I really need help with RC section in DAT

[als33]

Hello, my DAT exam is scheduled for May, and I am doing HORRIBLE in the RC section. English is not my first language, and the RC section is really stressing me out.
Whenever I try to solve the question bank problem from Bootcamp, I score 6/17 ~10/17 (usually 7/17 at most). And I get this score by taking 30 minutes per passage. I have tried most of the methods people recommended, and nothing ever works. I am a really slow reader, and I need to read the whole passage thoroughly to understand what they are talking about. This really makes me discouraged about everything because I have no idea how to improve this section.
I am REALLY worried that I might score like 12 or 13 on the actual DAT. I saw many comments that the actual DAT is harder than Bootcamp problems. Is this true?

I really need advice. I have tried the search and destroy (this is really not working for me because I don't understand the passage at all when I use this...) and the keyword (I am writing way too many keywords because I don't understand the passage just by skimming through the passage), and I have tried to read the first three paragraphs first and try to solve the problem (this takes up way too much time, and I can't grasp the remaining paragraphs...).

Honestly, I have no idea how people get through each passage in 15 minutes. I don't know how they grasp the information with so little time and read the answer choices.

I would really appreciate it if someone could give me a piece of advice... The RC section makes me want to give up dental school because it gets me really scared...

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[FeralisExtremum]

Your biggest roadblock right now is going to be reading speed. That's something you can improve by starting to read more frequently and I don't just mean DAT passages, but everything you can get your hands on in general - novels, news articles, etc. If you read every day you will gradually see improvements to speed that can accumulate by May.

Unlike math or the sciences improving at reading tends to be a slower and more laborious process that just takes time and constant practice,

 

[soccerdude53149]

Hi I totally agree with what was said above. Since I started studying for the DAT I decided to read every single day. I would sometimes try to read articles but I read Harry Potter every day. My RC went up soooo much. My first Bootcamp test I took I got a 17 I believe and on my last one I got a 24! I ended up getting a 23 on the real DAT.

I now still continue to read every night before bed and it has helped me a lot even in school. Moral of the story: Stop watching T.V. and read a book!!

 

[Faris_]

English is not my first language as well and had the same issues. I had similar practice scores to yours and when I realized I couldn't fix this problem in time I just said screw it and decided to commit to the search and destroy and use my time preparing for other sections. Come test day and it just worked out for me. Scored 21 in the RC section which was beyond my wildest dreams for this section. I can tell you I didn't understand a thing from the passages from the test but who the hell cares. Please take this with a grain of salt as it is only anecdotal evidence to what might work. I possibly just got lucky with passages that work well with this method. After reading many issues of SA I didn't notice any improvement in words-per-minute beyond the first week of trying to improve my speed. It takes a long time to improve reading and you don't have a lot of time left so my advice is commit to a method or combination of methods fast.

 

[DAT Destroyer]

Hello, my DAT exam is scheduled for May, and I am doing HORRIBLE in the RC section. English is not my first language, and the RC section is really stressing me out.
Whenever I try to solve the question bank problem from Bootcamp, I score 6/17 ~10/17 (usually 7/17 at most). And I get this score by taking 30 minutes per passage. I have tried most of the methods people recommended, and nothing ever works. I am a really slow reader, and I need to read the whole passage thoroughly to understand what they are talking about. This really makes me discouraged about everything because I have no idea how to improve this section.
I am REALLY worried that I might score like 12 or 13 on the actual DAT. I saw many comments that the actual DAT is harder than Bootcamp problems. Is this true?

I really need advice. I have tried the search and destroy (this is really not working for me because I don't understand the passage at all when I use this...) and the keyword (I am writing way too many keywords because I don't understand the passage just by skimming through the passage), and I have tried to read the first three paragraphs first and try to solve the problem (this takes up way too much time, and I can't grasp the remaining paragraphs...).

Honestly, I have no idea how people get through each passage in 15 minutes. I don't know how they grasp the information with so little time and read the answer choices.

I would really appreciate it if someone could give me a piece of advice... The RC section makes me want to give up dental school because it gets me really scared...

I have worked with thousands of students through the years who have struggled with this section, even one where English was a 4th language and they managed to get through it. Students where English is a first language have difficulties too if they do not prepare for this important section. From my experience schools are a little more forgiving to students if English is not the first language.

This is what I tell my students and it does make a difference. The goal is to increase reading speed and comprehension levels and this can be easily accomplished by old fashion reading. If you dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to reading while preparing for the DAT that's a lot of reading accomplished over the course of your preparation. Make it a habit to read just before bed, not on a computer or phone but an actual book or magazine, it will also help you fall asleep. Read things that interest you, remember the goal is to increase reading speed and comprehension. Don't focus on timed test now, that is stressing you out,

Just my 2 cents

Feel free to contact respond here or message if I can answer any more questions.

Wishing you the best

Nancy
co/owner, DAT Destroyer, Orgoman