Reading Passages - Please help

[poptropica]

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Hey guys,

I got a 26% on the PCAT reading section, this is my second time taking it.

I really need help on the reading section. For me the reading section is the hardest part on the test. I only finish 4 passages and then get confused on the questions. Sometimes I stop comprehending after the 3rd or fourth paragraph and then start to skim as time runs out.

I don't know what to do? When I read for leisure I can comprehend what I'm reading but during the test it always takes me 10 minutes to go through the passages and then do the question, I run out of time.

I know a lot of you suggested reading Scientific American, but is their any book or other articles that can be found similar to the reading passages for the pcat. Or any reading comprehension books with science topic?

I just hope the reason for not getting accepted into pharmacy school is my reading score, this section always kicks my butt.😳

 

[busyizzy]

Comprehending is different from analyzing. Understanding the basic meaning of a passage, versus analyzing specific parts of the passage, as well as the whole of the passage, can be very different.

 

[Pharmgrlnxdor]

That is right! There are 101 passages to do. So if you are taking the PCAT in January that means you could do one every other day between now and the test. Or you could do six passages in 50 minutes (simulate the test) every week until the January PCAT. That is what I would do. Review your mistakes and find techniques that work for you.

Some things that worked for me. I bought a cheap manual watch with a huge face and plain to see hour and minute marks. At the beginning of each section I set the watch to 12:00. Very easy to check after each passage to see if I am ahead of the game timewise or behind the eight ball. If you are ahead you can slow down a bit, behind you speed up a bit. You get the idea.

As I read through each passage I underlined things I felt like were important. I made a small note by each paragraph to say what it was about....author dislikes blah blah explains reasons.

I always watch for the underlined word in each reading comprehension passage and as I came to it would write a synonomous word above it because if there is an underlined word in the passage you know there is going to be a question about it.

Also, I don't read the questions first for each passage - I know some people do that but to me it takes too much time - but I skim the questions looking for things like.....In the first paragraph or In the fifth paragraph. Then I put a big number one by the question or a big number five by the question so I can quickly reread that paragraph right before answering the question.

 

[coral407]

biggest thing is to keep practicing. The more passages you do the quicker and better you will do next time.

Take a big breath and start reading the passage and underline any key phrases. In your head ask your self what the main idea was in each paragraph and in the whole essay. As you read the questions come up with an answer before looking at all the possible answer choices and chose the closest one. Ask yourself what the author is truly trying to say in the essay and don't be tricked by answers that might just look good. Make sure you can seperate a fact from an opinion. Pay attention to the authors tone in the passage, it might help you answer a lot of the questions as well.

GRE books are good way to get pratice passages.

Also, get a book that has practice passages and has explanations with the answers. Read them and it will REALLY help you to get into their track of thinking.

 

[poptropica]

Thanks. I actually just purchased this, waiting for it to arrive. By the way are the passages in the MCAT science oriented or are the readings from a wide variety of background?

That is right! There are 101 passages to
do. So if you are taking the PCAT in January that means you could do one every other day between now and the test. Or you could do six passages in 50 minutes (simulate the test) every week until the January PCAT. That is what I would do. Review your mistakes and find techniques that work for you.

Some things that worked for me. I bought a cheap manual watch with a huge face and plain to see hour and minute marks. At the beginning of each section I set the watch to 12:00. Very easy to check after each passage to see if I am ahead of the game timewise or behind the eight ball. If you are ahead you can slow down a bit, behind you speed up a bit. You get the idea.

As I read through each passage I underlined things I felt like were important. I made a small note by each paragraph to say what it was about....author dislikes blah blah explains reasons.

I always watch for the underlined word in each reading comprehension passage and as I came to it would write a synonomous word above it because if there is an underlined word in the passage you know there is going to be a question about it.

Also, I don't read the questions first for each passage - I know some people do that but to me it takes too much time - but I skim the questions looking for things like.....In the first paragraph or In the fifth paragraph. Then I put a big number one by the question or a big number five by the question so I can quickly reread that paragraph right before answering the question.

 

[delano2000]

I honestly do not think that RC is difficult, it's pretty much about time management and understanding as you read.