VARC stands for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, a section in CAT that tests your reading skills and ability to analyze and interpret written material.

How can I improve my Reading Comprehension for CAT VARC?

Practice active reading by engaging with the text, identifying key ideas, tone, and purpose. Regular reading of diverse articles enhances comprehension speed.

What are the common traps in CAT VARC questions?

Common traps include small distortions (ambiguous language), logical distortions (false assumptions), and structural distortions (tone or scope mismatches).

What is the best preparation routine for CAT VARC?

A 3-step daily routine: initial reading (7-10 mins), detailed reading (10-12 mins), and final analysis (5 mins) focusing on tone, structure, and main idea.

How can I improve my accuracy in CAT VARC?

Eliminate extreme options, match tone and scope for para-summary questions, and deduce logical inferences without overthinking.

How important is the tone of the passage in CAT VARC?

The tone helps you understand the author's stance, which is critical in answering questions on attitude, purpose, and strengthening/weaken arguments.

What sources should I refer to for improving CAT VARC?

Reliable sources include Aeon, JSTOR Daily, The Guardian, and other platforms offering well-structured articles. Practice with diverse reading material.

How can the CAT VARC cheat sheet help me?

The cheat sheet condenses expert tips, logical fallacies, reading strategies, and question frameworks into a single visual guide for efficient revision.

CAT VARC Cheat Sheet 2025, Question Types, Preparation Tips

Latest Updates:

August 01, 2025: Here we have discussed SNAP 2025 notification, including exam dates, eligibility, PDF details, and steps to download the notification PDF.Read More
August 01, 2025: Is a CAT Crash Course Really Necessary for CAT 2025? Learn who should enrol, what to look for in course fees and how to pick the best crash course for your preparation.Read More

Download PDF

CAT VARC Cheat Sheet 2025

Are you struggling with Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability in the CAT exam? You're not alone. VARC is often the make-or-break section for many aspirants. To help you crack CAT VARC, we've made a powerful VARC Cheat Sheet that simplifies strategies, question types, and logical traps, all in one place. This PDF contains all the tips and tricks that one can use to identify and eliminate option traps. This cheat sheet is made by VARC expert Sayali Ma’am (CAT 99.97 percentiler)

CAT VARC Cheat Sheet PDF

What is VARC in CAT?

VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) is the first section of the CAT exam and includes:

Reading Comprehension (RC) passages
Para jumbles
Odd one out
Para summary

Scoring well in VARC requires strong reading habits, logical reasoning, and the ability to eliminate trap options efficiently. Reading speed and accuracy plays an important role for scoring well in this section.

Also Read, How To Master CAT 2025 VARC ? Check Tips And Tricks Now

CAT VARC Preparation Tips By Experts

Here are the best tips to boost your VARC score:

1. Master Reading Comprehension with Active Reading

Instead of passively scanning, engage with the text:

Ask: What is the author's tone and purpose?
Spot transitions like "however", "thus", and "in contrast"
Identify pivot points and paragraph-wise summaries

2. Recognize Common Trap Options

The cheat sheet categorizes VARC traps into:

Small distortions (wordplay and ambiguity)
Logical distortions (false causation, red herrings)
Structural distortions (scope and tone mismatches)

Knowing these can significantly boost your accuracy.

3. Follow a Proven VARC Practice Routine

The sheet introduces a 3-step daily plan:

Initial Reading (7-10 mins): Grasp structure & tone
Detailed Reading (10-12 mins): Paragraph summaries
Final Analysis (5 mins): Extract main idea, purpose, tone

Use sources like Aeon, JSTOR Daily, and The Guardian to develop reading fluency. You can also use our platform CAT Daily Articles where we upload 3 articles from diverse topics.

Also Read, CAT VARC Topic Wise Weightage 2025, Download PDF Now

High-Scoring VARC Tricks for CAT

Here are smart hacks to save time and improve accuracy:

For para-summary questions, match tone and scope, not just keywords
Use option elimination: Avoid choices with extreme words ("always", "never")
In inference-based questions, don’t overthink, stick to what’s logically deducible

Breakdown of CAT VARC Question Types

The CAT VARC cheat sheet also classifies questions by type and approach:

Type	Strategy
Main Idea / Purpose	Summarize core argument
Inference-based	Deduce without assumptions
Tone & Attitude	Match emotional/rhetorical stance
Strengthen/Weaken	Confirm or challenge logic
Real-World Application	Map idea to a new context

Also Read, RC Sources of Past CAT Papers, CAT Previous Year RC Passages PDF

Why Is This VARC Cheat Sheet Important?

Created by Sayali Ma’am (CAT 99.97%iler)
Condenses 50+ tips into a visual one-pager
Includes reading lists, logical fallacies, and question frameworks
Designed for fast revision before mocks and D-day

CAT Reading Comprehension Sources

CAT refers to different sources to get articles. In the table below we have mentioned the RC sources of CAT 2024.

Slot	RC	Direct Sources	Difficulty
1	Craftsmanship and creativity	The Economist	Medium
	Bandicoots in Australia	The Smithsonian	Medium
	Digital rights of content	The Guardian	Easy
	Behavioural economics	Public Books	Medium
2	Spice Trade	Yale Global	Medium
	Consequences of Technology	NY Times Magazine	Medium
	Peer Review of Research	Nature.com	Medium
	Animals Vs Humans	Vijesti.me	Difficult
3	AI Regulation	The Economist	Medium
	Contamination of space	Foreign Policy	Medium
	Moutai madness	The Economist	Medium - Difficult
	Languages	Huffpost	Medium - Difficult

Also Read, CAT VARC Syllabus 2025, Question Distribution, Weightage

CAT VARC Cheat Sheet 2025: Conclusion

If you want to score 99+ percentile in CAT, mastering VARC is non-negotiable. With this cheat sheet, you're not just preparing, you’re preparing smartly.

For more free resources, mocks, and expert guidance, visit Cracku CAT Courses

How helpful did you find this article?