For the majority of the candidates appearing for one of the most competitive gateways to the top B-schools of our country, Common Admission Test (CAT), the VARC section tends to remain a challenge. We will be sharing some of the tried and tested tips for acing the section but before we get into it, let’s get to busting some myths around this infamous section.It is easier for liberal arts students to score well in VARC while engineers can sail through LRDI and Quantitative Ability.Engineers or students studying engineering courses form the majority of the applicant pool for the exam. They are mathematically sound, but the language seems to be a herculean obstacle. Most of the aspirants are worried about that one section and some, unfortunately, give up as well. Yet, engineers dominate the toppers list year after year. For CAT 2021, out of 47 candidates scoring in the range of 99.98 and 100 percentile, 38 are engineers. So, with a dedicated study plan and work hours, one can easily master the section and emerge victorious, for numbers don’t lie.
Women are better with words, and it is tough for men to score well in VARCThis is another myth that flies around amongst the aspirants that female candidates have inherently a better grasp of languages hence they tend to score better in the VARC section while males do not possess that superpower. However, in CAT 2021, of the 47 candidates scoring between 99.98 – 100 percentiles, only one is female. Statistically speaking, of the 1.92 lakh candidates only 35% were females so it might not be the best comparison and this trend of low female participation in management examinations is to be discussed in another article, however, the point being made is that irrespective of the gender, one can ace all the sections equally. It varies from person to person and their mental ability.
One has to read umpteen number of novels This has to be the biggest myth that needs to be cracked open and let us tell you why. It is not about the quantity but the quality. Being able to read lots of written stuff is not the quality that would help one ace the VARC section, but the ability to read and comprehend perfectly. We have 24 questions and a 40-minute timeframe coupled with the fact that the RC passages are not that lengthy (450-500 words each), speed reading with high comprehension should be your aim. Fictional novels can be a good start; however, it is better to push your comfort bubble and get with topics foreign to you. So, if you are a psychology major, we would suggest looking up tech blogs. Similarly, for a mechanical engineer, it would be fruitful for them to go through some medical journals.
So how to get going with the prep?One of the best ways to start preparing for this section is to read newspaper articles every day. They tend to carry a range of topics; hence one is exposed to the world in real-time. A dedicated 15 minutes set aside for it can be fruitful. Along with that, attempting 3-4 RC sets every day is more than enough, although more the merrier. It is also necessary to practice verbal ability questions as well since 7-8 questions in CAT comprise the same. In 2021 CAT itself, there were 2 questions of picking odd sentences out of para jumbles and 3 each of para jumbles and summary. One of the most efficient methods would be to attempt topic tests of the same in the beginning quarter of your preparation and then start attempting sectional mocks with weekends reserved for all-sections-inclusive mocks. While attempting the sectional mocks, if you feel drained out working through the RCs, you can spruce it up by attempting VA questions after each RC set. This can keep up the energy and might feel less draining. After every mock test, sit back and evaluate where you went wrong and where you spent unnecessary time. This way, try to learn to comb the tough questions out so that on the D-day, you will be able to fish out the easy questions and attempt them with higher accuracy.To all the CAT aspirants out there, this is to reinstate that there are innumerable more such myths making rounds around the internet to demotivate true talent. These are nothing but minor roadblocks that one can easily tune out by focussing on the destination at the end of this journey called CAT! Happy prepping!