Reading Comprehension is TOUGH

[Imazergling]

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I just did a practice test with a timer on. After reading the first passage and before moving on to the questions, I asked myself, "wtF did I just read about?"...

in the passage, the author keeps chucking information after information after information at the reader (all these names of proteins), and at the end of it all, I just lost track of what I was even reading about.

And once I get to the questions, I realize I wasted 7-8 mins looking blankly at the page.

How should I go about this problem? Any strategies that helped?

 

[tigerteeth22]

I had the same issue with RC....first off it takes practice so in a couple weeks you probably won't feel this way anymore. But secondly, you aren't reading to understand, you're reading for information that the DAT is going to ask you. Like small details or writing style. So the fact that you don't understand all the information given to you is okay and shouldn't get you tripped up. I think some people suggest even reading the questions before the passage. I took notes on each paragraph so I could refer back to a specific part.

 

[Imazergling]

I had the same issue with RC....first off it takes practice so in a couple weeks you probably won't feel this way anymore. But secondly, you aren't reading to understand, you're reading for information that the DAT is going to ask you. Like small details or writing style. So the fact that you don't understand all the information given to you is okay and shouldn't get you tripped up. I think some people suggest even reading the questions before the passage. I took notes on each paragraph so I could refer back to a specific part.

Do they let you take notes/highlight on the screen?
Or do you mean taking notes on the paper they provide you at the test center?

 

[emorypredent]

For me RC was the easiest section (bio killed me. I had a 8 point difference between the two sections). I think it's important to do what ur the most comfortable with instead
Of following a system that's foreign to you. Thinking back this is what I generally did,

Skimmed the first part of the article. Read a sentence here and there. Then tackle the questions. Skimmed the rest of the article.tackled the rest
If the questions. If I couldn't answer any of them I'd go back to look up the answer. Most/many questions you can deduce the answer.

 

[krysta1]

I just did a practice test with a timer on. After reading the first passage and before moving on to the questions, I asked myself, "wtF did I just read about?"...

in the passage, the author keeps chucking information after information after information at the reader (all these names of proteins), and at the end of it all, I just lost track of what I was even reading about.

And once I get to the questions, I realize I wasted 7-8 mins looking blankly at the page.

How should I go about this problem? Any strategies that helped?

I think the best way to approach is to skim over jargon i.e. names of the proteins. Just get the gist of the article. When you get to the questions, then you can go back to the article to find the answers because you've skimmed through it. This approach works for me.