Best Reading Comprehension Book for CAT and CAT Verbal Ability Books: A Practical VARC Guide for CAT 2026

The CAT exam is conducted once a year across 156 cities in India. The total duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes. The CAT exam includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs.

Many CAT aspirants begin VARC prep by buying a reading comprehension book for CAT or collecting CAT verbal ability books. Developing strong comprehension for the cat is central to success, as reading and understanding passages is a key part of the exam.

The CAT exam is one of the most competitive exams for admission into IIMs and other B-schools in India.

That’s not because you’re “weak in English.” It’s because CAT VARC is a reading + reasoning exam. You must track structure, infer the writer’s intent, and eliminate options that are tempting but not supported. The latest pattern of the CAT exam has evolved significantly over the years, including changes in duration and question types, so it’s important to use study materials aligned with the most recent pattern.

This guide helps you pick the right books, use them correctly, and build reading comprehension skills that translate into marks—especially if you’re preparing for CAT 2026 and want a repeatable method, not random practice. The important thing is not just which books you choose, but how you utilize and interpret them to enhance your CAT preparation.

What is a reading comprehension book for CAT?

A reading comprehension book for CAT is often part of a broader verbal ability reading comprehension (VARC) resource. It is a practice-and-method guide that trains you to read dense passages, track structure, infer the author’s point of view, and eliminate options under time pressure. Unlike general English grammar books, it focuses on CAT-style questions, ambiguity handling, and accuracy-building through calibrated passages and review frameworks.

These books are typically organized into different sections such as vocabulary, reading comprehension, sentence correction, and parajumbles to comprehensively cover the CAT syllabus.

Why “more books” rarely improves CAT VARC

Most verbal ability books deliver content. CAT rewards execution.

VARC scores rise when you improve behaviors like:

selecting the right passages
controlling time per passage
separating “sounds right” from “is supported”
staying accurate when the language feels unfamiliar

A book helps only when you pair it with timed practice + review. Additionally, research into effective strategies and materials is key to improving your CAT VARC performance.

What CAT VARC actually tests

Reading comprehension is verbal reasoning

In CAT VARC, reading comprehension is closer to verbal reasoning than to “reading for information.” You’re rewarded for:

structure tracking (claim → support → counter → conclusion)
inference (what must be true, not what is stated)
tone and intent (why the writer wrote this)
option elimination (finding flaws in close choices)

If you “understand” but still lose marks, your gap is usually reasoning and elimination—not basic comprehension.

Verbal ability is logic in language

The verbal ability section is built on coherence and intent. Core topics commonly include:

jumbled paragraphs / para jumbles
para summary
odd sentence out
sentence completion in some patterns

Treat these as logical reasoning problems in English, not vocabulary tests.

The fastest self assessment before you buy any CAT books

Use your last 2–3 mock papers to decide what you actually need.

Metric to track	How to measure	What it usually means
RC accuracy	Correct ÷ Attempted in RC	Low = weak elimination / POV
VA accuracy	Correct ÷ Attempted in VA	Low = coherence / logic gap
Time per RC passage	Total RC time ÷ passages attempted	High = no structure mapping
Wrong-answer buckets	inference vs tone vs main idea vs detail	Shows your practice priority
Drop-off point	where accuracy falls (mid-section? end?)	stamina + decision fatigue

If you can’t describe your error pattern, any “best book” recommendation is guesswork.

How to choose the right reading comprehension book for CAT

Different books solve different bottlenecks. Use this diagnostic grid.

Your symptom in CAT mocks	Likely root cause	Book focus that helps	What to do alongside the book
You read fine but answers are wrong	Weak elimination + weak author POV	RC strategy + question-type practice	RC error log + review loop
You run out of time in VARC	Slow decisions; poor passage selection	Timed drills + calibrated sets	Skip rule + sectionals
Vocabulary feels like the barrier	Low word power; too much re-reading	Vocabulary builder (Norman Lewis)	Apply words via reading
Jumbled paragraphs feel random	Coherence + transitions not internalized	VA logic drills + connectors	One-line flow per para
Grammar anxiety	Weak high school grammar basics	English grammar refresher	Focus on meaning, not rules
Accuracy collapses in mocks	Decision fatigue + panic reading	Review framework > harder RC	Fix attempt strategy first

Key idea: The best book is the one that reduces your repeating errors fastest.

When choosing a reading comprehension book for CAT, make sure it includes plenty of related questions. Practicing related questions from recommended books is crucial to enhance your understanding and performance in the exam.

Best CAT verbal ability books and RC books

There isn’t one best book for everyone. A high-ROI setup is:

one VARC-focused book for method + practice
one vocabulary book only if needed
one grammar refresher only if basics are weak
lots of reading + mock test papers + analysis

General knowledge books can also help build a broad knowledge base, even though CAT does not directly test general knowledge.

When preparing for the CAT exam, it is also important to focus on quantitative ability and quantitative aptitude, as these are key sections that require dedicated practice and strategy.

For verbal ability, 'How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT' by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay is highly recommended. For vocabulary enhancement, consider '30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary' by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis.

VARC-focused books for reading comprehension for CAT

Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay (Tata McGraw Hill / McGraw Hill): Strong structure, graded practice, and method-building across varied difficulty levels.
The Pearson guide by Nishit Sinha: Useful if you want one consolidated resource with mixed VA + RC practice.
Nishit Sinha works best when you track mistakes by question type and don’t treat it as “just solve more.” (That’s where most learners waste time.)

Use-case tip: Pick one main book and finish it. Switching books is the fastest way to stay stuck.

Vocabulary and word power

Vocabulary matters when it improves comprehension and reading speed.

Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis): Best for word families and long-term retention. Use it in small daily doses and apply words while you read.
If Norman Lewis feels heavy, reduce pace—consistency beats intensity.

Grammar

CAT doesn’t test grammar like school exams, but weak grammar can distort meaning (especially in para summary).

A basic English grammar refresher at high school grammar level is enough.
Don’t spend months on rules; CAT rewards clarity, logic, and elimination.

Newspapers, magazines, and “current affairs”

CAT doesn’t ask static general knowledge or current affairs as GK questions. But reading to prepare improves comprehension, language intuition, and stamina. If you read newspaper editorials and long-form writing regularly (even business-style pieces like Financial Express), you build the exact skills RC demands—without chasing facts. Reading comprehension questions can cover a wide range of topics including history, political science, economy, and business.

How to use a reading comprehension book for CAT without wasting time

Build method before you chase difficulty level

Many cat aspirants increase difficulty first. That’s backwards.

start with medium passages
track time + accuracy + quality of review
increase difficulty only after your method stabilizes

This modern approach turns reading into a repeatable process.

Use the RC PoV framework

Mockat’s RC POV framework anchors answers to the author’s Point of View.

Before questions, write a one-line POV:

What does the writer believe?
What are they trying to prove?
What are they criticizing or supporting?

Then map the passage quickly:

thesis
supports / examples
counterpoint (if any)
conclusion / implication

This reduces overthinking and improves answer selection.

Train question types, not just passages

Tag every mistake:

main idea
inference
tone / attitude
function of a line
specific detail traps

If you can’t explain why an option is wrong, you didn’t learn—you just solved.

How to review reading comprehension for CAT answers like a topper

Use a two-column RC error log

After every RC set (book or mock):

What I thought: my reason for the option
What the passage supports: line/idea that proves the correct choice

Most wrong answers come from outside knowledge, tone misread, or a “half-true” option.

Review for rules, not relief

Good review answers:

what decision rule did I use?
did it work?
what rule replaces it next time?

That is learning. Everything else is comfort.

Summarizing passages after reading can help reinforce comprehension and identify key ideas.

Comparison table: what books can and cannot do

Approach	What improves	What stays weak	Best for
Only books	Concepts, exposure, question familiarity	Speed, selection, mock behavior	Beginners building basics
Only reading	Reading speed, comfort with language	CAT-style elimination	Strong readers needing polish
Books + sectionals	Accuracy + timed execution	Full-test decisions	Mid-level aspirants
Full mock test papers + review	Selection, stamina, strategy	Needs disciplined feedback	High percentile targets
Mocks + mentorship feedback	Faster correction, fewer repeat errors	Needs active participation	Repeaters / plateaus

Common mistakes with CAT verbal ability and reading comprehension

treating RC as speed reading, not comprehension + reasoning
solving without an error log (no learning loop)
doing many other books but not finishing one
over-focusing on vocabulary lists instead of context-based understanding
skipping para summary and losing easy marks
practicing only one genre (only philosophy, only science, etc.)
avoiding mock analysis and jumping to the next test

Step-by-step VARC strategy that works with any book

Build the base

read 25–40 minutes daily
add vocabulary only if it blocks understanding
practice 15–20 VA questions on alternate days (jumbled paragraphs, para summary)

Build method

apply RC PoV on every passage
do timed RC sets and review deeply
maintain an error log for every wrong answer

Build test behavior

take mock test papers regularly
review within 24 hours
fix one behavior per mock (selection, pacing, fatigue)

If you want a full CAT plan, align VARC with your DILR and Quant work too—because test stamina is cross-sectional. That’s where frameworks like ENGAGE (for data interpretation and logical reasoning) and the 6-8-8 Quant strategy help balance effort.

How Mockat fits into a book-based plan

If your plan is “finish a reading comprehension book for CAT,” Mockat helps you turn it into a score-improving system—by tightening the loop between attempt → feedback → correction.

Helpful entry points:

Use Mockat’s CAT preparation hub for structured practice and analytics.
Follow the CAT preparation strategy guide to align reading, sectionals, and mocks.
Build daily accuracy with VARC practice.
Simulate the real exam using full-length mocks.
Benchmark quickly with a free CAT mock test.
Use the mentorship vs recorded decision framework if you’re stuck and need faster correction.
Strengthen fundamentals with Mockat’s verbal ability section guide.
Improve mock review with the CAT mock test series articles.
Track trends using the CAT score to percentile tool as a directional self check (predictions vary).
Explore access and mentorship options on Mockat plans.
Practicing previous year papers helps increase speed and familiarity with the types of questions asked in the CAT exam.

Mockat’s model is founder-led (Vignesh Srinivasan and Sanjana Pani—CAT 99.9+ percentilers) with direct mobile mentor access, unmuted live classes, unlimited mentorship, 55+ CAT mocks, 75+ sectionals, 750+ booster tests, and 700+ daily practice questions—so your learning turns into repeatable exam behavior.

FAQs

Which is the best reading comprehension book for CAT?

The best reading comprehension book for CAT is the one that matches your current error pattern. If you struggle with method and elimination, pick a VARC-focused book with strategy and graded passages. If language blocks you, add vocabulary support. Use one primary book, and measure improvement through mock test papers.

Are CAT verbal ability books enough to score high in VARC?

CAT verbal ability books help you learn question patterns like para jumbles, para summary, and critical reasoning in language. But books alone rarely build test behavior—selection, pacing, and accuracy under pressure. Combine books with sectional tests, full mocks, and a review system to convert learning into marks.

How much should I read daily for CAT VARC?

For most CAT aspirants, 25–45 minutes of focused reading daily is enough if you review actively. Mix different genres—editorials, essays, science, philosophy, business—to build comprehension and comfort with unfamiliar topics. Track reading speed and retention, but prioritize understanding and structure over speed-reading.

Do I need to study grammar for the CAT exam?

You don’t need advanced English grammar for the CAT exam, but weak basics can hurt comprehension and sentence-based questions. A short high school grammar refresher is enough if you make frequent meaning errors. Don’t over-invest in grammar rules; CAT rewards clarity, logic, and option elimination more than perfection.

Is Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis useful for CAT?

Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis is useful if vocabulary gaps slow your reading or cause misunderstanding in RC. It’s most effective when used steadily in small daily doses and applied in real reading. If your issue is inference or tone, prioritize RC strategy and mock review before vocabulary.

How do I improve accuracy in reading comprehension for CAT?

Improve RC accuracy by anchoring every question to the author’s Point of View, mapping passage structure quickly, and eliminating options that overreach the text. Maintain an error log that compares your reasoning with what the passage supports. Accuracy improves faster through review quality than through solving more passages.

How many RC passages should I practice every week?

A practical target is 10–15 RC passages per week with full review, adjusted to your schedule and fatigue. Fewer passages with deep analysis beat high volume with shallow review. Use varied difficulty levels and topics. As you improve, shift more practice into timed sectionals and mock papers.

What’s the smartest way to use mocks to improve VARC?

Use mocks as diagnosis, not just practice. After each mock, identify repeating errors by question type (inference, tone, main idea, para summary) and fix one behavior in the next test. Review within 24 hours, rewrite your RC PoV for wrong passages, and build a short checklist for the next attempt.