Guide For Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) to get 99 Percentile!

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension seems to be the easiest but the most toughest section of the CAT 2024 exam. It is divided into two subparts: VA and RC. It tests how well you understand the language skills, written passage and what logic you are applying to solve it.

In this article, we’ll discuss the complete syllabus, exam pattern, books and preparation strategy of the VARC section of CAT 2024.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension syllabus:

Fill in the blanks	Para completion and inference	Verbal logic	Phrases modifiers
Verbal reasoning	Subject-verb agreement	Different usage of same word	Preposition
Sentence completion	Reading comprehension	Idioms	Errors in tenses
Grammar	Sentence correction	Antonyms	para jumbles
Syllogisms	Analogies	One word substitution	Types of clauses
Jumbled paragraphs	Foreign language words used in English	Parts of speech	Articles usage

Exam pattern and Important points:

• The exam will be computer based
• Digital clock will be displayed on the window,
• Candidates will be provided with sheets for rough work and they need to submit it in the center itself.
• It is sequential, you cannot go back to the previous question once you moved on
• There will be negative marking for every wrong answer and there is no negative marking for TITA questions.
• If your answer is right you will be awarded with +3 points.
• VARC section has 24 total number of questions in which 19 were MCQs and 5 were TITA questions. The allotted time will be only 40 minutes for this section.
• Reading comprehension has 4 RCs with 4 questions in each RC.
• Verbal ability has- language ability question, para jumbles, odd sentence, para summary, para completions questions.
• Total weightage is 72 marks.

Types of questions asked in VARC:

In RC: different types of questions can be asked in RCs most common are:

1. Main idea question: This type of question asked you about the central theme of the passage.
2. Inference based question: In this type of questions candidates need to make a logical hidden conclusion of the passage  and choose the option which they think the author is inferring.
3. Title based question: Here you will be asked to give appropriate title for the passage in relation to the central idea.
4. Fact based question: It’s about a true or false type question here you need to identify the fact given in the passage and mark the options.
5. Tone based question: Here you will ask the tone of the author used in the particular passage, to know how much you get what the author is trying to convey.
6. Vocabulary based question: this question is framed to test your vocab.

 

In VA: below is some type of question that mostly come in the CAT exam:

 

1. Sentence completion: in this type of question you need to choose the correct word or phrase that completes the given sentence.
2. Synonyms and antonyms: here it will test your vocab and how well you understand the given word meaning in the question.
3. Sentence correction and error identification: in this type of question you need to identify the errors and improve the structure of the sentence given.
4. Para jumbles: Here you need to frame the logical sentence by arranging the jumbled words.
5. Analogies: Questions will be framed to test the relationship between given words.
6. Critical reasoning: In this type of question you need to ask the inference or assumptions or resolve the paradox.

 

Problem faced by the Candidates in this section:

 

1. Difficulty in reading: Most of the candidates struggle in reading the long passages, if they read also they aren’t able to focus on the passage, because of not having a habit of reading on a daily basis. The only solution to face this problem is “Read”. Make a habit of reading on a regular basis, starting with reading the newspaper or whatever interests you.
2. Time management: Candidates waste so much time in reading and solving the long passage, due to lack of proper strategy .They dont able to allot proper time for the long RCs and end up missing VA questions. For managing time perfectly they need to plan the proper strategy, know the skimming method and practice regular mock within time constraint.
3. Unfamiliar vocab: CAT exam also asked some advanced vocab which may provide difficulty in the mind of the candidates. It is recommended to expand your vocabulary  by reading and marking complex words in your notes and making sentences with that word can also help you remember better.
4. Eliminating the options: VARC is most confusing when identifying the option, all options seem to be correct so it’s better not to choose the correct answer ,instead try to eliminate the option which you think can not be an option , give a reason why it won’t be an option.
5. Critical reasoning: candidates face problems in understanding the tone, central idea and find difficulty in drawing inferences. Practicing a number of RCs and learning the types of tone and inferences will help candidates to find the correct option.

 

Preparation Strategy and Tips for VARC:

Reading comprehension:here are some key strategies and tricks to prepare and solve the RCs for CAT 2024.

1. Know the exam pattern: to start with the preparation candidates first should know how this section comes, what type of question comes under this section, how much is the weightage of this section. RC has different kinds of questions, VA consists of different types of question banks of different topics such as para jumbles, odd one out, para summary etc.
2. Prepare differently for RCs: In Reading Comprehension different topics like Philosophy, Sociology, Environment, Technology, AI etc. Try to learn every topic to get familiar with the topic itself , try to practice long RCs. Reading is the key to crack the VARC section, read regularly, practice previous year RCs, give mocks and analyze it after the test where you went wrong. After practicing more and more RCs you will automatically generate your own tricks to solve the questions.
3. Score your verbal: first build your vocab, learn new words from newspaper, editorials, and write it in your notes, use flashcards, play vocab builder games.
4. Mug up the grammar: learn basic to advanced level grammar, it is the most important to solve any Verbal Ability questions such as para jumbles, para completion.
5. Make a habit of mocks: regular give mocks don’t try to leave mocks for the end, give sectional mocks regularly up to 2 – 3 mocks in a week. And mark where you went wrong and for the correct answer try to write how you answered it and how it is actually solved in the mock sample answer.
6. Be consistent: be consistent with your preparation, don’t skip your timetable, your reading your mocks.
7. Time management: unlike you learn everything in VARC, the real game is how you manage your time and how accurate your answer is. Skimming and Elimination methods will definitely help you in managing your time.

Resources:

• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT- Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
• Word Power Made Easy- Norman Lewis
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT- Nishit K. Sinha
• English newspapers – The Hindu or Mint
• Aeon essays- a world of ideas.