Do you read for specific details? Or do you just vaguely remember where details they are? I'm trying to cut down on my time in RC, but I'm having a problem quickly locating detail questions. How do you do it? For me, I can read a passage and understand the main point, the relationships between the paragraphs, and the author's attitude, but I take too much time on detail-oriented questions. It's either I look at a passage broadly, or in detail, but not both.
Thanks.
I'm at that point where I'm consistently scoring in the 168-172 range in Blind Review, but still trying to get the hang of completing sections in the allotted time. I've been told that setting the time to 40 minutes and slowly inching my way down to 35 minutes can help with timing. Is this true? I've been kind of wary of this because I feel like it's a waste of valuable preptests. Can any high scorers attest to this strategy?
Thanks.
I use Elevate. It trains you in listening, reading, writing, etc. It's on the app store, and might also be on the android store.
@mikpa103 That would be great.
@mikpa103 I mostly use Voyager's RC strategy. I box all names, places, and important definitions. Underline main conclusions and viewpoint shifts. I summarize each paragraph using as few words as possible.
I sorta just read the passage in 3.5 minutes and just move onto the questions.
@mikpa103 Even if I don't finish, I still complete them during BR. I usually go -4 or under during Blind Review. Not too fond of art and science passages. I'm just trying to focus on finishing them in the time limit, my understanding of the passage isn't a problem (at least I'd like to think that). I don't get bored of them either, and I usually understand what each paragraph does to one another. It's those darn specific line questions that get me.
@2543.hopkins I'm missing a lot of inference and specific line questions on both timed and untimed practice. Not sure how to improve it.
I've been trying to improve the RC section for the last 4 months with little luck. I've tried a few notable methods, but I'm still consistently picking incorrect answer choices in every passage. I do pretty well on LG and LR however so I've been thinking of just allocating the time I'd use on the fourth passage to making sure the first three are perfect. Do you guys think this is a good idea?
I'm not sure what else I can do with RC. Thanks.
Yeah. Everything said above makes sense. Spend a whole day reviewing a PrepTest after taking it under time pressure. My BR process is a little more drawn out and complicated, but it might help you.
First, take a test under time pressure. Then come back the next day and take it without timing yourself. Make sure you can vocalize why one answer is correct, and the other four are incorrect. After completing your second pass, score it and analyze your problem areas. Lastly, grab a pair of scissors, glue, a binder, a sheet of blank white paper, and some plastic paper slips. Cut out every question in both LR sections and try to categorize them . Is it a causality flaw? A weaken causality question? Does it deal with numbers and proportions? You'll notice that most question types, especially Strengthen, Weaken, Flaws, and Necessary Assumptions, reuse the same reasoning patterns. Being able to spot these common patterns will sometimes cut 20-30 seconds/question. After cutting and categorizing each question into a pile, begin to glue them onto a blank white sheet until you have each LR question separated and glued by pattern of reasoning.
Look over your LR collection once a day, making sure to note the patterns and correct/incorrect answer choices. You'll begin to close the gap by noticing these patterns and applying this new knowledge to future PTs.
I'll try to join this time.
Thanks for the responses everyone. @alexroark5906 I'm going to try that. I'll start breaking up every argument in search for their premises and conclusions. I've been trying to keep all of the information in my head, but I think staying organized is more logical. Thanks for the post.
So I did some serious BR review and noticed that during practice (both timed and untimed) I misread the question, sometimes multiple times, before ultimately getting the question wrong out of my inability to understand the stimulus. Is there anything specific I can do to tighten my understanding of these questions? I've been studying for a few months now, so I don't know if continual drilling is improving carefulness.
Thanks.
In my BR review, I've discovered a few patterns and I'd like some input as to how I should go about fixing them.
In LR, I noticed that I make a lot of mistakes because I misunderstood something or didn't fully grasp a key term.
In RC, I have problems understanding what the question is asking me to do. On several occasions, I've found myself fully understanding a passage, only to spend more than half the time trying to figure out what the questions are referring to/asking of me.
In LG, I'm having timing issues. I can usually complete the game with a perfect score untimed, but almost never complete it under time constraints. Any suggestions on improving?
How should I go about learning from questions that aren't common? There are a few questions that require pure reasoning and don't rely on patterns or anything. I'm having some trouble with them. Is there anything I can do to improve that?
Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll just keep drilling until I see improvement.
So I was wondering what techniques I could use to prevent myself from making the same trivial errors. I've noticed that I'm making the same mistakes during timed practice, that I don't make during untimed, but for some reason I can't prevent myself from making them. It's weird. I'll take a timed section, make a mental note not to make a certain error during review, and then when I take a second time section and I'm confronted with the same type of question, I'll mess up and make the same type of error I sought so hard not to make.
So I took PT38 and 39 a week apart from each other to give me time to blind review. I ended up scoring 154/171BR on 38 and 150/167BR on 39? I feel like I have a timing problem, but I have no idea where to begin climbing this steep hill. Anyone with a similar experience? I'm not sure what else to try. This is however, my second time doing BR so I'm not sure that has anything to do with it.
Thanks.
Ah, thanks. The second is using a form of "Only if." I kept trying to shift the if into the sufficient. I understand now.
1. Can someone explain how the first and second sentences are rephrasings of each other?
- If the elevator malfunctioned, it wasn't properly maintained.
- The elevator would only have malfunctioned if it wasn't properly maintained.
2. What's the best way to tell the difference between a correct strengthen answer and a premise booster (or de-booster for weaken questions?) Had a little problem on PT62 Sec 4 #14
@2543 There are a lot of games that help with speed reading and information processing. I've been subbed for 2 months and it's really helped me improve in those areas.