Millions of students across the country are currently burning the midnight oil to prepare for admission into top management institutions like the IIMs. The Common Admission Test is scheduled for November 29. Candidates who struggle with the English language often experience severe stress regarding their preparation. Aspirants hailing from Hindi-medium backgrounds or small towns frequently harbor the misconception that if their English is not fluent, they will never be able to crack such a demanding examination.
If you are also grappling with these thoughts, it is time to clear this myth completely from your mind. The reality is quite the opposite. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension or VARC section of the CAT does not test heavy vocabulary or complex grammar rules. The true test here evaluates your logical reasoning and your ability to comprehend the given passages accurately. With the right strategy and roughly two months of dedicated practice, candidates who feel weak in English can not only clear this hurdle but also secure up to 99 percentile.
How to Prepare for CAT with Weak English Skills
Before diving into preparation, it is crucial to understand that the VARC section does not require you to write essays, nor does it test your spoken English abilities. This portion primarily features reading comprehension where you must read passages and answer related questions. Additionally, questions like para-jumbles and para-summary appear on the test. You do not need Shakespearean levels of English for this; you simply need the capability to grasp the exact meaning and logic behind the written sentences.
Daily Reading Habit: Start with Editorials
Make it a daily habit to read English content for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour. Read editorials and opinion articles from websites like The Hindu or Aeon Essays. Reading articles across diverse subjects such as philosophy, economics, psychology, and technology will naturally boost your reading speed and automatically develop your capacity to understand complex sentences.
Do Not Rote Memorize Vocabulary, Understand Context
Stop carrying dictionaries around to memorize thousands of difficult words by heart. When you read a passage and encounter an unfamiliar word, try to figure out its meaning from the context of the entire sentence. Instead of asking for direct definitions, the CAT assesses how well you understand the application of a word within a specific situation.
Using the Elimination Method for Accuracy
In the VARC section, figuring out the wrong choices and eliminating them is often easier than hunting for the right answer. When you take mock tests, immediately discard options that stray outside the scope of the passage, sound overly extreme, or deviate from the core idea. The elimination method can push your accuracy rate from 50 percent up to 90 percent.
Mock Tests and Analysis Are the Real Keys
Take at least 2 to 3 sectional mock tests every week and perform a thorough analysis of each. While analyzing, check which questions went wrong and examine the underlying reasons. Did you misunderstand the passage or make a hasty error while choosing an option? Note down your mistakes in a journal. Remember that your mindset matters far more than your language proficiency in the CAT exam. If you sincerely dedicate 2 hours daily to the VARC section, your fear will transform into your greatest asset by November 29.
