how to improve reading comprehension test score?

[Smooth Operater]

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I tried couple RCT mock exam on Barron's review, and scored 16 and 15. Many people said it is the easiest section, but I am really worried that I can't tackle this section well after getting 16 and 15's. 🙁

I noticed the reading section doesn't really test on understanding. It 's more about picking up and finding the details in the passages. So, I am just wondering what techniques you guys use to tackle this section? any advices? Thanks! 🙂

 

[lisat]

I tried couple RCT mock exam on Barron's review, and scored 16 and 15. Many people said it is the easiest section, but I am really worried that I can't tackle this section well after getting 16 and 15's. 🙁

I noticed the reading section doesn't really test on understanding. It 's more about picking up and finding the details in the passages. So, I am just wondering what techniques you guys use to tackle this section? any advices? Thanks! 🙂

Maybe you can try skimming the passage briefly just to get the idea of the passage and just looking for answers. That's what I do, and it seems to work almost all the time.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[Richnator]

I tried couple RCT mock exam on Barron's review, and scored 16 and 15. Many people said it is the easiest section, but I am really worried that I can't tackle this section well after getting 16 and 15's. 🙁

I noticed the reading section doesn't really test on understanding. It 's more about picking up and finding the details in the passages. So, I am just wondering what techniques you guys use to tackle this section? any advices? Thanks! 🙂

In the real DAT. It is the easiest I think..Even though it wasn't my highest score. I was most relaxed during reading comprehension. The passages are pretty easy to understand. ^_^ Just don't drop your guard down too much like I did and run short in time.

Good luck,
Rich

 

[dWiz]

Best advice I can give you. The passages are simple, but long and have a lot of information. Don't read them. Look for answers by skimming real fast for keywords. For me thats the fastest way and works<--can get you in 20s. It may not work for everybody though

 

[E. coli]

I tried couple RCT mock exam on Barron's review, and scored 16 and 15. Many people said it is the easiest section, but I am really worried that I can't tackle this section well after getting 16 and 15's. 🙁

I noticed the reading section doesn't really test on understanding. It 's more about picking up and finding the details in the passages. So, I am just wondering what techniques you guys use to tackle this section? any advices? Thanks! 🙂

The barron reading comprehension section is a lot harder than the real DAT. You should try topscore, kaplan and DAT achiever. The difficulty of those are closer to the real DAT.

 

[ramona_k]

The barron reading comprehension section is a lot harder than the real DAT. You should try topscore, kaplan and DAT achiever. The difficulty of those are closer to the real DAT.

RC in the real DAT was the most stressful section for me and I scored the lowest. I thought that the real DAT RC was harder than the TOP Score's and Kaplan CD's. I got 20-24s in my practice exams. The problem with the real RC was not that the passages were long but that the questions were not as steright forward. I think it is to your advantage to keep practicing with Barron's or other RC prep things that are harder than TOP Score because I don't think what I used really prepared me for RC. Good luck. 😉

 

[chordata]

I can't say this strategy works for everyone...but I found that if read as much as possible for each passage for 5-6 minutes I would then have 14-15 minutes to search for the answers.

Instead of just searching for the answers the 5-6 minutes gave me an idea of where to look for the answers.
(Topscore is a lot better tool to use as a comparison because the real test also numbers each paragraph. The numbered paragraphs made it much easier to find info.)

 

[joooj86]

my diagnostic kaplan was a 13 and then jumped to 17/18 about two months ago..now topscore is about 21...funnily enough even after pulling a 21 if u ask me any question about the passage i dont know. here is how my method works: 1) Dont read the passage, copy the questions on a sheet of paper "not the entire sentence, just like two three words of each question BUT enough to actually know what the question is asking" Skip the ones that are not direct questions" ....as you copy them down ur gonna notice that some questions are far away from each other but ask about the same thing so put these together. now once ur done u have a good idea about the questions. Read the first paragraph and look thru the questions to c which question can be answered...Go on like that...its not gonna get u the highest score. but it should secure an average score for those of u who are not the best in RC-english is my 2nd language so i had to find a way to improve.

hope it helps, and i will let u knwo saturday whether it works or no lool!!

 

[dexadental]

This was my highest section by far, I scored in the 98th percentile I think with a 26. I think for this section the time is a big issue, you have to move fast, and luckily, I had some easy passages, like business and the brain...pretty nifty and cool. If English isn't your first language, then I guess it can be kinda challenging, so start reading scientific journals. The brain passage was basically a journal in itself, being familiar with the hormones and all that really helps answer questions too...so brush up on the biology. Some of the stock section was quantitative, had to plug easy numbers in formulas...if you have any other questions..pm me! Reading comp I think saved my butt on the DAT. 😀

 

[Newhere]

I got a 20 on RC, and thats with not finishing with 8 questions! The strategy I used is skim the passage, remember where they talked about certain things, then read the questions. Good luck

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GPA:3.3
DAT:20/20/18 (might be retaking cuz of pat!)

 

[Smooth Operater]

hey guys! Thanks for the tips!

I guess my problem is that I spend too much time trying to digest the details and end up not having time to even start reading the 3rd passage. 😱 I