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I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the

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shaselai
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I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 06:13
I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the techniques the book went over seems to be "practice only" since they dont suggest writing things down during the test (except maybe really short summaries). Any techniques people here use a lot and found the most helpful during a test?



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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 06:20
I used to write notes during RC earlier, probably following Kaplan's advice to do so. My Verbal score was in 31-33 range these days. Later on, I tried to practice more RC and soon RC became my favourite part of GMAT instead of most disliked s it was earlier.

I stopped using any tricks and techniques for RC, instead I practced untill I got to level where I can read any passage under 3-3.5 minutes. It is much easier and you don't need any kind of techniques then.
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 06:27
Pathfinder wrote:
I used to write notes during RC earlier, probably following Kaplan's advice to do so. My Verbal score was in 31-33 range these days. Later on, I tried to practice more RC and soon RC became my favourite part of GMAT instead of most disliked s it was earlier.

I stopped using any tricks and techniques for RC, instead I practced untill I got to level where I can read any passage under 3-3.5 minutes. It is much easier and you don't need any kind of techniques then.



When you go into the passage do you read it thoroughly then spend very little time going back to the passage to answer questions or total reading time is 3-3.5 minutes and you glance over the passage first then go back to answer questions?
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 06:35
I usually read it for 3 to 3:30 thorughly and then answer the questions. Of course, I go back to passage from time to time, especially when there is some question that address something specific into the passage.

But skimming of a passage - no, I've found this tecnique extremely uncomfortable for me. It could help for some other tests, but im GMAT, and especially LSAT, passages are brutal. They have mid-pasus that is real brain fryer. Twisted upside-down, you often cannot catch what is the cause and what is the consequence. I really haven't found skimming helpful - quite opposite.
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 06:48
Pathfinder wrote:
I usually read it for 3 to 3:30 thorughly and then answer the questions. Of course, I go back to passage from time to time, especially when there is some question that address something specific into the passage.

But skimming of a passage - no, I've found this tecnique extremely uncomfortable for me. It could help for some other tests, but im GMAT, and especially LSAT, passages are brutal. They have mid-pasus that is real brain fryer. Twisted upside-down, you often cannot catch what is the cause and what is the consequence. I really haven't found skimming helpful - quite opposite.



i see what you are saying. Before reading the guide i was also reading the passage thoroughly taking little notes and try to solve the questions.... not that good obviously. Do you use some of their elimination techniques like the scoring system or whatnot?
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 07:30
I agree with Path...I tried skimming technique and I found it un-workable for me. I too practiced reading the whole passage fast..like 2 minutes...making mental note of relevant info and position, and areas that have common GMAT RC tricks (like meaning of a complex word/theory...after you practice you can get this sense).

Eventually I was getting most difficult questions correct and with SC, was consistently my highest score on simulated CATS....(but I failed to deliver during actual GMAT, when I lost confidence in my score....)

So IMO..practice and figure out what method works best for you...then do tons of Qs to build up stamina...
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 10:05
I tried reading the first and last sentence of each paragraph and paraphrasing with notes, but I found myself spending more time with no improvement in accuracy. Personally, I'd rather nail SC and CR questions in under 60 seconds to build up a bigger time bank for RC. Like others that have posted, I read the passage in under 3 minutes.
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 10:36
Avernusaur wrote:
I tried reading the first and last sentence of each paragraph and paraphrasing with notes, but I found myself spending more time with no improvement in accuracy. Personally, I'd rather nail SC and CR questions in under 60 seconds to build up a bigger time bank for RC. Like others that have posted, I read the passage in under 3 minutes.


I agree...I think you can bank extra time for RC with efficiencies in SC/CR questions...
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 10:49
do you guys feel the passages gets harder (harder to understand, harder vocabs etc.) as the difficulties rise or just the questions themselves? The book says just longer and the sample passages it had werent that bad at all
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Re: I just finished going over the RC book. Most of the [#permalink] New post   23 Jun 2009, 11:57
IMO....I feel the difficulty of a RC section is determined by the passage...the complexity of subject, density of concepts, etc...



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