Struggling with Reading Comprehension

[Cal55]

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I am re-taking the DAT because I got a 16 on RC..I have been trying numerous methods including search and destroy, reading passage first then questions, taking notes then answering questions (kaplan method), etc. Besides taking practice tests everyday, does anyone have any methods or any advice on how to study for this section and do well on it? I actually have taken the DAT and received a 19 on RC, and on the re-take I improved every section except I got a 16 on RC. I know for sure that the test on which I got a 19 for RC was muchhh easier so I know there is luck involved in getting easy passages but I need to be prepared no matter what passages I get on the DAT because I cannot afford to mess it up again. Thanks for your help.

 

[predent18]

What worked for me was purchasing Crack reading and just practicing. I struggled a bit with the RC at first, and could never really settle in on a method. I think that the best way to approach it if something doesn't come natural for you like search and destroy, etc., is to combine the methods. I did some search and destroy, and read a lot during the RC section of the DAT. If a question is hard, just skip over it and come back, a lot of success with the DAT comes from getting the timing down. I think crack reading is on par if not more difficult than the DAT. Oh yeah, the taking notes method sounds stupid. I pretty much read a paragraph or two until I understood the main topic of the reading passage, then would look at the first question and go get it. If I couldn't find the first answer, I'd move to the second question and keep the first one in the back of my mind... hope this helps.
Good luck!

 

[thejamespark]

Hopefully we can all help each other out as I struggle with RC myself.
I haven't fully practiced it or crafted it but the method I chose to do is to read all the questions quickly at the very beginning and try to keep a key phrase or word for each question and go straight to reading.
As I read the passages with the keywords in the back of my head, I will come to a paragraph that will make me notice that this is one of the answers to the questions and I would quickly go to that question and answer it.
I haven't fully crafted it myself either but worth a shot to do it.
It's like a combination of reading the passages/s&d...
Also I don't know if its even recommended or not but I seem to find more answers by reading at the end of the article... as in, I would start like 2 paragraphs before the article ends and see if i see any answers. then go to the last 4th paragraph and go to the last 2... and so forth...
If you come across any methods yourself to help me I would appreciate it.
But I think this is a method worth experimenting...

I personally don't like 100% straight up S&D as it is too risky but its a good method when ur short on time.
So I designed this method by reading the questions first and putting a keyphrase or word for each question and then reading it.
I hope this helps you... as for myself @_@ lols

 

[thejamespark]

deleted

 

[thejamespark]

What worked for me was purchasing Crack reading and just practicing. I struggled a bit with the RC at first, and could never really settle in on a method. I think that the best way to approach it if something doesn't come natural for you like search and destroy, etc., is to combine the methods. I did some search and destroy, and read a lot during the RC section of the DAT. If a question is hard, just skip over it and come back, a lot of success with the DAT comes from getting the timing down. I think crack reading is on par if not more difficult than the DAT. Oh yeah, the taking notes method sounds stupid. I pretty much read a paragraph or two until I understood the main topic of the reading passage, then would look at the first question and go get it. If I couldn't find the first answer, I'd move to the second question and keep the first one in the back of my mind... hope this helps.
Good luck!

hey bro which CDR program did u get? the basic one with 15 simulations and do you recommend it as I too need to practice on the reading... thanks

 

[Cal55]

I have actually tried lookin at questions first and then reading the passage. That method is effective but it consumes time as you click over from 1 through 17 and then click back from #17 back to #1. ALso, it depends on how smooth the DAT program will run at the test center. I am currently trying to skim through every passage and write down 1 or 2 words for each paragraph to help me direct where I would look for the info for a specific question. I am currently using DAT achiever RC practice tests and those are SOOO hard. No method is working. I got a 15,17,and 15 so far, but people seem to say that it is harder than the real test. However, I remember that one of the real tests I had was very dificult and was actually simliar to the DAT acheiver passages.

 

[ushaseos]

CDR and topscore are cake compared to the sheer horribleness that is Achiever RC.

As with everything on Achiever, its is overkill. No other practice test that I have taken was as hard as Achiever. My highest RC on Achiever was an 18. Everywhere else I score 20+ consistently and with relative ease**.
For me, my strategy changes based on the passage. If the passage is a comfortable read (i.e. not too dense or ******ed like the stocks passage in Achiever #2) I'll read it completely taking notes and then do questions. If the passage is really dense and I know I can't retain all the info, I'll do questions while I read and make VERY clear notes to point myself in the right area and scan for answers.

I haven't taken the test so I can't say how accurate Achiever is, but just keep practising and your scores on the practice tests do go up, and take solace that though your scores may seem low, Achiever is definitely the hardest so they aren't as low as they seem.

**P.S. English is my 4th language so I am not naturally gifted or anything...I struggled like hell with my SAT passages back in high school. RC can definitely be conquered with practice and it seems you're doing the right things!

 

[thejamespark]

It's good to hear other peoples opinion and what methods worked and didn't work for them.
All I can say is that EVERYONE has different strategies in the RC and I totally agree with ushaseos that depending on the passages, you have to slightly adjust to the reading passages depending on the level of hardness for that passage.
From my own personal experiences, the Kaplan method or simply reading each paragraph and writing 1 or 2 words for each paragraph never worked for me. Some people work better doing this method but I am speaking from my own personal experience. That is why I said everyone has different strategies and should quickly find their strategy.

I just felt that when i did the kaplan method, its just a crap load of info to be taking in (without direction) and not knowing the questions ahead of time... Cal55 you are right that it is effective but a little time consuming but at the same time I feel more confident/comfortable knowing the questions ahead because I panic A LOT in a situation like this. Timing & staying CALM is key for everyone whether your using same or different strategies.

I haven't fully mastered the strategy but I am working on the timing and it should get better and better.

I hope this helped everyone and gl to you all. It's a good feeling for everyone to help each other out.
let us know what you guys think.

 

[Kuleey]

Also I don't know if its even recommended or not but I seem to find more answers by reading at the end of the article... as in, I would start like 2 paragraphs before the article ends and see if i see any answers. then go to the last 4th paragraph and go to the last 2... and so forth...
If you come across any methods yourself to help me I would appreciate it.
But I think this is a method worth experimenting...😍

 

[Cal55]

I agree that strategy should be adjusted to the type of passage. For example, a passage like with equations which I have heard people can get on the DAT like Physics equations should probably just search and destroyed, but a dense passage with a LOTT of information you just simply have to read through it very carefully and take notes. OR possibly looking at the questions first, taking notes of the questions and then reading the passage. Again, the whole point of this section is time management so we need to figure out the most efficient method of doing well and not running out of time. It's kind of sad that the RC depends on luck so much because I clearly remember getting an easy passage an scoring a 19 and then getting a hard passage and scoring a 16. You just have to prepare for anything as I cannot afford to re-take the DAT a record breaking 5th time. GL to you all. Thanks for the input and experiences. Keep posting new updates or methods as will I

 

[thejamespark]

I agree that strategy should be adjusted to the type of passage. For example, a passage like with equations which I have heard people can get on the DAT like Physics equations should probably just search and destroyed, but a dense passage with a LOTT of information you just simply have to read through it very carefully and take notes. OR possibly looking at the questions first, taking notes of the questions and then reading the passage. Again, the whole point of this section is time management so we need to figure out the most efficient method of doing well and not running out of time. It's kind of sad that the RC depends on luck so much because I clearly remember getting an easy passage an scoring a 19 and then getting a hard passage and scoring a 16. You just have to prepare for anything as I cannot afford to re-take the DAT a record breaking 5th time. GL to you all. Thanks for the input and experiences. Keep posting new updates or methods as will I

So I did some RC today and I wanted to fill you in on my personal advice?
I'm not changing my method but changing my mentality.
Like I said, I always felt pressured and start to panic when I first start but I quickly honed in my concentration on the reading passage by reading like i NORMALLY do.
I guess I have been constantly trying to read a bit faster than I normally do and it screwed me over.
Whats funny is, I get more questions answered in a shorter amount of time by reading at my normal speed than to blaze through the questions and/or article

So what I'm trying to say is what REALLY helped me is to read at your own speed.
I'm not a fast or slow reader but this seemed to work.
Don't try to blaze through the passages because it doesn't work for me.

I want to keep this short and I want you guys to give it a shot... if you have been making the same silly mistakes I did. Thanks 🙂

 

[Cal55]

I actually did the exactttt same thing today. lol I did much better on the passage, however, it was much easier than the passages I was scoring 15's on. However, your exactly right. When I start reading, I panic and look through everything and nothings really sticking, so taking your time and actually reading the passage and trying to take interest in it is really an improvement for me. However, if the passage is extremely dense and very difficult, it is just very hard to decipher it. Either way, so far, reading the passage first seems to be the better move. Let's see where this takes us. GL

 

[Jackson-Ave-Dental]

Buy the ExamKraker MCAT verbal reasoning 101.

Go through the whole book (you won't find a single S&D question) then revisit the DAT RC...

Destroyer is overkill... so why not overkill the RC too 🙂

 

[shal3]

Im retaking the DAT because o my 15 in RC. Im taking it on the 29th and haven't seen much improvement. But I continue to practice. I just wanted to tell you about Godfrey. It has 10 RC tests and they passages are pretty long. Godfrey is harder than CDR and I learned about from someone on here. It's a bit expensive but it's not bad for practice.

 

[Molarcule]

Buy the ExamKraker MCAT verbal reasoning 101.

Go through the whole book (you won't find a single S&D question) then revisit the DAT RC...

Destroyer is overkill... so why not overkill the RC too 🙂

Did that book help at all? I was told that DAT reading is different from MCAT reading.

 

[eyeball87]

I got 16 my first time too. Second time I got 22 on RC.

I never prepared for the reading comp section the first time. However, the second time. This is what I did: I would go on national geographic, scientific american and economist websites and read articles 3-4x/week for a month or so. I would make sure I would read for at least 30 minutes at each sitting.

You just have to make sure you practice reading on the computer screen ALOT. I'm horrible at it - Actually I used to be, but I think after that experience I'm not that bad anymore.

 

[s2davey]

IT could be that ur asian and english is ur second lang.

I got a 25 on my RC.

hopefully that helped.😕