
Having a good pronunciation is an effective instrument for improving your performance in CAT Reading Comprehension (RC) but many students often ignore it. Although
CAT 2025 exam
is not a test per se in which the spoken skills are tested, the relationship between the correct pronunciation, the mental fluency and the understanding of the spoken language is deep. Comprehending this connection, aspirants may have a better chance at scoring well in the CAT VARC section. Read this article to know why better pronunciation is the key to boost your exam performance and how you can master the technique!
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How to Balance Reading Speed and Comprehension in CAT 2025 RC Passages?
Why Better Pronunciation Is Crucial for Boosting Your CAT RC Performance?
Better pronunciation can boost your performance in CAT RC due to the following reasons:
Improves the Cognitive Link Between Pronunciation & Comprehension: Reading comprehension is not just about identifying words but also understanding the deeper meaning. When you are well aware of the right pronunciation of words, specifically the complicated terms or even unfamiliar words, it automatically reduces your reading time and boosts confidence. The passages in CAT RC are dedicated to various subjects – philosophy, economics, science, and literature – in which there are many unfamiliar and multisyllabic words. Once you have practiced or learnt how to pronounce these words, it becomes easy to decode the passage and focus on the general argument, tone, and inference.
Minimal Subvocalisation and Increased Speed: Subvocalisation is the tendency to mutter words during the reading process. When it is not done well and with hesitation, the reading speed will drastically slow down. On the other hand, those readers whose pronunciation abilities are superior to average will either pass or slide over the words, increasing the speed and concentration. Speed is essential in CAT RC, wherein you have to comprehend lengthy, dense reading passages in a few minutes. Reading aloud, whether it be the news editors, scholarly articles, or CAT-level RCs, helps aspirants develop muscle memory in pronunciation and subvocalisation reduction and learn to scan the text through phrases, instead of word-by-word, as quickly as possible.
Decoding Author’s Tone and Complex Sentences: Correct pronunciation assists in the mental hearing of the way a sentence has to be read: stressing some adjectives, being aware of rhetorical devices, and perceiving subtle meanings. An example is sarcasm or irony, which is cued by inflexion and stress; mental pronunciation helps to cue the clues, and tone-based questions are easily broken. Complex sentences, common in CAT RC, often use embedded clauses, advanced grammar, and sophisticated vocabulary. A strong grasp of pronunciation ensures seamless parsing, preventing misinterpretation and boosting overall scores.
Vocabulary and Contextual Understanding: Recognising and correctly pronouncing words is tied to vocabulary retention. You can upgrade your vocabulary by hearing and saying words correctly, distinguishing similar but contextually different terms, and improving the ability to infer meanings from context. When faced with vocabulary-in-context questions, this skill saves crucial time.
Psychological Edge: The inability to mentally verbalise challenging words may disrupt reading fluency, cause self-doubt and lead to stress, which are significant impediments during the CAT examination. But if you have good pronunciation skills can help you stay calm, focus on the structure and key ideas of the passage, and answer accurately.
Also Check -
How to Crack Complex RC Passages in the CAT 2025 Exam?
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Effective Techniques to Improve Pronunciation for CAT 2025 RC
Check the preparation techniques for enhancing your pronunciation and reading comprehension below:
Practice Reading Aloud: Read editorials, RC passages, and subject articles aloud for 15–20 minutes a day. This practice will help you become familar with sentence flows, tricky words, and common intonations in passages.
Listen to Podcasts/News: Use phonetic tools, like audios and podcasts to your advantage. Exposure to varied accents and advanced content sharpens both comprehension and word recognition.
Note and Review Unfamiliar Words: Maintain a vocabulary diary, focus on pronunciation via apps, dictionaries, and YouTube guides.
Practice Shadow Technique: Pay attention to native speakers reading passages while trying to mimic their pronunciation and match the rhythm simultaneously. This will help you enhance both comprehension and accent.
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Better pronunciation goes beyond speech—it converts reading into effortless understanding, speeds up comprehension, sharpens retention, and builds exam confidence. For CAT aspirants aiming high in RC, integrating pronunciation practice into daily study not only cracks tougher passages but also transforms the reading experience into a winning strategy. Master this “hidden weapon” to boost your VARC performance on CAT exam day.
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