just finished reviewing AAMC 3 verbal (don't worry, no spoilers), and here are the notes of things I want to improve on/continue practicing for the next time. maybe someone else will find it useful
1. don't second guess yourself. (I missed 3 questions doing this, won't make that mistake again!
)
2. go with your gut. let's say you've narrowed down to A and C. if there is even a single word in choice C that feels off/makes you a little uneasy, then don't pick C
3. whenever possible, after you read the question, try to answer it yourself before reading the answer choices. and always read every single answer choice (almost missed a question because I got too hasty)
4. for questions that ask you to summarize a main point or thesis: the author almost never directly states their main point. if any of the answer choices are just paraphrasing a specific sentence from the passage, eliminate them.
5. for a question that reads "X is used as evidence to support...[Y]" and you have to choose what Y is: locate the sentence where X is stated, then rely on the contents directly within that sentence or the sentence(s) directly after. don't draw inferences from other places earlier/later in the passage.
6. mark "according to the passage" questions. if you have time to review, go back into the passage and double check. the answer is just a basic fact retrieval (this helps me feel more confident, you might find this a waste of time though)
7. "the author would most likely support..." questions: narrow it down best you can, then for each answer choice think hard about the pros of each. i didn't do this because I was silly enough to let my own opinion guide me. but it's not what you support, it's what the author will support, that matters.
8. questions that ask "which of the following strengthens/weakens the argument that..." ask yourself, even if 3/4 choices are true statements, which one actually addresses the argument presented in the question? the rest are probably just facts that are sort of relevant to the topic.
