Falling apart towards the end in VR

[DoctorSaab]

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I am using the EK 101 book for practice. I have taken only 2 tests so far, and scored a 9 and 8 respectively. The trend I see is that on the first four passages I dont miss more than 1 on any single passage. However I start missing 2 or 3 on passages then on a couple I'll miss 5 freaking questions. It seems I fall apart at the end. I have no idea what is going on. I think I stop understanding the passages as well when I get towards the end. I dont know if this is a lack of endurance or if later passages get harder. Any advice?!!! 😡 😡 😡

 

[Lests55]

I'm in the same boat. I just did #4 and got a 45/60 (a ten, barely). Had I done as well on the last 3rd as the first two thirds I would have had a 12. I missed like 3 on passge 8 and 4-5 on passage 9. I agree, it is frustrating. It's kind of like "ahhhh....almost done" and I let my guard down.

 

[shantster]

It's called test endurance. It took me to my 5th practice test that I was able to be steady throughout it. Now, the big challenge will be having to have the 100 minute PS section right before it.

 

[DoctorSaab]

The task of staying focused is a hard task itself but one that you have to mentally train yourself for. I think that's what the problem here is. It probably is not the difficulty of the passages but the fact that you are not mentally as focused after the first 4 passages. EK strategy book says that most people tend to lose focus after the first 3 or 4 passages, which is where the problem is.

So what is the solution to all this? How do you stay focused?

 

[Mr. Tee]

I wish I had your problem. I miss the truly challenging questions on the harder passages. ie. this can be at the first, middle, or last third of the VR section.

Taking 9 VR passages in a row is no challenge after you do a few full length tests...I can probably do like 20 in a row now.

 

[Jeesing]

Once i was doing extremely well on one EK passage, got 4 wrong in 8 passages. On the last passage i got 7 out of 9 wrong lol. Practicing helps for endurance and i would try to make sure you undestand what you have read after every paragraph to make sure you arent just glazing over the passage.

 

[UMP]

i tend to take a passage "off" but it's not necessarilly at the end, it's usualy somewhere in the middle. It's usually 1-2 passages that account for about 80% of my wrong answers.

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

Try to keep an even keel endurance wise throughout the entire time. VR is the most mentally tough section, IMO. Skip around passages if you feel like it.

 

[shantster]

So what is the solution to all this? How do you stay focused?

Have you been following EK's strategy? They say to take a 5 sec break at the beginning of each passage (even the first one) and take a deep breath. That helps clear the mind and prepare for the next passage. The only other thing that helps is lots and lots of practice.

 

[DoctorSaab]

After grading my VR's and before I look up the solutions to go over them, I redo the passages in which I got more than 3 wrong. Without looking at my original answers, I usually seem to correct my mistakes myself before needing to see the solutions. I don't know if this will help anyone, but it is definitely making me more aware of what I'm reading. I also start seeing patterns of where I possibly went wrong in the original.

How do you guys grade yourself? What do you do to learn from your mistakes?

 

[shantster]

Don't skp around because you'll be wasting precious time and it will affect your score adversely.

I think that's only good advice for someone that is able to finish on time. If someone can't finish on time, it's probably better that s/he just goes and does the passages that are easier for him/her.

 

[emack]

The trend I see is that on the first four passages I dont miss more than 1 on any single passage. However I start missing 2 or 3 on passages then on a couple I'll miss 5 freaking questions. It seems I fall apart at the end.

Clearly you have to do the passages in the reverse order!

Okay... that wasn't funny. Sorry.

Maybe on the next few practice ones try strategically choosing the order in which you do passages.

If you start to read one & it's clear it's not one you're going to nail, then move on & leave it until the end. Hopefully this'll help you get through the easier ones first & quickly. You should have extra time at the end to tackle the harder ones.

Before you start them, re-focus (take a 5-10-15-whatever second break-- close your eyes, put down your pencil, have a little stretch). Then tackle those last few mofos. And try to have the right mindset about them; don't groan & trudge through them. Attack them with renewed vigor! You've decided these are the hardest passages of the test-- so catch your second win & give your best effort!

The beauty of this strategy is that if (god forbid) you do happen to run out of time & have to rush, it'll be on questions you might've got wrong anyway. Whereas you'll for sure have time to get the easy stuff in the bag.