— Karan Mehta The CAT VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section is a make-or-break segment for many CAT aspirants. While most students focus on the Quant and DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) section for their logical difficulty, it’s often the VARC section that quietly decides the fate of many students who underestimate its layers. Many aspirants either overestimate their comfort with “English” or underestimate how logical and analytical this section truly is. To perform well, one must understand that RC and VA are two sides of the same coin – they may test different skill and have different question format, but are linked in preparation process. The RC-VA divide A common misconception among aspirants is to treat RC and VA completely separately. In reality, preparing for one helps in improving skills for other. Reading Comprehension tests how well a candidate can understand, interpret, and analyze complex passages that may be abstract or opinion based. It focuses less on vocabulary and more on logic, reasoning, and grasping the central idea. The real challenge is to identify the author’s purpose, tone and line of argument – all while keeping an eye on time. On the other hand, Verbal Ability focuses on the finer aspects of language – grammar, sentence correction, para-jumbles, and odd-sentence-out type of questions. It checks your ability to spot logical flow within sentences and paragraphs, which in turn demands intuition built through consistent exposure to well-written content. When you read a variety of texts for RC practice, you naturally develop a better sense of context, argument flow, and tone – all of which make para-jumbles and summary questions in VA easier to tackle. Likewise, working on VA questions enhances your comprehension skills by training you to notice logical links, sentence sequences, and structural patterns – ultimately helping you read and interpret more efficiently. The Role of Reading – and how to do it right At the heart of both RC and VA lies one non-negotiable habit: reading. But what you read – and how you read – matters more than how much you read. Daily reading from diverse sources-editorials from the Hindi or the Indian Express, opinion pieces from the Aeon or the Guardian, and articles from the magazines like the Economist or Scientific American. The objective isn’t to memorize facts but to develop comfort with complex, layered writing across genres. The objective isn’t to memorize facts but to develop comfort with complex, layered writing. When reading, avoid passive consumption. Try to: - Identify the central idea of the passage. - Note how the author builds the argument – is it through examples, contrasts, or logical reasoning? - Question each paragraph’s purpose – why is it here? - Summarise the passage in a line or two after finishing. - Create a notebook for Vocabulary: Words along with their meaning This practice enhances comprehension speed, build focus, and trains your brain to follow logical flow – the exact skills tested in both RC and VA. Vocabulary – the silent enabler Aspirants usually ask why vocabulary matters in CAT preparation? While CAT doesn’t test vocabulary directly a rich vocabulary base plays a significant role in comprehending texts of varied genres. It reduces comprehension time and helps in grasping tones in VA summaries. But do you need to memorise thousands of words? Rather than memorizing long lists, learn vocabulary contextually: - Note unfamiliar words while reading and check their meanings. - Use them in sentences of your own - Understand connotations – for instance, “frugal” is positive, while “stingy” is negative Over time, this builds instinctive understanding, which translates to speed and accuracy in comprehension. The balanced preparation strategy The best VARC performers don’t just practice questions-they train their reading mind. Here’s a simple framework: - Daily Reading: One long-form article (RC-level) + one editorial (Short analytical). - Targeted Practice: 1-3 RC sets and 5-10 VA questions per day (depending on the phase of your preparation) - Mock Analysis: Don’t just check your answers – understand why you chose them Reading comprehension and verbal ability aren’t two separate challenges – they are two ways to test the same skill: understanding and communicating ideas clearly. Together, they help you build a logical, structured, and analytical mind – what CAT aims to measure. Mastering both, you don’t just crack VARC section of CAT – you become a better thinker and communicator for life. (The author is CXO and co-founder Supergrads by Topranker)
