Require help with boldface questions

Question

Hi all,

I have observed that boldface questions tend to challenge me, especially the higher difficulty level ones.

I have also observed that I comprehend the passage quite well. I am able to analyse what each part of the passage is and break it down. I also can do a bit of pre-thinking (I would say I'm still learning pre-thinking, but I'm getting better at it with practice).

However, when I examine the answer options, I get confused because of the generic nature of the words used to describe the boldfaces. Therefore, I tend to get confused with what each boldface was and tend to mix up what the boldface was with an option that confuses me. The words used to describe the boldface confuse me.

I have also observed that when I get these questions wrong, I would have considered the right answer and another wrong answer. The decision is always between two (one of which is the right answer) but end up, sometimes, choosing an option that I don't fully understand. This may also be happening because I haven't fully understood the right option but it fits the best yet with my pre-thinking analysis.

What I need help with is a strategy to ensure that I don't fall for the traps and understand what the option means. Any help appreciated!

Thanks,

Raunak.

souvonik2k · Answer

You can refer to the Manhattan GMAT guide CR for bold question types.
It is explained in detail and will give you the confidence.
In bold face questions, you need to focus on the words by which u can come to know whether it is a fact/opinion/conclusion.
You can find a long list of words in the MGMAT guide which will help u identify the above.
Hope it helps!

Taz1307 · Answer

IF yopu can spend some tome on Empower GMAT's free videos specifically made for few bold type questions from OG . IT will be a good guide,also practise the easier ones from verbal review

demblr · Answer

souvonik2k  Thanks for your reply!

I am not having a problem identifying the parts of the passage. My problem lies in identifying the complex words in the answer options. These words tend to confuse me. I break down the passage into premise, assumptions, conclusion, fact, theory, prediction etc and have no problem there. Its when I have to connect these words with the answer options that I face the problem. Any ideas to help me on this?

demblr · Answer

Taz1307  Thanks for your reply! I will check out EmpowerGMATs boldface guides, thanks for that. Working through the OG and verbal reviews along with Manhattan prep strategy guides. Hopefully this should help reduce my mistakes.

cxa0897 · Answer

I struggled with these too, and just like you, it always wound up being between two choices. Without building up a stronger vocabulary, it is really tough to understand the answer choices better, so my suggestion is to look for the differences between the two you've narrowed it down to. You might find that one is suggesting a cause and effect while the other is contrasting, etc.

For what it's worth, I didn't see a single bold face on my GMAT, and I believe they make up less than 2% of the question base. As long as you can apply sound CR skills and narrow the choices down, I think you should be fine. Missing 1 of these questions on the GMAT isn't going to make or break your score, so I wouldn't invest a ton of time into them.

souvonik2k · Answer

Hi  demblr 
Boldface questions definitely take more time as they use complex words in the answer choices.
In my opinion, look at the first bold statement and pre-think how it is related to the entire passage, then move on to the answer choices one by one and keep eliminating. Then take up the second bold statement, pre-think its relation with the passage or first statement and evaluate the remaining answer choices. I think it will help.

sandysilva · Answer

You can check egmat.
Just sign in and you will get free access to the bold face concept.
They got it covered in their free trial.

Sent from my SM-N9007 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi demblr,

In an earlier post, you reported that you scored 570 on a CAT (which you took about 3 weeks ago). Have you taken any additional FULL-LENGTH CATs since then (and if so, then how did you score - including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

I ask because if you're significantly far from your score goal, then focusing on Bolded Statement questions is NOT a good use of your time. That question type is relatively rare (you likely won't see more than 1 on Test Day - and you might not see any), so that simply cannot be a major factor in your performance right now.

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

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Require help with boldface questions

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