Verbal ability is the very first section of the CAT exam. Often considered tough, it sets the tone for a candidate’s performance. Starting well can lead to a strong finish, while a rough start can lead to a difficult end.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most difficult and competitive exams that demands thorough preparation for MBA aspirants in India. A key part of this exam is the Verbal Ability section, which tests your reading comprehension, grammar, and critical reasoning skills. This section significantly impacts your overall CAT score, making it crucial to perform well.
This blog will focus on the verbal ability of the CAT exam, providing you with valuable tips and tricks to excel in this section.
What Is Verbal Ability Test In CAT?
The Verbal Ability (VA) section in CAT tests English grammar and sentence formation skills. It is part of the Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension section, which accounts for 34 to 36 percent of the CAT exam. This section includes reading comprehension, grammar, verbal reasoning, and vocabulary.
Other topics in the CAT verbal ability section focus on analyzing your ability to understand core ideas, predict and identify supporting ideas, and provide details systematically and orderly.
“A solid command of verbal skills is crucial not only for excelling in the CAT exam but also for your future management studies and career.”
What Are The Key Topics In The Verbal Ability Section?
1. Reading Comprehension (RC): This involves reading passages and answering questions based on them. The passages can be from various genres, including business, science, literature, and social sciences.
2. Sentence Correction: These questions test your knowledge of grammar, usage, and style.
3. Para-Jumbles: You need to rearrange jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph.
4. Para-Summary: Summarizing a given paragraph concisely and accurately.
5. Odd Sentence Out: Identifying the Sentence that does not fit in a given sequence.
6. Facts: Understanding and applying accurate information.
7. Vocabulary: Expanding your vocabulary for CAT and applying it.
On CAT exam day, you’ll face MCQs and type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions. For MCQs, choose the correct one from the four options. Correct answers earn +3, while incorrect ones lose -1, only for MCQs. So, be careful to avoid mistakes when preparing for CAT Verbal Ability.”
What Are Some Tips And Tricks For Excelling In Verbal Ability?
Reading Comprehension (RC)
1. Skim and Scan: Quickly skim through the passage to get an idea of the main points. Then, scan for details when answering specific questions.
2. Practice Regularly: Read diverse genres to become comfortable with different writing styles and subjects
3. Understand the Questions: Carefully read the questions before diving into the passage. This helps you focus on relevant information.
4. Eliminate Wrong Options: Use the process of elimination to narrow down your choices, especially when dealing with tricky questions.
Sentence Correction
1. Grammar Rules: Familiarize yourself with basic grammar rules such as subject-verb agreement, tenses, and pronoun usage.
2. Practice Exercises: Regularly practice sentence correction exercises to identify common errors and improve your accuracy.
3. Read Aloud: Sometimes, reading a sentence aloud can help you spot mistakes that you might miss when reading silently.
Para-Jumbles
1. Look for Connections: Identify linking words, pronouns, and transitional phrases that connect sentences
2. Identify the Theme: Determine the main theme or idea of the paragraph to help arrange the sentences logically
3. Practice Makes Perfect: The more you practice para jumbles, the better you’ll get at spotting patterns and connections.
Para-Summary
1. Main Idea: Focus on the main idea of the paragraph and exclude any minor details or examples.
2. Conciseness: Keep your summary short and to the point, ensuring it captures the essence of the paragraph.
3. Practice Writing: Regularly practice writing summaries of various paragraphs to improve your conciseness and clarity.
Odd Sentence Out
1. Identify the Theme: Determine the common theme or subject of the sentences.
2. Spot the Odd One: Look for the sentence that deviates from the main idea or breaks the flow.
3. Practice: The more you practice, the quicker you’ll become at identifying the odd sentence.
Facts
1. Identify Key Words: Identify keywords or phrases that hold the most weight in a given sentence.
2. Use Context Clues: Pay attention to the surrounding sentences for context clues to help you answer fact-based questions.
3. Brush Up On General Knowledge: Stay updated on current affairs and general knowledge to improve your chances of answering fact-based questions correctly.
Vocabulary
1. Read Extensively: Building vocab for the CAT exam requires regular reading, so try to read from diverse sources regularly.
2. Learn Root Words and Prefixes/Suffixes: Understanding root words and prefixes/suffixes can help you decipher unfamiliar words’ meanings easily.
3. Flashcards or Apps: Use flashcards for vocabulary-building apps to help expand your vocabulary.
Conclusion
Excelling in the verbal ability section of the CAT exam requires a combination of strong vocabulary, regular practice, and strategic preparation. By focusing on building a robust vocabulary, practicing different types of verbal ability questions, and learning from the experiences of successful candidates, you can significantly enhance your performance in this critical section.
Remember, consistent effort and a positive mindset are crucial. Implement these tips and tricks in your preparation strategy, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving the verbal ability for CAT.
Ready to take your preparation to the next level? Book a call with one of our experts at Tarkashastra, who can help you refine your study plan and choose the best resources for your CAT preparation. Good luck!
Top 5 Frequently Asked CAT Verbal Ability Questions
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1. What Is The Verbal Ability Section In The CAT Exam?
The Verbal Ability section in the CAT exam evaluates your proficiency in reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, and intelligibility by including different types of questions designed to assess your verbal and linguistic skills.
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2. What Types Of Questions Are Included In The Verbal Ability Section Of CAT?
The types of questions included are Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Para-Jumbles, Para-Summary, and Odd Sentence Out.
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3. How Can I Improve My Reading Comprehension Skills For CAT?
Improve your Reading Comprehension skills by reading regularly from various genres, practicing skimming and scanning techniques, understanding questions before diving into passages, and eliminating incorrect answer options through careful analysis.
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4. What Are The Best Strategies For Tackling Para Jumbles In CAT?
To tackle Para Jumbles, look for connections between sentences using linking words, pronouns, and transitional phrases, identify the main theme of the paragraph, and practice regularly to enhance your ability to spot patterns and logical sequences.
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5. How Important Is Vocabulary For The Verbal Ability Section Of CAT?
Vocabulary for CAT exam is critical for excelling in the Verbal Ability section as it aids in understanding Reading Comprehension passages, solving sentence corrections, and efficiently tackling other verbal questions. Regular reading, learning root words and prefixes/suffixes, and using flashcards or apps can help you build a strong vocabulary.
