Reading Comprehension (RC) is a crucial component of the CAT (Common Admission Test), designed to evaluate a candidate's ability to understand, interpret, and analyze written text. This section presents passages followed by questions that test comprehension, inference, and critical analysis skills.
The RC section is pivotal in the CAT exam for several reasons:
- Significant Weightage: RC typically constitutes a substantial portion of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section.
- Assessing Critical Thinking: It gauges a candidate's ability to think critically and draw inferences from complex texts.
- Improving Overall Performance: Strong RC skills not only help in the VARC section but also enhance performance in other areas requiring analytical thinking.
- Regular Reading: Diversify your reading material to include newspapers, journals, fiction, non-fiction, and scientific articles. This exposure helps in familiarizing with different writing styles and subjects.
- Practice Active Reading: Engage with the text by summarizing paragraphs, noting down key points, and questioning the content to enhance understanding.
- Improve Vocabulary: A robust vocabulary aids in comprehending complex passages. Use flashcards, vocabulary apps, and read extensively to build your word bank.
- Take Notes: While reading passages, jot down essential points, themes, and author’s tone. This practice helps in quickly referring back to critical information while answering questions.
- Timed Practice: Practice reading comprehension under timed conditions to simulate the actual exam environment. This will help improve speed and accuracy.
- Analyse Past Papers: Review RC sections from previous CAT papers to understand the types of passages and questions asked. This will also help in identifying patterns and frequently covered topics.
- Skimming and Scanning: Learn to skim through the passage to get a general idea and scan for specific information required to answer questions.
- Identify the Structure: Recognize the introduction, body, and conclusion of the passage. Understanding this structure helps in better comprehension.
- Focus on Keywords: Pay attention to keywords and phrases that indicate the main idea, author’s opinion, or significant arguments.
- Elimination Method: Use the process of elimination to narrow down answer choices. This method increases the chances of selecting the correct answer, especially when unsure.
- "How to Read Better and Faster" by Norman Lewis: This book offers practical techniques to improve reading speed and comprehension.
- "Word Power Made Easy" by Norman Lewis: Essential for building vocabulary, which is crucial for understanding RC passages.
- "Reading Comprehension for the CAT" by Nishit K. Sinha: Specifically tailored for CAT aspirants, this book provides practice passages and strategies.
- "The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT" by Nishit K. Sinha: Comprehensive coverage of verbal ability and RC techniques.
Mastering Reading Comprehension is essential for excelling in the CAT exam. Regular practice, strategic preparation, and utilizing the right resources can significantly enhance your RC skills, ensuring a higher score in the VARC section.
