Getting started on a new study program is an exciting thing. New syllabus, new learning avenues, new study materials and even new people to collaborate with and learn from. If you are like us, you love to learn.
So, what happens along the way when you start feeling like you’re missing the point or you’re not quite there where you need to be?
There could be a few reasons
- A lack of time and planning
- Challenges around schedules and commitments (for students and professionals alike)
- Limitations around classes, tutors and other such sources
- And of course, the age-old question of ‘what to study’?
Today, a quick Google search, even with incomplete words, will get you millions of results in a flash of seconds. Videos, images, infographics, gifs, reels, shorts and a number of other media will jump out at you telling you they are the best of the best, no matter what you’re looking for. Do you find that mildly infuriating?
Because we do.
More so because when you do click on a shiny, promising result from your search, and do just a little bit of digging, you quickly realise that they aren’t even remotely connected to what you were looking for, and they just want your money, time and barring that, just a click. It’s a clickbait world and we’re just clicking through it.
Well, as a CAT aspirant, who has a limited time and frankly, limited concentration and resources to go hunting for ‘the good stuff’, it is understandable that you want something direct, distinctly helpful and free of further investment and investigation. Here’s where we come in, in pure Takshzila spirit, telling you what you need to know, nothing less, nothing more. And you have this essay for free, so feel free to pass it along and help others too.
In this essay, we will give you a short but impactful list of resources you can use from day one of your CAT prep journey, specifically to supplement your CAT VARC Study Materials for the English/Verbal sections of not just CAT but all other tests as well.
Strictly from the point of view that there are certain subjects, areas and topics you need to prepare for CAT 2024 VARC, we have categorised all that you need to know as follows
- Grammar and language functions
- Vocabulary
- Reading Comprehension Skills
- Introductory texts to various subjects (for passages) And
- Conversational English (for GD/PI and general improvement)
Below, you will find a collection of titles, workbooks, sources and similar resources which you can utilise in different ways as you study for CAT 2024.
1. Grammar and language function
The good old Wren & Martin still holds water here. However, instead of taking a deep dive into Grammatical concepts, get their Exercise Books and start solving them. This way you will figure out which of the language functions you need to revise/learn and will save precious time learning only those.
There is also a very helpful range of workbooks titled Raymond Murphy Grammar Series. These start from beginners’ levels and go up to advanced. Get your hands on the one that suits your level best and work your way up.
2. Vocabulary
Everybody and their mailman has heard of Normal Lewis’ Word Power Made Easy. While there is nothing wrong with such books, they do one of two things for most learners – give them way too much information on very small areas of the subject, OR, overwhelm them so much that they end up not doing anything at all and feeling demotivated.
If this is you, instead of using one single book to learn words, use your everyday environment to enhance your word bank. When you read something, notice how they are using the words, and mentally note some that you like. And then, do this –
- Read
- Remember
- Repeat
- Recall
Doing this for every word will make a lasting imprint in your mind and help you produce the same quality of language in the future.
3. Conversational English
Podcasts are a great way to not only learn how people talk in English but also stay ahead of how language is changing. Because podcasts are constantly bringing in new content, they have a higher chance of introducing you to ideas, concepts, topics and subjects that bear relevance to your CAT prep. The same goes for language too!
Follow some popular podcasts available on all podcast streaming platforms, or find a niche for yourself and learn language as well as new things while you travel, workout or fall asleep!
We like
Stuff You Should Know
Revisionist History
You’re Wrong About…
Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know
(and once you start listening to these, you will find your recommendations attuned to your tastes and you will discover so many more like them!)
4. Introductory texts to the most common subjects in RCs
Looking at the past years’ papers, we have collated a list of the most common RC passage topics for you. Here they are –
- History
- Philosophy
- General Science
- Biology
- Technology
- Society and Culture
- Language and Literature
- Economics
Now, you must be thinking, ‘how can I possibly get started on reading all of these subjects?! I don’t even know the basics for some of them!’
And you’re not alone.
The thing you might not realise is, when it comes to VARC preparation for CAT and similar tests, you only need an initial familiarity for these and other subjects. In other words, you don’t need to start studying Economics or reading big fat novels from the 19th century just to be prepared to read 500-600 words in these tests.
Instead, you need a foundational understanding of what they are. And luckily, there is a series of very short books that you can rely on to do just that.
Guess what they’re called? Oxford’s Very Short Introductions! Get your hands on the ones that seem most relevant to CAT (see list above), or just read the ones that pique your interest! You can’t go wrong with these.
Reading for a test that has no syllabus is tricky, isn’t it? But with this essay, we hope you have found some insight into what sort of ‘reading’ you need to be doing for the duration of your prep. To find a similar, but more text-oriented list of titles for Quantitative Aptitude and DI & LR subjects for CAT and other tests, you can read this essay.
For more such essays, subscribe to our blog and keep visiting our website to stay ahead. We are also present on all the popular social media channels if you want to meet us there and follow along with the discussions and community talk. Or, for a more 1-1 interaction, drop us a ‘hey’ at hello@takshzila.com.
Talk to you soon!
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