Zynga
I am struggling with SC in the verbal section.When I am reading the
MGMAT guides; everything makes sense and I can apply all the rules and logic correctly.But during the CAT all that goes out of the window and I end up going by the ear to solve SC questions...anyone having similar issues?
Initially, When I started out , I had similar problems. I have followed this approach and feeling more comfortable day by day :
1. Break the sentence into its clauses. It helps me a lot in understanding the meaning of the sentence.
2. Remove junk ( like prepositional phrases ) and look for Subj - Verb errors. then look for pronoun errors.
3. If sentence deals with multiple actions, I look for a hint in regard to sequence of actions. It it exists, I look for Verb-Tense errors.
4. I learnt identifying the Modifiers ( Single word modifiers that modify verb or noun , prep phrase modifiers , Clause modifiers that start with relative pronouns such as - who , that, which e.t.c ; If a modifier modifies a noun , I check to see if it is placed close to the noun )
5. And Finally I look for Parallelism , Idioms or other errors.
6. This process took me long to tackle SC problems, But the Ahh-Factor is I understand the meaning of sentence crisp and clear. With practice , I picked up speed.
7. I do always revise my notes , if I miss out lot of problems during practice as it indicates wear of my conceptual knowledge.
Use , a logical approach , Go Slow initially , achieve accuracy and practice more to pick up the speed. Its like when you learn to drive your car, you tend to be slow and safe. but once you have more control, you pace up with confidence

Same-thing goes for SC. No shortcuts' here !
An Example of breaking of a sentence into clauses is illustrated below :
Stymieing the Armada’s plans to meet up with the Duke of Parma’s army off the coast of Flanders in the Spanish Netherlands, the reason for the defeat of the Spanish Armada was not only due to gale winds that favored the British but also the sacrificing of eight war ships as “fireships,” vessels filled with pitch, brimstone, gunpowder, and tar and sent downwind toward the closely-anchored Spanish fleet.
Phrase -
" Stymieing the Armada’s plans to meet up with the Duke of Parma’s army off the coast of Flanders in the Spanish Netherlands " --- No Verb Here , So just a phrase !
Clause 1 -
" the reason for the defeat of the Spanish Armada was not only due to gale winds that favored the British " Subject is " The reason for defeat of the Spanish Armada " - A noun Phrase , Verb is " favored ", Hence this is a clause.
Clause 2 -
" but also the sacrificing of eight war ships as “fireships,” vessels filled with pitch, brimstone, gunpowder, and tar and sent downwind toward the closely-anchored Spanish fleet. " Subject is " the sacrificing of eight war ships " - A noun Phrase , and has two verbs " Filled and Sent ( both in simple past so parallelism achieved ) "
I apologize for any mistakes while breaking the sentence . Experts please correct those errors , if any exist