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CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension 2022: Preparation Tips, Best Books, and Important Topics
CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Preparation is time-consuming. The test takers find this section to be scoring and hence it should be prepared well. The questions in VARC are asked from RC, Para Completion, ParaJumbles, Fill in the blanks, etc. Reading Comprehension holds 3/4th of the sectional weightage in CAT i.e. around 16 out of 24 questions are from 4 reading comprehension passages. Check CAT VARC Syllabus
- CAT VARC section focuses on evaluating the candidates' Aptitude in English Language, vocabulary, and grammar.
- To score high in this section aspirants need to develop reading habits that will help them in the exam.
- With good practice and dedication, you can score 95+ percentile in the CAT VARC Section. Check CAT Exam Pattern.
Read the article to know more about how to prepare for CAT VRAC and what are the important topics in this section.
Quick Links of CAT Practice Paper:
| CAT Previous Year Question Papers of Quant | CAT Previous Year Question Papers of DILR | CAT Previous Year Question Papers of VARC |
CAT VARC Section Highlights
| Section Name | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
|---|---|
| Allotted Time | 40 minutes |
| Total Number of Questions | 24 |
| Number of Reading Comprehension Questions | 16 |
| Number of Verbal Ability Questions | 8 |
| Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer | + 3 |
| Negative Marks for Each Wrong Answer | -1 |
| Difficulty Level of Questions | Moderate to Difficult |
Hourly Time Table for CAT VARC Preparation
Time table for Reading Comprehension:
| CAT Reading Comprehension | Type of RC | Time Required in Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RC-1 | Basic | 1-2 |
| RC-2 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| RC-3 | Difficult | 3-4 |
| RC-4 | Advance | 3-4 |
| RC on Daily Basis | Alternate types | ~ |
Time table for other topics:
| Topic | Time Required in Hours |
|---|---|
| Sentence Correction | 3 |
| Sentence Rearragnement | 3 |
| Paragraph Completion | 3 |
| Sentence Elimination | 3 |
| Word Usage | 3 |
| Fact Inference Judgement | 3 |
| Critical Reasoning | 3 |
Weightage of CAT VARC Topics
CAT VARC Syllabus consists of various types of questions. Primarily, this section focuses on evaluating the candidate's Aptitude in English Language, vocabulary, and grammar. However, before moving onto the CAT VARC Preparation Tips and Important Topics, it is important to be thorough with the CAT Exam Pattern.
| Topic Name | Key Features | Expected Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Jumbled Paragraphs | 5 jumbled sentences are to be arranged in the right order | 3 - 4 |
| Summary/Inference of Short Paragraphs | Small paragraphs of 4-5 sentences are followed by 4 answer options | 2-3 |
| Picking the Odd Sentence in a Jumbled Paragraph | 5 jumbled sentences from which one odd sentence is to be picked out | 2-3 |
Type of RCs & Weightage of Questions
| Passage Type | Key Features | Expected Number of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Long Passage 1 | Moderate level Based on facts | 4 |
| Long passage 2 | Moderate to difficult level Rich in vocabulary and based on literary terms and opinions | 4 |
| Long passage 3 | Difficult level Based on abstract topics and literature and can contain a tough vocabulary | 4 |
| Short passage 4 | Moderate to difficult level Based on business, economy or geography, historical facts, opinions, future plans | 4 |
CAT VARC weightage of Other Topics
| Expected Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Para-Jumbles | 3-4 |
| Para-Summary | 2-3 |
| Sentence Completion and Correction | 1-2 |
| Odd Sentences | 1-2 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 1-2 |
| Word Usage (Vocabulary) | 1-2 |
Must Read:
- CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics and Syllabus
- CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Important Topics and Syllabus
How to Prepare for CAT RC?
CAT Reading Comprehension section is to test whether the student has a reading habit or not and do they have the analyzing capability. Candidates can prepare for this section using the following preparation plan.
- Pick a passage from a magazine, book, newspaper or novel every day to understand your Reading Comprehension abilities.
- Work on developing your vocabulary by making flashcards of the words that appear new to you while reading. Read these flashcards often.
- To boost your vocabulary, enjoy what you read. Do not consider it a relentless chore.
- Summarize your readings with clarity.
- Interpret the passage aloud when you feel tired.
- Reach every part of a given text. Do not skip any parts, however minor they may seem.
- Discuss your readings and their interpretations with your friends and have rational debates with the vocabulary learned
| Sr. No | Preparation Tips for CAT RC |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read Daily for 2-3 hours |
| 2 | Not only newspapers but also read magazines, books, etc. |
| 3 | Try to understand the meaning of difficult words and underline them. |
| 4 | Note down the important points while reading to answer the questions later. |
| 5 | Do not check the questions before reading the passage. |
| 6 | Try to read and answer the questions within a fixed time interval of 10-15 minutes this will help you in exam. |
Types of Reading Comprehension Passages
When it comes to reading comprehension there are three types of RC passages in the CAT exam:
- Analytical RC - Such RCs will have content in the form of pros and cons points of view. The RC will also have justifications in favor of as well as against the subject.
- Descriptive RC - Such RCs do not state all the information explicitly. The style of RC generally encompasses non-material concepts which might be represented in a symbolic way.
- Data-Driven RC - Such RCs will be full of information and you need to analyse the data while providing the right answers. The RC will be based on facts and numbers.
All the types of CAT reading comprehension passages cover major topics like business and economics, science, humanities, social sciences, and current affairs. Check out the past three years of CAT reading comprehension topics below:
Types of RC Questions Asked in CAT: CAT 2021 was conducted in three parts. Below are the CAT RC 2021 topics of all three parts:
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|
Evolution of Tea | Language and Indigenous People | Language Instinct |
| Mayan Civilisation | Knowledge is a Scandal to Philosophy | Unconscious and Psychoanalysis |
| Utopia and Dystopia | Colonialism and Nationalism | Nanotechnology |
| Marshmallow Experiment | Why Fiction Trumps Truth? | Time-Accuracy |
Syllabus for CAT Reading Comprehension
- Current Affairs - Issues affecting social life, foreign relations, governance policies and schemes such as Triple Talaq, CAA, Covid 19 Pandemic, Clean India Project, migration of citizens from one country to another, world-wide intolerance.
- Business and Economics - Global Economic Change, Environmental Economic Growth, Indian Demonetization Effect, Government Waste Expenditure.
- Literature - Passages from various books of English literature, essays written by great philosophers and thinkers, different speeches of great personalities like Charles Dickens, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi, and Churchill among others. Science and Culture - Transition into the modern world, disappearing society with technological advancement.
- Abstract Topics and Fiction - Such passages make the candidates think a lot and put themselves in the shoes of the author before addressing the questions asked because they are opinion-based.
- Historical Events - Events leading to social changes such as the French Revolution and the War of Roses. Social changes in Indian Culture and thoughts expressed by various activists that are still of great relevance.
- Mythology - Such passages seek to connect mythological events with the actual social system and answers must be given accordingly.
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How to Prepare for CAT VA?
CAT VA section comprises the following type of questions:
- Sentence Rearrangement, Paragraph Completion, Sentence Elimination.
- Use the apt verbal ability study material while preparing for CAT VARC. You will have to look at sample CAT papers and determine the right book according to the syllabus.
- To make learning enjoyable, download mobile applications such as Vocabulary Builder, Word by Word, and so on.
- When you learn new words or phrases, use them in your day-to-day communication with friends or family. It will help you remember the use of those words.
| Sr. No. | Preparation Tips |
|---|---|
| 1 | Each question is different in this section and no shortcut tips or tricks are applicable here. |
| 2 | The section can only be cracked with regular practice. |
| 3 | Gain Speed |
| 4 | Find the connecting lines or sequence to complete the paragraphs is the key to solve such questions. |
Syllabus for CAT Verbal Ability
| CAT Verbal Ability Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| Essence of short paragraph/summary | Jumbled paragraphs |
| Odd sentences in jumbled paragraphs | Error correction in the verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb and other parts of speech in sentences |
| Correcting the sequence of sentences in articles such as giving the correct usage of conditional statements, time clauses, reported speech, and passive writing | Use of vocabulary in selecting the correct pair of words |
| Filling in blanks with appropriate vocabulary | Use of vocabulary in RC passages to identify the right synonyms and antonyms |
| Completing the last statements of paragraphs | Critical reasoning |
| Analogies | Usage of phrasal verbs |
| Facts, inference, and judgement | Sentence completion |
| Irrelevant sentences | - |
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CAT 2022 VARC Preparation Books
Candidates can check the books mentioned below for CAT VARC Preparation:
| CAT VARC Book | Author | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Word Power Made Easy | Normal Lewis | ‘Word Power Made Easy’ helps in improvement of vocabulary. It explains accurate usage of words. It is categorised into oriented sections and you can review exercises at the end of every chapter. |
| Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT | Ajay Singh | With over 200 passages for preparation, ‘Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT’ is an excellent CAT VARC study material. |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay | ‘How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT’ has a topic-wise segregation. The material is very comprehensive. It also provides mock tests and analyses of previous years’ papers. |
Check CAT Preparation Books for All Sections
Newspapers & Magazines for CAT VARC Preparation
| CAT VARC Newspaper and Magazines | Description |
|---|---|
| The Hindu | It allows you to explore factual, complex, insightful and challenging content. Read the editorial section everyday. |
| Times of India/Hindustan Times | It has great language usage to help with grammar and vocabulary development. |
| The Economic Times | It is a great newspaper to read articles on business and economics twice a week |
| The New York Times | This newspaper can be accessed online through its website with a paid subscription. High-quality content is brought out by this newspaper. Blogs like ‘The Stone’ are must-reads on the website. |
| The Guardian | The Guardian does not require a paid subscription. You can access fascinating reading material for free. |
| Frontline | This is a magazine full of details. The reading of brilliant articles highlighting tales from around the world can add tremendous value to your preparation. |
| Outlook/India Today/The Week | Read from these magazines for very interesting content with high-quality language. |
| Business Today/Business India | Reading from these magazines regularly is sure to help you with CAT VARC |
| The Economist | It is a great online journal which reports on foreign issues of all kinds. There are several articles on politics, economy, culture, fashion, sports, and books. The style of writing can serve as an idea for how you must attempt the CAT VARC section. All articles are almost perfectly grammatical and crisp. |
| The Atlantic | They write long-form and well-researched pieces. |
| Newyorker | Here, you will find an extremely high-quality style of writing on numerous subjects. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid for CAT VARC Section
- Ignoring details: Ensure that you do not misunderstand the questions. Lay off overconfidence and ensure that you read attentively in order to provide the correct answers.
- Spending more time on VA Non-MCQs: It is very common for students to spend a large chunk of their answering time in attempting VA Non-MCQs. Allot a specific time duration for each question and try your best not to exceed it.
- Rushing through RC passage readings: Students often rush the reading of RC passages. This can lead to missing out on important keywords that might be required to give correct answers. Ensure that you read every passage with concentration.
- Losing track of sectional time limit: Do not get very immersed in answering VARC questions and forget the sectional time limit which can cause you to risk the loss of many marks. Must Read Topper Tips
CAT Preparation Tips for VARC by Toppers
- Maharshi Nagori who scored a 99.7 percentile in CAT VARC section in 2021 read the Indian Express daily and devoted 1.5 hours to the VARC section every day. Read Full Interview
- Sarthak Gupta scored a 100 percentile in CAT 2021 and suggests reading online articles on a weekly basis to improve Verbal Ability. Read Full Interview
Read VARC Preparation Tips by more CAT 2021 Toppers:
CAT 2022 VARC Preparation FAQs
Ques. What is verbal ability and reading comprehension in CAT?
Ans. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are part of every competitive exam. Verbal Ability tests your vocabulary and sentence-formation abilities. Reading Comprehension involves the interpretation of sentences and finding answers to questions that are asked from passages.
Ques. How do you score a 99 percentile in VARC?
Ans. To score a 99 percentile in VARC, you must consistently read on various topics like Current Affairs, Literature, Philosophy, and Politics; memorize grammatical rules; and get a rich vocabulary.
Ques. What is the most important topic in VARC ?
Ans. The most important part in VARC is the Reading Comprehension (RC) because about 70% of the questions in VARC come from it
Ques. What are the best books to prepare for CAT VARC?
Ans. The best books to prepare for CAT VARC are -
- ‘Word Power Made Easy’ by Norman Lewis
- ‘Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT’ by Ajay Singh
- ‘How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT’ by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
Ques. Is ‘Word Power Made Easy’ good for VARC?
Ans. Yes, ‘Word Power Made Easy’ by Norman Lewis is good for VARC. It can greatly help in improving your vocabulary
Ques. How to prepare for Verbal Ability?
Ans. Read well-articulated content regularly to grasp good grammar and vocabulary. This will help you prepare for Verbal Ability
Ques. What are the most important topics for Verbal Ability?
Ans. The most important topics for verbal ability are - Jumbled Paragraphs, Summary/Inference of Short Paragraph, and Picking the Odd Sentence in a Jumbled Paragraph
Ques. How many questions should I attempt to get 95+ percentile in VARC?
Ans. To get 95+ percentile in VARC, you must attempt 15-16 questions with 90% accuracy
Ques. Where can I find the best VARC preparation resources online?
Ans. The best online resources for VARC preparation can be found from the websites of newspapers like The Hindu and The Guardian
Ques. What are the most important topics for Verbal Ability?
Ans. The most important topics for verbal ability are - Jumbled Paragraphs, Summary/Inference of Short Paragraph, and Picking the Odd Sentence in a Jumbled Paragraph.
Ques. What are the expected topics for Reading Comprehension?
Ans. The expected topics for Reading Comprehension are - Literature, Current Affairs, Politics, History, Business, Economy, Geography, and Abstract topics.
Ques. Where can I find the best VARC preparation resources online?
Ans. The best online resources for VARC preparation can be found from the websites of newspapers like The Hindu and The Guardian.
CAT 2024 : 314 Answered QuestionsView All
Ans. Before taking any decision, you must go through all three options that you have in great detail. There are a few reasons why you should not go for IIM-Kozhikode. First, the fees are extremely high, estimated to be around Rs 19.00 lakh. Second, the average package offered at IIMK is around 16-17L, and you will earn more than that after two years. But, once again, if you are desperate for an MBA, you can enroll in IIMK, which comes with the 'IIM' label, which will be very useful in the long run. Give CAT once more. You only need to get a high CAT score and then leave the rest up to their selection process. Second, CAT is extremely unpredictable. With proper preparation, you can achieve excellent results. So, if you're willing to work another year and are confident enough to take the CAT, this is the perfect way to take it. You should look into PGPX from ISB or elsewhere. This option is appealing, but it requires hard work and careful consideration. If you enjoy working in IT and want to advance quickly, this is the path to take. Read more
Ans. Every IIMS and other management colleges make a shortlist based on the percentile after CAT result is declared. With percentile, IIMs also consider other factors like academics, category, gender factor, diversity, etc. The list is made for the second round i.e. GD/PI or WAT/PI. GD/WAT will have a generic topic. There can be a topic from current affairs. PI is taken by some of the faculty and alumni of the institute. In institutes like FMS, there is an extempore after PI. After these rounds, a final shortlist is made with weightage given to GD/PI or WAT/PI performance and CAT percentile. Individual IIMs also have some additional factors. The offer letters are then sent out to top candidates in each category up to the maximum number of seats. The rest candidates are waitlisted. As students choose admissions, the waitlist continues to change. Read more
Ans. I know this decision is a bit difficult to make. What you need to keep in mind is that these two colleges should not be compared to other great IIMs or even ISBs. Those B Schools are at another level and cannot be on par with Kashipur or Raipur. To facilitate a better decision, I will mention the circumstances of these B Schools then you can choose after considering all options. IIM Indore and IIM Kashipur: Both these colleges are not worth a year drop as they will help you earn only an extra 1.5-2 LPA. Moreover, in the coming years, Kashipur and Raipur will have almost the same brand value as that Indore and Kozhikode. IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bangalore: All these top IIMs are definitely worth a year's drop provided that you are confident enough to cope with the cutoff. All these IIMs consider your academics while selecting so if that is your reason for the year drop I don’t think it will help. There is no surety of admission even after a percentile of 100. ISB: This one is at a whole different level and is in the category of elite B Schools like UCB, NYU, HBS, etc. The top-notch faculty offers amazing pedagogy at relatively low fees. CAT is sufficient for IIMs. But if you want to go for ISB, a work experience of 4+ years and a GMAT are a must. Read more
Ans. IIMs shortlists students for admission based on their CAT score. The second step of selection is GD-PI. For final selection, students are usually shortlisted based on their past academic performance, entrance examination score, and performance in GD-PI. IIMs also consider other factors such as work experience, gender diversity, academic diversity, etc. while shortlisting students. Weights given to these factors are different for different IIMs. Having relevant work experience can certainly help you get a shortlist. Read more
Ans. Everyone knows that IIM A values diversity over grades. There have been students who were not even waitlisted at IIM K but were at IIM A due to their extremely unique profiles. If you want to build a profile for IIM A, strive for originality. Do something that no one else is doing, such as starting a blog, having a strong digital presence on Instagram, writing on Quora, and so on. Consider what students with a 99 percentile typically do, such as being brilliant in academics and receiving a call from IIM Ahmedabad. Choose a domain in which these students are unlikely to excel and excel in that domain. Furthermore, activities such as writing a blog or hosting a YouTube channel will undoubtedly help you, in the long run, to secure summer and final placements during your MBA. As a result, you will gain valuable insights and hands-on experience with various social media tools such as SEO, SEM, Analytics, and so on. Read more
Ans. If you are aiming for old IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, you will need to score above 99 percentile in CAT. For IIMs and other top-tier B-Schools in India, the CAT cutoff stays above 90 percentile. If you have a good profile, and 99+ CAT score, you can expect to get calls from old IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT, FMS, etc. Read more
Ans. Here are some of the things that you will realize after appearing for the CAT examination. Spend the first few minutes going over the papers before diving in. Browse through the problems and start with the ones that you know you can solve in one go. CAT prioritizes solving not sequence. If you aren’t sure about an answer, leave it. Concentrate on other problems. You shouldn’t spend more than 2-3 minutes on a single problem. Don’t use the elimination method, if you can solve the problem in less than 1 minute. Do rough work thoroughly. Don’t answer any questions, just by guessing. There will be a few lengthy questions. Try to ignore these. Even CAT toppers don’t score the full marks. CAT doesn’t test your knowledge. The only thing matters are how much you score. So, try to attempt as many questions as you can correctly. Read more
Ans. You need to practice a lot in order to be able to solve Quantitative Aptitude in the CAT examination. Quants involve using mathematical ability as well as imagination. You need to memorize some concepts as well as formulas. CAT syllabus for Quants includes a lot of topics that we have studied in 9th and 10th and only the application is different for topics such as PNC & Algebra, Numbers, etc. Most important topics in terms of weightage are as follows. Arithmetic Algebra Geometry Numbers P&C, Series, Log Several chapters are easy and can be completed in a short period of time. You should start your preparation with numbers, it is the base for the quants topics. Once you are a clear knowledge of the topics, start giving time-based mocks. Analyze the mocks and work on the common mistakes that you made. Read more
Ans. Yes, average students can crack CAT. Students who get through CAT at one go, have the right aptitude for CAT, which was built over time. They have been practicing Maths right from their school days and have been avid readers. If you are average at your studies, you need to spend a lot of time practicing, in order to score good percentile in CAT. Most students usually have gaps in Maths or DILR or English. You need to put in the extra hours to bridge the gap. Find out the subjects in which you are weak, clear the basics, and practice as much as you can. Read more
Ans. Take a look at the below table to know what CAT score will fetch what CAT percentile, for 2022. Percentile Score VA-RC Score DI-LR Score QA Overall Score 90% 29 1 26 72 95% 32 20 29 81 In 2021, for 90 percentile the required score was 59 and for 95 percentile the required score was 72. Read more
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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