MGMAT RC and CR techniques

Question

I'm taking MGMAT's course and they suggest taking notes for CR and RC. Problem is I think doing this takes too long. 

Has anybody used this technique and how effective is it? Maye I just need to get more practice and take notes faster...

What are some other techniques people think are better than taking notes? I've heard that skimming through then going back to get specifics when answering questions is effective.

uphillclimb · Answer

I took their course too. Taking notes is highly effective, but if you tried to do it just they way they taught you to, you'd be there all day!
For RC, just scribble down a quick note - it might even be just one word - that captures the idea in the first sentence in each paragraph. Believe it or not, that is enough to give you an idea of structure. It is also enough to give you at least an idea of where to look when you have to go trolling for specific information to answer a question. This will save you precious seconds, and trust me, they add up.

For CR, same idea. Usually I do something like: Statement - rebuttal - conclusion - more info, or whatever the pattern of the CR happens to be. Again, I write down just a word or two to help me get a feel for the structure. This helps me zero in on the correct answers much faster. It worked beautifully on my actual exam!

Hope this helps...

sonibubu · Answer

thanks, that sounds more doable and realistic.

Ravshonbek · Answer

Uphillclimb has put a good strategy to follow. my recom is that, do what is easy for you. try all including uphillclimb's strategy and kaplan, princeton or any other and see which is effective and choose one and stick to it. never change it then! you will be adept. believe!

good luck

johnrb · Answer

I think the general point about minimizing note taking is quite right, especially on Critical Reasoning. It might be useful when starting out to take notes, until you're solid on the ways that questions are constructed, but you'd want to ease off that pretty quickly. On the other hand, while I also absolutely agree that individual styles differ and what's most important is what works for you, I think most people are better served by a careful reading & some note-taking on Reading Comprehension than by a quick skim approach. Reading Comprehension is remarkably sensitive to the wording of the passage. The most important skill you need to develop is the ability to locate relevant sentences in the passage as quickly as possible. Skimming isn't going to equip you to do this, & could make you vulnerable to trap answer choices. More on the Critical Reasoning and Reading Comp sections is available in Manhattan Review's Verbal Study Guide, which also contains some good practice problems: https://www.manhattanreview.com/courses/ ... rials.html

ys2jax · Answer

I think the note taking helps you focus reading really dry subjects but other than that i don't see real value in it.

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MGMAT RC and CR techniques

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