too long, move on to the next one and return to it later if time permits.
7. Develop Critical Thinking Skills
Critical reasoning is a crucial aspect of the VARC section. To enhance this:
- Understand Logical Flow: Practice identifying the flow of arguments in passages and para-jumbles.
- Practice Assumption-Based Questions: These questions often appear in RC passages and test your reasoning skills.
8. Use Reliable Study Materials
Invest in high-quality resources tailored to CAT exam preparation:
- Books: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma, Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis.
- Online Resources: Enroll in courses from platforms like Unacademy, TIME, or IMS for structured guidance.
- Apps: Use apps like Byju’s or Cracku for daily practice questions.
9. Join Study Groups and Discussions
Participating in group studies can expose you to new perspectives and problem-solving approaches.
- Peer Learning: Discuss difficult RC passages or VA questions with peers to gain insights into different solving techniques.
- Online Forums: Join CAT preparation forums on platforms like Pagalguy or Quora for additional tips and resources.
10. Stay Consistent and Positive
Consistency is key to mastering the VARC section:
- Daily Practice: Dedicate at least an hour daily to VARC preparation.
- Stay Positive: Don’t get discouraged by initial low scores. Treat every mistake as a learning opportunity.
- Set Achievable Goals: Focus on incremental improvements to build confidence over time.
Conclusion
Improving your accuracy in Verbal Ability during CAT exam preparation is a gradual process that demands consistent effort, strategic planning, and regular practice. By focusing on reading comprehension, mastering para-jumbles, and leveraging high-quality resources, you can enhance your performance in this crucial section. Remember, the VARC section not only tests your knowledge but also your ability to think critically and manage time effectively. Stay disciplined, stay motivated, and you’ll be well on your way to excelling in the VARC section of the CAT exam.
