CAT Reading Comprehension Prep Tips: Common Pitfalls to Avoid in RC Questions
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 12 Nov '25
CAT RC passages are the pain point for a large number of aspirants. They are dense and time consuming. Confusing options add to the woes of the test takers. Read this article to know 10 common pitfalls of RC passages in CAT 2025 and other MBA entrance exams and how to avoid them.
How to avoid mistakes in CAT RC? Reading Comprehension forms almost 2/3rd of the VARC section of CAT. Out of 24 questions, 14-16 questions are based on RC passages of various types. CAT Reading Comprehension is essentially your test of English language. The deeply you understand the passage, the more accurate choices you'll make in selection of the answers. CAT Reading Comprehension passages are long, complicated, and often from topics you might not have come across before. To solve the CAT RC questions quickly and accurately, candidates need to have ample practice of quick reading. A good vocabulary is also essential.
With RCs having over 50 per cent weightage in CAT, this area of Verbal Ability section cannot be ignored. It is not easy to concentrate on a Reading Comprehension passage while the clock is ticking, even if you have a strong interest in the subject. Because reading is considered a leisure activity. It is certainly not easy to crack the CAT RC passages even if you are an avid reader. It is not possible to get passages from your area of interest it the CAT VARC section. So, the only way to prepare for it is by improving the speed of reading and developing the skill of remembering key arguments of the passage. As the CAT 2025 preparation moves towards practice phase, focus on how to improve score in CAT Reading Comprehension section?
CAT exam has no RC passage of one or two types. The CAT RC topics are generally from the following areas:
- Business and Economics
- Humanities and Arts
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Current Events
Fortunately, we have not seen many Natural Science passages in CAT so far, which are more common in GRE and GMAT. However, there are numerous RC passages in CAT from Sociology, Philosophy, Business and Economy. The problem lies not so much in the subject of the CAT Reading Comprehension as in the typeface. Like a simple concept can be complexly presented in Mathematics, a simple subject can be written in a complicated language.
Thus, if you would like to give priority to reading passages in the CAT exam at all, you should not focus on the subject being discussed, but focus on the ease with which you can read the passage. This ensures you can read and understand quickly. Which is why is it important to read a variety of books and journals.
- How to improve understanding of a CAT RC passage?
- Common Pitfalls to Avoid While Reading an RC Passage
- CAT RC sample question for practice
- CAT questions for practice with solutions - VARC
- Watch Video for CAT VARC Preparation Tips by Experts:
How to improve understanding of a CAT RC passage?
Another question which constantly afflicts the mind of all MBA aspirants is: How to improve understanding of a CAT RC passage? One must admit that reading questions and at the same time understanding it is challenging. In CAT, you will probably find a passage you've never read before. In time-consuming RC passages, intensive information can be used. The rewards they bring, however, are fascinating. If you grasp a CAT RC passage well, you can get the majority of questions correct, meaning that a maximum marks will be gained by solving a number of questions.
One of the main factors to resolve understandings of CAT Reading Comprehension and to be exact in this area is in fact the approach that you take for this subject. In fact, how you face such a challenge becomes a central aspect of how you interpret.
Also Read:
- VARC preparation tips for CAT and other MBA entrance exams
- CAT preparation: Section-wise CAT 2025 preparation tips
- CAT Books: Section-wise best books for CAT and other study material
Common Pitfalls to Avoid While Reading an RC Passage
It is important that you keep a number of things in your mind while preparing for CAT 2025 and ensure that you avoid common pitfalls while balancing this area in a fine way.
In relation to the approach, please take into account the following points for understanding reading comprehension passages:
1. Don't highlight trivialities too much
Details are important. Don't be obsessed with examples, pictures, etc. You simply have to hang on to the main point and not the examples. Understanding the overall flow and structure will help you analyse these questions.
2. Do not memorize
Not every word in the passage needs to be stored in mind. Your priority should be to understand the flow, structure and the key points of the passage. You can always re-read the passage for factual or specific questions. But you might not get this luxury.
3. Do not first read the text
Do not first read the entire RC paragraph and then go through the questions, but do it vice versa. You will be prepared to concentrate on the things that you have to look at. Concentrate only on questions, not on a specific response option. There is a quick overview of the questions. However, you can apply this logic in parajumble.
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4. Don't focus too much on RC vocabulary
It's great to have a strong vocabulary but it doesn't stop you from understanding Shakespearean vocabulary. So, don't put yourself under stress in this area and make sure you do not get stuck on particular words while reading the passage.
5. Don't spend time on RCs you can't understand
Sometimes, we find a passage that we cannot understand. If you are struggling with such a passage in CAT exam, be sure to avoid such a passage with patience. Concentrate on those RC passages that you can easily manage. If necessary, go back to the tricky passage.
Also Read:
- Reading Comprehension preparation tips
- Verbal Ability preparation tips
- Pronouns with exercises
- Parajumbles with exercises
- Prepositions with exercises
- Subject-Verb Agreement with exercises
- Types of Clauses with exercises
- Articles with exercises
- Phrases Modifiers with exercises
- Parts of Speech with exercises
- Errors in Tenses with exercises
The best way to prepare for DILR section is through practice. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should be accustomed to the question types by going through previous years’ question papers and solving those. Since there is not much conceptual understanding required in this section, practice is the key to excel in this area.
Some of the most popular books on DILR section that you can refer are How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Pearson, to name a few.
It is difficult but not impossible. If you give yourself a good enough time to improve English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, you will be able to do it. Yes, a non- English medium student will require longer time for CAT preparation as they will have to start reading and improving English comprehension. So, may be they need to start English preparation for CAT in the second year of graduation, instead of final year (much earlier than English medium students). They may also need two attempts to crack CAT with high percentile. But that's not true for all. If you work hard and study smartly, you will be able to crack it.
6. Don't think that the right way would be out of the way
Any options out of reach are never the right answer. The correct answer is always based on the information provided in the passage. Do not concentrate on any option that distracts you from the crossing.
7. Do not depend on 'word trigger'
If you do not read through the passage attentively, you might get trapped in the 'trigger words' web. A passage can be concentrated on one point for some sentences and then change it with trigger words such as "but" or "even so". This usually confuses readers who skim or hurry around the passage.
8. Make notes
Make sure you make quick notes for a ready reference while reading obscure/abstract text. The general flow, structure, paragraph flow and major points can be entered. Remember to not make really long notes, just note the important markers / Punkte in the passage quickly.
9. Try anticipating questions
This skill is very difficult, but you will certainly be able to master it through the 'King of Reading Understanding'. While reading the passage, try to identify possible questions, and which areas of the passage appear to be the candidates most likely to be asked.
10. As you read the passage, always ask yourself questions
Make sure that certain fundamental questions remain at the back of your mind to keep your focus while reading: What is the author's key point? Why does the writer write it? How did the writer decide to transmit his/her main point? How was his/her material organised by the author?
Don't wait for stimulation, finally. Indeed, wait for the other way around! Most of the time, you'd bore yourself on RC issues and that should not let your energy drain. Keep an impartial approach to the passage and do not get mentally distressed by dark content.
The above are some of the basic points that must be taken into account when dealing with reading comprehension of MBA entrance exams. This will improve your focus, increase your understanding and increase your understanding of the subject. If you do, your task is done more or less.
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CAT RC sample question for practice
SAMPLE QUESTION:
Read the statement or passage and then choose the best answer to the question. Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the statement or passage.
Myths are stories, the products of a fertile imagination, sometimes simple, often containing profound truths. They are not meant to be taken too literally. Details may sometimes appear childish, but most myths express a culture's most serious beliefs about human beings, eternity, and God.
The main idea of this passage is that myths
- are created primarily to entertain young children
- are purposely written for the reader who lacks imagination
- provide the reader with a means of escape from reality
- illustrate the values that are considered important to a society
CAT syllabus is vast. It has numerous topics from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Covering the CAT syllabus also includes practicing a variety of sample questions on the topics included. Thus, it requires a lot of time. Candidates must given themselves atleast 3-4 months to cover CAT syllabus and keep in mind the following:
· Check the previous years' CAT papers to know topics which carry more weightage so that you can focus on those topics more.
· List down topicsin order of easy, moderate and tough and allot time to them accordingly.
· Make sure to study about 6-8 hours per day to complete the syllabus 2-3 months before the exam.
· After studying every topic, practice sample questions. Balance theory with practical.
To prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, stick to the traditional path of concepts first and practice later. Study English grammar and Verbal Ability first to understand the concept. Then practice a number of sample questions of different kinds to gain confidence, speed and accuracy. For RC passages, develop the habit of reading from early stages. Read books from all walks of life.
Practicing sample Reading Comprehension passages and questions in a crucial part of VARC preparation. This will help you understand the types of questions and RC passages asked in various entrance exams.
As an aspirant, you will be appearing for more than one entrance exam, thus you need to have the practice of different types of RC passages.
You should start preparing for CAT exam at least nine months in before the test date. CAT preparation requires long-term planning thus you must start early. The best time to start CAT preparation is in March. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not.
CAT questions for practice with solutions - VARC
Get here free PDFs of CAT VARC practice questions with answers. The CAT practice questions are of the same difficulty level as CAT.
| CAT Easy Test Set 1 | CAT Easy Test Set 1 Solutions |
| CAT Medium Test Set 1 | CAT Medium Test Set 1 Solutions |
| CAT Difficult Test Set 1 | CAT Difficult Test Set 1 Solutions |
| CAT Easy Test Set 2 | CAT Easy Test Set 2 Solutions |
| CAT Medium Test Set 2 | CAT Medium Test Set 2 Solutions |
| CAT Difficult Test Set 2 | CAT Difficult Test Set 2 Solutions |
| CAT Easy Test Set 3 | CAT Easy Test Set 3 Solutions |
| CAT Medium Test Set 3 | CAT Medium Test Set 3 Solutions |
| CAT Difficult Test Set 3 | CAT Difficult Test Set 3 Solutions |
| CAT Easy Test Set 4 | CAT Easy Test Set 4 Solutions |
| CAT Medium Test Set 4 | CAT Medium Test Set 4 Solutions |
| CAT Difficult Test Set 4 | CAT Difficult Test Set 4 Solutions |
| CAT Easy Test Set 5 | CAT Easy Test Set 5 Solutions |
| CAT Medium Test Set 5 | CAT Medium Test Set 5 Solutions |
| CAT Difficult Test Set 5 | CAT Difficult Test Set 5 Solutions |
| CAT Easy Test Set 6 | CAT Easy Test Set 6 Solutions |
| CAT Medium Test Set 6 | CAT Medium Test Set 6 Solutions |
| CAT Difficult Test Set 6 | CAT Difficult Test Set 6 Solutions |
Read More:
-
CAT Preparation 2025: Your Love For Reading Can Get You Desired Result
- CAT preparation 2025: Here are 10 tips for time management in VARC
Try this CAT Mock Test by Shiksha to assess your preparation level and time-management skill.
| CAT_Mock_Test_Set 1 | CAT_Mock_Test_Set_1_Solutions |
| CAT_Mock_Test_Set 2 | CAT_Mock_Test_Set_2 Solutions |
Watch Video for CAT VARC Preparation Tips by Experts:
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Yes, CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of the candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.