Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam is considered tough and time-consuming. It’s challenging to prepare for it because there’s no fixed syllabus provided. So, many CAT aspirants wonder how to get ready for VARC CAT. Keep in mind that you don’t need to use logic or math to find answers. In this article we have shared you complete details about the tips and tricks for better CAT Verbal Ability preparation.
What is CAT VARC?
In the CAT exam, the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section is very important. This part is there to check how good you are with grammar and understanding language. So, it’s crucial to get better at verbal skills for CAT and know all the important grammar, topics, and vocabulary related to this.
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – Important Sections
In the CAT exam, the Verbal Ability section is made up of three parts:
- Verbal Reasoning: This checks your ability to understand and reason with written information.
- Vocabulary: It tests your knowledge of words and their meanings.
- Grammar: This evaluates how well you understand the rules of the language.
To get better at the Verbal Ability section for CAT, read the tips and strategies from experts in the section below.
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – Topics To Be Studied
If you want to improve your skills for the CAT VARC section, pay attention to these topics:
- Para Summary: Understanding and summarizing paragraphs.
- Facts: Knowing and using factual information.
- Summary: Summarizing what you read.
- Odd One Out: Identifying the different item in a group.
- Vocabulary: Learning and using words.
- Grammar: Understanding language rules.
On the CAT exam day, they will ask multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and also questions where you have to type in the answers (TITA). You’ll have four options for MCQs, and you need to choose the correct one. You get +3 for a correct answer but -1 for an incorrect one, only for MCQs. So, be careful about avoiding mistakes when preparing for CAT Verbal Ability.
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – Topics Wise Preparation Tips
To do really well in the CAT VARC section, it’s crucial to study each topic separately. This part takes up a lot of time, so you need to be good at managing your time and answering questions accurately.
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – English Vocabulary
To do well in this section, here’s what you need:
- Be a Good Reader: Read a lot of different things.
- Strong Reasoning Skills: Learn to think and analyze things carefully.
- Big Vocabulary: Know lots of words and what they mean.
In this section, you might get four words that are very similar. You need to find the one that’s a little different. To do this, you need to be really good at understanding words.
One way to get better at this is to follow this approach:
- Know Where Words Come From: Understand the history of words.
- Learn How to Use Words: Know when and how to use words in different situations. This will make your vocabulary better.
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – General Tips
Our experts have given some important tips below that you can use to get better at the Verbal Ability section in CAT.
Improve Reading Habits:
Here’s a simple way to improve your CAT Verbal Ability:
- Read Every Day: Make reading a habit. It helps your grammar, vocabulary, and English skills.
- Read Newspaper Articles: This boosts your word knowledge, which is important for vocab questions.
- Stay Updated: Reading the newspaper daily also keeps you informed about what’s happening in the world.
Maintain a Notebook:
Here’s a simple way to improve your vocabulary for CAT:
- Use a Notebook: Get a notebook and write down any words you don’t know.
- Learn Synonyms and Antonyms: Find out words that mean the same and words that mean the opposite.
- Make Sentences: Try to use these words in sentences by yourself.
- Practice to Remember: This notebook can help you remember these new words for the exam.
Make A Good Preparation Strategy:
To do well in the CAT VARC reading comprehension section:
- Make a Plan: Have a strategy to review the content and answer questions quickly.
- Keep Track: Pay attention to how well you’re doing and where you can improve.
- Practice Pacing: Learn to manage your time effectively while reading and answering questions.
- Complete Practice Papers: Work on finishing practice exercises to improve your understanding and skills.
Daily Revisions:
Why Daily Revisions Are Important:
Daily revisions are crucial for effective learning and retention. Here’s why they matter:
- Retention: Revising what you’ve studied daily helps reinforce your memory. It prevents the information from fading away over time.
- Solidify Learning: Repeated exposure to the material helps you understand it better and build a stronger foundation of knowledge.
- Identify Gaps: Daily revisions highlight areas where you may still be struggling or need more practice, allowing you to focus your efforts more effectively.
- Improved Recall: When it comes to the actual exam, you’ll be better equipped to recall and apply the knowledge you’ve gained through daily revisions.
How to Take Daily Revisions:
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to incorporate daily revisions into your study routine:
- Organize Your Notes: Ensure that your study materials, notes, and textbooks are well-organized. This makes it easier to revisit specific topics.
- Allocate Time: Dedicate a portion of your daily study schedule to revisions. Setting aside even 30 minutes for this purpose can be highly effective.
- Review Previous Day’s Work: Start your study session by reviewing what you learned the previous day. Go over the key concepts and notes.
- Active Recall: Try to recall the information from memory before checking your notes. This active recall technique helps strengthen memory.
- Use Flashcards: Creating flashcards with important information, equations, or terms can be a handy revision tool.
- Practice Problems: If your studies involve problem-solving, attempt practice questions related to the topic to reinforce your understanding.
- Group Study: Sometimes, studying with peers can facilitate revisions. You can discuss and quiz each other on the material.
How Often to Take Daily Revisions:
The frequency of daily revisions depends on your study schedule and the volume of material you’re covering. However, consider these guidelines:
- Daily: As the name suggests, you should aim for daily revisions, especially when preparing for exams like CAT.
- Continuous: Continuously review the topics you’ve covered in the past week or month to ensure they remain fresh in your memory.
- Flexible: Be flexible with your revision schedule. Focus more on subjects or topics that you find challenging or need to improve.
The key is consistency. Even brief, daily revisions can make a significant difference in your ability to recall and apply knowledge during the CAT exam.
Attempt Many CAT Mock Tests:
Taking CAT mock tests is a critical part of your CAT exam preparation. Here’s a step-by-step explanation of why they are important and how to approach them:
Why Mock Tests are Important:
- Simulate Exam Conditions: Mock tests simulate the actual CAT exam conditions, including the time limit and format. This helps you become comfortable with the real test environment.
- Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: They help you identify the areas where you excel and the topics where you need improvement. This is crucial for focusing your study efforts.
- Time Management: Mock tests train you to manage your time effectively during the exam. You’ll learn how to allocate time to different sections.
- Build Confidence: As you take more mock tests, you’ll become more confident in your abilities and strategies.
- Reduce Anxiety: Familiarity with the test format and pressure helps reduce anxiety on the actual exam day.
How to Take a Mock Test:
- Choose Reliable Sources: Use mock tests from reputable sources like the official CAT website, coaching centers, or trusted online platforms.
- Set a Realistic Environment: Take the test in a quiet place with no distractions. Time yourself according to the official CAT time limits.
- Take it Seriously: Approach each mock test as if it were the real exam. Stay focused and maintain the test rules.
- Analyze Your Performance: After completing the mock test, review your answers, understand your mistakes, and learn from them.
How Often to Take Mock Tests:
The frequency of taking mock tests can vary from person to person. However, here’s a general guideline:
- Regular Practice: Start taking mock tests early in your preparation to gauge your initial strengths and weaknesses.
- Weekly Practice: As you progress, aim to take a full-length mock test once a week. This helps you track your improvement and build your endurance.
- Intensify Closer to the Exam: In the last few weeks leading up to the CAT exam, increase the frequency to 2-3 mock tests per week. This helps fine-tune your strategies and get accustomed to exam conditions.
Remember that the key is not just to take mock tests but also to thoroughly analyze your performance, learn from your mistakes, and adjust your preparation accordingly. This way, you’ll be better prepared for the CAT exam.
Tips For CAT Verbal Ability Preparation – Frequently Asked Question
Q1: How can I improve my Verbal Ability for CAT?
A1: To get better at VARC CAT, first, understand the test format and syllabus. Then, practice section-wise questions to deeply understand each part.
Q2: What are good books for CAT Verbal Ability preparation?
A2: You can use these books:
“How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT” by Arihant.
“A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning” by R.S. Aggarwal.
Q3: Do I need to read newspapers to improve my CAT Verbal Ability?
A3: Yes, newspapers are essential study materials for CAT. They help you learn new words and how to use them in sentences.
