Need help in cracking CR questions

Question

Hi I am preparing for GMAT for last two months and have been able to comprehend most of the areas in GMAT except CR in which i frequently get the questions wrong. I have done around 100 questions from OG 12 and was only able to get 40% of them correct. I did study Kaplan Verbal workbook and it's kaplan Premier program but to no benefit. I also studied the CR notes available online in some of forums but again after religiously following the concept in them, I mark the incorrect answers. This thing is de-motivating and giving me jitters. I'm writing GMAT on Sept 29, so less time but more work and to worse it, I'm no good at CR

Please advise. Thanks VM

adamv30 · Answer

Look into getting either MGMAT CR or Powerscore CR. Both have good strategies.

This is the common answer for most CR difficulties.

Best of luck

bigoyal · Answer

which ever book you choose, go through the concepts and explanation of the exercises at least twice.

Also, try to solve (with explanation) as many queries on GMAT club as you can. By giving explanation to others, you'll learn and explore lot of things.

hogann · Answer

I think the question should be how do you prepare yourself when tackling a CR question. Do you read start to finish then go through the answer choices? Do you take notes?

Everyone has a different method but I find the easiest way to approach a question is this.

1) Read the question stem first, by knowing if you are trying to strengthen, weaken, find an assumption etc. as you are reading the question you have a leg up.
2) Write down the conclusion - time is key on the GMAT but taking a couple of seconds to jot down the conclusion helps when reading the answer choices.
3) Determine what you think the answer might be. If you are looking to weaken the argument formulate a couple of ideas before looking at the answer choices. This way you will be simply looking to match an answer with what you already have.
4) Take part on this board. Reading how other people reason out the question will help when constructing strategies.

Good luck!

vaibhavmittal · Answer

Hi

Got the book and ave read 1/3rd of it but with no success. I have understood the theory properly but when I tried the fundas on the question set at the back of each chapter and got most of them wrong! No improvement in my accuracy even after this.

Now, this is insane and has hit my panic Button

Any further advises. My exam is on Sept 29th and this is where I stand ????

Sad

Vaibhav Mittal

Any further advises. My exam is on Sept 29th and this is where I stand ???? Sad

Vaibhav Mittal

bigoyal · Answer

First time you'll miss lot of concepts. Once you are done with the book, start doing something else (may be quant, SC etc). Then re-read the whole book and solve the problems once again. Go through the book atleast twice.

Remember, never skip explanations of even a single questions. When reading the explanation, try to understand each and every bit of explanation and how it fit into the question.. If you have even slight confusion get it clarified by posting queries on this forum or search on the net. You still have lot of time.

You cannot improve unless you understand the concepts clearly.

vaibhavmittal · Answer

Hello

I did few more chapters from Powerscore and have the following observations:

1. I can understand the stem.
2. I know the question types properly.
3. Mostly, I can select two probable answer choice from five. (After spending 10-15 mins in comprehending the stimuli)
4. All the questions I get wrong, it's a problem with the understanding of Stimuli.
5. The question set in Powerscore is very difficult and have used words which are not in my Mind Vocab list

So, I feel that once I can understand the Stimuli then the answer can be selected but this remains the only Challenge ???

Breaking down complex stimulus and then relating the conclusion is a problematic task for me.

Please suggest/ advise.

Thanks 
Vaibhav Mittal

ichha148 · Answer

Going through Power Score Critical Reasoning is the best way to increase your CR Score. 
If you are finding these questions difficult then read the chapter again. I also suggest you should raise your doubts in the forum

As you said in point 4. All the questions I get wrong, it's a problem with the understanding of Stimuli.

You should break your questions in to Premise /conclusion and can ask forum members to help you in finding the write conclusion. If you want to practice tough CR's then i suggest either go for LSAT CR's or IIM( indian) CR's questions with explainations. Even if you got a question right , read the explaination and make sure you are applying the right concept.

mikeCoolBoy · Answer

The problems in the bible are from LSAT sets so in average are a little more difficult than GMAT problems. If you have problems understanding the stimulus, I recommend that you take notes or diagram the stimulus as you're reading it. Take your time at the beginning and don't worry about time restrictions. Whenever you read a stimulus, you should identify the premises, subconclusion and conclusion. You should also understand how the author uses the premises to arrive to the conclusion. This just takes a lot of practice. If you want more resources to practice I recommend you buy the LSATS deconstructed https://www.amazon.com/PowerScore-2004- ... 0972129642 The book contains the 2004 LSATS exams with their explanations. Each LSAT exam comes with more than 50 critical reasoning questions and the explanations that powerscore provides are the best out there. Don't worry about the type of questions that don't appear in GMAT such as point at issue. If you have trouble understanding any explanation/question post it here and perhaps somebody will help you. Good luck.

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