When I began preparing for the CAT, I wasn’t overly confident about the VARC section. Reading Comprehension (RC) often felt unpredictable and, at times, monotonous. Some days, I could follow the passages with ease; on others, I found myself zoning out mid-way and struggling to make sense of what I had just read.
Looking back, the reason was simple: I had completely lost touch with reading after graduation.
During college, I enjoyed reading articles, blogs, opinion pieces, and the occasional non-fiction book, but once I graduated and started working, reading took a back seat. Over time, it became a luxury I could no longer afford. That disconnect showed in my early mocks: I found myself reading slowly, missing key ideas, and second-guessing every answer.
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Rebuilding that habit - slowly and consistently - became the most important part of my CAT prep. It eventually helped me score a 99.61 percentile in VARC in CAT 2024. But more importantly, it helped me make reading a joyful and meaningful part of my daily routine again.
Here’s how I did it.
1. I started from scratch
I accepted that my reading habits had weakened. There was no magic formula that would suddenly enable me to understand "The Hindu" editorials or "The Economist" articles overnight.
- I started with just 10-15 minutes a day.
- Picked topics I enjoyed reading - psychology, tech, cricket.
- There is no pressure to understand everything - the goal was to build consistency.
Within a month, I was reading 30 - 40 minutes a day - not because I had to, but because I had started to build that habit
The ultimate VARC Reading List (CAT 2023-2016 sources)
2. I made reading enjoyable
Let’s face it - if reading feels like a chore, chances are you’ll quit. I quickly realised that if I didn’t like a topic, I would zone out fast.
So I leaned into what I liked:
- Quirky opinion columns
- Behavioural science blogs
- Sports editorials
Once I felt confident, I explored more challenging genres like sociology, philosophy, and economics, similar to what shows up in the actual exam.
3. I Read Actively, Not Casually
Simply skimming articles didn’t help me improve.
So I started:
- Summarising passages in my head.
- Asking: What’s the author trying to say?
- Looking up unfamiliar words and phrases.
This shift from passive to active reading made a significant difference. I could approach RC sets with clarity, even when options seemed similar.
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The Result? Better Mocks. Better Focus. Less Stress.
Over time, I noticed:
- My comprehension and retention improved.
- I could read faster and more confidently.
- My accuracy in RC jumped significantly.
- And I finally stopped dreading the VARC section.
In CAT, I ended up scoring a 99.61 percentile in VARC - and I genuinely credit that to the daily reading habit I built from scratch.
Key Takeaway?
Unless you're already well-versed in English, there’s no magic pill for cracking VARC. It all comes down to consistent effort. Rebuilding my reading habit wasn’t quick or easy - but it was simple: show up every day, read with curiosity, and slowly stretch your limits. Over time, the results follow.
So don’t aim for shortcuts - aim for consistency.
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