There comes a point in CAT preparation when you stare at a passage, equation, or puzzle, and it feels like the words are dancing on the page. You’ve read the same line thrice, but the meaning refuses to land. The mind insists, “You’re studying,” but in reality, nothing is going in. This strange phenomenon is what I like to call “reading blindness,” a state where your eyes are open, but your brain is exhausted.

So how do you escape this blindness? Let’s unpack what causes it, and more importantly, how to beat it.

Why “Reading Blindness” Hits Hard in the Last Month

The problem is not that you suddenly became “bad at studying.” It’s a mix of fatigue, anxiety, and overexposure. By now, you’ve gone through dozens of mocks, hundreds of RC passages, and countless DI-LR sets. Your brain starts rejecting familiar patterns; it behaves as if it wants a break from the routine.

But here’s the twist: what feels like a study block is often your brain’s way of saying, “I’m overloaded, not underprepared.”

Take Short, Active Breaks

One of the biggest triggers of reading blindness is endless study marathons. Sitting for six straight hours might feel “productive,” but your mind tunes out after a point. The antidote is short, active breaks.

Instead of reading ten RCs in one go, try two with complete focus, then step away. Walk, stretch, grab some water. Come back refreshed for the next set. These resets keep your brain engaged, making you less likely to skim without comprehension.

Change the Medium

Sometimes reading blindness is less about fatigue and more about monotony. If you’ve been glued to PDFs and prep portals, switch the format. Print a passage, annotate it with a pen, or even read aloud. The change of medium tricks your brain into paying attention again.

This works brilliantly in RC prep. Reading aloud forces you to slow down, notice structure, and register meaning instead of auto-skimming.

Revision Doesn’t Mean Repetition

Many aspirants misinterpret revision as re-reading the same notes again and again. But after a point, your eyes know the page too well, you stop “studying” and start “scrolling.”

A smarter approach is active revision:

• Summarise a chapter in your own words.
• Teach the concept to a peer (or even to your wall).
• Solve fresh questions based on old topics instead of just rereading theory.

The act of retrieval keeps your brain awake, while passive repetition fuels reading blindness.

Use Mock Reviews 

The last month is mock-heavy, but don’t treat reviews like a formality. Most aspirants glance at the solution, nod in agreement, and move on. That’s prime territory for blindness.

Instead, slow down. Read the explanation like it’s an RC passage. Ask yourself: Why did I miss this logic? What assumption did I skip? By doing this, you train your brain to engage deeply rather than skim superficially.

Rest Is Not Laziness

Perhaps the hardest truth in the final month: sometimes the cure to reading blindness isn’t another hack, but plain old rest. Sleep, downtime, even a short nap, can do what an extra two hours of forced study cannot. Your brain consolidates learning when you rest. A tired mind is a blind mind. Don’t fear breaks, fear burnout.

The Takeaway

Reading blindness is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign you’ve been working hard. The last month before CAT isn’t about drowning yourself in more material; it’s about learning how to keep your focus sharp and your comprehension alive. Because in the end, CAT is not won by those who read the most lines, but by those who truly see what they’re reading.