Strategic Reading for CAT RC: Extracting Key Information from Aeon Essays
In the context of CAT exam preparation, particularly for the Reading Comprehension (RC) section, the debate often arises about how thoroughly one should read essays that are generally much longer than the typical CAT RC length. Aeon essays, which typically span 2000 to 3000 words, can be overly ambitious for the time constraints of the CAT exam, which usually involves RC passages of 500 to 600 words.
Do We Need to Read the Entire Aeon Essay?
The answer is often no. While it’s commendable to develop thorough and detailed reading habits throughout one's life, the strategic reading required for the CAT exam is different. Traditional reading tactics may not be the most efficient method for CAT RC preparation. Here are some key points to consider:
Reasons for Not Reading Entire Aeon Essays
Firstly, Aeon articles often extend beyond 3000 words, making them overly time-consuming. Reading such long articles on complex subjects can lead to boredom and burnout, potentially causing a reader to either abandon the reading exercise or switch to other sources entirely. This is something to avoid:
‘There should be no compulsion to read entire articles. 80 percent of Aeon articles are of more than 3000 words. Reading such long articles on complex subjects will consume too much time and you will not be able to sustain it for long. At some point, you will get bored of it. Eventually, you will either give up on your reading exercise or switch to some other source. That should not happen.’
Secondly, such reading can limit your exposure to diverse topics and contribute to a problematic relationship with reading. The idea is to maintain a balance where the reading is enjoyable and sustainable:
‘Aeon articles discuss a wide range of unusual topics, ranging from neuroscience to astrophysics. The advantage of reading such articles is that you get exposed to diverse topics written by writers from different walks of life. This develops in you the ability to read and understand unfamiliar things. However, you may not have a clear and perfect understanding of the subject matter, but this sort of reading develops in you the stamina to stay focused even on something that you don’t much like. This is what you need to do well in CAT RCs: the ability to read something to the end even if you don’t like that thing.’
Strategic Approach: Reading Select Parts
A more strategic approach would be to focus on reading the first 600–800 words of Aeon essays. This allows you to extract the key information and maintain your interest and motivation by not being overwhelmed by extensive reading:
‘This stamina will not come to you in two or three weeks. You will take three to four months to reach a level where you will become capable of holding on your attention to something for a longer time frame. Consistency therefore becomes a critical factor. So instead of reading entire articles and running the risk of losing interest in reading you should read the first 600–800 words and move to the next article. This way you will be able to read more articles and avoid boring yourself to the point of distraction. If you occasionally come across articles that are interesting, you can read them till the end. There is nothing wrong in doing so but you should avoid losing interest at any cost.’
During your CAT preparation, you may encounter individuals who have lost interest in reading simply because they thought reading articles meant reading them until the very end. This mindset creates a strict regimen that can be unsustainable. Focus on reading at least 500–600 words of any article to maintain your engagement and interest:
‘During my CAT preparation I knew people who had lost interest in reading just because they thought that reading articles means reading them till the very end. This should not be a strict regimen. Read as long as you like at least 500–600 words are recommended.’
In conclusion, while thorough reading is beneficial for building life-long skills, the key for CAT RC success is to be strategic and efficient with your reading time. By carefully selecting the parts you read and focusing on maintaining consistency, you can maximize your reading comprehension skills without burning out.