Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
How to master the art of Reading Comprehension?
For many CAT aspirants, Reading Comprehension (RC) feels unpredictable. Some days the passages seem easy, and on other days even simple questions feel confusing. The problem is rarely vocabulary or intelligence. Most students struggle because they try to solve RC like a question set, instead of learning how to read with understanding and structure.
Over the last few years, CAT VARC has become more reasoning-oriented. Questions now test interpretation, tone, and logical understanding rather than direct answers from the passage. This means improving RC is less about tricks and more about building a reading habit and the right approach.
This guide explains how to realistically master Reading Comprehension step by step.
There are 16 questions out of 24 in the Verbal Ability section. You have to work hard in this section to ace it. Any topper of CAT is always well read and hence, he could ace all the sections in order to top the exam overall.
How to ace RC:
- Why is this section asked in CAT? The reason is when you go to b-schools you will be given Harvard case studies of 25-30 pages of booklet.Everyone has to follow it, which will have open minded problem statement and students are expected to have discussion on them. In a day, you will have to read 3-4 cases on an average in marketing, finance, HR etc.
- To ace in this section, love AEON essays. Start with them. Minimum 50 essays should be done in total. To start with, read AEON in three phases- start with AEON Ideas, then move to AEON essays and then finally switch to AEON Psyche.
- After AEON, move to NY times, Smithsonian, Guardian, The Atlantic as actual CAT paper comes from here. After this, go to advanced and read Aldaily (Art based). The target should be 50 essays altogether.
- Major topics to cover for CAT- Natural Science, Humanities, Anthropology, Sapiens, SST (History, Civics, Geography).
- Sources- CATKing bible LOD 1: 100 must do RC 1&2. Everyday start with doing 3 RCs, Para Jumbles. Para Summary and 10 new words for vocabulary. Now gradually increase it by 5 RCs, Para Jumbles, Para Summary and 10 vocabulary words.
- On dashboard, there are recorded webinars on VARC. Check them out thoroughly.
- Enhance your focus. To beat toppers, upskill your VARC skills and then you will find yourself upping your game in this section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why is the VARC section important in CAT?
VARC has 24 questions, with RC forming the majority (16 questions). Strong reading skills are essential to maximize your score.
Q2. Why does CAT focus so much on Reading Comprehension?
Because in B-schools you’ll be reading 25–30 page Harvard case studies daily and discussing them in class. CAT tests your ability to read, analyze, and interpret quickly.
Q3. What sources should I read to improve RC skills?
Start with AEON essays (50 in total), then move to NY Times, Smithsonian, Guardian, The Atlantic, and later advanced sources like Aldaily for art-based topics.
Q4. What topics are commonly tested in RC passages?
Natural Science, Humanities, Sociology/Anthropology, History, Geography, and Philosophy are frequently tested areas.
Q5. How should I practice daily for VARC?
Begin with 3 RCs, para jumbles, para summaries, and 10 new vocabulary words daily. Gradually scale to 5 RCs plus related practice.
Q6. What role do CAT online courses/mocks play in VARC prep?
Recorded webinars, CATKing bible RCs, and regular mocks help build accuracy, test strategies, and improve time management.
Q7. Is vocabulary still important for CAT?
Yes, though CAT doesn’t directly test word meanings, vocabulary helps in understanding RC passages and answering inference-based questions.
Q8. How can I boost focus while solving RCs?
Practice reading dense essays regularly, avoid distractions during mocks, and simulate exam-like conditions to build reading stamina.
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