The VARC section in CAT is the most crucial area for those candidates who struggle in this section. If an individual is aiming to get seat in one of the top MBA Colleges in India, he /she needs to score well in this section. It is because this section consists of 16 questions from reading comprehensions. One needs to consistently practice RCs and continuously track performance in CAT mock test in order to improve scores in this section. If, in any case you bomb this section - you are very likely to bomb the overall exam.
A detailed analysis of CAT VARC can enhance your preparation strategy to a great extent, so that your accuracy and speed improve over time.
The reason why the VARC section in particular can be the most daunting, or even the most rewarding is because you can get a high percentile overall if you manage to get a very high percentile in the section. This translates to the fact that you need approximately 40 marks in this section to reach the 99%ile (sectional) - which highlights the difficulty of this section. The advantage however, is that most students have a familiarity with the subject. This familiarity can help you reach the 99%iler mark in this section.
In this article, we would be discussing how to analyze a sectional test in CAT VARC. We shall incorporate all the key points and tips coming from different experts in this respect.
Understanding the VARC section
The first thing while analyzing CAT VARC is to look into your performance metrics. If you wish to chop down a tree, you must first sharpen the blade. Understanding the important metrics is key to scoring well in this section.
- Accuracy: Look out for the level of accuracy in the number of questions you are attempting. Accuracy is the most important factor here. If you must choose between speed and accuracy, don't shy away from compromising a little speed for greater accuracy.
- Speed: While not as important as the accuracy, speed is important too. Speed determines the number of questions you attempt in an examination.
High Accuracy with low speed or vice versa could indicate a problem area.
- Sectional Performance: This is the division of your performance into various areas, like RC and VA. You can, therefore, regard your strengths and weaknesses within the section.
Analyzing the CAT VARC section
One of the efficient ways in which you can study to improve your performance is through detailed error analysis.
The first thing you must do after a sectional attempt is re-attempt the section but without a time limit.
After you have taken at least 4 sectionals, you can do what is mentioned below.
- Identify common mistakes: Note down the type of questions you make mistakes in, be it some inference-based questions in RC or some grammar-based questions in VA. This will help you realise where the exact problem lies and you can take steps to correct the same.
- Understand the reasoning: For each wrong answer, understand why your choice was wrong and what led you to that choice. This helps you in avoiding such similar mistakes in future.
- Solution Explanations: Always go through the solutions provided even for the questions that you have marked correctly. This may be a chance to look at alternative solutions or insights that may prove useful. Make sure you do not see the solutions until you have made 2 errors. Only after you make 2 errors or get a question right before the errors should you check the solutions.
Evaluating Reading Comprehension (RC)
Reading Comprehension is a significant part of the VARC section, and is invariably valued higher in terms of marks. This is the most stable and secured portion of the exam because very rarely do we see any changes here.
- Passage Selection: Analyze where you did very well and reasons on why. When you have given enough sectionals, there is bound to be an overlap in the areas (of passages) you are comfortable with. Once you figure it out, it is advisable that you start with this area/passage. The confidence boost will be immense.
- Time Allocation: Analyze the time used on every passage relative to its weight. The weight being your score.
- Question Analysis: Categorize RC questions into factual, inferential, or tone-based. Identify the category on which you are weak and the reason why.
Verbal Ability (VA) Analysis
Various types of questions in the VA section of the VARC paper are sentence rearrangement, grammar, and vocabulary. Proper analysis will have the following steps:
- Pattern Recognition: Understand the kind of VA question you generally get wrong. If a sentence rearrangement question posed a problem, then practice more of that.
- Grammar and Sentence Correction: If grammar based questions got difficult, revise the basic grammar rules and practice questions based on sentence correction.
Time Management in CAT VARC
Time is the most critical ingredient for success in the complete CAT exam or for that matter, the VARC section.
Mock Test Analysis: Look at your mock tests to see if you have allotted equal time to the entire section. Incase you find that the VA section is your area of strength. It is adviseable that you start with it. This will help with your warmup as well as give you a confidence boost which will set the tone for the rest of the section as well as the entire test.
Speed and Accuracy: The art of balancing speed and accuracy is very crucial. Speed is crucial but should never be at the cost of accuracy, especially during the initial phases of preparation.
Practice Under Timed Conditions: Take sectional tests regularly under timed conditions to develop a feel for pacing. This practice will allow you to get accustomed to the time pressure and you will eventually stop making mistakes because of the same.
How to improve VARC score
Daily Practice: One should be quite regular in the VARC section; daily practice should be in place to get acclimatized with its question patterns.
There is only one point. There is no other way to improve. If you can dedicated daily practice of 3-4 RCs everyday. If you can learn from the mistakes that you have made and do not make these again. There is no stopping you.
VARC Section Tips
- Familiarize yourself with the different types of questions that appear in the CAT VARC section.
- It is advisable to start by focusing on building accuracy rather than speed. Gradually, increase your speed over time.
- Do error analysis from time to time to make sure silly or conceptual errors are not repeating again and again.
- Remember, consistency and regular analysis are the mantras to excelling in the VARC section.
