How to Master VARC for CAT 2025: No-Nonsense Tips

CAT 2025 VARC

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in CAT 2025 is often a make-or-break for many aspirants. Unlike Quant or LRDI, you can’t just “mug up” formulas—VARC demands comprehension, intuition, and consistency. Whether you’re a bookworm or someone who hasn’t read a novel since school, this guide is for you.

What’s in the VARC Section?

Before diving in, let’s get a grip on the structure:

24 Questions (as per recent CAT patterns)

    • Reading Comprehension (RC): ~16 questions across 4 passages.
    • Verbal Ability (VA): ~8 questions (Para jumbles, Para summaries, Odd one out).

Mindset Shift: VARC Isn’t Just About “English"

Many non-native speakers assume VARC is a test of language fluency. It’s not. CAT’s VARC is a test of comprehension, logic, and articulation. You’re judged not on vocabulary, but on how well you understand and interpret information.

Tip 1: Read. Every. Single. Day.

This cannot be emphasized enough. You need to expose your brain to diverse content—economics, psychology, science, philosophy, history, politics, etc.

What to Read:

  • The Hindu / Indian Express – Editorials
  • Aeon Essays / The Atlantic / New Yorker
  • Quantifiers Daily Target includes a Read of the Day on a new topic everyday.

Spend 30–45 minutes daily reading. Initially, it might feel slow. But in 2–3 months, you’ll notice sharper comprehension and faster grasp of arguments.

Tip 2: Practice RC Like It’s a Skill (Because It Is)

Don’t just read and move on. Learn the art of solving RCs by:

  • Identifying the main idea of the passage.
  • Understanding the author’s tone (critical, analytical, neutral?).
  • Anticipating questions before looking at options.

Tip 3: Tame the VA Trio

  1. Para Jumbles (TITA): Work on identifying connectors, chronology, and cause-effect clues.
  2. Para Summary: Think like a newspaper editor—what’s the crux in 2 lines?
  3. Odd One Out: Train yourself to find the sentence that doesn’t fit the flow. Practice grouping sentences by central themes.

Use – FREE Verbal Ability tests by Quantifiers

Tip 4: Analyze Your Mistakes Ruthlessly

After every mock or sectional:

  • Log every wrong answer
  • Categorize them: Misinterpretation? Trap option? Lack of clarity?
  • Review RCs without time pressure and find where you deviated from logic.

Tip 5: Don’t Memorize—Internalize

You don’t need to know every GRE-level word. Instead:

  • Understand ideas
  • Follow arguments
  • Recognize tone and inference

CAT is looking for someone who can think—not someone who knows what “sesquipedalian” means.

Tip 6: Patience Beats Panic

VARC rewards long-term discipline. Improvement takes time—weeks, sometimes months.

Even if you score low initially, stick with the process:

  • Read daily.
  • Solve 2 RCs + 2 VA sets daily.
  • Analyze mocks weekly.

You will improve.

Mastering VARC for CAT 2025 isn’t about being a grammar nerd—it’s about being a thoughtful, consistent reader and analyzer. If you build these skills with daily effort and targeted practice, VARC will turn from a nightmare into your strongest suit.

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best CAT Coaching

We at Quantifiers understand and deliver on the personal attention each of our students requires. Whether it is through our pedagogy that enables non-engineers or non-math background students, our constant effort to proactively provide solutions, or our focus on our student’s goals.