Self-study
Hi everyone! Does anyone have advice for handling STEM-based reading comprehension passages?
I'm usually pretty good at reading comprehension, regardless of the topic, but for some reason, I really struggle with long STEM passages. It feels like my brain completely short-circuits, and no matter how hard I try, I can't absorb what I'm reading. I've tried slowing down, taking a break, and even reading aloud, but it doesn't help. I am still just staring at the page without understanding much of it.
I've never disliked science or had trouble understanding it at a basic level, so I'm not sure why these passages are giving me such a hard time.
I would really appreciate any advice or strategies that have helped others overcome this. Thank you!
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One thing that helped me tremendously with STEM passages was realizing that the science itself is not my main pursuit.
Most LSAT science passages devote a very large portion of the passage to required background information. And this background tends to lean heavily into the science. It's easy to feel like you're supposed to understand and retain all of it, but that's all actually the "background" that sets up a very short "discussion".
I tell my students to try to see the big picture the science background is creating, and this tends to happen best by focusing on the how the sequence of events and ideas being presented are building to a "moment".
And that "moment" is the subject of the discussion. The background section is often well over half the passage. The discussion section is often only a single paragraph.
As I'm reading, my other primary goal is identifying where the passage transitions from background information into the actual discussion.
Once you start looking for that transition, the background becomes much easier to manage because you're no longer trying to memorize every scientific detail. You're reading it as setup. And when you're looking for the transition, it becomes easier to spot as well.
And the short discussion section is usually where you'll find the author's real focus: the framed question and the main point of the passage.
In short: Rather than becoming an expert in the subject matter, track how the STEM information is setting up the short discussion.
I hope that helps!
When reading those passages, I personally have to go SLOOOOOW. After each sentence, if there is a word I cannot clearly define, I stop and look it up. Then I return to the sentence and make sure I fully understand it. I do not move on until I can explain the sentence in my own words. It is a slow and rigorous process, but it steadily expands my vocabulary and improves my comprehension.
As I get more comfortable with the material, I start moving a little faster. After each paragraph, I create a simple “skeleton” or outline. I briefly note the purpose of the paragraph: Did it introduce a new topic? Support an argument? Provide evidence? Give an example? Then I write down a few key words that capture the paragraph’s main idea.
This process becomes easier with practice, and over time I get much faster. When I reach the questions, I can quickly look at my skeleton and remember what each paragraph was doing and the information it contained, instead of having to reread the entire passage. This process has helped me and I hope it helps you!