Reading Comprehension Question.

[joonkimdds]

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I have huge problem with this section.
I know that English isn't my first language but I don't think it really matters.
If it was SAT that asks about alot of vocabs, it matters but I think reading comprehension has something to do with how fast u can find the answer from a long passage.

Considering that even the native english speaker can't finish reading a whole passage less than 5 min, can't memorize everything he read from 10 paragraphs....and so on, I bet technique is more important than whether I understand every single words from the passage. Ain't I right?

50 min, 50 questions, 3 passages.
50 divided by 3 = 16.6 min per passage with its questions
There are 16~17 questions per passage, so each question shouldn't take 1 min. Even if u spend 5 min on reading, 11~12 min are left to answer 16~17 questions.

Reading in 5 min sounds good, but that doesn't mean we can actually memorize every information there. I wonder how many ppl can even understand(instead of memorizing) what the passage says.

Maybe not everyone, but that's the situation that I am in now.

some people say read the main idea only. I tried, but main idea is just too wide so if the question asks something specific, I can't do that either.

some people say read and write down the key words. But then it will take at least 12 min for me to finish reading and writing down the key words.
If it was paper, I may can circle them, but I can't since it's a computer monitor.

some people say read the question first then read. I don't know if it works...

some people say read alot of science magazine. But I think reading magazine
is not really related to the passages I will get on DAT. Maybe both of them are science, but that doesn't mean they will talk about exact same thing I read on the magazine.


so..anyway...for those who get 20 or higher score on RC, what's ur strategy?

 

[jay228]

you have this amazing ability to write copious amounts of words while articulating nothing.

I'm not a native English speaker either, I came to this country when I was 11. Got a 25 on RC. Just practice reading stuff lots, whatever it might be, heck read Maxim and GQ magazines, they have great writers

 

[mitshi]

RC should be easier than you'd have imagined if you could realize/adhere to the following factors/rules:

1) It's a 60 minute test (not 50 minute).
2) It's not a verbal reasoning test like the one in MCAT.
3) It ties to your prior knowledge of common diseases and strong foundation in Vertebrate Physio and Anatomy (Bio stuff).

Conclusion: Go get familiar yourself with topics you've seen on SDN via google search, good magazines, textbooks. Try regulate yourself with 20 = 10 + 10 min rule for each passage attempted. Often, the last passage turns out easier than the first two and you can't afford to have only 5 minutes left for rest of the 16-17 questions.

 

[Bonkers29]

RC should be easier than you'd have imagined if you could realize/adhere to the following factors/rules:

1) It's a 60 minute test (not 50 minute).
2) It's not a verbal reasoning test like the one in MCAT.
3) It ties to your prior knowledge of common diseases and strong foundation in Vertebrate Physio and Anatomy (Bio stuff).

Conclusion: Go get familiar yourself with topics you've seen on SDN via google search, good magazines, textbooks. Try regulate yourself with 20 = 10 + 10 min rule for each passage attempted. Often, the last passage turns out easier than the first two and you can't afford to have only 5 minutes left for rest of the 16-17 questions.

I'm having a pretty hard time with RC also.. would you recommend skipping to the last passage on the real thing?

 

[dat_student]

I'm having a pretty hard time with RC also.. would you recommend skipping to the last passage on the real thing?

i suspect it takes a few minutes to skip questions, that may cause you to miss more questions. My RC skills aren't that great. Just a thought ...

 

[clp]

OP: I got a 27 on RC when I took the DAT last Sept (I missed only 1 question.) My advice to you is simple: try and relax. I know that sounds easier said than done, but it really works. Practice reading material ON THE COMPUTER, not just in the newspaper or in magazines, so your eyes will get used to reading stuff on a screen, not just on paper. Try to read as quickly as you can, but when you are done, ask yourself what you read and see what you can remember. RC isn't that bad, I promise. Just don't freak out and you'll be fine.

 

[mitshi]

I'm having a pretty hard time with RC also.. would you recommend skipping to the last passage on the real thing?

Absolutely not. RC is not like PAT or SNS that comes with distinct sections. It is comparatively subjective needing good control on the timer. You may mark certain questions to come back later but these should never be left blank. But it's pretty futile to do that since by the time you're back there, you essentially forgot most of the things discussed in the passage.

 

[Bonkers29]

Absolutely not. RC is not like PAT or SNS that comes with distinct sections. It is comparatively subjective needing good control on the timer. You may mark certain questions to come back later but these should never be left blank. But it's pretty futile to do that since by the time you're back there, you essentially forgot most of the things discussed in the passage.

ohh I understand what you mean and I guess it would be alot harder to skip whole sections on the real DAT than it is to skip on paper practice tests, hehe. I'll have to practice doing RC faster then, thanks!

 

[joonkimdds]

if there are questions 1 through 10 and if i don't know the answer for question 1 through 5, am i allow to skip them and come back?

I am asking this question because i don't know exactly how the DAT test on computer screen look like and what kind of buttons are available.

 

[Flipper405]

if there are questions 1 through 10 and if i don't know the answer for question 1 through 5, am i allow to skip them and come back?

I am asking this question because i don't know exactly how the DAT test on computer screen look like and what kind of buttons are available.

Related to this question, in what ways does TopScore vary from the actual format or is it exactly the same?

 

[joonkimdds]

Related to this question, in what ways does TopScore vary from the actual format or is it exactly the same?

Related to this question, where can i get TopScore and is it true that I cannot use it more than 7 months? Does CD evaporate or something?

 

[tinman831]

Related to this question, where can i get TopScore and is it true that I cannot use it more than 7 months? Does CD evaporate or something?

http://www.scholarware.com/

The program is deactivated after the 7 months.

 

[firenoodle]

http://www.scholarware.com/

The program is deactivated after the 7 months.

it does stop working after 7 o 8 month, but one way to go around it is just go to the little time icon on your computer and switch it back a couple of month or even years and it should work again. do this before you install the CD. for me i got 2 CD from my firends that were bought around april of 2000 and it worked fine for me. of course the content of the CD is not as up to date as it is compare to a new one but wat do you expect?? its free!!

 

[hsc2104]

you have this amazing ability to write copious amounts of words while articulating nothing.

No, I think he articulates himself pretty well~

Joon, try not to panic at this point. I agree with your point that not many people can actually retain all that information with a single reading. Try to make a quick outline of the main ideas on a piece of paper as you read, and practice at associating those main ideas with the details.

Good luck with this section~