started gmat prep -- new feelings

Question

All,

I just started GMAT prep few weeks back with MGMAT + OG's. Just wanted to share something with my initial feelings.... Verbal is definitely not my forte; so I started with CR ( most dreaded topic, RC to follow). I'm reading/practicing through MGMAT+OG's. I never used these techniques/strategies earlier when I gave GRE many years back. I'm feeling much more confident that these strategies/process/systematic thought process would boost my GMAT score. May be it's just a start but I'm getting overwhelmed with so many strategies/process/systematic thought processes in one single question that has to be answered in 1.5 to 2 mins.

For answering one question,
- dissect argument into assumptions+premises+conclusion, eliminating wrong answer choice 
- if conclusion stated, it's fine else do some hard work for conclusion.
- paraphrase or diagram the arg
- think for few seconds on your own for an answer or thought completing the logic.
- read every answer choice and don't stop at one option even if you think it's right(very tempting NOT to read rest of choices if you feel one is right).
- eliminate using wrong answer types/irrelevant/out of scope or arg/not present in arg/wrong direction types( in strengthen or weaken question, new premise or new info is the right answer than conclusion/assumption questions)
- again employ few techniques/strategies for two close answer choices.

I'm sure about many more techniques/strategies to go for RC/SC/DS......
Can someone share his/her experience with same?

Thanks
rg1

dzyubam · Answer

It seems you're overwhelmed because it's really just a start.

You should be able to answer questions faster as you practice more. After some time, you will follow all those strategies intuitively and will spend less time on each question.

I think you're on the right track since you started with fundamentals. A little more practice with questions and you'll nail CR section!

bb · Answer

You may want to explore this area: gmat-critical-reasoning-cr-139/ That's the best place for the CR strategy discussion.

rg1 · Answer

Thanks for your input guys. I'm checking different sections slowly.

rg1 · Answer

Sometimes I get disheartened by the results of practice sessions. Generally, I correctly answer 60-70% of questions. When I review my mistakes, I always say "why didn't I think about that". 
Review of mistakes include:
-close call between two answers
-didn't catch some words in argument
-didn't think from another perspective( e.g. argument is from company's perspective but one of options are from customers' perspective)

Also, when I start reading argument, I feel myself in some hurry to read it. And then I re-read and diagram it. 
When I get some answers wrong, I feel that I should improve critical reasoning skills in general and get distracted from gmat CR questions strategy.
I'm yet to start on Sentence Correction and RC though.
Is it just practice or something else which'd make me more confident?

dzyubam · Answer

I think you're on the right path. Analyzing your mistakes carefully and practicing more should do it. If you find any pattern in your mistakes for different CR question types, do your best to improve in those question types.

Have some more practice and don't forget to time yourself.

Have some more practice and don't forget to time yourself.

rg1 · Answer

I started with MGMAT RC book. I've to admit that I never timed myself. I timed one RC passage; I got nervous and forgot to actually apply concepts I learnt earlier. I simply read it to see how much time I took. Speed was not that bad but my overall comprehension wasn't great.
I've to employ reading techniques like
- analyzing paragraph structure
- active reading
- trying to ask myself If I understood previous lines before moving ahead
- making conscious efforts in finding conclusion/point of the passage.

I have to beat the timing fear and RC nervousness with more and more practice!!! No other option but to face it :-(

.

.

dzyubam · Answer

Sounds like a way to go.

You'll get better and better with more timed practice!

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started gmat prep -- new feelings

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