CAT VARC Strategy: Tips To Ace Reading Comprehension And Verbal Ability

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1. Building Comfort with Diverse Topics

I could usually identify whether a passage was political, scientific, or economic, but I didn’t have enough background knowledge in many of these areas. That lack of familiarity made comprehension difficult and slowed me down.
To fix this, I actively consumed content across genres—not just by reading, but also by watching videos, explainers, and podcasts. I binged on anything that gave me a clearer grasp of topics I wasn’t comfortable with. This made passages easier to connect with and reduced the feeling of being lost midway.

2. Reading Regularly with Intent

I made daily reading a non-negotiable habit, but with a purpose. I didn’t just read for the sake of it—I tried to understand the tone, structure, and main argument of each article. Over time, this helped me process complex information more quickly and improved my comprehension without needing to read every word.

3. Prioritizing Logic Over Speed

A breakthrough was realizing that VARC isn't about reading fast—it's about understanding smart. I stopped trying to read every line deeply. Instead, I focused on grasping the overall structure and flow of the passage and used that to answer questions more accurately.
Even when I didn’t understand every word, I relied on context to figure things out and stayed focused on the passage’s main idea.

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What 3 CAT Attempts Taught Me

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4. Practicing Smartly

I did a lot of practice questions, especially those that required critical thinking and inference. But more than the quantity, it was the analysis that mattered. I spent time understanding why a particular option was right or wrong, which helped me build better instincts for the exam.

5. Dropping the Need for Perfection

One of the most important shifts was learning to let go of perfection. You don’t need to understand every word or get every question right to score well in VARC. Once I started focusing on the bigger picture and trusting my logic, my accuracy improved—and so did my confidence.

Final Thoughts

VARC felt like a nightmare when I started, but with the right mix of content exposure, regular reading, smart practice, and a logical approach, I turned it into one of my strongest sections.
You don’t have to be a literature lover or a vocabulary wizard to ace VARC. You need the right mindset and consistent effort.

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