The Best Way to Attempt the VARC Section for Maximum Accuracy

VARC success isn't just about reading fast; it's about making accurate decisions quickly. In the pressure cooker of the CAT exam, a flawed approach can cost you several attempts.

We’ve distilled the comprehensive strategies from our latest guide into three core steps you can implement today to immediately boost your scores and achieve maximum accuracy in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section.

1. Own the Passage (RC): The Strategic Start

Your approach to Reading Comprehension (RC) should be strategic, not purely academic. You are reading to answer questions, not to write a summary.

Start RC First: Build Momentum and Trust

Starting with RC sets (which account for the majority of the VARC marks) builds early momentum. RC questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), which can provide early confidence compared to the TITA (Type-in-the-Answer) questions in Verbal Ability (VA).

Skim for Structure & Tone: The 3-Minute Rule

Before diving into the detailed reading, spend 2−3 minutes skimming the passage. This pass is dedicated to finding the structure and author's tone, not memorizing facts.

• Structure: Identify the topic introduced in the first paragraph, the supporting arguments in the body, and the overall conclusion in the final paragraph.

• Tone is Key: Is the author critical, advocative, neutral, or skeptical? Knowing the author's intent helps you anticipate the main idea and eliminate options that contradict the overall feeling of the text.

• Boundary Sentences: Your email correctly highlights the key: focus intensely on the first and last sentence of each paragraph to understand the paragraph's purpose and flow.

  
  

2. Master the Elimination Game: Accuracy Through Deduction

Accuracy in VARC is more about eliminating wrong answers than confirming the right one. This strategic process minimizes the chance of falling for common traps.

Read the Question FIRST (RCF)

Always read the question stem before revisiting the passage or looking at the options. Understand exactly what is being asked:

• Is it a Specific Detail question (requires pinpointing a fact)?

• Is it an Inference question (requires reading between the lines)?

• Is it a Tone/Main Idea question (requires a holistic understanding)?

Reading the question first gives your subsequent reading a target, preventing you from getting lost in irrelevant details.

Eliminate Ruthlessly: The Three Pitfalls

In MCQs, immediately cross out options that commit these common errors:

1. Out of Scope: The option introduces a new idea or detail not mentioned in the passage.

2. Too Narrow/Too Broad: The option focuses only on a single example (too narrow) or makes a sweeping generalization the passage doesn't fully support (too broad).

3. Contradicts Tone: The option's sentiment or perspective clashes with the author's established tone.

Never settle for an answer until you’ve eliminated the wrong ones first. The correct option will not only be right but will also survive the elimination process where all other options fail.

3. Practice Systematically: Time, Timer, and Tracking

Systematic practice ensures that your strategies become habitual under pressure, turning speed into a byproduct of accuracy.

Time Allocation: A Non-Negotiable Pacing Guide

Commit to a fixed, disciplined time allocation for the 40-minute section:

VARC Activity	Suggested Time Range
Reading Comprehension (RC)	24−30 minutes
Verbal Ability (VA)	10−14 minutes
Review/Buffer	2 minutes

Use a timer for every set you practice! If you spend 10 minutes on a tough RC set and only answer two questions, you've compromised your entire plan. Learn to cut your losses quickly.

Analyze Errors: Fix the Pattern, Not Just the Question

This is the single most effective way to improve long-term accuracy. After every mock or practice set, track why you chose the wrong answer:

• Misinterpretation (Conceptual Gap): Did you not understand the main idea or a specific concept (e.g., how to tackle Para Jumbles)?

• Distraction (Elimination Failure): Did you fall for a specific detail trap or an out-of-scope option?

• Time Crunch (Pacing Error): Did you rush the last few questions, leading to careless calculation or hasty elimination?

Fix the recurring error pattern, and your accuracy will immediately increase.

Conclusion: Accuracy is the Sum of Small Decisions

VARC success is not a stroke of genius; it's the cumulative result of these small, consistent, and accurate decisions. By reading strategically for tone and structure, eliminating options ruthlessly, and maintaining disciplined time analysis, you can transform VARC from a challenging section into a scoring strength.

Apply These Strategies Today!

Want to see exactly how these three steps are applied to the toughest CAT passages and questions?

Check out our full strategy breakdown and live problem-solving sessions with Rahul Sir, where he demonstrates these techniques on past CAT papers.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How should I decide which RC passages to attempt? 

Use a Triage System. During your initial 2−3 minute skim, quickly categorize the passages:

• A (Attempt First): Topics you find interesting or passages that are short and have direct questions (fact-based).

• B (Attempt Second): Topics you are neutral on, or passages that are medium-length with a mix of question types.

• C (Skip/Attempt Last): Very long passages or those on highly abstract/unfamiliar topics (like philosophy or dense science). Do not spend time on these until you have finished all A and B questions.

  
  

Q2: Should I read the questions before reading the RC passage? 

Yes, but only for Specific Detail questions. For Main Idea, Tone, or Inference questions, reading the whole passage first is necessary to avoid bias. A good compromise is to read the question stem before starting the passage, so your brain has a target for the first reading (Read the Question FIRST - RCF).

Q3: My reading speed is slow. How do I fix this for the CAT? 

Reading speed is secondary to comprehension. Focus on Intentional Reading first. Practice active reading where you mentally map the passage structure, looking only for the main idea and supporting structure, not every word. To physically increase speed, practice with articles (e.g., Aeon, The Economist, Scientific American) using a timer, aiming to reduce your reading time by 10% each week while maintaining comprehension above 80%.