How to tackle VARC section to bell the CAT

CRACKING CAT VARC – LAST MINUTE HACKS FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT

Conquering the CAT is a huge achievement. One feels the high pressure of scoring well on the exam even more as the exam inches closer. With the CAT examination merely a week away, most students fear how they would perform on the exam. The most common fear revolves around the VARC section.  However, dedication and regular practice, combined with a small stroke of luck can produce rewarding results.

The biggest question is – what can one do now? How can a student who is one week away improve his/her performance?

Each student has his/her own set of strengths and weaknesses. Last minute improvements must focus on taking the best out of the strengths and minimising the weaknesses. The best way to improve performance is to take mocks. Solving as many mocks and questions as possible is important. However, that is only one aspect. Only solving questions is not going to help. One needs to thoroughly analyse the errors one made. While analysing any question, we need to answer two major questions –

1)      Why did I eliminate the correct answer?

2)      What was my reason for selecting the wrong answer?

The answers to these questions help one figure out what error one is making, and that is the only sure-shot way to ensure the error is not repeated. For instance, let’s say a student gets a primary purpose question wrong. Analysis of the question will help one determine which element of the option trapped the student: was it the subject? Topic? Tone? Intent?

If a student is scoring well on the mocks with a good accuracy, sticking to their current strategy along with the incorporation of analysis should be the way to go.

If a student is attempting mocks but not getting a good score, there could be a possibility that the student is not able to apply the relevant strategies properly. In such a case, one should revise all the strategies, and thoroughly analyse mocks. If still unable to identify the areas where they are going wrong, students should without any hesitation take guidance from an expert. One on one analysis with faculty of the relevant domain could help improve accuracy, and consequently scores, significantly.

But what if a student is completely unprepared? It might sound repetitive – start taking mocks RIGHT NOW! Be selective with the questions. Focus on question types that you are more comfortable with. For instance, one can try to ace the parajumble and odd sentence questions – even if you get the four questions of these categories wrong, there is no penalisation. With Reading comprehensions, one might be more comfortable answering specific idea questions as the answers to these are mostly obvious in the passage.

In short, the last week before the CAT exam is crucial and can make a big difference, especially in the VARC section. Focus on solving and analyzing mocks, reviewing strategies, and using your strengths while working on your weak areas. Whether you're well-prepared or just starting, stay consistent, learn from your mistakes, and don’t hesitate to ask for help if needed. Even small, focused efforts can bring great results. Stay confident, believe in your preparation, and face the exam calmly. Success in CAT comes from smart work and staying positive.