For RC shall we read question and then jump to reading passage?

Question

bb · Answer

Hi  Parag22jain ,

That's the usual recommendation for the first RC question, take a look at the prompt to get a sense of it (though frankly, I am not sure how helpful it is since you have 2-3 more questions and you won't see them so I feel GMAT already takes into consideration the fact that you will be reading the question).

But still, I would check just the prompt without the answer choices and then head to read the passage. This may help a bit with understanding and in the worst case, won't waste much time. 🤷‍♂️

shishimaru · Answer

It's generally more effective to read the passage first with a focus on understanding the structure and main idea rather than jumping straight to the questions. Skimming the first question before reading can sometimes provide context, but since each passage has multiple questions, this approach may not be consistently helpful. Instead, focus on identifying key points, the author's tone, and any contrasting viewpoints while reading. This will make answering all the questions more efficient and accurate. Try both methods during practice to see which works best for you!

SarfrazAP · Answer

Pretty pointless in my opinion, since you can't see all the questions at once. Better to read the passage first and then approach the questions.

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Some test-takers like to read the first question that appears alongside a passage before reading the passage itself. I don’t recommend that strategy because what tends to happen is that instead of reading the passage holistically and being prepared for whatever questions come their way, these test-takers read the passage with the goal of finding the answer to the first question. 
 
Thus, their overall understanding of the passage suffers. In the end, they often spend more time going back to the passage and rereading than they would have if they had simply read the passage first, without the “tunnel vision.” 
 
So,  don’t allow the first question to narrow your view, either consciously or subconsciously, of what is important information in a passage.  As subsequent questions are presented, you will find that you lack the necessary comprehension to answer them. 
 
Another pitfall of reading the first question before you read the passage is that you may be more tempted to simply skim the passage instead of reading it in its entirety. After all, you already “know” what the first question asks you to find.

The thing is, you’re likely to miss many nuances, connections between ideas, and relationships between different parts of a passage if you merely skim. You will probably find it harder to interpret the meaning or function of sentences and be more likely to choose trap answers. 
 
So, to maximize your understanding of an RC passage and your ability to work through RC questions efficiently, read the passage carefully, in its entirety, before you read the first question.

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

ManifestDreamMBA · Answer

Reading the question first might skew the understanding of the passage from the first question perspective, IMO

bb · Answer

Thanks for the tip! 
I always read the question but I can see how it may set you on a certain path.... this may be one of those things to watch out for and try both ways to see which one helps more than the other.

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For RC shall we read question and then jump to reading passage?

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