It’s CAT VARC. You open the first Reading Comprehension passage. It looks long. You panic. You think: “Okay, I’ll skim this quickly, pick out the gist, and then dive into the questions.”

Ten minutes later, you’ve skimmed like a Formula 1 driver on caffeine, but when the questions come, you realise you retained nothing. So you keep jumping back to the passage, line after line, question after question, until the timer punches you in the face.

This is the trap most aspirants fall into: believing speed comes from skimming. In reality, speed in VARC often comes from doing the opposite, slowing down and reading properly, even reading twice if needed.

The Skimming Illusion

On paper, skimming feels faster. You cover more words in less time, you flip through passages quickly, and you tell yourself you’re saving minutes. But CAT questions aren’t designed to test whether you looked at the passage. They’re designed to test whether you understood it.

And skimming rarely builds understanding. Instead, it creates half-memories: vague impressions of what the author said, without clarity of tone, structure, or intent. Then, every question drags you back into the passage like quicksand. In the end, the “fast” method costs more time than it saves.

The Case for Reading Twice

Here’s the counterintuitive truth: spending a little more time upfront, even reading the passage twice, can actually save you time overall.

Why? Because the second read isn’t really a full re-read. It’s a reinforcement. The first read helps you build a map: the structure, the argument, the author’s stance. The second read deepens that map, locking in key details. With that, the questions become smoother. Instead of revisiting the passage ten times, you answer most directly from memory.

It’s like walking through a new neighbourhood. The first stroll gives you a vague idea. The second stroll locks landmarks in your head. After that, you don’t need Google Maps for every turn.

When to Apply This Strategy

Reading twice isn’t for every passage. Use it selectively, especially when:

• The passage is dense or abstract. Philosophy, art, and science-heavy pieces often need extra focus.
• You feel lost mid-way. Instead of stumbling forward half-blind, reset by reading properly again.
• You’ve got a history of misclicks. If you often fall for trap options, stronger initial comprehension may be worth the investment.

How to Train for It

1. Timed double-read drills. Pick a tough RC passage. Read it twice upfront, then attempt the questions. Compare your time and accuracy against when you skim. You’ll usually find accuracy rises sharply, while time doesn’t rise much.
2. Focus on mapping, not memorising. During the first read, identify structure: introduction, argument, evidence, conclusion. The second read isn’t about remembering every sentence, but about cementing that structure.
3. Eliminate return trips. Every time you reread during questions, note it. Over time, aim to reduce how often you “check back.” That’s the hidden time-sink double-reading actually prevents.

Why This Works in CAT

Because CAT isn’t a reading race. It’s a comprehension test under time pressure. If a careful upfront read means you handle the questions confidently, you’re actually playing the exam on your terms.

The exam rewards clarity, not frantic speed. And ironically, clarity sometimes comes from slowing down, even repeating, before you accelerate.

So what should you do?

Don’t confuse motion with progress. Skimming five passages without truly grasping them is motion. Reading one passage carefully, even twice, and nailing the questions is progress.

On exam day, the stopwatch isn’t your enemy; shallow comprehension is. Sometimes, the smartest time-saving move is to go slow at the start, so you can fly through the finish.