“How and when should I start to prepare for verbal for CAT22 “

Well,  the time to catnap is over !  With the CAT tentatively scheduled for the 27th of November, it’s time to descend into the verbal arena and pick up the gauntlet that CAT throws at you. So no time should be lost simply because as a test taker any improvement in the verbal section takes a longer time to kick in and that can be daunting for any student.

Let’s first take a look at the testing pattern and discern what are the core skills needed to crack the verbal section of CAT. Going by past data,  the VARC section comprises of :

• Reading Comprehension 4-5 passages
• Parajumbles
• Parasummary
• Out of Context

These questions have one component in common that is ‘Reading’ and it is reading that should become your raison d’etre, if you desire to ace this section.  The next question that logically pops up is what to read and how to read which will inevitably weigh heavily on your success in the VARC section.

CAT traditionally culls articles from various subject domains simply to assess whether a test taker is able to process  different types of data . For example scientific passages compel test takers to  examine hypotheses, interpret data, and consider their implications.

Whereas a Humanities passage is all about decoding the author’s perspective and tone and critically examining the issue presented. A Social Science passage will focus on finding textual evidence, understanding purpose, analyzing arguments, and more.  Every domain brings its own skill set to the table wherein it becomes possible to test a student’s ability to summarize, compare and contrast, evaluate and infer from the given text thereby revealing his reading proficiency. So eclectic reading should form the mainstay of your CAT preparation.

The first step is to start reading Columns and Editorials from The Guardian, The Economist , NewYork Times, Time, Smithsonian, The Mint  and the Hindu. Editorials are opinion pieces which help readers to critically analyze and sift from the various opinions as well as reconcile contrary viewpoints. Editorial pieces are embellished by language and help in enriching a student’s vocabulary. Integrate them into your daily reading starting with topics that interest you and then graduate to more complex ones. Initially reread the article and try to summarize it by jotting down the main points. This exercise will ensure thorough understanding of the text.

Aeon essays is a wonderful source that spans psychology, science, health, society, culture, and technology and philosophy. The essays are clear, concise, relevant and make for a good read.  Since they encompass so many different domains- a reader gets an insight into the different styles of writing authors employ while writing.  At this juncture besides extracting the main idea from the text, try and find the supporting ideas -the facts and evidences that the author uses to bolster his conclusion. Try and discern the style and the tone of the text for a more enhanced experience.  Aldaily.com is another site which explores philosophy, aesthetics, history, Literature music and art and will help a test taker hone his/her reading skills particularly in the Humanities.

You can also start reading fiction from genres that interest you and graduate to semi-fiction for a balanced mix of intellect and emotion. 

Crime and mystery and thrillers are genres that are the easiest to begin with since the plot is racy and gripping. Authors such as Dan Brown, Jeffrey Archer, John Grisham and Agatha Christie are universally popular and their books will definitely get any amateur reader hooked to reading.

Satire is one genre that a reader should explore because satire ridicules and criticizes the multifarious aspects of society through humor. The  topics that are usually covered in satirical novels are politics, economy, religion and other forms of power in a society.  It will help a student understand literary devices such as exaggeration, irony and sarcasm and help him/her  evolve as a reader. We recommend authors such as George Orwell,  Kurt Vonnegut,  Evelyn Waugh and Aldous Huxley and even one novel of each of these authors should suffice to introduce a student to satire.

Besides Reading a lot of background work needs to be done in vocabulary and Grammar to effect an overall improvement in the VARC section.

Vocabulary acquisition is important but words, like facts, are difficult to remember out of context.

Etymology is one such interesting and useful strategy that facilitates vocabulary development.   Students who learn the common roots of words soon understand the meaning of many unknown words they have never seen before, derived from the same root.  Etymology teaches word formation which helps students to read difficult texts.

Thesaurus is another online resource that helps build a more nuanced understanding of words since it gives both synonyms and antonyms of a particular word at the same time. It helps in acquiring better diction and thus aids vocabulary development.

Grammar also plays an integral part in reading comprehension since it helps identify the structure and organization of a passage and how ideas are related to each other. It becomes easier to understand idea transitions and how they overall contribute to the central idea of a passage.

Besides that question types such as parajumbles and parasumary are contingent on grammatical concepts. In parajumbles, the parts of speech help us in arranging ideas in the correct sequence. Concise structure, an important aspect of grammar helps a test taker to select the most suitable summary of a paragraph.

VARC is a panoply of skills acquired over a period of time and needs dedication. So start skill building and practise rigorously to catapult yourself to the ranks of achievers !!