Techniques for performing searches by a user equipment (UE) are described. The UE may camp on a serving cell for a first radio access technology (RAT) (e.g., GSM) and may periodically perform searches for a second RAT (e.g., WCDMA). In an aspect, the UE may vary the rate of searches for the second RAT based on received signal levels for the first and second RATs. The UE may determine a difference between the received signal levels for the two RATs, compare the difference against at least one threshold, and select a search rate associated with a range within which the difference falls as the rate of searches for the second RAT. In another aspect, the UE may control certain aspects of searches (e.g., determine whether or not to perform searches or the rate of searches) for the second RAT by considering the frequency bands for the two RATs.