1. Handling the RCs: It goes without saying that one who tames the RCs tames the entire section since they hold around 75% of the total marks and not to forget that all of them negative marking. Candidates should practice RCs from these enlisted sources (preferably in a chronological order):
- The RC booklet of TIME.
- Online RC tests of TIME on student’s profile (Basic and Intermediary levels are mandatory)
- Half-hour RC tests on random websites (A google search of “CAT RC tests” will do)
- Previous year CAT RCs
Needless to say that while doing all this, the RCs of each AIMCAT should be reviewed.
Tip: Learn the art of eliminating that one-two RCs in every test which will be too lengthy/tough to waste one’s time on by reading just their first paragraph. It’s okay to solve 2.5-3 RCs out of let’s say 4!
2. Things other than RCs: Para jumbles is the probably the only thing which remains to be feared of and be practised other than the RCs. Everything else automatically falls in place if the candidate doesn’t leave his/her common sense at home.
3. Drink the poison of Vocab: Vocabulary building is by far the most detested activity when it comes to preparing for VA. Agreed that no direct vocab-based questions are asked in CAT but ultimately it helps a lot to know the meaning of those 3-4 seemingly esoteric words in each RC. Also, every non-CAT entrance exam such as XAT, NMAT, IIFT, SNAP, etc throws 6-7 direct vocab-based questions on test takers. Some ways to build vocabulary are:
- The book “Six weeks to words of power” by Wilfred Funk (most suggest “Word Power made easy” but I personally found the former fun to read)
- Any mobile gaming app for GRE prep (makes learning words a lot more fun and interesting)
- Learn 15-20 new words every day from a newspaper and maintain diary
- TIME vocab cards: You can SKIP them, I know they’re a pain in the arse!
4. Sorry avid novel readers: Honestly speaking, reading novels may have a host of benefits but I personally don’t find them worth the time and efforts as compared to the returns they produce in terms of helping one perform better in the VA section. Allot time to them just for the sake of joy of reading and not for reaping any substantial benefits in CAT.
Doing the aforementioned tasks should definitely increase one’s chances of not just saving face but acing the VA section. However, even the best of the best get hiccups in their scoring pattern in VA so just pray that CAT’17 is not one of those days for you.
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