How to Build Vocabulary for CAT 2026: Smart Strategies to Improve VARC Score

How to Build Vocabulary for CAT 2026: Smart Strategies to Improve VARC Score

Hitesh SahuUpdated on 27 Jan 2026, 10:35 AM IST

Vocabulary plays a critical role in the CAT VARC section, as it directly affects performance in Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability questions like para summaries, para completion, and para jumbles. Although CAT 2026 does not ask direct vocabulary questions, strong word knowledge helps aspirants understand passages faster and answer accurately. Since CAT VARC questions carries the highest weightage, building vocabulary through regular reading and daily practice is essential for effective CAT 2026 preparation.

This Story also Contains

  1. How Vocabulary Helps in CAT VARC
  2. Strategies to Build Vocabulary for CAT 2026
  3. CAT Vocabulary Preparation in 1 Month
  4. CAT-Specific Vocabulary Resources
  5. Common Mistakes in CAT Vocabulary Preparation
  6. CAT 2026 Vocabulary Preparation Resources by Careers360
How to Build Vocabulary for CAT 2026: Smart Strategies to Improve VARC Score
How to Build Vocabulary for CAT 2026 VARC: Proven Strategies & Tips

This article from Careers360 focuses solely on the effective CAT preparation strategies for building the vocabulary for the CAT 2026 examination.

How Vocabulary Helps in CAT VARC

CAT aspirants with weak vocabulary often struggle in the VARC section, especially in Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability questions. Vocabulary is not tested directly in CAT, but it strongly affects how fast and accurately a candidate understands passages, sentence flow, tone, and intent. A strong word base helps reduce confusion, saves time, and improves decision-making under pressure, which directly impacts CAT VARC scores.

Improves Reading Comprehension Accuracy

CAT RC passages are usually long (400–600 words) and come from areas like philosophy, economics, science, or sociology. If too many words feel unfamiliar, comprehension slows down and confusion increases. A good vocabulary helps aspirants grasp meanings quickly, identify the author’s tone, and understand arguments without repeatedly re-reading lines, leading to better accuracy.

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Helps in Para Jumbles and Sentence-Based Questions

Verbal Ability questions like para jumbles, paragraph completion, and odd sentence out require clarity in sentence meaning and flow. Vocabulary, along with basic grammar sense, helps aspirants spot logical connections between sentences. Knowing word usage makes it easier to identify cause-effect relationships and eliminate incorrect options confidently.

Improves Focus and Retention While Reading

Long RC passages can feel overwhelming when words are difficult. Poor vocabulary breaks reading flow and makes it harder to remember key ideas. Strong vocabulary helps aspirants read smoothly, retain arguments better, and answer inference-based questions more accurately without relying on guesswork.

Strategies to Build Vocabulary for CAT 2026

Read Regularly and From the Right Sources

Daily reading is the most effective way to improve CAT vocabulary. Focus on editorials from newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express, and magazines such as The Economist. These sources expose aspirants to CAT-like language and ideas, helping them learn words naturally instead of forcefully memorising meanings.

Learn Words in Context, Not as Definitions

Avoid memorising long dictionary meanings. CAT tests how words work inside sentences. Learn words by understanding how they are used in passages. When you see a new word, note its meaning from context first and then confirm it. This makes recall easier during the exam.

Maintain a Simple Vocabulary Tracker

Keep a small notebook or use an app to note new words you encounter while reading. Write the word, a short meaning, and one example sentence. Revise these words weekly. Consistent revision matters more than learning hundreds of new words at once.

Use Word Roots and Simple Associations

Understanding common roots like bene (good), mal (bad), or chron (time) helps guess the meanings of unfamiliar words during RC. Simple associations and mental links are enough, there is no need to memorise complex mnemonics unless a word keeps repeating.

Word

Mnemonic

Root Word

Meaning of Root

Abstain

"Abstain from stain" (avoid something dirty)

ab-

away, from

Amicable

Sounds like "amigo" (friend in Spanish)

ami/amic-

love, friend

Benevolent

Bene = good → “benevolent dictator” = kind ruler

bene-

good, well

Circumspect

Circle + Inspect → look around carefully

circum-, spect-

around, look

Dictate

The dictator speaks, and others follow

dict-

speak, say

Eloquent

An eloquent speaker flows words elegantly

loqu/locut-

speak

Generate

A generator creates electricity

gen-

birth, produce

Homicide

Homo (man) + cide (kill)

-cide

kill

Illuminate

Illuminate a room = throw light

lum/luc-

light

Malicious

Mal = bad → malicious = evil intention

mal-

bad, evil

Nominate

The nominee is the name proposed

nom/nym-

name

Pseudonym

Pseudo = false, nym = name → pen name

pseudo-, -nym

false, name

Revoke

Re (back) + voke (call) = take back

re-, voc-

back, call

Submarine

Sub = under, marine = sea → underwater

sub-, mar-

under, sea

Tangible

Something you can touch

tang/tact-

touch

Visionary

Vision = see, visionary = forward thinker

vid/vis-

see

Chronology

Chrono = time → order in time

chron-

time

Thermometer

Thermo = heat + meter = measure

therm-, meter

heat, measure

Philanthropy

Philo = love, anthro = human → love of humanity

phil-, anthrop-

love, human

Autograph

Auto = self, graph = write → self-signature

auto-, graph-

self, write

Practice With Flashcards

Flashcards work best when used smartly. Practice 10–15 useful words a day and revise them regularly. Focus only on words you actually see while reading CAT-level material instead of random GRE-style vocabulary lists.

CAT Vocabulary Preparation in 1 Month

With the CAT exam set to be conducted in November 2026, it is essential for the candidates to start their CAT vocabulary practice as soon as they can. To help the candidates stay motivated throughout their CAT vocabulary practice journey, Careers360 has designed a CAT preparation timetable for a month for the effective preparation of the candidates.

Week

Focus Areas

Daily Tasks

Week 1

Word Roots + Mnemonics

- Learn 10–15 high-frequency words/day

- Break them down using root words

- Create funny mnemonics to remember the meaning

- Maintain a vocabulary notebook

- Revise the previous day’s words

Week 2

Thematic Vocabulary + Contextual Usage

- Learn 15 words/day based on themes (law, finance, emotion, etc.)

- Read editorial articles and highlight new words

- Practice usage in sentence blanks

- Start a Quizlet deck for revision

Week 3

Synonyms, Antonyms & Word Families

- Group words by synonyms/antonyms

- Learn 2–3 word families per day (e.g., act, action, active)

- Attempt short vocab quizzes

- Revise Weeks 1 & 2 words

- Focus on commonly confused words (e.g., affect vs effect)

Week 4

Revision + Mock Practice

- Daily revision of 50–75 old words

- Practice RC passages with vocab questions

- Attempt vocab-only mini mocks (20-30 questions)

- Create a final condensed word list

- Do peer quizzes or group revision

Final 2 Days

Light Review + Confidence Building

- Revise only high-frequency and confusing words

- Practice application in real RC/para-summary contexts

CAT-Specific Vocabulary Resources

A few of the best CAT preparation books to enrich the candidate’s vocabulary section are provided below for the reference of the candidates. Along with it, a set of applications that the candidates can refer to is also included. The candidates are advised to go through them and improve their CAT vocabulary preparation.

Category

Resource Name

Description / Use

Books

Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis

Classic vocabulary builder using root words and structured exercises

30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary

Daily vocab-building plan with contextual usage

All About Words – Rosenblum & Nurnberg

Explains etymology and Greek/Latin roots

Apps

Magoosh Vocabulary Builder

Flashcards, quizzes, spaced repetition system

Vocabulary.com

Learn words through usage, examples, and adaptive tests

Anki Flashcards

Customizable flashcards with spaced repetition

Practice-Based

Arun Sharma’s Verbal Ability Book

CAT-level vocabulary questions integrated with RCs, para-jumbles, etc.

Previous Year CAT Papers

Real RC and VA questions to see how vocabulary is tested

Common Mistakes in CAT Vocabulary Preparation

Many CAT aspirants struggle with vocabulary not because it is difficult, but because it is often prepared in the wrong way. Vocabulary in CAT 2026 is tested through Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability, not direct word lists. Understanding common mistakes can help students save time, improve comprehension, and avoid frustration during preparation.

1. Mugging Up Word Lists Without Context

One of the biggest mistakes students make is memorising long word lists without understanding how words are used. CAT does not ask direct meanings; it checks how well you understand words in context. Learning isolated words rarely helps during RC passages. Reading editorials, articles, and quality books helps you naturally understand vocabulary in real sentences.

2. Ignoring Reading Comprehension Practice

Many aspirants focus only on vocabulary books and ignore Reading Comprehension practice. This reduces their ability to apply vocabulary knowledge during the exam. CAT tests word meaning through passages, tone, and inference. Without regular RC practice, even strong vocabulary feels useless. Consistent reading improves word understanding, speed, and overall confidence in VARC.

3. Relying Only on One Vocabulary Source

Depending on a single book or app limits word exposure. CAT passages come from diverse fields like philosophy, science, and economics. When aspirants use only one source, they fail to understand varied language styles. Using multiple reading materials such as newspapers, magazines, and non-fiction books builds wider vocabulary and better comprehension skills.

4. Skipping Revision of Learned Words

Students often learn new words but do not revise them regularly. Without revision, most words are forgotten within days. CAT preparation needs repeated exposure to vocabulary in different contexts. Revisiting words through reading, noting examples, or using them in sentences helps retain meanings better and improves recall during tough RC questions.

5. Focusing on Rare or Extremely Difficult Words

Some aspirants waste time learning very uncommon words that rarely appear in CAT 2026. The exam focuses more on understanding ideas than complex vocabulary. Spending too much time on rare words reduces time for practice. It is more useful to focus on commonly used academic words found in editorials and standard reading passages.

6. Expecting Vocabulary to Improve Overnight

Vocabulary building is a slow and continuous process. Many aspirants expect quick improvement, which leads to disappointment. Language skills develop with regular reading and exposure, not shortcuts. Reading daily for even 30 minutes can slowly improve word familiarity, comprehension, and confidence. Patience and consistency are the real keys to strong vocabulary for CAT 2026.

CAT 2026 Vocabulary Preparation Resources by Careers360

The CAT aspirants can download the various CAT resources exclusively for the CAT vocabulary preparation designed by subject experts of Careers360 using the links given in the table below.

eBook Title

Download Links

3000+ Most Important Words - Vocabulary Builder

Download Now

500+ Most Important Idioms and Phrases

Download Now

300+ Most Important Phrasal Verbs

Download Now

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why is vocabulary so important for CAT 2025, especially in the VARC section?
A:

While the CAT exam may not test vocabulary directly, a strong vocabulary significantly enhances your understanding of Reading Comprehension, paragraph jumbles, and summaries. It helps grasp tone, inference, and complex academic passages faster and more accurately.

Q: What topics or question types in CAT VARC benefit the most from vocabulary preparation?
A:

Vocabulary is crucial for tackling Reading Comprehension, para jumbles, para completions, and summary questions—collectively forming a major part of the VARC section. A better vocabulary enables quicker comprehension, sharper sentence structure analysis, and improved retention.

Q: What are the most effective strategies to build vocabulary for CAT 2025?
A:

Reading editorials and quality publications, using a vocabulary tracker or app, learning words in context, and applying mnemonics and word roots are highly recommended. Consistency and application in writing or speaking are key to long-term retention.

Q: What are the common mistakes to avoid in CAT vocabulary preparation?
A:

Candidates often just memorise definitions, skip unfamiliar words, avoid revision, and fail to use new words in real contexts. Avoiding these mistakes is essential for building a durable and usable vocabulary base.

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Questions related to CAT

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Hello,

Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :

Top colleges accepting CAT:

  • IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)

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Hi there,

A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.

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According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the

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Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and

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Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong