RC Key method

[mg777]

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Has anyone used the method where u read the entire passage and right down keywords? was it successful for you on the real dat? i use this method, and im doing ok with it. im getting 19's on topscore and kaplan, and id be happy with this grade in rc on real dat.

 

[drusier]

you know I was wondering the samething. I learned th keyword method but frequently found myself searching the passage blindly for the answers. I find that if I guess (from "memory") I am usually wrong. However when taking the TopScore I tried just reading the first 2 or 3 questions and reading until I find the answers. I would continue until I read the entire passage and then answer each question in order. I scored 21 and 20 on tests 2 and 3. On test 2 I have 12 mins remaining and about a minute on test 3. I think I will use the strat (no keys or pre-reading) on the real DAT what do u guys think? Ill practice some more
drew

 

[mg777]

i dont know about the no read/nokey method. im worried on the real dat i wouldnt able to find it fast enough(keep in mind the pressure of real test). it seems like you can waste a lot of time looking for it in the passage. the key method seems more tedious, but youre definately going to at least have an idea where the info is. the no read/no key method seems more risky than the read whole passage/notes method

 

[ScottW3]

I use the key method for RC and have mixed results. On Barrons, it works very well. Barron's RC sections are very technical science based passages with many terms. This is the exact kind of passage that works well with the key method. However, Kaplan's RC passages are less technical and more concept focused in my opinion. It does not work well for me using the key method. I wonder what kind of passages are on the actual DAT. I've also found the key method works great if you can get through the passage in 5-7 minutes.

 

[airvent]

Has anyone just tried to read the whole passage then go to the questions? I'm not a fast reader, but I just dove in and read straight through. I made some notes, but didnot have a real stategy and got 19. Timing was close, but i made it.

I'm actually a little wary of using a strategy, only because it makes me tense. It seems to always require a little sacrifice in comprehension. BUt if you think its really helpful I may explore some.

 

[JavadiCavity]

I read straight through at my normal slow speed and took minor notes on each paragraph. I finished with about 30 seconds to go, and I got a 23. All of the other strategies frustrated me, and I got lower scores on my practice tests using them rather than just reading straight through while taking notes.

 

[mg777]

thanks for input javadi. i ve been practicing RC notes/read all way through close to everyday, sim to your method and airvent's i think. Not reading the passage first, or reading the questions and fishing for asnwers would be nerve racking during the real test i think. Although with my method timed does run tight, but i think its b/c i take too many notes. i still have about ~3 wks to practivce it more so im sure by the real deal ill be good . BTW I wanted to make sure that in real DAT the PARAGRAPHS ARE NUMBERED like in TOPscore??

 

[DrTacoElf]

I just read it and took no notes and got a 22. I spent a max of 8 minutes reading each passage. I practiced by reading the NY times science section and the journal of dental research every day. I'll tell you if you can speed read a JDR articel and understand it in the end the dat isn't that bad.

 

[simonlee]

I am wondering in the real dat, the question type is closer to topscore(word for word) or to Kaplan(conceptual)?

 

[Sprgrover]

I am wondering in the real dat, the question type is closer to topscore(word for word) or to Kaplan(conceptual)?

I think it is a little bit of both. On the one hand the RC section is not as conceptual as Kaplan, though you will see a couple "what is the author's main intention..." style questions. On the other the questions are not word for word like Topscore, but rather clear-cut, such as "According to the passage, if you put sugar in a car engine, then what would happen?" That's my impression of the RC section.

 

[JavadiCavity]

thanks for input javadi. i ve been practicing RC notes/read all way through close to everyday, sim to your method and airvent's i think. Not reading the passage first, or reading the questions and fishing for asnwers would be nerve racking during the real test i think. Although with my method timed does run tight, but i think its b/c i take too many notes. i still have about ~3 wks to practivce it more so im sure by the real deal ill be good . BTW I wanted to make sure that in real DAT the PARAGRAPHS ARE NUMBERED like in TOPscore??

yes, they are numbered.

 

[drusier]

you guys just helped me figure it out, TopScore is very word for word...I spend a lot of time reading things on the internet and am able to scan a paragraph and pick out a key word (as seen in the question) very quickly. However Barrons and Kaplan is much more concepts and not find and seek, hence why the key method or reading for content helps. So let me get some more feedback about the real DAT RC: is it more conceptual or factual? Your feedback will definately affect my testday methods. Thanks
Drew

 

[DDS2BE]

I am extremely slow reader, well, I gotta read slowly to memorize. So, I decided to attach questions and then fish out the answers. My score jumped up from 14 to 18. For the read DAT, I got 18 for RC. I was getting 14s on practice tests simply because I don't have time to finish the whole passage and at the end simply had to guess.

 

[dane4695]

I generally just read through the whole passage and answer questions... haven't gotten below a 21 on a practice yet...

For me, I found that taking notes in a timed setting was frustrating and at times less helpful... the first time I tried I just didn't find it to be helpful at all, as I didn't use my notes 🙂

I think this section really has to do with what works best for you.

 

[bpenly]

Anybody,

I just took the Kaplan practice test that came with the book on CD and found the RC to be a little frustrating in format. The scrolling feature kept skipping ahead too much (i.e. I would finish passage 1 at the bottom of the screen, hit the scroll bar, and the screen would stop in the middle of passage 3, cruising right past 50% of passage 2). It makes for reading each passage top to bottom very difficult and the reader loses continuity. Does this happen on the real DAT?

-bpenly

 

[dane4695]

I just asked the same question yesterday 🙂 I found that quite irritating. Apparently that's not how it is on the dAT.

 

[drusier]

this is computer geek talk. I think u can go into control panel and mouse setting and adjust how much scolls witht he scroll wheel. Set it to one or three lines. If not just use the scroll bar on the side! 😱

 

[Comet208]

This worked for me:

my first passage was on epinephrine, so i went straight to the questions and tried answering them on my own. when i could no longer answer the questions, i went to the passage and looked for the answer to the question. this only works if you are already familiar with the subject and if i was not, i would read the 1st queastion first and then go to the passage and take notes... in the meanwhile looking for the answer of that question. and the cycle was continued.