CAT VARC Syllabus 2025: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Topics, Preparation Tips & Best Books

CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus

Careers360 brings to you details of CAT, exam dates, features of the VARC section, major topics along with an expected number of questions in this article of the CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus. Along with that, the major preparation tips to be followed to ace the VARC section, and the best books are also provided in this article.

Most Important VARC MCQs for CAT 2025 Exam

Exam Pattern of CAT VARC Section:

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Syllabus 2025

The very first section that candidates see in the CAT 2025 exam is the VARC section out of the three. For the VARC section, candidates are expected to select passages carefully and answer accurately. The questions in the VARC section are divided into both MCQs and TITA Questions. As of now, every year 10 questions from Verbal Ability are asked and the remaining are from the reading comprehension part.

CAT Verbal Ability syllabus 2025 aims to test candidates on grammar and Verbal Reasoning, Error Correction, Facts, inference or judgment, comprehension, vocabulary, para summary and related topics.

Quick Link - How to tackle TITA questions in CAT

CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus

Related CAT 2025 VARC Syllabus: Important Topics

• Inferential Logical Reasoning
• Para Jumbles
• Summary
• Contextual usage
• Idioms
• One word substitution
• Sentence completion
• Misfit/Out of Context sentence
• Paragraph Completion
• Vocabulary

How to Prepare for CAT VARC Exam 2025?

As mentioned earlier, the official CAT 2025 VARC syllabus has not been released officially. On the basis of the previous year's question papers of CAT, sample papers and expert advice candidates can get to know what topics are to be asked from the CAT verbal ability and reading comprehension syllabus of CAT 2025. Every registered candidate wants to make it to IIMs but the question is How To Crack CAT? If we look closely, a few topics in the VARC section are very important and repeated every year in the question paper differently.

As per the exam pattern of CAT 2025, out of all questions in this section, some questions will be in a non-MCQ format which means candidates will have to answer the questions without any choices. Here are some major tips for CAT toppers that will help the candidates to score well in the CAT 2025 Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section:

1. One of the toppers of CAT suggests future candidates read more and more newspapers and novels on a daily basis. This would surely help in improving the vocabulary for the VARC section. No doubt that the VARC section could be a tough nut to crack.
2. Carefully solve sample papers of CAT to get a gist of the types of questions that are likely to be asked.
3. Take the CAT mock test on a regular basis to gauge the preparation level or to know CAT important topics for preparation.
4. Try to add new 5-10 words new on a daily basis to improve your vocabulary along with their synonyms and antonyms.
5. Keep in mind to focus on time management of CAT as this can swap the game completely if not held onto carefully.
6. If you feel bored reading all the time, try watching movies with English subtitles to make VARC section preparation effective.

Quick Links -

• Sectional Time Management Tips for CAT
• How to prepare for CAT without coaching

Best Books for CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension 2025

Also Read-

• Best Books for CAT Preparation
• How to prepare for CAT VARC (Verbal and Reading Comprehension)

CAT Exam Date 2025

In order to be familiar with when and how to start preparation for CAT, it is important for candidates to be aware of the exam dates of CAT. Details of notification, start and end of registration and other events regarding CAT 2025 are mentioned in this section. CAT 2025 entrance exam will be held on November 30, 2025.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025

To form a preparation plan for the CAT 2025 exam, candidates must be aware of the type of questions asked, total time duration, marking scheme and related information. Such details are provided under the exam pattern of CAT. Given below is the CAT 2025 exam pattern for the VARC section.

CAT Slot 1 Analysis - VARC Section

The complete VARC section was moderately difficult in CAT 2023. VARC section of CAT slot 1 exam consisted of questions from para jumbles with 2 questions, sentence filling, 2 odd one out and 2 summary questions. There were 4 reading comprehension with 16 questions and 8 questions from verbal ability section.

According to the CAT slot 1 analysis the distribution of the questions in the Verbal Ability area is as below –

CAT 2023 Slot 2 Analysis

CAT 2023 slot 2 analysis (VARC section)- The difficulty level of VARC section of CAT slot 2 exam was easy to moderate. As per the CAT 2023 slot 2 analysis, the VARC section had doable questions. There were 4 RC passages, 2 questions from para completion and 4 questions from para jumbles.

CAT 2022 Slot 1 Exam Analysis

As per CAT Exam Analysis 2022 slot 1, the overall difficulty level of the VARC section is moderate. No questions are asked on Odd one out. The paper consists of 3 questions from Para Summary and Para Jumbles and 2 from Fill in the Blanks.

CAT 2022 Slot 2 Exam Analysis

As per CAT Analysis 2022, the RC section had 4 difficult passages, especially one on Institutions. The verbal Ability section was based on Para Summary, Para Completion, and Para Jumbles.

CAT 2022 Slot 3 Exam Analysis

As per CAT 2022 Analysis, the VARC is moderate. The RC passages are easy to read as the options are a little tricky. RC passages VARC topics for CAT are asked from the below topics:

• History - Tricky
• Biology & Tech - Moderate
• Sociology & Anthropology (Great Migration) - Moderate
• Software - Moderate

CAT 2021 Slot 1 Exam Analysis of VARC

Based on the initial reaction of test-takers, the CAT 2021 Slot 1 Exam Analysis of VARC is provided below.

• A maximum number of questions had been asked from RC i.e. a total of 4 sets of RC with 4 questions each were there in Slot 1 paper.
• Along with that 19 MCQ and 5 TITA-type questions were asked in VARC slot 1 paper.
• As per experts the good attempts for slot 1 VARC paper could be around 16 to 18 questions.
• Other than that, 3 questions each were asked from Para jumbles and para summary.

CAT 2021 Slot 2 Exam Analysis of VARC

Based on the initial reaction of test-takers, the CAT 2021 Slot 2 Exam Analysis of VARC is provided below.

• A total of 4 sets of RC with 4 questions each were there in the Slot 2 paper.
• 8 questions were from Verbal Ability.
• Like Slot 1 paper, this slot also had 3 questions each asked from Para jumbles and para summary.
• 2 questions were asked from odd one out topic.

CAT 2021 Slot 3 Exam Analysis of VARC

Based on the initial reaction of test-takers, the CAT 2021 Slot 3 Exam Analysis of VARC is provided below.

• Like slot 1 and 2, slot 3 also had 4 sets of RC with 4 questions each.
• 2 RCs were rated difficult while the other two were doable and easy.
• Again, 3 questions each were asked from Para jumbles and para summary.