If you are planning to appear for the CAT 2025 examination, you must understand that the section of VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) can either make or mar your percentile. Here are some guidelines that will assist you in getting a good score in VARC in CAT.
What is the VARC section in CAT?
The VARC section is the first section of the CAT exam, and it comprises 24 questions. It has Reading Comprehension (RC), Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd One Out, and others. It is further important to identify a candidate’s understanding of English and his/her ability to reason verbally.
How do I start preparing for VARC in CAT?
To begin with, everyone should cultivate the habit of reading every day. Moreover, start reading newspapers such as The Hindu or Indian Express and include editorials in your list of daily reads. Focus on:
• Understanding diverse topics: economics, politics, philosophy, science
• Faster reading without compromising on understanding
• Reading comprehension should be solved from the previous year's papers of CAT and the VARC book for CAT.
Also, practice writing exercises such as para jumbles and sentence completion exercises. One of the most important things is that the process of grammar and vocabulary enhancement should be well-planned.
Read More: Can I Get IIM with 90 Percentile in CAT?
How much time should I devote to VARC?
Ideally, devote at least 1–1.5 hours daily to VARC preparation. Here's a basic weekly plan you can follow:
|
Day |
Task |
|---|---|
|
Monday |
2 RC passages + Vocabulary list revision |
|
Tuesday |
Para Summary + Odd Sentence Out |
|
Wednesday |
2 RCs + Grammar Practice |
|
Thursday |
Para Jumbles + Reading Non-fiction |
|
Friday |
2 RCs + Timed Practice (Mock-style) |
|
Saturday |
Full VARC Section Practice (Timer-based) |
|
Sunday |
Analyze performance + Focus on weak areas |
Is it important to use a VARC book for CAT?
Yes, a VARC book for CAT preparation is useful as it offers section-wise content, topic-wise exercises, and questions from previous years. Although you can practice from the internet sources, having a book for practice helps you stay on track.
How can I improve my verbal ability skills for CAT?
To improve verbal skills:
-
Learn 5–10 new words daily with examples.
-
Practice critical reasoning and sentence correction.
-
Read editorials and long-form articles regularly.
-
Participate in discussions or write summaries to sharpen thinking.
Should I only focus on VARC?
No. However, it is important not to overemphasize the VARC section at the cost of neglecting other sections. The student should especially solve Quant and DILR sections on a regular basis. Thus, it is always advisable to have a good CAT quantitative aptitude book in your CAT preparation syllabus to have a balanced preparation.
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Are the CAT preparation books for 2025 helpful for VARC?
Absolutely. The new edition of CAT preparation books 2025 contains the latest pattern, mock tests, and solved examples for the exam. They ensure that your prep is current with the new changes that may have been made to the format and the level of difficulty of the exams.
If you are disciplined, use the right strategies, and have a good VARC book for CAT, then you will be on the right track to preparing for the VARC section in CAT 2025.
