Step 1: Chill, You Don’t Need to Know Every Word

First things first—breathe. CAT isn’t testing you on words like antidisestablishmentarianism. Focus on high-utility words like pragmatic or flamboyant. I kept a little Word Bank notebook (yes, I was that nerd!) and paired tricky words like esoteric with fun sentences: “CAT prep books are esoteric—they’re only for us brave souls.” Writing goofy sentences really helps!

Step 2: Read What You Actually Like

Everyone says, “Read The Hindu editorials,” but if that bores you, read what you enjoy—sports blogs, Marvel articles, anything! I loved novels like Animal Farm by George Orwell, which taught me words like tyranny. The key is to read regularly in any genre—it’s the easiest way to pick up new words.

Step 3: Flashcards Are Your Saviours

Flashcards saved my life. Seriously. I made them for every tricky word I came across. Front: the word. Back: the meaning + a hilarious example sentence.

Here’s an example:

• Word: Ephemeral
• My Sentence: “My enthusiasm for geometry is as ephemeral as my gym memberships.”

Funny, right? Humor helps. You can also use apps like Anki or Quizlet to make digital flashcards (if you’re too lazy to DIY).

Step 4: Try Some Word Games

Who says vocab building has to be boring? Back in the day, my friends and I were obsessed with word games. Scrabble, Boggle, online vocabulary quizzes—you name it. We played a word game where we tried to use new words in our normal conversations. But, if someone noticed and pointed it out, we had to give them chocolate.

Another fun thing I loved was Freerice. It’s this cool online game where you answer vocab questions, and every right answer donates rice to charity. You level up your vocabulary and do some good—win-win!

Step 5: Context Is Everything

Memorising words is pointless if you don’t know how to use them. I once thought prodigal meant “talented” and embarrassed myself in an essay—it actually means “wastefully extravagant.” Oops! To avoid such moments, learn words in context. For example, associate melancholy with that friend who posts sad breakup quotes—makes it stick, doesn’t it?

Step 6: Revise, Revise, Revise

Here’s where most people mess up—they learn new words but never go back to review them. Big mistake. Vocabulary isn’t a “learn it once and you’re done” kind of deal. You’ve got to revisit those words regularly.

I had a Sunday ritual: lazy mornings + coffee + a quick skim through my Word Bank. No pressure, just a casual recap. It helped me remember even the trickiest words without making it a chore.

And hey, remember this: cracking CAT isn’t just about being book-smart—it’s about strategy, confidence, and a positive attitude. So, go on, ace that vocab game, and ace those VARC questions like a boss.