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Updated on: 04 Aug 2020, 07:59
Originally posted by LogicGuru1 on 08 Aug 2016, 03:25.
Last edited by LogicGuru1 on 04 Aug 2020, 07:59, edited 7 times in total.
Last edited by LogicGuru1 on 04 Aug 2020, 07:59, edited 7 times in total.
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I have tried almost all the strategy mentioned by majority of GMAT coaches and fellow test takers.
Based on my reading of 480 passages (8-9 passages per day for the last 2 months every evening
) I have come to the conclusion that the "BE A SCHOLAR- Read everything and make quick concise notes" strategy works the best (at least for me).
This is how "BE A SCHOLAR" Strategy works.
1) Look at the number of paragraphs in the passage. You will need as many distinct areas in your notebook to corresponds to these passages and "mapping" the Info given in each paragraphs.
2) Start reading the passage. FIRST LINE IS IMPORTANT. It gives an idea about what kind of passage you are dealing with. (Make a note what the topic might be about)
3) After reading the first line go directly to to the last line of the passage. Do they correlate. Does there seems to be a flow or continuity. If yes, then it is very good. (Make a note what the topic might be about) . If the first and last line do not correlate, then don't worry. Start reading the passage from first line.
4) Make notes about each paragraph of the passage in the designated area ; read everything, keeping in mind the transitional words such as since, however, but. Also keep in mind, the change in the context or topic when no such words are introduced.
5) Keep in mind the changing context and topics from one para to another with in the passage. WRITE A NOTE TO YOURSELF WHEN THIS HAPPENS (CC= context change. NC= new idea) etc etc. Also note if an idea is being introduced and then refuted or if an ideas is introduced and then expanded,
6) Make infographics for long paragraphs with proper terms. THIS WORKS LIKE A CHARM WHEN YOU START ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
7) Make infographics when information in paragraphs is connected to another info and then to another info. A small algorithm kind of pyramid structure or scattered boxes with directional arrows works best.
8) Use mathematical symbols such as = + @ # $ % liberally to shorten the long sentences and condense the idea
For example. If the passage reads - Interest rates are dependent on customer buying power and the prevalent economic climate, then condense this whole idea as-->
Int. Rate = customer $$ + Eco. condtn (conditions)
Use diagrams as much as you can for example If a passage says - The potential difference in clouds results when positively charged ions move to the upper layers of the clouds creating a surplus of negatively charged particles in the denser lower layers of the clouds and thus creating an electrical imbalance.
Condense it using a hand made diagram
++++++++++++
++++ TOP +++++. +VE
++++++++++++
^
|
|
Pot diff = elctrkl imbal.
|
|
v
- - - - - - - - - --
- - -BOTTOM - - - -VE
- - - - - - - - - ---
9) Again read the last line of the passage carefully. Now compare it with the mental Note you initially made about the passage. Does it fits the idea you had about the passage at the start of reading. Be careful even if the last line feels inconspicuous compared to the heavy info given in the passage. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND IT as it signifies the gist or summary of the passage
Voila you are done.
Another Important fact about "BE A SCHOLAR" strategy is the relatively high success rate with one time investment.
Just imagine you understood a passage completely and by sheer coincidence or design of the GMAT algorithm, you get 5 questions from the passage :-
Q 1) whats the passage about?
Q 2) based on the passage what can be inferred?
Q 3 ) the highlighted word signifies what in relation to the something else?
Q 4) The author is most likely to agree to which of the following statement?
Q 5) what is the tone of the passage?
Q 6) What is mentioned with regard to XYZ in the passaage?
Q7) what is not mentioned in regard to XYZ in the passage.
Now see, If you master the passage then you have 4-5 correct answers in your pocket just by investing a little time .
JUST IMAGINE GUYS 5 CORRECT ANSWERS !!
In verbal section where one answer can boost your potential score from 680 to 700, What difference can 5 correct answers make in your total ?? !!!
Trust me, the time invested in practicing RC is totally worth it.
Just mind the reading speed though, cos GMAT is a timed test and such speed will only come by reading as many varied passages as one can .
I admit this method takes a bit of time for the first 30 - 40 passages but later , you will develop your own symbols and shortcuts and would understand the entire passage just looking at your notebook. My earlier ERROR RATE was 3 incorrect in every 15-18 questions. Now it is 1 incorrect in 45-50 questions. Now i barely make a mistake in even the densest passage. The rare singular error happens when the answers are particularly similar and i miss something like "Except" or "Not" or "in, im" terms that reverses the meaning to opposite. (invalid valid impossible possible, practical impractical )
I am now proficient in decoding densest GMAT passages about politics, business, science, ecology, art, literature, critique related stuff, social science and other fields.
I would like to suggest people who are just starting preparation to go for this approach.
FELLOW MEMBER'S SUGGESTIONS ARE MOST WELCOME
Based on my reading of 480 passages (8-9 passages per day for the last 2 months every evening
) I have come to the conclusion that the "BE A SCHOLAR- Read everything and make quick concise notes" strategy works the best (at least for me). This is how "BE A SCHOLAR" Strategy works.
1) Look at the number of paragraphs in the passage. You will need as many distinct areas in your notebook to corresponds to these passages and "mapping" the Info given in each paragraphs.
2) Start reading the passage. FIRST LINE IS IMPORTANT. It gives an idea about what kind of passage you are dealing with. (Make a note what the topic might be about)
3) After reading the first line go directly to to the last line of the passage. Do they correlate. Does there seems to be a flow or continuity. If yes, then it is very good. (Make a note what the topic might be about) . If the first and last line do not correlate, then don't worry. Start reading the passage from first line.
4) Make notes about each paragraph of the passage in the designated area ; read everything, keeping in mind the transitional words such as since, however, but. Also keep in mind, the change in the context or topic when no such words are introduced.
5) Keep in mind the changing context and topics from one para to another with in the passage. WRITE A NOTE TO YOURSELF WHEN THIS HAPPENS (CC= context change. NC= new idea) etc etc. Also note if an idea is being introduced and then refuted or if an ideas is introduced and then expanded,
6) Make infographics for long paragraphs with proper terms. THIS WORKS LIKE A CHARM WHEN YOU START ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
7) Make infographics when information in paragraphs is connected to another info and then to another info. A small algorithm kind of pyramid structure or scattered boxes with directional arrows works best.
8) Use mathematical symbols such as = + @ # $ % liberally to shorten the long sentences and condense the idea
For example. If the passage reads - Interest rates are dependent on customer buying power and the prevalent economic climate, then condense this whole idea as-->
Int. Rate = customer $$ + Eco. condtn (conditions)
Use diagrams as much as you can for example If a passage says - The potential difference in clouds results when positively charged ions move to the upper layers of the clouds creating a surplus of negatively charged particles in the denser lower layers of the clouds and thus creating an electrical imbalance.
Condense it using a hand made diagram
++++++++++++
++++ TOP +++++. +VE
++++++++++++
^
|
|
Pot diff = elctrkl imbal.
|
|
v
- - - - - - - - - --
- - -BOTTOM - - - -VE
- - - - - - - - - ---
9) Again read the last line of the passage carefully. Now compare it with the mental Note you initially made about the passage. Does it fits the idea you had about the passage at the start of reading. Be careful even if the last line feels inconspicuous compared to the heavy info given in the passage. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND IT as it signifies the gist or summary of the passage
Voila you are done.
Another Important fact about "BE A SCHOLAR" strategy is the relatively high success rate with one time investment.
Just imagine you understood a passage completely and by sheer coincidence or design of the GMAT algorithm, you get 5 questions from the passage :-
Q 1) whats the passage about?
Q 2) based on the passage what can be inferred?
Q 3 ) the highlighted word signifies what in relation to the something else?
Q 4) The author is most likely to agree to which of the following statement?
Q 5) what is the tone of the passage?
Q 6) What is mentioned with regard to XYZ in the passaage?
Q7) what is not mentioned in regard to XYZ in the passage.
Now see, If you master the passage then you have 4-5 correct answers in your pocket just by investing a little time .
JUST IMAGINE GUYS 5 CORRECT ANSWERS !!
In verbal section where one answer can boost your potential score from 680 to 700, What difference can 5 correct answers make in your total ?? !!!
Trust me, the time invested in practicing RC is totally worth it.
Just mind the reading speed though, cos GMAT is a timed test and such speed will only come by reading as many varied passages as one can .
I admit this method takes a bit of time for the first 30 - 40 passages but later , you will develop your own symbols and shortcuts and would understand the entire passage just looking at your notebook. My earlier ERROR RATE was 3 incorrect in every 15-18 questions. Now it is 1 incorrect in 45-50 questions. Now i barely make a mistake in even the densest passage. The rare singular error happens when the answers are particularly similar and i miss something like "Except" or "Not" or "in, im" terms that reverses the meaning to opposite. (invalid valid impossible possible, practical impractical )
I am now proficient in decoding densest GMAT passages about politics, business, science, ecology, art, literature, critique related stuff, social science and other fields.
I would like to suggest people who are just starting preparation to go for this approach.
FELLOW MEMBER'S SUGGESTIONS ARE MOST WELCOME
08 Aug 2016, 05:42
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Bookmarks
@LogicGuru1 this is similar to what I have taught for 16 years and has worked like a charm for my clients.
However I focus more on paraphrasing, and using keywords, contrast, conclusions and commas as the basis for what you include in your road map.
Also I read the first sentence of each paragraph first to get a sense of what the files are in the filing cabinet before I start assimilating the data.
It takes a little upfront investment, but we are almost always able to come up with the answer before diving into the choices. Which has such a great impact on confidence and overall stamina.
I do think that one of the keys to the strategy is paraphrasing key parts of the passage, in your own words, just focusing on what you DO know and CAN understand and leaving the rest behind.
The reason for that is because the answers are a paraphrased version of the relevant text. If you've already paraphrased, then you're more receptive to those answers.
Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
However I focus more on paraphrasing, and using keywords, contrast, conclusions and commas as the basis for what you include in your road map.
Also I read the first sentence of each paragraph first to get a sense of what the files are in the filing cabinet before I start assimilating the data.
It takes a little upfront investment, but we are almost always able to come up with the answer before diving into the choices. Which has such a great impact on confidence and overall stamina.
I do think that one of the keys to the strategy is paraphrasing key parts of the passage, in your own words, just focusing on what you DO know and CAN understand and leaving the rest behind.
The reason for that is because the answers are a paraphrased version of the relevant text. If you've already paraphrased, then you're more receptive to those answers.
Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
08 Aug 2016, 06:09
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Bookmarks
@LogicGuru1 I'm having fun geeking out with you over reading comp.
I used to recommend that my students read the first line AND the last line of each paragraph first, however as I'm sure you realize with some of those arts and literature passages the last sentence can be a total cluster.
It's kind of a gamble, sometimes it's a wonderful summary, sometimes it's a dense ugly mess. You kind of see what I mean?
So now I recommend that strategy if you are dead out of time. To just read the first sentence last sentence and use that information to answer the global questions. It really works well, however its optimal not to be against the wall like that in terms of timing.
I really like the strategy I have of skipping words. Basically just selecting the most relevant words out of the passage, and leaving the rest behind. So if they talk about Applewood Smoked Bacon, I'm writing down bacon.
This works equally well when it's something you're not familiar with. I read a study about how people literally stop learning once they run into a word that they don't know.
And so I encourage my clients to consciously let that go and just focus on what they can get out of it. And it's almost always enough.
Empowering to know that what you don't understand doesn't really matter.
Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
Ï
I used to recommend that my students read the first line AND the last line of each paragraph first, however as I'm sure you realize with some of those arts and literature passages the last sentence can be a total cluster.
It's kind of a gamble, sometimes it's a wonderful summary, sometimes it's a dense ugly mess. You kind of see what I mean?
So now I recommend that strategy if you are dead out of time. To just read the first sentence last sentence and use that information to answer the global questions. It really works well, however its optimal not to be against the wall like that in terms of timing.
I really like the strategy I have of skipping words. Basically just selecting the most relevant words out of the passage, and leaving the rest behind. So if they talk about Applewood Smoked Bacon, I'm writing down bacon.
This works equally well when it's something you're not familiar with. I read a study about how people literally stop learning once they run into a word that they don't know.
And so I encourage my clients to consciously let that go and just focus on what they can get out of it. And it's almost always enough.
Empowering to know that what you don't understand doesn't really matter.
Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
Ï
) I have realised that the "BE A SCHOLAR- read everything and make quick notes" strategy works the best (at least for me). 
