Building Reading Habits for CAT Verbal Ability: A 1-Year Approach

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT exam is often a decisive factor in achieving a high percentile. Succeeding in this section demands excellent reading skills, comprehension, and analytical thinking. A year-long structured approach to reading can significantly enhance your performance in this critical section. This blog provides a detailed roadmap to help you build effective reading habits for CAT preparation.

Month 1-3: Laying the Foundation

In the first three months, focus on developing a consistent reading habit while familiarizing yourself with diverse topics and styles of writing.

1. Choose a Variety of Reading Materials
   Explore newspapers, magazines, and blogs to expose yourself to diverse topics such as politics, economics, technology, science, and culture. Sources like The Hindu, The Economist, and The Guardian are excellent options.
2. Set Reading Goals
   Dedicate at least 30–60 minutes daily to reading. Start with simpler articles and gradually move to more complex ones as your comfort level improves.
3. Build Vocabulary
   Maintain a vocabulary journal. Note unfamiliar words, look up their meanings, and use them in sentences to reinforce learning.

Month 4-6: Strengthening Reading Comprehension

During this phase, the focus should shift to understanding and interpreting complex passages.

1. Dive into Classic Literature and Essays
   Read works by authors like George Orwell, Virginia Woolf, and Aldous Huxley. These texts improve your understanding of complex sentence structures and nuanced arguments.
2. Practice Active Reading
   Highlight key points, summarize paragraphs, and analyze the author’s tone and intent. Active reading helps in retaining information and identifying central ideas.
3. Solve CAT-Level RC Passages
   Start practicing reading comprehension passages from previous CAT papers. Review your mistakes and grasp the reasoning behind the correct answers.

Month 7-9: Enhancing Speed and Accuracy

At this stage, focus on reading faster without compromising comprehension.

1. Time Your Reading
   Use a timer to read articles and passages. Strive to gradually improve your speed without compromising accuracy.
2. Focus on Abstract Topics
   Read articles on philosophy, psychology, and abstract concepts. These topics are commonly found in CAT RCs and help you tackle unfamiliar subjects.
3. Join Reading Forums
   Participate in online forums or discussion groups to share insights and gain different perspectives on reading materials.

Month 10-12: Final Preparation

The last three months should be devoted to intense practice and fine-tuning your reading skills.

1. Take Mock Tests
   Regularly attempt full-length mock tests with VARC sections. Evaluate your performance and concentrate on the areas that require improvement.
2. Revisit Tough Passages
   Review passages or articles you initially found challenging. This strengthens your capacity to tackle challenging material.
3. Stay Consistent
   Maintain your reading schedule even as the exam approaches. Consistency ensures that your reading skills stay sharp.

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