Golden Rules of RC | VARC 2024 Tips | How To Prepare For CAT PDF Download

The  CAT  Reading Comprehension Passages  are about 300 to 700 words long. The subject matter of a passage can be almost anything, but the most common themes are politics, history, culture, science, and business. 

The passages will not always be interesting or fun to read; as a matter of fact some of them will be downright boring and difficult to understand.

The problem most students face on RC is that they have to go through text from areas they aren't conversant with and answer questions based on this. 

The moment you see a passage from an unfamiliar area such as History or Women‘s Suffrage, you immediately start telling yourself that you will do badly on this passage because you have no idea about the subject area. If you start with this negative thought process, things will obviously only go downhill for you. 

Please keep in mind that you are not expected to have any prior knowledge of the topic in the first place. All the information that you need to answer the questions is given to you in the passage. You just need to comprehend the passage and select the correct answer from the options provided.

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10 essential tips to ace the CAT Reading Comprehension section

This comprehensive guide will provide you with 10 essential tips to ace the CAT Reading Comprehension section. We’ll cover strategies to help you break down passages and questions, understand difficult topics, and identify keywords to quickly interpret the text.

1. Accuracy trumps attempts

First off, don’t trade accuracy for attempts. Attempting x number of questions at an 80% accuracy is not good enough. Attempting 20 questions with the thought process, “I should get 12 out of these correct”, is just not good enough.

In Reading Comprehension Questions  accuracy is the most important goal. While it is possible to score well by attempting a large number of questions, it is much more important to focus on the accuracy of your answers. 

• This means taking the time to carefully read the passage and understand the questions, as well as working through each answer and thinking about which one is the most correct. 
• Answering questions correctly requires more effort and thought than simply attempting as many as you can, but it pays off in the end.
• Taking the time to understand the question and think through each answer will not only result in a better score, but also give you a better understanding of the material. 
• Don’t do that +3, -1 math. Instead of getting 15 correct answers, if you get 14, then you will end up with the same score. Difference is that you get to spend more time per question by answering only 12 questions, giving you better chances at getting questions right. 
• So, when tackling the RC section, accuracy should always trump attempts.

2. Stop talking to yourself when you read 

People talk to themselves in 2 ways, by: 

1. Vocalizing, which is the actual moving of your lips as you read, and;
2. Subvocalizing, which is talking to yourself in your head as you silently read. 

Both of these will slow you down to the point in which you find that you can't read any faster than you can speak. 

• Speech is a relatively slow activity; for most, the average speed is about 250 WPM (words per minute). 
• Reading should be an activity which involves only the eyes and the brain. 
• Vocalization ties reading to actual speaking. 
• Try to think of reading as if you were looking at a landscape, a panorama of ideas, rather than looking at the rocks at your feet. 

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How to Prepare for VARC CAT 2023 (VARC Bible)

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3. Read in thought groups 

• Reading in thought groups means to read a text with a focus on understanding the relationships between ideas that are expressed in the text. 
• This involves looking for patterns and connections between words, phrases, and sentences, and considering the structure of the text as a whole. 
• Reading in this way allows readers to better comprehend the text and make sure they are not missing any important information.
• According to studies, when we read, our eyes must make little pauses along the line
• More fixations (eyestops) are made by bad readers than by excellent readers. This slows you down, but it also makes it difficult to understand what you are reading since groupings of words are simpler to understand than single words or even single letters. 
• Try to read sentences with three to four words, particularly entire clauses and prepositional phrases. 
• They could get internalised in your head as though the entire sentence were one enormous, densely packed word.

4. Avoid reading the same sentences over and over

• Poor readers frequently read the same sentence over and over again. 
• This tendency to "regress" doubles or triples reading time without always improving understanding. 
• Even while one thorough, focused reading might not be sufficient for complete comprehension, it is frequently more beneficial than frequent regresses in the midst of a book. 
• However, it is advisable to focus on being more attentive the first time. 
• Prior to carefully reading and putting the advice to use, do a preview. 
• Without rereading, you'll retain more information.

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How to Prepare for VARC CAT 2023 (VARC Bible)

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5. Prioritization is important.

• Each RC passage in the VARC section comprises three to six questions in a group. 
• You may need anything from 6 to 13 minutes to finish a passage, including answering the questions. But it will take you at least five minutes to read it. 
• Starting an RC Passage with just 8 minutes remaining puts you under so much time pressure that you rush through it, forget important details, and make mistakes. 
• So, if you still have around 10 minutes to go, be careful not to close with any "Group Questions."

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How to Prepare for VARC CAT 2023 (VARC Bible)

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6. Vary your reading rate 

• To suit the difficulty and type of writing of the text, poor readers always read at the same slow rate. 
• An efficient reader speeds up for easier material and slows down for the difficult. 
• Some things were not mean t to be read quickly at all. Legal material and very difficult text should be read slowly. 
• Easier material and magazines and newspapers can be read quickly. Poetry and plays were meant to be performed, and if not acted out, then at least, spoken out aloud. 
• This obviously will conflict with good speed reading method which forbids vocalization. 
• Religious writings and scripture were originally written to be recited and listened to by an audience which was likely to be intelligent, but illiterate. 
• The "fun" of poetry, plays, or prayer is not really experienced if you ‘Speed Read’ the text. 

7. Watch for specifics in the passage

• Keep an eye out for some trigger words that should help you get clarity on what the examiner is trying to test you on or where the trap is in the question.
• You’ve got to train your eye to catch details like this. If you miss some detail, you should be very harsh on yourself because it matters for this exam. 
• If you start out a RC Passage with less time, you are going in with so much time pressure that you will run through the passage, miss out on key points, and end up making mistakes. 

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How to Prepare for VARC CAT 2023 (VARC Bible)

Types of Reading Comprehension in CAT VARC

8. Pay Attention

• When you read, you should read as if it really matters. 
• Most people read in the same in which they watch television, i.e. in an inattentive, passive way. 
• Reading requires effort and you must make the effort. 
• A wise teacher once sad that you can learn anything if you do three things: 
  1. PAY ATTENTION
  2. PAY ATTENTION and
  3. PAY ATTENTION 
• There are some simple methods that you can use to pay better attention and get more out of your textbook reading time. 
• Different authors call it different things, but many researchers say that you will improve your comprehension if you somehow "preview" the passage before you actually sit down and read every word.

Follow these steps: 

Step 9.1: Take 30 to 60 seconds.

Step 9.2: Look over the title of the chapter.

Step 9.3: Look at all the headings, subheadings marked, italic or dark print. 

Step 9.4: Look at any pictures or illustrations, charts or graphs.

Step 9.5: Quickly skim over the passage, reading the first and last paragraph and glancing at the first sentence of every other paragraph. 

Step 9.6: Close the book and ask yourself:

• What is the main idea?
• What kind of writing is it? 
• What is the author's purpose? 

With such little exposure to the content, you might not believe you could possible answer these questions, but if you completed the preview correctly, you should have some excellent broad notions.

You will be better able to comprehend and remember the chapter if you have a broad notion of what it is about before you actually read it.

9. Use elimination technique for tough questions

• A tough question is that in which the options are so close that it might be difficult for you to pick one and reject the other; here you must exercise both caution and discretion
• Don’t rush to pick the answer, but remember one precept: there is an evidence for everything.
• If you zero down on two options but are not able to pick the right choice; go to the passage, look for the evidence, what has the passage to say, where is the author’s stand, where is the evidence… so on and so forth. It is these careful deliberations that will help you arrive at the right answer.

10. Learn When To Move on from a Question

• It's time to move on to the next question if you're stuck and can't answer a question for longer than 3–4 minutes.
• It is best to move on to the next question if you are stuck on a particular one for a few minutes and still aren't making any progress, or worse, if you mark the incorrect answer. 
• Consider it this way: Sometimes we have to lose the battle to win the war.

Also Read: 

• How to Prepare for VARC CAT 2023 (VARC Bible)
• Types of Reading Comprehension in CAT VARC

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to CAT VARC 2023

What is CAT VARC?

CAT VARC stands for Common Admission Test - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. It is a section of the CAT exam that focuses on assessing the verbal and reading comprehension skills of the candidates.

How many questions are there in the CAT VARC section?

The number of questions in the CAT VARC section can vary from year to year. In CAT 2022, there were 26 questions in the VARC section, with 18 of them being Reading Comprehension questions.

What is the duration of the CAT VARC section?

The duration of the CAT VARC section is 60 minutes.

What kind of passages can be expected in the CAT VARC section?

The passages in the CAT VARC section can cover a range of topics, including social, political, economic, and cultural issues. The passages can also be from different genres such as fiction, non-fiction, and scientific texts.

How can I improve my performance in the CAT VARC section?

Some tips to improve your performance in the CAT VARC section include practicing reading comprehension regularly, building a strong vocabulary, improving your reading speed, and practicing time management strategies.

What are some common mistakes to avoid in the CAT VARC section?

Some common mistakes to avoid in the CAT VARC section include misreading questions, not understanding the context of the passage, not paying attention to the tone of the author, and spending too much time on a single question.

How important is the CAT VARC section in the overall CAT exam?

The CAT VARC section is an essential part of the overall CAT exam, as it carries a weightage of approximately 34% in the exam. A good performance in the VARC section can significantly impact your overall score and chances of getting admission into a top B-school.

Can I improve my CAT VARC score in a short amount of time?

Yes, with the right strategy and approach, it is possible to improve your CAT VARC score in a short amount of time. Consistent practice, focusing on your weaknesses, and developing time-management skills can help improve your performance in the VARC section.