Best strategy for CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Feeling stuck at a 40 percentile in VARC? You’re not alone—and you’re not doomed. With the right strategy, mindset, and consistency, even the most confused CAT aspirant can cross the 95 percentile mark.
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Daily RC practice and error logs are your best friends.
Don’t aim for all questions—aim for accuracy.
Build reading habits that actually work for CAT.
Mindset matters more than you think.
Use mock tests as diagnostic tools, not ego boosters.
Free resources linked below to fast-track your prep.
I started out like many CAT aspirants: clueless, overwhelmed, and convinced that VARC was a trick question in itself. My strategy? Attempt everything. Guess when stuck. Skip error analysis.
Result? A soul-crushing 40 percentile.
Ignore the “read fiction daily” advice. Instead, build a CAT-oriented reading habit.
Instead of slogging through boring passages, I started reading things I genuinely found interesting—opinion pieces, long-form essays, science blogs, and philosophical articles. Slowly, my brain stopped panicking when it saw dense passages.
Some of my favourites:
Every day, I practiced 2-3 RCs—some from past CAT papers, some from mocks, and others from online sources. I didn’t care if I got them wrong at first. What mattered was building the stamina and structure.
While everyone said RC is king (which it is), Verbal Ability (VA) became my score booster.
No, I didn’t learn 2000 words. But I did build a habit of looking up unfamiliar words while reading and reviewing them weekly using flashcards. Over time, this improved my understanding of subtle answer choices in RCs too.
I took 2 sectional VARC mocks a week and a full-length mock every weekend. And I treated every analysis like a post-mortem. I didn’t move on until I understood what I did wrong.
Earlier, I used to attempt all 24 questions. My accuracy was under 50%. Later, I aimed for 18–20 attempts with 80%+ accuracy. That alone added 15+ marks to my score.
My formula:
If I couldn’t understand an RC within 2 minutes of reading, I moved on. I came back later only if I had time.
This is simple: If I didn’t have logic, I didn’t answer. Eliminating silly negatives helped my percentile shoot up.
I used to get nervous seeing dense RCs, but by the end, I had trained my mind to stay composed. A short breathing routine before every mock helped. On D-day, I just told myself: “This is just another mock. You’ve got this.”
Here’s a quick table of what made the real difference:
| What I Did | Why It Worked |
| Daily Reading | Improved comprehension and comfort with abstract topics |
| RC Practice + Error Logs | Built pattern recognition and eliminated repeated mistakes |
| Structured VA Practice | Boosted my non-RC accuracy |
| Mock Test Analysis | Helped refine time strategy and question selection |
| Accuracy Focus | Reduced negative marking |
| Calm Mindset | Helped me think clearly under pressure |
If you’re stuck at 40 or even lower—you can still make a leap to 95+. I’m not a topper, not a genius. Just someone who figured out a way that worked, one step at a time.
Most CAT toppers swear by one underrated tool: Previous Year Questions (PYQs). But simply solving them isn’t enough—you need to use them strategically.
If you’re stuck, struggling, or just scared of VARC—know this: I was there too. What changed things for me wasn’t a shortcut or a coaching miracle. It was small, consistent habits and trusting the process.
Don’t let another mock break your spirit. Build the right skills—and you’ll see results that surprise even you.
Start with consistent RC practice (2–3 a day), maintain an error log, and focus on understanding question traps—especially in inference and tone. Shift your mindset from "attempt all" to "attempt smart."
👉 Also read: VARC without Reading Novels – Yes, It’s Possible
Aim for 18–20 questions with 80%+ accuracy. Don't chase quantity—your percentile grows through precision. Skip uncertain questions to avoid negative marking.
Nope. CAT is not a vocab test. Just revise words you struggle with during RC or VA practice. Focus on contextual understanding, not memorization.
Solve past year CAT VARC questions in a timed setting. Maintain an error log. For sectionals, simulate real test conditions and reflect post-practice.
CAT VARC includes:
There's no grammar or direct vocab section.
Expect logic-heavy questions like:
Tip: Practice without options to boost reasoning skills.
Suggested split: 40 minutes for 4 RCs, 20 minutes for VA. Prioritize accuracy. Skip the toughest RC or longest VA if needed—your goal is score maximization, not ego satisfaction.
Yes—especially if it’s a dense philosophy or unfamiliar science passage you can’t digest quickly. Skipping can save your accuracy and improve percentile.
You don’t need a 2,000-word list. Just build contextual vocab awareness. Review tricky words from mocks and focus on tone, usage, and connotation.
👉 Need help with RC vocab? Join our Daily Practice WhatsApp Group
Practice 1 tough RC daily from abstract topics. Use timed drills. If stuck, take 3 deep breaths, reset your focus, and scan for tone and structure—not details.
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👉 Download now: CAT 1991–2024 Papers with Solutions
These include VARC-heavy sets for daily revision.
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