CAT 2018 VARC Analysis: Slot 2 Breakdown and Strategy
📋 Table of Contents
🔍 Introduction
In CAT 2018 VARC Slot 2, the verbal section offered much-needed relief to aspirants. With concise RC passages, moderate-level summaries, and scoring para-jumbles, it turned into the easiest section of the paper for many. This guide offers a complete breakdown, smart strategies, and performance insights for aspirants aiming for a high percentile.
📊 CAT 2018 VARC Slot 2 Overview
| Component | Questions | MCQs | TITA |
|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 24 | 24 | 0 |
| Verbal Ability | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Total | 34 | 27 | 7 |
- Non-MCQs were in Para-jumbles and Odd Sentence Out questions
- Passages had no fixed question count instructions, mirroring Slot 1 structure
📘 Reading Comprehension Highlights
Structure
- 5 RC passages
- 4 passages with 5 questions each
- 1 shorter passage ("Grover Snails") with 4 questions
- Word count: ~450–500 words per passage
Nature of Questions
- 1–2 inference-based questions per passage
- Options were not very close, enabling confident elimination
- Only 4–5 questions across RCs were tricky
- Familiar themes aided comprehension and speed
🧠 Verbal Ability Breakdown
Para-Jumbles (4 Questions)
- Each question had 4 short sentences
- No negative marking (TITA)
- 2 questions were slightly tricky, the rest easy
- Strategy: Identify the opening sentence, look for clue words, form logical pairs
Odd Sentence Out (3 Questions)
- Topics like bird songs and business elites
- 2 tricky ones, 1 very easy
- Success depended on the ability to recognize thematic flow
Summary Questions (3 Questions)
- Paragraphs were short but dense
- Only one was difficult; the others were moderate
- MCQ format with negative marking
- Use POE (Process of Elimination) to reduce risk
📚 Passage-Wise RC Summary
| Topic | Questions | Difficulty | Insights |
|---|
| Grover Snails | 4 | Easy | Short, factual, scoring |
| Meritocracy in Teams | 5 | Moderate | Inference-focused |
| Technology in Essential Services | 5 | Easy | Conceptually familiar |
| Saturn’s Rings & Their Age | 5 | Moderate | Slightly abstract |
| Human Resource & Learning | 5 | Moderate | Application-based logic |
📅 Comparison with Slot 1
| Feature | Slot 1 | Slot 2 |
|---|
| Para-jumble Difficulty | Easier than past years | Similar ease, fewer traps |
| Summary Questions | Very abstract and confusing | More accessible, 1 tricky |
| RC Passage Topics | Familiar and factual | Equally familiar, shorter |
| Number of Tricky RC Qs | 4–5 | 4–5 |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate | Slightly easier |
⏱️ Ideal Attempt Strategy
Target Attempt for 90+ Percentile
- 26–28 questions
- Focus on 4 full RCs, skip the most difficult one if needed
- Attempt all 7 TITA questions—no penalty, potential gain
- Attempt 2 summary questions max—avoid over-committing to dense content
Time Allocation
- RCs: 40–42 minutes
- Verbal: 18–20 minutes
❓ FAQs
- Was VARC easier in Slot 2 than Slot 1 of CAT 2018? Yes. Summary questions were slightly simpler and RCs had more direct questions.
- How many TITA questions were there in Slot 2 VARC? There were 7 TITA questions, all from Verbal Ability (para-jumbles and odd sentence out).
- Should summary questions be attempted first? Not necessarily. Prioritize based on familiarity with the topic. Attempt summary questions only if confident.
✅ Conclusion
The CAT 2018 VARC Slot 2 section rewarded careful selection and quick decision-making. While summary questions required extra caution, para-jumbles and RCs were refreshingly approachable. Smart time allocation and POE-based accuracy were the keys to cracking this section efficiently.
