Any pointer/tips for CR speed

Question

Hi Experts,

Could you guys share any tips/pointers to increase speed in CR?

How do I approach?
First I take a look at the type of question then I understand the argument(average 1'30")
second I try to think possible answer and thus assimilate argument(15")
Last I go by each choice and see how it affects the argument and do POE(average 1')
So overall I take 2' 30" to 3' in solving a CR.
My accuracy is around 70% in hard Gprep Questions.

Right now only thing I can think of reading speed and I am trying to solve as many CR questions as possible to increase speed and to find out any other problem.

Any tips are appreciated.

Thanks,
Rajesh

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Rajesh,

Much like the rest of the GMAT, CR prompts are predictable (the logic and 'design' of the prompts is consistent and even the wrong answer choices fall into consistent categories), so you CAN train to solve CR questions faster and with a higher degree of accuracy. Right now, your plan seems to hinge on quantity of work - you assume that the more CR questions you solve, the more likely you will be to improve. While that approach might work, it depends on your ability to teach yourself all of those patterns. Unfortunately, if you're not clear on all of those details, then you might end up getting 'stuck', with little to no improvement actually taking place. This is all meant to say that you might benefit from investing in certain practice materials that will teach you all of those patterns (and how to take advantage of them).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

HanoiGMATtutor · Answer

How fast of a reader do you consider yourself?

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KarishmaB · Answer

Reading speed has a huge role to play in RC questions but not so much in CR. Looking at your time break up, I would say you need to reduce the time you take to understand the argument. You shouldn't need to take 1.5 mins to just read and understand 4-5 lines. Usually, the arguments are not very complicated. Just focus on the main ideas of each premise and how they tie together to the conclusion. I don't take out special time for pre-thinking. It will come to you while reading the argument. If it doesn't, you might as well jump on to the options.

aim780 · Answer

Thanks Rich,

I am hoping to increase my reading speed by more practice and in meantime hoping to find some pattern. I see reading materials marking many choices "out of scope" but I generally not able to decide the scope unless argument is using "few", "many", "some" etc type of words. I can give accuracy by applying common sense and for that I have to understand argument by heart. 
Considering your point I am thinking of reading Powerscore bible. May be I can improve a bit or I will find patterns more easily after reading this.

Thanks for your input.
-Rajesh

aim780 · Answer

Hi,

I do not consider myself a fast reader. I do not read much apart from my work and now for GMAT. I know this is the issue but when I started I heard we should focus on accuracy and timing will come by itself with practice. Now I have some accuracy but not able to speed up.
In order to increase my reading speed, I am trying to solve more official questions. Since, I not only have to just read but have to understand the argument also.

What do you suggest?

Thanks,
Rajesh

aim780 · Answer

Thanks Karishma,

I can try this way also. I am afraid my accuracy will decrease using this method but yes I think I can train myself to see when to focus more on argument and when to focus only on Premise>Conclusion link.
Is one minute fine for evaluating choices?

HanoiGMATtutor · Answer

Speed will come with practice, definitely. Since what you are having trouble with is reading speed, you want to practice reading. Not only GMAT materials but also other academic articles - dense texts in general.

How are you doing with Reading Comprehension?

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How are you doing with Reading Comprehension?

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diegocml · Answer

I'd agree with HanoiGMATtutor.

As I have experienced over the course of my GMAT studies, speed comes naturally with proper practice and solid foundations. Should you try to speed up on anything on purpose (for instance: speed reading, taking 'short-cuts' while solving problems, doing math in your head, not taking notes). your accuracy will definitely bleed.

aim780 · Answer

For Small RC 7-8 minutes. For Long RC 9-10 minutes. I am talking about RC with 3 questions.

GMATPILLBILL · Answer

Hi Rajesh,

For CR, we recommend a visual framework approach to help you understand the complex short passages and how each item relates to each other.

Here is a video describing the visual framework approach: https://www.gmatpill.com/criticalreasoni ... Estate.mp4

Also, in case you haven't seen, the GMAT Timer is just one of many features we already have in the Practice Pill Platform: https://www.gmatpill.com/gmat-practice-test/

You can time yourself for each question, get a video explanation explained the GMAT PILL way, and post questions / get answers to your questions.

Best of luck - and we are here to help.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi Rajesh,

Based on the amount of time that you're spending on your RC prompts, it sounds like you might either be reading/re-reading everything or you're getting 'hung up' trying to understand every word and idea that you come across. You don't have to be a fast reader to score at a high level in the Verbal section and you don't have to understand every detail in each prompt, but you do have to be efficient with your work (how you take notes and how you stay organized). If you've had this 'issue' for some time, then you've likely developed some 'bad habits' that will take time to fix (and replace with new 'good habits'). Thankfully, everything in the Verbal section is predictable, so with the proper Tactics and practice materials, you CAN train to score at a higher level.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

aim780 · Answer

Thanks Rich, your advice makes sense. I will try to find out bad habits.

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Any pointer/tips for CR speed

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