How to Prepare for CAT VARC 2025: The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT Exam can be tricky for many students. It tests candidates’ reading skills, ability to understand ideas, and clarity in using language. Unlike Quant or DILR, this section does not need formulas. Instead, it requires focus, practice, and the habit of reading regularly. VARC plays a significant role in the overall percentile, so preparing well is essential. Many candidates struggle because they either read too slowly, find it hard to understand long passages, or make errors in grammar-based questions. The good news is that, with the right strategy and consistent effort, candidates can improve their performance. This article will guide candidates on how to prepare for CAT VARC 2025 step by step. It will cover reading strategies, practice methods, and ways to improve accuracy, enabling candidates to gain confidence and achieve a high score. Also Read How to Prepare for CAT DILR?
CAT VARC Syllabus 2025
CAT VARC section includes 24 questions in the question paper. This section is divided into two sub-parts i.e., Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Candidates can refer to the table below to check the topics included in CAT VARC.
Read CAT Syllabus 2025
CAT VARC Topic-Wise Weightage 2025
CAT VARC syllabus includes four major sub-topics: Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Verbal Ability, and Odd Sentence. Candidates can check the total number of questions asked from each subtopic of CAT VARC in the table below.
Read How to Prepare for QA Section?
How to Prepare for CAT VARC 2025?
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam is important and can make a big difference in a candidate’s overall percentile. Many candidates find it more challenging than Quant or DILR because it does not follow formulas but requires good reading habits, attention to detail, and logical thinking. With thoughtful preparation, candidates can master it. Below are topic-wise preparation tips explained in simple words.
Reading Comprehension (RC)
Reading Comprehension is the most important part of VARC. Around 70% of the section usually comes from RC. Passages can be from philosophy, history, science, psychology, literature, or current events.
Tips for RC
- Read every day: Spend at least 30–40 minutes daily reading newspapers, editorials, magazines, or books. This builds speed and comprehension.
- Focus on ideas: While reading, note the main point, tone, and purpose of the passage instead of focusing only on details.
- Practice previous year papers: Solve CAT-level passages to get familiar with complex topics and question patterns.
- Manage time: Skim through the questions first, then read the passage with focused attention. This helps identify relevant parts quickly.
- Improve accuracy: Do not guess. Eliminate wrong options using logic and context.
Para Jumbles (Jumbled Sentences)
The Para Jumbles test candidates’ ability to arrange scattered sentences into a meaningful paragraph.
Tips for Para Jumbles
- Find opening and closing sentences: Look for sentences that introduce or conclude the idea.
- Check connectors and pronouns: Words like this, therefore, however, but, or pronouns like he, she, they usually link to earlier sentences.
- Practice daily: Take small sets of 4–5 jumbled sentences and practice arranging them.
- Look at the flow of ideas: Ensure sentences follow a logical sequence—introduction, explanation, conclusion.
Para Summary
In these questions, candidates are asked to choose the option that best summarises a paragraph. It checks whether a candidate can capture the main idea in fewer words.
Tips for Para Summary:
- Read carefully: Understand the central message before looking at options.
- Avoid extremes: Eliminate answers that are too broad or too narrow compared to the original passage.
- Verify accuracy: The correct option should accurately represent all key ideas without introducing unnecessary assumptions.
- Practice summaries: After reading an article, try to write its summary in 2–3 sentences.
Odd One Out (Sentence Elimination)
This topic requires identifying the sentence that does not fit in with the rest of the group.
Tips for Odd One Out
- Find the theme: First, check what the common theme in the majority of sentences is.
- Identify the mismatch: The sentence that breaks the flow, introduces an unrelated idea, or changes the tone is usually the odd one out.
- Practice quickly: These are smaller questions, so practice regularly for speed and accuracy.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Though CAT does not ask direct vocabulary or grammar questions, having a good command of words and grammar helps in understanding passages and sentence-based tasks.
Tips for Vocabulary & Grammar
- Read widely: Exposure to diverse content naturally improves vocabulary and sentence sense.
- Note new words: Maintain a small diary to write new words and their meanings. Revise weekly.
- Understand context: Focus more on how words are used in sentences rather than memorising long lists.
- Check grammar basics: Go through basic sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, modifiers, and connectors.
Practice and Mocks
Strategy is incomplete without practice. The more candidates practice, the better control they get over speed and accuracy.
Tips for Practice
- Solve sectional tests: Attempt 3-4 RC passages, para summary, and para jumble questions daily.
- Take mock tests: Appear for full-length mocks to learn time management in a real exam setting.
- Analyse mistakes: Spend equal time reviewing solutions and learning why answers were wrong.
- Build stamina: Since RC requires sustained focus, practice reading passages of 1,500–2,000 words to stay attentive.
Check CAT Preparation 2025
How to Prepare for CAT VARC 2025: Week-Wise Strategy
Candidates can also refer to the week-wise preparation strategy for CAT VARC section in the table below.
CAT VARC Exam Pattern 2025
Candidates who are preparing for CAT VARC section must go through CAT Exam Pattern 2025 VARC before starting the preparation.
