Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are what VARC in CAT stands for. It measures your skills in reading, understanding, analyzing, and reasoning with words. This section will be very important for CAT 2025, since it can determine whether many candidates succeed or fail.
If you want to do well in VARC, you should read regularly, take many mock tests, and review the CAT exam previous year question paper.
🤔 Why is Reading Comprehension Difficult in CAT?
Reading Comprehension (RC) is challenging due to:
Reason |
Explanation |
Complex language |
Passages use academic or abstract topics. |
Time pressure |
You need to read, understand, and answer within a limited time. |
Similar answer choices |
Options can be tricky or too close in meaning. |
Diverse topics |
From philosophy to economics — any topic can appear. |
Solving questions in a VARC book for CAT and taking CAT mock test papers will help you understand the test’s difficulty.
What Are the Best Ways to Improve Reading Comprehension for CAT 2025?
Being good at RC involves reading, practicing, and using strategies. Here’s how:
1. Be Sure to Read Every Day
Try reading The Hindu and The Economist to get your daily news.
• Reading isn’t enough; you should also pay attention to the tone, argument, and structure.
2. Work on your skills with a goal in mind.
• Try using CAT mock test papers to feel the pressure you will experience during the exam.
• Study the CAT exam previous year question paper from last year to find out any patterns.
3. It’s better to get the right answer than to try multiple times.
• Make sure you take your time. Try to answer 3 Reading Comprehension passages correctly rather than 5 with mistakes.
• Understand what makes an option incorrect, as well as what makes the correct one correct.
4. Learn to eliminate the wrong answers.
• Get rid of two answers that are clearly not the right ones.
• Consider both style and attitude when making your selection.
5. Time Management is Very Important
• Set a stopwatch when you are practicing.
Try to complete each Reading Comprehension passage in 8-10 minutes.
Using a VARC book for CAT regularly will help you develop these habits more quickly.
Read More: How Many Hours Do CAT Toppers Study?
📚 What Role Do Mock Tests and Previous Papers Play?
They are the most important tools you have.
• CAT mock test papers mimic the environment of a real exam.
• They improve your physical strength and your mental attitude for exams.
Going through the CAT exam papers from the past reveals that some questions repeat and the difficulty can vary.
• Use both to see where you are and adjust your approach accordingly.
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📝 How Many Reading Comprehensions Should I Do in a Week?
For a serious test taker, it’s best to do 12 to 15 RCs in a week. Make sure your VARC book for CAT includes passages that are easy, medium, and hard. Besides, practice 1–2 complete CAT mock tests every week and go through the CAT exam previous year question paper every weekend.
✅ Final Tips to Crack VARC in CAT 2025
Tip |
Benefit |
Daily RC Practice |
Builds speed and accuracy |
Weekly Mock Tests |
Improves time management |
Analyze Previous Papers |
Understands trend and question style |
Use Structured Notes |
Helps revise key points |
Keep in mind, improving in RC takes time, but by practicing CAT mock tests, using a quality VARC book, and studying last year’s CAT question papers, you’ll become better at the subject.