Passage Approach?

[HippocratesX]

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In the PS and BS passages, do you guys actually read the passages or do you generally just look to see what the passage is about (ie..waves). and then go on to do the questions? I feel like its a waste of time reading the passages, even skimming them. Do people actually score well this way? Or do you find yourself coming back to the passage repeatedly? I've heard alot of people say they approach passages this way and score well, but it just feels uncomfortable to NOT read the passage.

 

[PiBond]

In the PS and BS passages, do you guys actually read the passages or do you generally just look to see what the passage is about (ie..waves). and then go on to do the questions? I feel like its a waste of time reading the passages, even skimming them. Do people actually score well this way? Or do you find yourself coming back to the passage repeatedly? I've heard alot of people say they approach passages this way and score well, but it just feels uncomfortable to NOT read the passage.

I read Bio passages, save Organic; I may/may not read PS passages but I definitely look at the figures/charts

 

[Cedric]

I read Bio passages, save Organic; I may/may not read PS passages but I definitely look at the figures/charts

I second this approach. I didn't study well in the BS part last time, but reading through the passage helped me finding some critical information to answer the questions.

I admire someone who don't need to read through the passage but doing the test well. Coz they should get a broad foundation of knowledge in order to do this.

 

[PiBond]

The bio section is just like verbal in some respects, you need the passage to integrate the new information and apply it to what you know.

 

[Global Warming]

Although it is possible to not read passage and still answer correctly, it really depends on the situation. I think even the best MCAT takers must at some point read something in the passage in order to answer the questions. The ratio between reading and not reading is really what you are wondering.

I plan on scanning the passage on topics I'm strong on and spending more time on topics that are more difficult to me or that requires you to apply basic knowledge take an idea to the next level.

 

[bigballer27]

good question. anyone else?

 

[ezsanche]

If you want to get a 13 or above on the science sections then read the entire passage.
They are usually 1/3 the length of a verbal passage. If you dont read the passage you are being lazy.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i read all passages except orgo where i just skim the pictures.

 

[HippocratesX]

i don't think its a matter of being lazy to not read the passages (esp. on PS). Most of the passage gives you extraneous information which is not needed to answer the questions. so basically it just eats up your time which could better be spent on questions. I feel like it works better for me on PS to go back to the passage to look up specific information that the questions asks, verses reading it all in the beggining and then (usually having to go back to the passage anyway because I didn't get it the 1st time around). I do skim to look at any numbers, equations, graphs, tables, and just look at their titles or what they're for for PS.

In BS, i think you guys are right. It is alot like a verbal passage sometimes, where the answer is based on semantics, verses a crucial understanding of the science or system, so it helps to have read the passage. Some passages that are not experiment based, and that talk about systems have many questions that are answerable without reading the passage tho. Like if the passage is talking about how a particular system works (kidneys, blood circulation, or respiration) I will just jump straight towards the end of the passage, where it will give some clarifying information...like what goes wrong if this part of the system doesn't work properly (or something like that), and there will usually be a question about that. Usually they give some kind of clarifying or critical information towards the end, i've found (but then again i could totally be imagining this in my head- i dont know lol) So i just thought it would be interesting to see what everybody else thought too. Thanks and please....keep your thoughts/opnions coming...

 

[Longshanks]

BS has become more like VR and many of the passages are excerpts from scientific journals, and there may be questions on scientific reasoning and the hypothesis/theories involved with the passage, so it is a necessity to read. Just as VR though, don't read for detail for but ideas. You can also refer back for detail or usually detail will be demonstrated via a graph or table.

PS, I read all the passages. Use your bull filter to cut out whats unnecessary. After plenty of practice though you should get more efficient at this. Graphs, tables, pictures.. all very important in PS and can tell you a lot in a quicker time frame than reading words. I'm not saying to skip reading, or skim necessarily, but be efficient with your time and read to grab the concepts of whats going on, what may be tested for, or what is being disputed - and for what context you need to use your basic physics/chem knowledge in. PS is where you get some bizarre passages sometimes that may open up with all this complicated information about something that is almost science fiction and then end up just asking about newton's laws.