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When you prepare for the CAT and especially the VARC section, you’ll notice that reading comprehension (RC) passages are not random; they are typically taken from distinct genres such as culture, society, science & tech, philosophy, psychology, politics etc. We have compiled past CAT RCs and segregated them by genre, it will help you practice in a focussed manner. By organising RCs this way, you get familiar with recurring themes, develop speed in each topic, and reduce the surprise factor on exam day.
Genre-Wise CAT Reading Comprehensions PDF Download
Download the PDF given below by clicking on the button. This PDF contains more than 90 questions from diverse topics to help you familiarise with the type of questions and RCs that comes in the exam. If you want to know the sources of past year CAT reading comprehensions you can visit the blog by clicking on the given link.
Why Organise RCs by Genre for CAT?
There are three big reasons:
- Pattern-recognition: If you look at CAT previous year papers, you’ll see that RCs often fall into certain genre-categories (for example, science & tech, business & economy, humanities).
- Targeted reading habit: Once you know your PDF covers culture, society, politics etc., you can schedule reading sessions by genre, rather than random articles. This develops comfort with the tone, vocabulary, and argument style in each genre.
- Revision: On exam day you’ll face unfamiliar vocabulary, dense arguments, and varied styles. But if you’ve practiced genre-wise, you’ll recognise the structure faster (for example, a philosophy passage vs. a technology passage) and save precious time.
Why Practise Genre-Wise RCs to Improve Score
This PDF is structured to maximise preparation:
- Find Your Strength and Weaknesses: As CAT will throw RCs from different genres with various difficulty levels. If you become familiar with the genres already before the exam. It will help you strategise the test attempt strategy. You should start your section with the RC from the area that you are comfortable with.
- Each RC passage is already tagged by its genre (Culture, Society, Science & Tech, Philosophy, Psychology, Politics).
- You can select one genre per day, and practise 3-4 passages of that type, thereby building a deeper ‘feel’ for it.
- The PDF also helps you track your speed and accuracy by genre: you’ll begin to identify your strong and weak genres (for instance, maybe you’re slower on philosophy passages). Then you can allocate more practice time accordingly.
Also Read, CAT 2025 VARC Topic-wise Questions PDF (Most Expected)
Tips to Tackle RCs from Different Genres
Given below is the list of most common genres that appear in the VARC section of the CAT exam. We have also discussed the tips and tricks to handle these kinds of reading comprehensions.
Genre 1: Culture & Society
RC passages on culture and society often explore how social practices, traditions, identities or community behaviours evolve. They may cover topics like urbanisation, modern art, cross-cultural dynamics, migration, gender roles. Mostly test setters ask inference based and logical questions from the genre.
Tip: While practising these, focus on how the author frames the argument (is it descriptive, reflective, critical?), and note any sociological terms, it helps when tackling inference or tone-based questions.
Genre 2: Science & Technology
In this genre, RCs might examine technological breakthroughs, ethical implications of science, environmental science, space research, AI, biotechnology. The language may be more technical, and the flow may involve cause-effect, problem-solution, and future implications. According to recent analyses, science & technology is a major area in CAT RCs.
Tip: Don’t get uncomfortable by unfamiliar terms. Understand the core idea: what question is the author asking, what is the argument or stance, what are the implications? The questions often ask inference, main idea, or tone rather than deep technical detail.
Genre 3: Philosophy & Psychology
These passages are perhaps the most demanding because they often involve abstract thinking, author’s internal logic, subtle cues, and less concrete examples. Topics could range from ethics and morality, existentialism, aesthetic philosophy, cognitive science, human behaviour. The style is generally more essay-like, reflective or even provocative. As one blog notes, passages from philosophy and sociology are frequent in past CAT papers.
Tip: For these, pay particular attention to the author’s viewpoint and tone. Questions may ask “Which statement the author would agree with?”, “What is the implication?”, “What is the underlying assumption?” These require careful reading of each paragraph’s function.
Genre 4: Politics, Economy & Current Affairs
RCs in this genre often touch upon governance, public policy, global trade, economic shifts, political ideologies, and societal consequences of such phenomena. Given the globalised context of CAT RCs, politics & economy remain relevant.
Tip: While practising, distinguish between factual content and the author’s opinion. Authors may present data, then critique it. Questions will often ask for inference, author’s attitude and structure of passage. Recognising when the passage shifts from description to critique is key.
Genre-Wise Reading Comprehensions PDF for CAT 2025: Conclusion
Practising CAT Reading Comprehensions by genre is one of the best ways to prepare for the VARC section. When you group RCs into topics like culture, science, politics, and philosophy, you begin to notice common patterns and writing styles. This helps you read faster, understand better, and easily identify the author’s main point during the exam.
The Genre-Wise CAT RC PDF includes more than 90 practice questions similar to real CAT passages. By practising one genre at a time, you can improve your comprehension skills, vocabulary, and reading speed. Follow a regular study plan, download the PDF, and practise daily to make your CAT RC preparation more focused and effective. Consistent genre-wise practice will greatly boost your VARC performance.
