The VARC section is a big part of the CAT exam, and doing well here is crucial for a high overall score. CAT 2024 VARC section will assess your English grammar and sentence formation skills, primarily focusing on reading comprehension, and covers various topics related to English language proficiency.
Mastering CAT VARC takes time and requires a long-term approach with proper planning, guidance, and a clear timeline. Starting early is essential, and developing a habit of reading is crucial. The VARC section of CAT includes topics that are comprehension-based. Therefore, it's important to practice reading extensively from an early stage.
Understanding the CAT 2024 exam pattern for the VARC section can help candidates prepare effectively. Based on past trends, the following exam pattern is anticipated for CAT 2024 VARC:
Particulars | Details |
Total Questions | 24 |
Total Sectional Time | 40 Minutes |
MCQ-Type Questions | 21 |
TITA Questions | 3 |
Number of RCs | 4 Passages |
Verbal Ability Questions | 8 |
Marking Scheme | +3 for a Right Answer -1 for a Wrong Answer No Negative Marking for TITA |
The CAT exam's Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section is vital for evaluating candidates' language skills and understanding of written content. Understanding the VARC syllabus is crucial for candidates to excel in this section and perform well in the CAT exam.
The VARC syllabus for the CAT exam covers a diverse range of areas essential for evaluating candidates' language proficiency and comprehension skills. Refer to the following picture to understand the areas covered in CAT VARC section.
Central to the section is reading comprehension, where candidates must demonstrate their ability to comprehend passages on various subjects and extract key information. Additionally, candidates need a strong understanding of grammar rules to ensure clear and effective communication. A rich vocabulary is also essential for understanding complex texts and expressing ideas accurately. Furthermore, verbal reasoning skills play a vital role in analyzing arguments and drawing conclusions from passages.
Mastery of these areas is crucial for candidates aiming to perform well in the VARC section of the CAT exam, highlighting the importance of thorough preparation across all aspects of the syllabus. Furthermore, candidates can refer to the following table to get the gist of the Topics for VARC Syllabus.
CAT 2024 VARC SYLLABUS | ||
VARC Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
Reading Comprehension | 16 | Moderate to Difficult |
VA-Para jumbles | 3 | Moderate to Difficult |
VA-Odd Sentence | 2 | Easy to Moderate |
VA-Summary | 3 | Easy to Moderate |
Total | 24 | Moderate to Difficult level |
*Content in above table is based on CAT 2023, it can be different in CAT 2024.
Preparing for the VARC section of the CAT exam requires focused and strategic preparation across these topics. Here's a breakdown of how to prepare for specific VARC topics:
Engage in regular reading of diverse materials for at least 45 minutes such as newspapers, magazines, journals, and online articles to improve your reading speed and comprehension skills.
Practice summarizing passages and write key points, arguments, and inferences made by the author in 1-2 lines for every paragraph. This will help you not to loose flow of the RC and help you stay focused and concentrated while reading an RC.
Practice solving a variety of RC questions from previous CAT papers and other sources to familiarize yourself with different question types and improve your accuracy.
Manage your time effectively during practice sessions to ensure that you can read and comprehend passages within the allocated time during the exam. Ideally, it is recommended to finish an RC in 10 minutes.
Focus on understanding the logical flow of sentences and how they connect to form a coherent paragraph.
Look for clues that indicate the topic sentence, which often introduces the main idea or theme of the paragraph.
Transitional words and phrases can provide clues about the sequence of events or ideas presented in the paragraph.
Practice rearranging jumbled sentences to form meaningful paragraphs. Start with simpler exercises and gradually progress to more complex ones.
Improve your logical reasoning skills to identify the most appropriate sequence of sentences that logically follow each other.
Focus on identifying the sentence that does not fit logically with the rest of the paragraph.
Consider the context of the paragraph and how each sentence contributes to the overall meaning and coherence.
Identify any contradictions or inconsistencies between the odd sentence and the surrounding sentences.
Develop your ability to logically deduce which sentence disrupts the flow or theme of the paragraph.
Practice solving odd sentence questions from various sources to familiarize yourself with different question types and improve your skills.
Focus on understanding the main idea or theme of the passage.
Identify the key points, arguments, and supporting details presented in the passage.
Practice summarizing passages in your own words while maintaining the essence of the original content.
Avoid including redundant information in your summary and focus on conveying the most important points.
Regularly practice writing summaries of passages from various sources to improve your summarization skills and conciseness.
Following is a list of top curated online & offline sources which candidates can utilize to prepare for CAT 2024 VARC section:
Start reading from diverse topics for at least 45 min per day from various sites to improve your reading as well ass your comprehending skills. Some of the notable sources of good articles are: Aeon, The Hindu, The Guardian, and Financial express.
The best way to excel in RCs is by practising RCs from CAT Previous Papers. Download the PDFs or give them as a mock. It will give you the basic understanding of the level of difficulty of real CAT exam. One can also give CAT Daily Targets to remain in touch with various CAT VARC topics on regular basis.
Preparing for the Verbal section of the CAT exam is different from preparing for other sections. While Quant and LRDI topics are structured and can be mastered through theory and practice, Verbal Ability is more challenging. Unlike them, which have clear topics to study and practice, Verbal doesn't neatly fit into categories. Speed reading, often thought to be helpful, can lead to traps in Reading Comprehension passages. Moreover, questions like Sentence Rearrangement and Critical Reasoning don't have fixed templates to master. While practice is essential, the payoff for Verbal questions is less significant compared to other sections. Therefore, preparing for Verbal requires a different approach.
In the CAT Verbal Section, one-third of the questions are on Reading Comprehension totaling to 16 questions. So what does it entails? Simply put, it's about understanding the ideas presented in the passage. It's all about whether you grasp all the passage ideas or not. Reading such difficult passages in VARC requires stamina and no room for errors. With a good reading habit, you'll tackle passages effortlessly and even enjoy the process. Instead of feeling drained by Reading Comprehension, you'll emerge with energy to ace the Verbal Section.
It is crucial to evaluate the answer options meticulously. Take the time to analyze each option thoroughly before making a selection. Consider the context of the question and how well each option aligns with the information provided. Look for subtle nuances and differences among the options to determine which one best reflects the intended meaning or solution. By critically assessing the answer choices, you can increase your chances of selecting the most accurate and appropriate response.
Candidates must utilize sectional tests and mock exams as they enables valuable practice and simulate the exam conditions. Analyzing performance in these CAT Mock Tests is crucial for identifying weaknesses and building confidence for the actual exam.
In conclusion, preparing for the Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam requires a unique approach compared to other sections. While there are no shortcuts or fixed templates for mastering verbal skills, consistent reading habits, critical thinking, and systematic practice are key. Emphasizing comprehension, logical analysis, and effective time management can significantly improve performance in this section. By focusing on understanding rather than rote memorization, candidates can develop the necessary skills to excel in the Verbal Ability segment of the CAT exam.
Cracku wishes the Best of Luck to all the CAT 2024 Aspirants!
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