A good way to accustom yourself to the style and subject matter of RC passages is to regularly read RC-like writing. High-quality newspapers and magazines such as The Economist, Smithsonian magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Scientific American feature writing on many of the same topics in GMAT RC passages and in a similar sophisticated style. Typically, you can access some articles in those types of publications for free online.
Think of the time you spend reading those articles as “bonus” GMAT study time — you could even make it a daily habit.
And if you want to add another level of practice to your “bonus” RC prep, when you’re reading an, practice doing the following:
- identifying the writer’s main point or primary purpose
- identifying the writer’s opinions and tone
- identifying any opposing viewpoints expressed or conflicting evidence discussed
- noticing whether there are any cause-and-effect claims made
- noticing whether there are any problems introduced and solutions offered
You may end up finding that you come away with a much deeper understanding of what you’ve read than you typically would. Just don’t convince yourself that reading newspapers and magazines can replace practice with realistic GMAT questions.
Reach out to me with any questions about your GMAT prep!
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-StewartFounder & CEO,
Target Test Prep