How to Improve Reading Speed and Comprehension Skills for VARC

Reading comprehension is an essential skill for the VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section of the CAT (Common Admission Test) exam. Here are some effective strategies to improve your reading speed and comprehension skills for VARC:

1. Active Reading
- Develop a mindset of active reading, which involves engaging with the text actively rather than passively.
- Highlight or underline key points, unfamiliar words, or important information while reading.
- Take notes or write a summary to reinforce your understanding of the passage.

2. Skimming and Scanning
- Practice skimming by quickly glancing through the passage to get a general idea of the content, main arguments, and structure.
- Scanning involves looking for specific information or keywords within the passage. This technique helps in saving time during the exam.

3. Build Vocabulary
- Enhance your vocabulary by regularly reading books, newspapers, and magazines. Make a habit of looking up unfamiliar words and understanding their meanings.
- Use flashcards or vocabulary-building apps to learn new words and their usage.

4. Time Management
- Allocate specific time for reading practice each day to improve your speed.
- Set a timer and challenge yourself to complete a passage within a given time frame. Gradually reduce the time as you improve.

5. Practice with a Variety of Passages
- CAT exams cover a wide range of topics, so it's important to practice reading passages from various domains such as science, humanities, and social sciences.
- EduRev provides a comprehensive collection of CAT preparation materials, including reading comprehension passages, which can be extremely helpful in improving your skills.

6. Analyze and Review
- After completing a passage, review your performance, and analyze your mistakes.
- Identify the areas where you struggled the most and work on improving those specific skills.
- Look for patterns in the types of questions you often get wrong and focus on strengthening those areas.

7. Mock Tests and Time Constraints
- Practice mock tests under timed conditions to simulate the actual exam environment.
- This will help you get accustomed to reading quickly and answering questions accurately within the given time frame.

8. Read Widely
- Read a wide range of materials, including newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books, to expose yourself to different writing styles, topics, and perspectives.
- This will help you become more comfortable with various types of passages and improve your overall reading speed and comprehension skills.

Remember, improving reading speed and comprehension skills takes time and consistent effort. Practice regularly, stay focused, and gradually you will see improvement.