3-Step Routine to Improve RC Accuracy In CAT VARC Over Time

If you’re preparing for the CAT VARC section and struggling with Reading Comprehension (RC), you’ve likely faced this: you read the passage, you think you understood it, but then the answers don’t match.

RC accuracy feels like luck. Here’s the thing: it isn’t luck. Accuracy in RC improves when you build the right habits. And you don’t need 10 complicated strategies to do that. You just need a simple 3-step routine you can follow every day.

Why Accuracy Matters More Than Speed

Many CAT aspirants try to read faster, thinking speed is the issue. But speed without accuracy is useless; answering more questions incorrectly won’t improve your percentile.

The smarter approach: focus on accuracy first. Once you consistently hit 70–80% accuracy, speed will improve naturally as your brain learns what to look for.

Step 1: Active Reading While Solving RC Passages

When you read a CAT RC passage, don’t just let the words flow past you. Be active. After each paragraph, pause and ask yourself:

What’s the main idea here?
How does this connect to the previous paragraph?

If you’re practising on paper, jot down a quick 3–5 word note. However, with time, you need to be able to do this mentally. This habit gives you two benefits:

It prevents you from forgetting earlier paragraphs.
It helps you see the structure of the passage, not just the words.

Over time, active reading trains your brain to focus on arguments, contrasts, and main ideas, the exact skills the RC questions test.

Step 2: Review Your RC Practice (Post-Practice Analysis)

Here’s where most students go wrong: they solve RC sets, check answers, and move on. That doesn’t build accuracy.

Instead, build a post-practice review habit:

Review each wrong question.
Ask: Did I misread the passage? Misinterpret the option? Or panic and guess?
Recheck your paragraph notes. Did you miss the true main point?

This step may seem boring, but it’s where real learning takes place. Each mistake shows whether your problem was reading, interpretation, or option elimination.

Step 3: Track Your RC Accuracy Consistently

RC improvement isn’t instant. You need to see patterns over weeks, not days. Create a simple tracker (Excel, Google Sheets, or notebook). For each RC set, note:

Accuracy %
Number of questions attempted
Common mistake type (misread, inference error, wrong elimination, etc.)

After 2–3 weeks, review the tracker. You’ll notice patterns:

Strong in the main idea but weak in inference.
Struggle with philosophy passages but excel in science ones.

Once you know your weak spots, you can target practice smarter.

Extra Tips to Boost Your RC Accuracy in CAT VARC

These three steps are the backbone, but here are extra habits to strengthen your CAT VARC prep:

Read non-fiction articles daily: Get used to CAT-style passages, essays, arguments, and dense ideas. Good sources: Aeon, The Economist, The Guardian, and Scientific American. Even 20 minutes daily helps.
Mix up topics: Don’t just stick to science or business. Include philosophy, psychology, history, and social issues; CAT loves variety.
Summarize everything: After reading, write one line: “The author argues X because Y.” This sharpens main idea recognition.
Watch for tone: Ask: Is the author supportive, critical, or neutral? Spotting tone is one of the most common RC question types.
Practice elimination: RC accuracy often comes from eliminating wrong options rather than instantly spotting the right one. Train yourself to ask: “Which options definitely don’t fit?”

Why This Works

Active Reading keeps you engaged while solving.
Post-Practice Review corrects mistakes before they become habits.
Consistency tracker shows your progress clearly.
Daily Reading builds comfort with dense writing.

Together, these build the exact skills needed to steadily improve RC accuracy.

Final Thoughts

Improving RC accuracy isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about habits. Follow this 3-step routine, read non-fiction daily, and practice active reading with review.

Stick to this for one month, and you’ll see accuracy climb. Stick for three months, and RC won’t be your weakness; it’ll be the section that lifts your VARC percentile.

Happy Learning!