CAT 2024 VARC: High-Scoring Topics to Focus On for Maximum Marks

As the CAT 2025 exam date is nearing, students all over India are tuning up to take one of the most competitive exams in the MBA entrance category. The exam is going tough this year, as per the analysis of previous year question papers. 

Among three sections of the CAT 2025 exam, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA), the VARC section holds special significance, accounting for 24 out of the total 66 questions. Performance in the VARC can spell the difference in your overall percentage in CAT, and it is therefore essential to concentrate on the most score-able topics in the VARC part.

The structure of VARC section

The VARC section consists of 24 questions, split between 18-20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 4-6 Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) questions. The marking scheme gives a mark of +3 to all the correct answers along with minus one to each erroneous answer in MCQs whereas TITA questions are free of negative marking. The candidates have 40 minutes to answer this section and changing the section is also not permitted during the test.

Topics with high scores in CAT 2025 VARC

The following is an outline of the most vital and high pay-off areas to target:

1. Reading Comprehension (RC): The most intensive section is the VARC section and RC is at the heart of this area as 16 questions have been devoted to it. The comprehensions are chosen from numerous topics such as current affairs, social problems, science, philosophy etc. Just like it is in the RC section of CAT entrance exam, one has to be fast in reading and accurate both in comprehension and in being able to build arguments and generate inferences. The level of difficulty is fairly tough. You need to be well prepared to pass this section. 
2. Para-Jumbles: The questions are to test you in your placement of distorted sentences to form a comprehensive paragraph. Solving logical sequences and sentence relations is important on a regular basis. The questions are 2-4. The level of difficulty is moderate.
3. Para-Summary: In this case, you need to write a paragraph just in your own words, in your own words and express in one-two sentences the essence of a passage. This examines your listening skills and your power to filter. You can expect 2-3 questions from this. The level of difficulty remains medium. 
4. Odd One Out Question: You are given a set of of sentences to which you should find one which does not correspond with the other. This demands a good understanding of where the paragraph and the flow is heading. You can expect 1-2 questions from this. The difficulty level is moderate.
5. Sentence Completion and Correction: These are questions to determine your vocabulary and grammar. You might be told to fill in the blanks in a meaningful way or you could be asked to err of grammar. 2-3 questions can be expected from this topic. It is fairly easy  and increases your chance of better marks in CAT 2025. 
6. Vocabulary-Based Questions (Word Usage, Synonyms, Antonyms): Though they are not as often asked, they are scoring provided that your vocabulary background is good. The anticipated questions count range from 1-2 and the level of difficulty is nominal. 
7. Fill-ups: These questions are asked to check your vocabulary skills and the command over the language. You can expect 1-2 questions on an average from this. The difficulty level is nominal. If you answer these correctly, you can get easy marks. 

Tips on Preparation to Get Maximum Marks

1. Reading Comprehension (RC): This is the easiest to understand, simply because this is the type of questions on which the section focuses in general.
2. Para-Jumbles and Summaries: Try and do these daily to increase speed and accuracy.
3. Grammar and Vocabulary: Read a lot and keep revising main rules of grammar; remember trending words and how to use them.
4. Practice M mock tests: Take practice tests to get a feel of the day of the exam and create an exam-day pressure.
5. Review Mistakes: Learn the mistakes in practice papers so as to stop repeating them during the actual exam.

The CAT 2025 VARC section is a strategic part where conducting practice is efficient. First, you can target the topics that give you maximum marks such as Reading Comprehension, Para-Jumbles, Summaries etc., and improve your grammar and vocabulary in order to get maximum marks and improve your overall percentile. And the best way to do so is to start early, practice regularly and learn without any fear of the exam. 

Note: Lakhs of students take the CAT; if you do  not want to waste your precious time competing for one seat with thousands of students, you can take the GMCAT (Global Management Aptitude Test) that is accepted by top management universities (private) in India. Your aim should be to focus on quality education and gaining real-times skills instead of running behind the fame of joining a government college and flexing!