Another Reading Comp thread (shorter this time)

[sushi320]

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SO I read through the other threads.
I wrote the Canadian DAt last year, and got a 16 on RC. I used the look at the questions first and then "scan for the answers" method. It may have just been because I was nervous.

So I wanted to ask anyone who did well on RC.
Do you
1) use the scan method
2) read the whole passage and go back and read in detail
3) read the passage and write a word that represents the whole paragraph for each paragraph and go back when doing the answers

If scanning is worth it, I will practice that. I have been reading lots of Scientific papers, and with the first two sentences of every paragraph, I try to find a word that relates to the entire paragraph. It is a bit slower, but helps. Any advice would be great, thanks.

 

[PrimaryTooth]

I did well on RC by mostly using the 3rd method you listed. I find that reading the questions first and then scanning for the right answer is more difficult because you don't have an idea of where the information that you're looking for could be within the passage. They say that the questions and answers follow in order of the passage, but that's not always the case. Then you end up wasting time and re-reading sections.

I skimmed the passage and wrote down 1-2 very specific keywords. I looked at the questions and went back to the keywords. As long as you are paying attention to the specifics when you read the passage the first time, your short-term memory will help you answer the questions that you have no keywords for. Hope this helps!

 

[stillhere858]

I basically did 3 also. Except I tried to summarize concepts and whatnot, not just the whole paragraph. Anything noteworthy or felt was a key pt. I wrote down and just went through the whole thing and used it to refer to sxns once the questions came up. I'd usually write a page of bullet pts per passage

 

[TMG26]

I did number three as well. More specifically I would try to remember what the general idea of each paragraph was. Then upon reading each question I would simply refer back to the paragraph that the question most related to and find the answer which was there (almost verbatim!) %95 of the time (it does not work all the time, some of the answers require thinking beyond the text). I got a 24 using this method and with 2 minutes to spare.

 

[Lopyswine]

I did number three as well. More specifically I would try to remember what the general idea of each paragraph was. Then upon reading each question I would simply refer back to the paragraph that the question most related to and find the answer which was there (almost verbatim!) %95 of the time (it does not work all the time, some of the answers require thinking beyond the text). I got a 24 using this method and with 2 minutes to spare.

same for me scored a 23.

I think the main thing you have to do is NOT PANIC. read the passage quickly but do NOT HURRY.

 

[OnDentalDuty]

Are you from Japan?

 

[klpennin]

I score a 23,

if the passage was short, I outlined it

If it was long, then I would just look for the answer.

 

[219122]

I did number three as well. More specifically I would try to remember what the general idea of each paragraph was. Then upon reading each question I would simply refer back to the paragraph that the question most related to and find the answer which was there (almost verbatim!) %95 of the time (it does not work all the time, some of the answers require thinking beyond the text). I got a 24 using this method and with 2 minutes to spare.

Ditto to this, got a 25 had about 10 min left for a nap, haha. Just try to up your reading speed but not at the expense of actually READING the passage.

 

[IhaveUFOpics]

Sometimes when there is a paragraph that is just listing off a ton of things, I would just write down the topic and not really read the rest of the paragraph cause it's easy to find things if you know where the list is. Hope that makes sense.

 

[bjhath]

I did number three as well. More specifically I would try to remember what the general idea of each paragraph was. Then upon reading each question I would simply refer back to the paragraph that the question most related to and find the answer which was there (almost verbatim!) %95 of the time (it does not work all the time, some of the answers require thinking beyond the text). I got a 24 using this method and with 2 minutes to spare.

Same for me and I scored a 24 as well. I wrote 2-3 key words from each paragraph, then just referred back to the paragraph when answering the questions.

I also agree with lopyswine: don't panic, but at the same time, keep an eye on your time.

 

[rewJW]

I too did what seems to be the consensus... wrote key words/ideas from each paragraph to reference. Paced myself accordingly. Scored a 23.

 

[doc3232]

Wow...this turned out to be a good thread.
Apparently #3 is the only way to go.

 

[sushi320]

Are you from Japan?

nope, I am vietnamese and grew up in canada.

 

[S W 4006]

I read the whole passage but wrote nothing down I just tried to make mental notes where things were and then skim for keywords when needed. I pulled a 30. One thing that helped me was reading the news on-line or in the paper everyday. I also practiced with this program called eyeQ. You can find it on-line and can even practice a little with their demo

 

[sushi320]

I have been trying this technique, can anyone else tell me if they tried it and if it worked for them?

-Read passage and make note of one word to represent each paragraph, but at the same time, answer questions as I read.
IE. Read question and if the answer is not on the paragraphs i have covered so far, just keep reading and writing a word down for each paragraph till i get to the one with the answer. And if next question is something I already passed by, I got back to that paragraph using the list of words i have made so far.

Do you guys think this is a waste of time, and I should just stick to the original #3 as mentioned above?

Also, when reading the paragraph for the first time, do you guys actually read, or just skim through the words? Or read to understand, but not memorize?