Overview: While you are on your CAT prep journey, it's crucial to understand that one of the most critical sections of the CAT exam is Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). In 2024, the competition is fierce, but with the right approach and dedication, you can excel in this section and pave your way to success.

Importance of Acing VARC Section in CAT

Before we move ahead and look into the detailed syllabus of VARC for CAT 2024, let's see why it becomes pivotal for you to ace in this section:

• High Weightage: VARC typically carries significant weightage in the CAT exam. Scoring well in this section can significantly boost your overall percentile, thus increasing your chances of securing admission into your dream B-school.
• Skill Assessment: VARC is not just about testing your language proficiency; it evaluates your ability to comprehend complex passages, analyze information, and draw logical conclusions. These are essential skills for any management aspirant, as they directly correlate with decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Versatility: VARC comprises two distinct but interconnected components: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Verbal Ability assesses your proficiency in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence correction, while Reading Comprehension evaluates your ability to understand and interpret passages across various genres. Excelling in both areas is crucial for achieving a high score.

Download Free Study Material for CAT Exam 2024 by SuperGrads

Now, let's delve into the syllabus for CAT 2024 VARC:

CAT VARC Syllabus 2024  

The verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section is expected to have 24 questions to be completed within 40 minutes. The official site does not release any CAT exam syllabus pdf. CAT exam subjects and syllabus is based on previous years' papers. 

• It examines your grammatical knowledge, comprehension skills and vocabulary skills. 
• The CAT VARC section is dominated by questions based on unseen passages followed by fill-in-the-blank questions, idioms, etc. 
• The table below covers all the important topics regarding the VARC section of the CAT exam. 

CAT VARC Syllabus 2024  

Types of clauses	Article usage	Reading Comprehension
Subject-verb agreement	Para jumbles	Phrases modifiers
Foreign language words used in English	Sentence completion	Different usage of the same word
Errors in tenses	Parts of speech	Fill in the blanks
Analogies	Syllogisms	Antonyms
Sentence correction	Jumbled Paragraphs	One word substitution
Para completion and Inference	Grammar	Preposition
Idioms	Verbal Reasoning	Phrasal Verbs

Find Out: Which IIM is Best for MBA

CAT English Exam Syllabus Weightage  

• About two-thirds (66%) of the questions are related to Reading Comprehension, where you read a passage and answer questions about it. 
• The remaining questions test your language skills, including grammar and English usage. 
• Important topics for this section include Para summary, jumbles, and odd sentences.  

Topics	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level
Para-Summary	2 to 3 Questions	Moderate
Para-Jumbles	2 to 4 Questions	Moderate
Odd Sentences	1 to 2 Questions	Moderate
Reading Comprehension Passages	24 Questions	Moderately difficult
Sentence Completion and Correction	2 to 3 Questions	Moderately Easy
Word Usage (Vocabulary)	1 to 2 Questions	Easy
Fill in the Blanks	1 to 2 Questions	Easy

Overview of CAT Exam VARC Syllabus and Pattern with Sectional Weightage  

If you are preparing for the CAT Exam 2024 syllabus, you should understand essential details like how the exam works, how marks are given, how long the test lasts, and how many questions there are. This information can be found in the table below, which summarizes the CAT Exam VARC syllabus and exam format:

Sectional Division of Syllabus	Overview of Topics in Syllabus	Overall Weightage in CAT exam
Section-1: CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus Weightage and Topics (Sectional Division is given below)	RC Based Questions, Para jumbles, Para summary, Out of Context Sentence	36%
Section-1.1: CAT Verbal Ability (VA) Syllabus- Key Topics & Weightage	Jumbled Paragraphs; Para-summary Picking the Out of context sentence from a jumbled paragraph	10%
Section-1.2: CAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Syllabus- Key Topics & Weightage	Long & Short RC Passages followed by questions based on vocabulary, statements, inferences, elaboration of ideas in the passage	24%

Read more: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2024

CAT VARC Detailed Syllabus 2024 

The CAT VARC section is divided into Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. You can review the CAT VARC syllabus in the following section:

Verbal Ability

• Summarization: You must condense the main points of a short paragraph into 2-3 questions.  
• Jumbled Paragraphs: This section involves rearranging sentences in a paragraph and identifying sentences that don't fit contextually, presented in two to three questions.  
• Grammar Correction: You'll need to spot and rectify errors in verbs, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and other parts of speech within sentences.  
• Sentence Arrangement: Arrange sentences in a paragraph logically, including conditional sentences, time clauses, reported speech, and passive voice when necessary.  
• Vocabulary Usage: Determine the correct word pairs in vocabulary usage questions.  
• Synonyms and Antonyms: Identify synonyms and antonyms in vocabulary questions related to reading comprehension passages.  
• Vocabulary Fill in the Blanks: Fill in sentences with appropriate vocabulary words.  
• Paragraph Completion: Complete the last sentence of paragraphs in a meaningful way.  
• Analogy Questions: Solve analogy questions that test your ability to draw comparisons between words or concepts.  
• Critical Reasoning: Analyze and respond to questions that involve essential reasoning and logical thinking.  
• Sentence Completion: Fill in the blanks within sentences to make them coherent.  
• Fact, Inference, and Judgment: Based on the information provided, distinguish between facts, inferences, and judgments.  
• Irrelevant Statement Identification: Identify and eliminate irrelevant statements within a passage.  
• Phrasal Verbs: Utilize phrasal verbs accurately in sentences.  

Reading Comprehension:  

• Passages on Government Policies: Reading passages on topics like government policies such as the Clean India Mission, migration, and global intolerance and their impact on society, international relations, and governance.  
• Business and Economic Passages: Comprehend passages on subjects like global economic changes, economic development with potential environmental consequences, demonetization in India, and government expenditures.  
• Literature Passages: Reading passages from renowned English literature books, articles authored by philosophers and thinkers, and speeches by influential figures like Charles Dickens, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and Winston Churchill.  
• Science and Culture Passages: This course explores passages on the journey to the modern world and the effects of advancing technology on traditional cultures.  
• Abstract Topics and Fiction: Engage with passages on abstract subjects and fiction that require critical thinking and empathy with the author's perspective.  
• Historical Passages: Reading passages about historical events leading to social changes globally and in Indian history, along with insights from activists.  
• Mythological Passages: Analyze passages from mythology that draw connections between mythological events and contemporary social structures, requiring inference-based answers.  

CAT VARC Syllabus Analysis  

For the past few years, the section has focused on majorly five types of questions:  

• Summary Questions- In these questions, the key is usually to find the options consistent with the passage or go beyond the scope of the discussion. Once you can eliminate the other options, the correct answer will emerge.  
• Para Jumbles- These are usually TITA, meaning there is no margin for error. In these types of questions, 4-5 sentences are out of order. Together, they form a paragraph; you must find the order best suits the sentences.  
• Odd Sentence- Like jumbled paragraph questions, it has been a TITA question for the past 3-4 years. The objective is to recognize the sentence that does not follow the theme accepted in the rest of the paragraph.  
• Para Completion- Para-completion requires you to add a missing line to a paragraph. Determine the paragraph's topic and attempt to summarize the action in your own words.  
• Reading Comprehension- The Reading Comprehension section consists of questions based on passages provided. The questions are generally a mix of fact-based and inferential questions. As the name suggests, the fact-based questions demand answers based on facts mentioned in the passage.  

Latest Changes in CAT Exam VARC Syllabus  

The MBA Common Admission Test (CAT) syllabus has remained unchanged for over a decade. The only modification considered in the IIM CAT English syllabus has been reducing the number of questions from 100 to 66 over the past two years. 

To gain a clearer understanding of this, please refer to the table provided below:

CAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern	Changes (2019-2020)	Changes (2020-2021)
Total Number of Questions	Reduced to 76 from 100	Reduced to 66 from 76
Raw Score	Reduced to 228 from 300	Reduced to 198 from 228
Total Number of VARC Questions	Reduced to 26 from 34	Reduced to 24 from 26

Best Books for VARC Syllabus in CAT  

The market and the internet are flooded with CAT English study material, but choosing the right publication is a significant task. The following table lists the important CAT English Syllabus preparation books and provides detailed descriptions.  

CAT Exam Preparation Books 2024, you can refer to the English syllabus:

Books	Author	Details
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT	Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay	Mock tests are provided Analysis of past years' papers Analysis of past years' papers Written in a lucid manner Analysis of past years' papers Written in a lucid manner Topic-wise segregation is provided
Word Power made easy	Norman Lewis	Improves Vocabulary Explain the correct usage of words Review exercises at the end of chapters Divided into oriented sections
High School Grammar and Composition	Wren and Martin

Tips to Ace VARC in CAT 2024

• Regular Practice: Consistent practice is the key to mastering VARC. Set aside dedicated time each day to solve RC passages, grammar exercises, and vocabulary quizzes.
• Strategic Reading: While reading passages, focus on grasping the main idea, understanding the author's perspective, and identifying key arguments. Take notes if necessary to aid comprehension.
• Time Management: Allocate time wisely during the exam. Prioritize passages based on your strengths and interests, and don't get bogged down by difficult questions. Remember, each question carries equal weightage, so aim for accuracy rather than attempting every question.
• Mock Tests: Take regular mock tests to simulate the exam environment and gauge your progress. Analyze your performance, identify areas of improvement, and adjust your study plan accordingly.
• Seek Guidance: Don't hesitate to seek guidance from mentors, teachers, or fellow aspirants. Joining a CAT coaching institute or online forums can provide valuable insights and study materials.

Learn more: How to Improve Vocabulary for CAT Exam 2024?  

Conclusion: Mastering the VARC section of the CAT exam requires dedication, practice, and a strategic approach. Keep persevering, stay confident, and believe in your abilities. With the right mindset and preparation, you can ace the CAT exam and get near to your IIM dream!