How to Start Preparing for the VARC Section of the CAT Exam as a Beginner

Hi everyone! I am Aditya, and I want to share my journey in the CAT 2023 exam, one of the toughest in recent years. After six months of preparation, I scored only 67%ile, which was quite disappointing. However, with the right guidance and assistance from the faculty of Fundamakers, I was able to achieve a 98%ile in the VARC section. Variability Reasoning and Verbal Ability (VARC) is one of the crucial sections in the entire CAT journey, and it offers significant potential for improving your overall score. For those starting out, I highly recommend enrolling in Fundamakers' coaching, as their daily and weekly topic tests provide invaluable practice.

VARC Topics

The VARC section comprises several key areas:

Verbal Ability

Vocabulary Grammar

Reading Comprehension

Sentence Completion Grammar and Usage Verbal Correction Vocabulary Questions

Strategies to Improve Your VARC Score

Enhance Your Reading Habits

Establishing a consistent daily reading habit is essential for improving your command over English language and vocabulary. This will help you in becoming more fluent in dealing with the verbal sections of the exam.

Develop a Strategy

Reading comprehension questions in the VARC section require comprehensive strategies to tackle the text and answer questions efficiently. It’s crucial to find a strategy that works for you, and if it doesn’t, adapt and build another one.

Maintain a Diary

Candidates should maintain a small diary to jot down unfamiliar and new words. This will not only enhance vocabulary but also help in memorizing difficult words and phrases.

Do Regular Revisions

Weekly and final revisions after completing the syllabus and other important topics are necessary to ensure a better understanding and retention of the material.

Additionally, attempting regular mocks is of utmost importance. This will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, thereby allowing you to focus on areas that need improvement.

Starting Your CAT VARC Preparation

During my preparation, I found that starting with Arun Sharma’s QA book is a good starting point, but it might not be the best choice for VARC. Instead, I recommend starting with either a video course or a GMAT critical reasoning book. The CR Bible by Manhattan Prep or the GMAT CR workbook provides a solid foundation for your critical thinking skills, which is essential for the VARC reading comprehension section.

Online Course Recommendation

I began my preparation with Manhattan Prep’s CR Bible, recommended by my brother. However, to overcome the challenges of the VARC section, I joined Bodhee Prep’s VARC course. It is meticulously designed, and the mentoring and step-by-step guidance provided after enrolling are unparalleled.

Many students find themselves struggling with the VARC section during their CAT preparation. Their scores often fluctuate, and they consistently require guidance to analyze their mock results and suggest corrective measures. An organized approach is significantly more effective than a disorganized one, as it saves both time and effort.

Thank you for reading. Best of luck with your CAT preparation!