With the CAT exam just around the corner, effective time management becomes crucial, especially during online CAT exam preparation for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section. As the pressure mounts, students often find themselves struggling to balance reading speed with comprehension, making it essential to fine-tune strategies that can help maximize performance on exam day. In this post, we’ll dive into practical tips and techniques to enhance your time management skills for VARC, ensuring that you’re fully prepared to tackle this section with confidence.

1. Balancing Reading Speed with Comprehension

One of the most common challenges students face in VARC is finding the right balance between reading quickly and understanding the material thoroughly. It’s tempting to rush through passages to save time, but this often leads to missed details and incorrect answers. Here’s how you can strike the right balance

  • Practice Skimming Techniques: Learn to identify key sentences and main ideas quickly. This doesn’t mean skipping content but rather focusing on the most important parts of the passage. Regular practice with a variety of passages will help you develop this skill.
  • Active Reading: Engage with the text as you read. Ask yourself questions about the passage’s main idea, the author’s tone, and the implications of the arguments being made. For instance, if you’re reading about economic policies, ask yourself: “What’s the author’s stance on government intervention?” This keeps your mind focused and reduces the need for re-reading.
  • Summarization Drills: After reading a passage, take a few seconds to mentally summarize it. This helps reinforce the key points and ensures you’ve captured the essence of the text before moving on to the questions.

Example: Imagine you’re reading a dense passage on economic theory. Instead of getting bogged down in every detail, focus on identifying the author’s main argument and the purpose of each paragraph. For instance, the first paragraph might introduce the topic, the middle ones provide evidence, and the final one could summarize or offer a conclusion.

2. Techniques for Handling Time Pressure During Mocks

Mock tests are a critical part of CAT preparation, but they can also be a source of significant stress, particularly when time is tight. Here’s how you can improve your performance under timed conditions

  • Set Time Limits for Each Section: Break down your mock into smaller, manageable time slots. Allocate specific times to each passage or question type, and stick to these limits as closely as possible. This will train you to work within the time constraints of the actual exam.
  • Prioritize Questions: Not all questions are created equal. Identify which questions you can answer quickly and accurately, and tackle those first. This approach not only saves time but also boosts confidence as you progress through the test.
  • Simulate Exam Conditions: Take your mocks in a quiet environment, free from distractions, and with a strict adherence to the exam time limits. The more you simulate the actual test conditions, the better prepared you’ll be to handle the pressure on the day of the exam.

Example: During a mock test, you encounter a passage on environmental policies. You know you typically spend too much time on these topics. Instead of diving deep, allocate a strict time limit—say 8 minutes. Prioritize questions you can answer confidently and leave the trickier ones for a second pass.

3. Creating a Study Schedule for Timed Practice

In the final months leading up to CAT, a well-structured study schedule can make all the difference. Here’s how to build a plan that optimizes your time and ensures consistent improvement

  • Daily Time Blocks: Dedicate specific time blocks each day to VARC practice. Within these blocks, mix reading, answering questions, and reviewing your mistakes. Consistency is key to building both speed and comprehension.
  • Weekly Mock Tests: Set aside one day each week for a full-length mock test, followed by a thorough review. Focus on identifying areas where you lost time and plan your practice sessions around these weaknesses.
  • Focus on Weak Areas: Use your study time to target specific weaknesses, whether it’s inference questions, comprehension, or time management itself. Gradual improvement in these areas will have a cumulative effect on your overall performance.

Example: You’ve noticed that inference questions slow you down, or you often get them wrong. Dedicate a portion of your study schedule specifically to practicing these types of questions under timed conditions. For instance, spend 20 minutes daily on inference questions, then review your answers to understand where you lost time.

Conclusion

Mastering time management in the final three months before CAT can significantly boost your confidence and performance, especially in the VARC section. By balancing reading speed with comprehension, handling time pressure during mocks, and following a well-structured study schedule, you can ensure that you’re fully prepared for exam day. Remember, the key to success lies not just in the amount of time you spend studying, but in how effectively you manage that time. So, start implementing these strategies today and watch your scores improve as you approach the CAT exam.