How to Improve VARC for CAT Exam 2024: Check Complete Guide

Overview: Preparing for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) for CAT becomes a little challenging looking at the level of questions asked in the exam. You can significantly ace the VARC section given the right strategy. In this blog we will see how to improve reading comprehension for CAT. Stay right here with us!

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• As you begin your CAT exam preparation, you may be wondering, "How to improve VARC for CAT Exam?"
• This typical question marks the beginning of a significant journey, and you've arrived at the appropriate destination.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your skills, these tips will help you have a confident and effective CAT reading comprehension experience. 

Also Read | CAT 2024 Registration Begins: Apply Before 13 September 2024

How to Improve VARC for CAT exam 2024?

This section has questions based on Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Jumbled Paragraphs, Verbal Reasoning, etc. You must go through the CAT VARC syllabus based on the questions asked in the previous year.

Unlike the other two sections in the CAT exam, Quantitative Ability (QA) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), the questions asked in VARC do not involve logic or calculation. This makes VARC a little challenging, as the answers are totally based on language.

The rules of the language section are the rules without a logical or mathematical explanation. The learnings in this section are a never-ending process. The more you read English, the better you get in this section.

Read More | How to begin CAT exam preparation?

How to Improve VARC for CAT exam 2024? Personalized approach

Ambitious management professionals must pass the Common Admission Test (CAT) to gain admission to prominent business schools. To ace the CAT exam, you must help yourself in this non-logic section, VARC.

You can see from prior that in CAT exam question paper, RC has often made up between 65 to 70 percent of all VARC questions. 

Year	RC Questions	RC Question in %	Total Questions in VARC
2023	16	67	24
2022	16	67	24
2021	16	67	24
2020	18	69	26
2019	24	71	34

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT examination is extremely important, requiring a thorough understanding of reading comprehension skills.

Refer | CAT Exam Verbal Ability Questions with Solutions

How to Improve VARC for CAT?

How Long Should It Take to Improve VARC? If you are consistent and dedicated to your practice and revision, improving VARC for CAT should ideally take 2-3 months. Let us understand the bifurcation of how you should structure and categorize your practice and reading for VARC.

#1 Practice Online

As the CAT exam is conducted online, you must familiarize yourself with the online test format well in advance. This will help you get acquainted with the digital interface that you will face in the actual exam.
Supergrads CAT test series offers practice passages, mock tests, and reading comprehension exercises designed for CAT aspirants.

#2. Read 1 Hour Daily

Daily reading is a cornerstone of resolving the challenge of improving VARC for CAT. Dedicate at least 1 hour daily to read the variety of resources for English reading. This is going to enhance your comprehension speed of any passage.

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#3. Prepare With the Best Material

The Hindu, Indian Express, Economist, and AEON Essays are the best resources for reading English daily. You must know that editorials are the goldmine for a perfect grasp of reading comprehension.

#4. Novels – Only If You Like Reading Books

If you like reading books or novels, start incorporating them into your daily study routine. While it is not at all mandatory for you to read novels, it can be a good source for adding value in improving comprehension.

#5. Vocab-Book <> Revision

To improve the VARC section, you must improve your vocabulary. You must create a dedicated notebook to feed all the important vocabulary words you encounter while reading. Revise those words at least once a week.

Know More | CAT Exam Study Plan 2024

5 Tips on How to Improve VARC for CAT 

Here are the important tips you can follow to improve VARC for CAT exam:

1. Read Passage by Point

• Break the passage into multiple paragraphs.
• Each paragraph should convey a different point.
• Summarize each paragraph into one-liners.
• Until June, write these one-liners down, then start doing it mentally.

2. Skimming the Text

• Convey the same meaning with fewer words.
• Focus on reading accurately, not quickly!

Download Free VARC Preparation Tips by Supergrads

For Example, Nirmala Sitharaman’s fourth Budget is not a spend-and-stimulate exercise despite the fact that it has overrun the 3.3% target on fiscal deficit by as much as 0.5 percent. Nor is it a feel-good budget, even accounting for the next tax regime for personal income tax with lower rates.

Nirmala Sitharaman’s fourth Budget is not a spend-and-stimulate exercise despite the fact that it has overrun the 3.3% target on fiscal deficit by as much as 0.5 percent. Nor is it a feel-good budget, even accounting for the new tax regime for personal income tax with lower rates.

Practice Through | CAT Exam VARC Questions

3. Do Not Memorize!

• Don't memorize facts and figures.
• Simply know where to find them.
• You can always refer back to them when needed.

4. Transition Words

• Use transition words to connect two ideas.
• They prepare the reader for what's coming next.

Example: Nirmala Sitharaman’s fourth Budget is not a spend-and-stimulate exercise despite exceeding the 3.3% fiscal deficit target by 0.5 percentage points. Moreover, it doesn’t create a feel-good effect, even with the new tax regime for personal income tax with lower rates.

Download Free VARC Sample Questions for CAT Exam

5. Comma Effect

• Ignore unnecessary words that occur between commas, known as parenthetical expressions.

Example: "My grandmother, who was born in a small town, cannot go out of the house."

Read More |  Tricks to solve reading comprehension questions. 

Best RC Resources: How to Improve VARC for CAT

Leverage the strength of CAT RC preparation resources written by renowned professionals. There are various books for CAT preparation which provide vital insights, complete with carefully prepared activities to hone your RC skills. 

Title	Author
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT	Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT	Nishit K Sinha

Read More | Best Books for CAT Preparation

Conclusion 

Beginning the journey on how to improve VARC for CAT exam requires commitment, constant practice, and strategic expertise. You will achieve mastery by systematically incorporating reading habits, keyword identification, time management, personalized strategies, and vocabulary development.

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