What Are Some Advanced Tips to Improve Verbal Ability in CAT?

The Verbal Ability (VA) section in CAT can be a make-or-break component for aspirants aiming for top B-schools in India. While basic comprehension and grammar form the foundation, scoring high in this section requires more than just textbook knowledge. To gain an edge, one must approach verbal questions with precision, pattern recognition, and a deep understanding of language logic.

At Rahul Sir Classes, we emphasize a strategic and analytical approach to verbal ability — going beyond just reading habits. In this article, we bring you advanced tips curated from our expert faculty to help serious CAT aspirants refine their verbal game.

1. Master Paragraph Structuring and Flow

Verbal Ability in CAT often includes para-jumbles and paragraph summary questions. These are not just about grammar but about logic, tone, and coherence.

Advanced Tip: Learn to identify the "anchor sentence" — the one that introduces the theme. Then, look for sentence pairs with logical connectors (cause-effect, contrast, continuation). Practice rearranging sentences not just for order, but also for tone consistency.

2. Build Lexical Awareness Beyond Vocabulary Lists

It’s not about knowing difficult words but understanding how words behave in different contexts.

Advanced Tip: Start reading opinion columns, literary essays, and editorials. Pay close attention to how authors use transition words, irony, emphasis, or subtle criticism. This enhances your grasp of nuanced meanings — a skill often tested in CAT.

3. Practice Reverse Solving for RCs and VA

Instead of solving questions, first look at the options and try to guess what the question could be.

Advanced Tip: This sharpens your inference ability. RCs and summary questions are often designed with trap answers that are close but incorrect. Reverse solving helps you train your brain to distinguish subtle differences in logic.

4. Time-Efficient Skimming and Scanning

Reading Comprehension isn’t just about reading fast; it’s about reading smart.

Advanced Tip: Adopt the “First Line–Last Line” technique for each paragraph. This gives you a macro view of the passage before going deep. Then skim for keywords in the question and locate them quickly in the passage. Don’t re-read unless necessary.

5. Deep Dive into Option Elimination

Most students focus on choosing the correct answer. Advanced students focus on eliminating the wrong ones.

Advanced Tip: Always ask yourself: Why is this option incorrect? Eliminate answers with extreme words, distorted facts, or irrelevant additions. This technique especially helps in summary and odd-one-out questions.

6. Use Thought Mapping for Summaries

Many CAT aspirants struggle with paragraph summary questions.

Advanced Tip: While reading, mentally create a thought map — topic → key point → author’s stance → conclusion. The correct summary will align with all these, without overgeneralization or bias. Avoid summaries that include examples or minor points as main ideas.

7. Review with Error Logs

Tracking your mistakes is just as important as practicing questions.

Advanced Tip: Maintain an error log — categorize mistakes as comprehension, misinterpretation, vocabulary, or logic-based. Reviewing this weekly will help you spot patterns and address specific weaknesses, rather than relying on more practice alone.

Conclusion

Improving Verbal Ability in CAT is not about solving hundreds of questions randomly. It’s about building a sharp, analytical, and language-sensitive mindset. With consistent practice, strategic reading, and expert guidance, you can move from average to excellent in this section.

Ready to Take Your VA Preparation to the Next Level?

At Rahul Sir Classes, we don't just teach — we train your mind to think like CAT. With our proven methods, curated reading lists, and personal mentorship, you'll gain the confidence and accuracy needed to ace Verbal Ability.

Join our expert-led CAT VA program today. Rahul Sir Classes – Learn Smart. Score Higher.