Reading Comprehension on DAT

[BingDent]

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What do you guys think is the best way to prepare for reading comprehension section of DAT within a 2.5 month period?
I found this section most challenging because I almost ran out of time!!!



Barron's DAT book suggested writing down key words from each paragraph, however, that didn't help me coz it took too long.

For those that did well on the reading section, what's your strategy on apporaching this section?

A. Do you read the question first, then read the passages?
B. Do you carefully read the passage first, then answer the questions?
C.Do you skim the passage first, then read the questions and go back and forth?

Thanks for any reply 🙂

 

[Supernumerary]

I read the passage quickly - a little more thoroughly than skimming though. And then just went back and forth to find the answers. It was a like an open book test.

Just keep in mind that I am a pretty fast reader. I'm not saying this to brag; it's probably just a result of growing up without t.v. So this might not work for you if you're a slow reader.

 

[pantera]

I did the same thing as supernumerary, read through the passage quickly and then go back and forth. I don't think it is possible to remember any facts the first time you read, so just try to remember the order of things/topics. Hopefully you'll get lucky and the passages will be somewhat interesting. I had one about the stock market and how to read the newspaper data on stockmarket, and I never took any classes related to any business or finance so it was a little difficult. The two other passages were cancer and some other genetics stuff, which I like so that was better.
Then again, I am sort of a fast reader too, and I also grew up without tv 🙂 I guess that helps, so keep that in mind when you have kids.
Good luck with DAT
P.

 

[cgt3477]

While studying for the DAT I practiced a technique that I learned in Kaplan and it worked for me. I would mark the paragraphs in order (ie 1. for first paragraph 2. for second and so forth) After quickly reading a paragraph I would write a few important words that best described that paragraph. When it came time to finding the answers I found that I didnt have to waste too much time skimming back since 95% of the time I knew which paragraph to look in.

Find a technique that is comfortable for you and stick to it.

I should also let you know that I too read pretty quickly but I think that is just from practice.

 

[BingDent]

Thanks guys for your input, I'll try both methods again and see which works better for me 🙂

 

[tinker bell]

The reading part was not that bad. I just scroll down through the passage. Then read the questions, and start hunting for answers. I think it's so straight forward and obvious and I didn't have to work so hard for it. Just practice to read every day on the computer and you'll be fine. I used to read every day on the computer (scientific journals) for many months before the DAT, just to get my eyes used to it.

Good luck

 

[BingDent]

Good point, Tink. Personally, I am an internet freak so I read off computer much much more than I read books. Well, I think I could comfortably say that I read better off computer screen than papers.
Umm....All this time I've been trying the reading passage on paper, maybe thatz why I've been having such a hard time.....😀

Alright, time to try some topscore and kaplan cd.

 

[ItsGavinC]

All of my passages had numbered paragraphs, and the majority (80%) of the questions referred to a specific paragraph. Based on that, I didn't feel the need to really read the passages at all, since the question told me what paragraph to refer to.

I finished with something like 20+ minutes left, and only missed 2 or 3 questions (which gave me a 24) using this method.

Here is a link to my original post about my DAT: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28609

 

[BingDent]

Thanks Gavinc, the link was very helpful!