Reading comprehension section

[Sam1414]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey ,

I am writing the OAT in 2 weeks and I was just wondering what the format of the RC section is like. Can you see both the passage and all the questions (with separate scrolls) or do you see the passage and each question separately.

If anyone has taken the TopScore Tests, is it the same as that?

 

[dukeopt]

The first screen has the entire passage and then when you go to the questions, there is one questions at a time with the passage below it. Go to opted.org and there is a tutorial which shows you what it will look like come test day. The actual OAT RC is different from the practice tests (including topscore). Just practice reading the passages quickly while retaining comprehension. Hope this helps!

 

[Sam1414]

Thanks for the reply!

 

[eyestrain]

I took the OAT back in the old days (6 years ago) when it was pen and paper. For the RC, I skipped the passage, went straight to question one, read it, and went back to find the answer. I got a 400 on it. I don't understand why so many people struggle with this section. I was done so much faster than anyone in the room I was wondering if I had forgotten a whole set or two of questions. I'd give that method a try if you haven't already.

 

[lovelydisaster]

Maybe because it was 6 years ago that you took it and it may have evolved somehow? Idk, just a guess.. but yeah, I currently use the same technique as you did lol

 

[fluffinski08]

I think a lot of the questions in the RC section are harder now than before. Plus, many people find it easier to take the section on paper than on the computer.

 

[eyestrain]

Maybe because it was 6 years ago that you took it and it may have evolved somehow? Idk, just a guess.. but yeah, I currently use the same technique as you did lol

I doubt it. People were having the same problems with that section back then too. I just think most people make the mistake of actually reading, or even skimming, the passage first. That takes WAY TOO MUCH TIME.

 

[dukeopt]

I doubt it. People were having the same problems with that section back then too. I just think most people make the mistake of actually reading, or even skimming, the passage first. That takes WAY TOO MUCH TIME.

I have to disagree. I took the test a couple weeks ago, and I couldn't imagine doing it without reading the passage. I still have about 7 min left over to check my answers. A lot of the questions were inference based and/or would've been very difficult to answer without reading the passage. I think skimming is too risky and not needed to save time. They may have recently changed the type of questions or length of the passage because it seems like we took different RC sections.