How do you study READING COMP???

[faulkner41]

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my composite was 73% due in large part to my reading comprehension grade:

my scores

verbal 93%
chemistry 82%
biology 78%
math 62%
reading comp 18% WTF!!!!

what on earth can i do to get this score at least in the 80s... i feel like if i had done that on the last test i would be staring at a score in the high 80s to low 90s... please anybody help me if you can... i absolutely DESPISE that reading score and am just trying to find ANY POSSIBLE WAY to get that score up...

 

[Toomeke]

my composite was 73% due in large part to my reading comprehension grade:

my scores

verbal 93%
chemistry 82%
biology 78%
math 62%
reading comp 18% WTF!!!!

what on earth can i do to get this score at least in the 80s... i feel like if i had done that on the last test i would be staring at a score in the high 80s to low 90s... please anybody help me if you can... i absolutely DESPISE that reading score and am just trying to find ANY POSSIBLE WAY to get that score up...

read medical journal articles with the intent of understanding the article from the view of the author. don't just read the articles for the content...try to determine the bias and intent of the author and how the author supports that bias/intent.

read, read, read...that's the best thing you can do.

also, what was your mechanical strategy for taking the test? maybe you made errors when filling in the bubbles on your answer sheet?? just a thought....

 

[Bonbon2007]

my composite was 73% due in large part to my reading comprehension grade:

my scores

verbal 93%
chemistry 82%
biology 78%
math 62%
reading comp 18% WTF!!!!

what on earth can i do to get this score at least in the 80s... i feel like if i had done that on the last test i would be staring at a score in the high 80s to low 90s... please anybody help me if you can... i absolutely DESPISE that reading score and am just trying to find ANY POSSIBLE WAY to get that score up...

I'm only guessing here but did you complete the RC section? Did you bubble in all the answers? 1-2 questions missing could reduce your score dramatically.

I also think you're not using the technique called process of elimination. 1 answer will usually be far off. Another a little closer but still far off. 2 will be in the ballpark. If you make it to this point you have a 50/50 chance, so if run across a difficult question.... guess on the two most likely choices. You can even go back and review it later, but at least you've made a choice.

Time pressure has always been a huge issue for me so I'd say focus on the budgeting of your time. Some books suggest reading the questions first (and a quick look at the answers).

You'll have to find a way that works for you.

I will admit that a "teen" score will probably make you look like idiot at an interview. They might even make you do something on the spot to test your RC. IDk.

Good luck and hope this helps.

 

[pharmpilot]

read medical journal articles with the intent of understanding the article from the view of the author. don't just read the articles for the content...try to determine the bias and intent of the author and how the author supports that bias/intent.

That's great advice, although I don't think I'd stick just to med articles. Think about the kind of questions you were asked on the PCAT and see if you kind find that sort of information as you read the articles. Maybe underline the main point of the paper or the paragraphs as you read them.

I did really well on the reading comp (better than I expected). My approach on the exam was to look over the questions first so I would know what I was looking for. Then as I read the article if something stood out, I underlined it as I went. After reading the article, I circled the answers in the article as I answered the questions. That way if I had a chance to go back over the article I could find it quickly and reconsider if I'd made the proper choice.

Like Toomeke said, "read, read, read." It might be your reading speed that is holding you back and the only way that improves is to practice.

And perhaps you did bubble wrong.

Good luck.🙂

 

[omnione]

Read and think critically for the meaning and tone of the pieces that you read. Too often, people will only read for content such as finding a formula in text or a detail in a paragraph. Textbooks aren't designed to be literally masterpieces; they are designed to deliver a message without the need for much internal interpretation. That's the difference between reading comprehension standardized exams and regular textbook reading.

Examkrackers' MCAT book "1001 Questions in Verbal Reasoning" has good articles for practice. At the very least, it's a start for you to find sources of other articles too. Do remember that not all reading comprehension passages are science-based so diversify your selection.

 

[RNtoPharmD]

Examkrackers' MCAT book "1001 Questions in Verbal Reasoning" has good articles for practice.

I think the name is 101 Passage in MCAT verbal reasoning. (not 1001 questions) 🙂

 

[FruitFly]

I think the name is 101 Passage in MCAT verbal reasoning. (not 1001 questions) 🙂

Correct!

I used that book, myself. Got a 99% on PCAT verbal, and 13 on MCAT verbal (good score 🙂)


The only way to 'study' for verbal reasoning is by reading. You should buy magazines like "Foreign Policy", "Harvard Business Review", and "The Economist", and read them cover-to-cover for meaning. Underline main points, as well, to be 'active' when you read. When you finish with an article, write down the main ideas, and ask and answer your own questions about them. Examkrackers materials could give you an idea of the classes of questions out there. Focus in on that.

 

[MarisaPharmD]

Why dont u try SAT kaplan critical reading or a GRE prep book? Those both worked wonders for me. Usually you have a mindset on how you attack passages, but if you learn the kaplan method, your score will definitely increase!

 

[FruitFly]

Why dont u try SAT kaplan critical reading or a GRE prep book? Those both worked wonders for me. Usually you have a mindset on how you attack passages, but if you learn the kaplan method, your score will definitely increase!

Good suggestion. 👍 It's all about the method of handling passages. The stories change, but the categories of questions and the usual form of it does not.