What CAT VARC measures
CAT VARC is dominated by reading comprehension passages followed by a smaller group of verbal ability questions such as para jumbles, para summary and odd-sentence-out. The passages are long and the options are close, so the test rewards candidates who can build the passage's argument quickly and eliminate with precision.
Building the right habits
- Read widely in long-form material on economics, philosophy, science and culture, and summarise each article in two lines
- Practise passages in timed blocks, then re-read to see why each wrong option was wrong
- Treat verbal ability sets as a separate drill with their own accuracy target
Using VARC mocks well
In a mock, decide at the start which passages to attempt based on topic and length; unfamiliar and dense passages cost more time than they earn. Track your accuracy on inference questions separately from factual ones. The role of this section in an overall plan, including sectional time limits, is in the CAT mock-test preparation strategy.
The other two sections are DILR and Quantitative Aptitude; the CAT hub lists all tests.
