10 Question Verbal Passages

[golfer_123]

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Anyone find that the 10 question verbal passages on the AAMC practice tests screw over your timing?

I just feel really unfortable with the idea of two 10 question passages tagged along with several short 5 question passages. Why can't they just make every passages 6 or 7 questions 🙁

Personally, I try to spend like 7 or 8 minutes on the 5 question passages and around 13 to 14 minutes on the 10 question passages. It only seems logical that I spend nearly twice the amount of time on a 10 question passage vs. a 5 question passage.

Any comments?

 

[ctv1116]

I don't really think in terms of time per passage, only to make sure that, at all costs, I finish the exam and give every question a fair shot. I'm in that 10-11 range on Verbal and failing to do a passage or being only able to quickly scan pretty much pulls you down 1-2 points for sure.

Typically, I think in terms of what percentage of questions I have finished (after the passage where I cross question 30, or 107 on the AAMC tests) I want to have used up only 40-45 minutes, irrespective of the actual passages.

 

[el.harpo]

Typically, I think in terms of what percentage of questions I have finished (after the passage where I cross question 30, or 107 on the AAMC tests) I want to have used up only 40-45 minutes, irrespective of the actual passages.

Exactly. At first I tried following what EK says about only looking up at the clock once during the middle of test to find out if my pace it OK, but when I took tests 7 and 5R I decided to change my strategy a little bit. When the timer calls 45 minutes, you should be very close to finishing 30 questions or should have surpassed it depending on whether or not you had encountered any 10 question passages. By the time there are 40 minutes left (5 mins after the 45 minute announcement), if you have still not hit question 30, then you should speed up to avoid running out of time.

 

[golfer_123]

Maybe a reason why I am scoring lower than I would like to is I consistently look at my watch to check my pace. I would say I check at least once a passage, which probably takes some good time.

You guys make a good point about only concentrating on the percentage of the test completed and giving each question a fair shot, something I do not do near the latter part of the test.

 

[RUscrewed]

i'm gonna look at the time about the midway point unless i know i am goign too slow (usually i can sense i am too slow if have to read back too much). i do all passages in order with 1 caveat. with 2 passages left, i check the time left and do the passage with more questions first. this has given me good results, because i'd hate to have to rush a 10 question passage instead of a 6 question one.

Maybe a reason why I am scoring lower than I would like to is I consistently look at my watch to check my pace. I would say I check at least once a passage, which probably takes some good time.

You guys make a good point about only concentrating on the percentage of the test completed and giving each question a fair shot, something I do not do near the latter part of the test.

 

[NilamPatel]

in PS or BS i never look at the clock after every passage..i just keep going until i hit passage 6 or 7 and then guage my timing but in verbal i look after EVERY passage, probably why i end up skipping atleast 1 passage everytime...my verbal timing sucks 😡

 

[jon0013]

in PS or BS i never look at the clock after every passage..i just keep going until i hit passage 6 or 7 and then guage my timing but in verbal i look after EVERY passage, probably why i end up skipping atleast 1 passage everytime...my verbal timing sucks 😡

thats a great idea...i've been lookin at the clock almost after every passage or 2...its probably contributed to throwin my concentration off....also on the real MCAT there will be a 10 question passage or 2 from my experience...do yall rank passages? i used to do that but now I'm more of a skip it only if its killin you..i think its important to start out with 2-3 easier passages to build confidence/momemtum...

 

[docmd2010]

I usually suck at those 10 question passages. But here's my analysis of it:

Usually if their are 2 10 questioners in the test, there will be 3-4 5 questioners that will accompany the 10 questioners. In addition to 3-4 6 to 7 questioners.

My strategy is to do the 5 questioners first (usually spend about 8 mins per), then do the 6/7 questioners (about 9 to 10 minutes per), then do the 10 questioners last. this allows me to spend abt 15 mins per passage on the 10 question ones. I mean if you think about it, those 2 passages are 1/3 of the verbal section. So you should rightfully spent about 1/3 of your time on that. I usually don't get to one passage, and i try to skip a 5 questioner, so i don't have to guess on too many. Let me konw what you guys think.

 

[speranza]

Oh my god, I HATE the 10 question passages! They completely screw up my timing and I end up having to rush and guess at the end. What's wrong with 6/7 questions? Those extra questions really mess with my mind. I am really really hoping there are none of these on the test next Sat.

 

[ctv1116]

Oh my god, I HATE the 10 question passages! They completely screw up my timing and I end up having to rush and guess at the end. What's wrong with 6/7 questions? Those extra questions really mess with my mind. I am really really hoping there are none of these on the test next Sat.

Well its usually that they put the hardest questions in the 10 question passages.

 

[sweetstuff25]

Well its usually that they put the hardest questions in the 10 question passages.

damn i really hope there aren't TWO 10question passages like the aamc tests. it literary takes at least 11minutes to finish each passage.

 

[Mister Pie]

The 10 question ones throw me off mentally because it seems like I'm spending FOREVER on them.

With regards to scanning, I've found that my accuracy is surprisingly high... sometimes higher than the passages I've read more carefully. I'm not sure if this is a testament to my skill or to my extreme weakness to certain passage types (read: literature analysis and art).

 

[SOUNDMAN]

There were two 10 question passages last August when I took it, so I'm planning for it again this August as well.

 

[docmd2010]

I bet the aamc was debating to put the 10 question passages on the april mcat, and then they read this thread and saw so many people freaking out, now i bet they'll be 10 question pssages for sure. Hmmm, i wonder if aamc actually reads sdn to see what people are struggling with so they can put that content on the next mcat.

 

[speranza]

I bet the aamc was debating to put the 10 question passages on the april mcat, and then they read this thread and saw so many people freaking out, now i bet they'll be 10 question pssages for sure. Hmmm, i wonder if aamc actually reads sdn to see what people are struggling with so they can put that content on the next mcat.

Yeah, I know it's probably wishful thinking on my part to think there won't be any 10 question passages. I'm expecting one, if not two. Hell with my luck, there might even be three, lol. 🙄