I guess there is no telling how I will do when I take the actual MCAT, but verbal has been my real strength when taking the AAMC practice exams. I've been scoring consistent 12's and 13's.
I have found a lot of the verbal study guides to be unhelpful. Kaplan advised us to "map" passages, which I found to be a huge waste of time. I never write anything down as I read. ExamKrackers talked a little bit about the types of wrong answers, but sometimes I find thinking about that messes me up (sometimes the answer really IS the "simpleton" answer, or one of two opposing choices).
I have a habit of highlighting key phrases (phrases that pertain to purpose and theme, not details), but I've noticed that when answering questions I rarely use the highlight to help me find solutions. I still highlight anyways, though. Maybe it has some sort of subconscious benefit for me I'm not sure. The one time I have found highlighting to be of specific benefit is when the author quotes or paraphrases other people or subjects with specific names. I will highlight the name so that when the MCAT asks "why did the author use a quote from X" or whatever, I can find that reference quickly in the passage if I need to. Those types of questions are common and I find it helpful to quickly look at the exact reference to refresh my understanding of it.
I know this is not new advice, but I really try to consciously think about the author's purpose when I'm reading the passages. I read the passage thoroughly all the way through the first time, and I am constantly asking myself questions like "what is the main point of this passage/section," "what position is the author taking," and "why did the author choose to use this example to make his/her point." I find that these are the types of questions the MCAT likes to ask, and if I start myself thinking along those lines when I'm reading I can get my mind on the right track earlier.
Another strategy that I've found helpful is to consciously keep myself calm and relaxed. Sometimes I encounter passages that seem extremely convoluted and difficult to understand, but I get through it by reminding myself that often complex passages are balanced out by simpler questions. The same is true for the science sections, actually. If I can avoid "giving up" while reading a passage, it always pays off by the time I get to the questions.
Sorry I can't give more specific advice. I guess I don't even really understand my own success with this section. I was a philosophy major for my undergrad so I am used to reading stuff like this and, often for lack of understanding details, I became adept at pulling out major themes so I could BS in class or papers. To be honest I wish my strength was more in science than this one -- there are two sections of those versus only one of these!!
