I suck at verbal ugh

[babeexphat]

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I read some of the advices on here and i'm just trying to incorporate some new strategies... but i have a question that goes out to those that scored well on the verbal section...

1. How thoroughly do you read the passage?

2. When answering a set of 5-7 questions after the passage, how often do you go back to the passage?

I feel like I always go back to the pasage to make sure my answers are right, and therefore i can never finish on time.... 🙁

 

[AcclratngCharge]

I read some of the advices on here and i'm just trying to incorporate some new strategies... but i have a question that goes out to those that scored well on the verbal section...

1. How thoroughly do you read the passage?

2. When answering a set of 5-7 questions after the passage, how often do you go back to the passage?

I feel like I always go back to the pasage to make sure my answers are right, and therefore i can never finish on time.... 🙁

I also struggle with verbal (8-10) on AAMC's.
1. I read very slowly and try to infer/analyze while reading, this usually starts out good but I get tired by the fifth passage.
2. I usually don't look back at the passage unless it is one of the science passages.

Referring to the passage is not very helpful, and eats a lot of your time, only go back if you know the exact answer is somewhere and you remember where it was at. Definitely don't do it just to check an answer. Just my opinion, my 8-9 were from earlier AAMC's, and 10 is from recent ones from more practice.

 

[Rabolisk]

I typically read quickly but with understanding, while highlighting names and keywords. Those help when you have to go back to the passage to answer questions. Even when I don't understand details (more often in natural sciences), I still understand the intent of the author throughout the passage. I think about half the questions are straightforward and don't require going back to the passage. The other half may be detail questions, or just tough questions that require you to go back to the passage. VS is definitely the one where I finish with the least time remaining. I sometimes run out of time as I go back and read over questions that I thought were tough, but I've never had trouble actually finishing all the passages and questions. My recent score on practice was 14.

 

[frutiaspice]

I feel you...I totally suck at verbal too. I'm just trying to do lots of verbal passages and see if I improve.

 

[hiyaman]

For those that scored well on verbal, what kind of details do you highlight? Do you try to separate support from topic sentences?

I am also struggling with verbal, I've tried different strategies but am seeing minimal gains.

 

[latrala2300]

pick up a copy of EK's "verbal reasoning and mathematical techniques" book. they do a handy job of answering all of your questions.

if your situation's exigent, look at Vishadas, Bloody Surgeon, and SN2ed guides to the verbal section. they're gold, and mimic a lot of EK.

 

[dogenthusiaist]

the verbal section always sucks but have you tried using Kaplan passages at all? I found that their verbal book really helped me. As for reading throughly I think it wastes too much time. I made liberal use of the highlighting feature and that really cut down my verbal time. I actually finished with about 10 minutes left on my actual exam. Verbal was actually my toughest section as well but I went from like an 8 to an 11 on my actual exam. good luck and try to do as many passages as possible and Im sure you're score will go up.

 

[AcclratngCharge]

the verbal section always sucks but have you tried using Kaplan passages at all? I found that their verbal book really helped me. As for reading throughly I think it wastes too much time. I made liberal use of the highlighting feature and that really cut down my verbal time. I actually finished with about 10 minutes left on my actual exam. Verbal was actually my toughest section as well but I went from like an 8 to an 11 on my actual exam. good luck and try to do as many passages as possible and Im sure you're score will go up.

How do you know which words to highlight?