What to read for CAT: Aeon, Psyche, The Hindu, and essays built for the exam
CAT reading comprehension rewards one habit above all: reading dense, argued prose on subjects you do not know, every day. The sources below are the ones toppers and mentors recommend most. Each is useful, and each has one limitation: none of them tests you.
That is the gap GRADFLIX fills. Every essay here is written in the style of a CAT passage, on the same subjects, and ends with CAT-style questions and explanations. Read like Aeon, then practise like CAT.
The best sources for CAT reading
Read by CAT passage genre
The genres CAT returns to most, with recent GRADFLIX essays in each.
A 40-minute daily reading plan
- 15 minutes: one long essay on an unfamiliar subject (Aeon, Psyche or a GRADFLIX essay). Write the author’s main claim in one sentence.
- 17 minutes: two timed RC sets, about 8 to 9 minutes each, from CAT past papers or daily CAT RC practice.
- 8 minutes: read the explanations, including for questions you got right, and note one trap you fell for.
Once a week, test yourself under exam conditions with a CAT VARC sectional mock. Mock 1 is free.
Questions about reading for CAT
Is Aeon good for CAT preparation?
Yes. Aeon essays match CAT passages closely in density, subject matter and argument structure, and many CAT passages are adapted from similar long-form essays. The catch is that Aeon has no questions, so you read without testing yourself. GRADFLIX essays follow the same style and end with CAT-style questions and explanations.
Is reading The Hindu editorial enough for CAT VARC?
Not on its own. Editorials help with vocabulary and opinionated tone, but they are shorter and simpler than CAT passages and rarely cover philosophy, psychology or science, which CAT uses often. Mix them with longer essays.
How much should I read every day for CAT?
About 30 to 45 minutes of dense reading a day is enough for most aspirants: one long essay on an unfamiliar subject, summarised in one line, plus two timed RC sets.
Which genres come most often in CAT RC?
Recent CAT papers lean on philosophy, psychology, sociology and culture, economics, science and history, usually written in an academic, argumentative register.
What is the best free source of CAT-level RC passages?
Aeon and Psyche for reading, and solved CAT past papers for testing. GRADFLIX combines both: free CAT RC PYQs from 2020 to 2025, and a new CAT-level essay with questions every day.
GRADFLIX is independent and not affiliated with the publications listed. Prices and access may change.