Get These 7 Study Companions for CAT & MBA Verbal Ability Preparation

CAT VARC preparation cannot be dependent only on syllabus based books and study material. You need to study extra for CAT VARC for handling long and dense Reading Comprehension passages and tricky parajumbles. 

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is one of pain point of majority of MBA entrance exam aspirants, especially the CAT. This is one section that cannot be memorized or prepared in a month or via mock tests. Good verbal ability and reading comprehension skill can be developed over time with adequate reading and writing practice.

CAT 2024 exam aspirants may have already read a good number of books and novels to strengthen reading comprehension skills. To crack VARC section of CAT or any MBA entrance exam preparation of Reading Comprehension can be done only through extensive reading.  

One needs to have extremely good English reading comprehension skill for CAT and XAT as their passages are long and inference based. XAT in fact has one passage in the form of a poem every year. So, it is very important to be able to read fast, understand fast and note highlights of the passages. Below, we have listed seven items that will enhance a candidate’s Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension skills for CAT 2024 exam and help them traverse through other MBA exams too. Aspirants need to become friends with these seven items listed below:

7 Study Companions for CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Preparation

1. Dictionary

Candidates will come across new words and phrases during CAT 2024 preparation. Knowing the meaning of words and how to use them correctly in a sentence is extremely important for cracking parajumble questions of CAT. This is where the good old dictionary comes handy. We suggest you to carry a dictionary everywhere. Yes, everywhere. You can choose to carry the physical dictionary (big ones or pocket sized) or simply download the dictionary app on your smartphones and tablets and check out words/word meanings whenever you get time. In short, dictionary (Shabd Kosh) is an essential element while preparing for CAT and all MBA entrance exams. 

Also Read:

• Types of RC passages in CAT
• CAT RC passages: Common pitfalls to avoid

2. Mobile Apps

Smartphones are man’s new best friend. Let’s utilise this. Download mobile applications related to verbal ability preparation and grammar. Visit these prep apps anytime you are free to solve practice exercises and play word meaning/antonym or synonym puzzles. But before downloading, review the ratings and comments of these MBA preparation apps in app stores. Download apps with 4 stars+ ratings, which have explanatory videos as well as practice questions.

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3. Newspapers

Every mentor and guide will tell you to read newspapers regularly for CAT VARC preparation. We also advise the same. Read both the news sections and editorial columns. Reading newspaper regularly will not only improve your verbal ability and vocabulary but will also improve your reading speed which is critical to CAT as it is a time bound exam. Here too, you can choose to download news-related apps.

4. Novels

Read English novels of various genres. Go for fiction, non-fiction, science fiction, popular fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, biography, auto-biography, classic novels and even historical novels to improve your reading comprehension as well as speed. Carry one with yourself anywhere you go to read in transit. Read it while waiting for the bus or train or before the teacher comes in class. The idea is get familiar with English language and also develop good reading speed. Pick up a book of your interest, else it may become a task rather than a pleasant activity.

Also Read:

• Best books for CAT preparation 2024
• CAT exam pattern 2024
• CAT 2024 syllabus

5. Movies, Teleseries

Watch movies and television shows in your free time to get familiar with spoken English. Watch popular English international TV series and listen to the conversation carefully. Observe the nuisances of the language and how people speak. It can be quite useful during GD-PI and interview stage. Many shows have subtitles. Reading subtitles can also help developing a good reading speed.

6. YouTube

Out of the seven listed Verbal Ability companions, YouTube is our new favourite! On YouTube, you can not only watch full-length CAT VA preparation videos but also enjoy various shows, videos and movies. It is helpful in developing their language skills, and also in preparing for CAT Verbal Ability at ease. All you need is a wifi connection or good mobile data package.

7. Verbal Ability Preparation Material

And finally, never let go of the CAT books and crucial material provided to you by your mentors. Developing an ease with English language is as crucial as knowing what topics are expected in the exam. Get hold of sample papers, sectional CAT mock tests and previous years' CAT question papers. Practice them in time bound manner to develop speed and accuracy. 

Also Read:

• Reading Comprehension preparation tips
• Verbal Ability preparation tips
• Pronouns with exercises
• Parajumbles with exercises
• Prepositions with exercises
• Types of clauses with exercises
• Examples of articles with exercises
• Phrases Modifiers with articles
• Parts of Speech with articles
• Errors in Tenses with articles