Tackling the Reading Comprehension section

[firstcitizen]

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For those who have a 20+ score in RC, what technique did you use?

1) Read the questions & search the passage
2) Read entire passage and then go through the questions

I noticed a lot of people are getting a 15-16 in RC in spite of getting 20+ scores on the other sections.

 

[diesels]

My RC was 22.

During the testing break, go ahead and number the dry erase board 1 through 12 or something. Each number is for the paragraph to make a map or outline of the passage.

Read over everything as quickly as you can. While you are reading, map out the passage, writing down a FEW keywords for each paragraph. Usually I write down the topic and a few complicated names that might be referenced later.

Go through the questions and answer the questions. Pace yourself. If you are spending more than a minute per question, skip the question. Chances are, you will find the answer in your search for the next ones.

In my experience, the actual DAT focussed mainly on questions that were directly answered by the passage. Only one or two questions per passage was I asked to deduce the author's opinion or intent.

 

[fancymylotus]

My RC was 26.

Screw writing things down. Skim the passage, answer all fact based questions, and other questions that ask for info directly from the passage first, and then do tone/critical reading questions. You may end up reading the whole passage, but sometimes you dont have to, and every minute counts. I think I ended up with time to spare.

 

[Jaylee777]

I would have to agree about screw writing anything down. I would definitely suggest reading through the whole passage first before tackling the questions. If you read slow, I still suggest going through it all but skip over the fact packed paragraphs since you're most likely going to refer back for those type of questions anyways.

 

[diesels]

My RC was 26.

Screw writing things down. Skim the passage, answer all fact based questions, and other questions that ask for info directly from the passage first, and then do tone/critical reading questions. You may end up reading the whole passage, but sometimes you dont have to, and every minute counts. I think I ended up with time to spare.

26 beats 22. Listen to him. But find out what works for you.

 

[sacjumpman]

My RC was 26.

Screw writing things down. Skim the passage, answer all fact based questions, and other questions that ask for info directly from the passage first, and then do tone/critical reading questions. You may end up reading the whole passage, but sometimes you dont have to, and every minute counts. I think I ended up with time to spare.

fml, did your RC last year have lots of tone questions, or just a couple?

Everyone has acted like they were shocked by the inference/tone questions, whereas last year everyone acted like the key was just to hunt for keywords....

Just curious as to the distribution on your exam last year?

 

[fancymylotus]

fml, did your RC last year have lots of tone questions, or just a couple?

Everyone has acted like they were shocked by the inference/tone questions, whereas last year everyone acted like the key was just to hunt for keywords....

Just curious as to the distribution on your exam last year?

Actually I think that I was one of the first of the batch last year that got lots of SAT type questions. I was expecting topscore/achiever style fact based questions for the most part, but ended up getting less of those and more of others. Again, whatever works for you obviously, but for me it was easiest to do the questions I could answer without dissecting each paragraph first, and then do the harder ones last.

 

[sacjumpman]

thanks 👍

 

[Electrons]

My RC was 26.

Screw writing things down. Skim the passage, answer all fact based questions, and other questions that ask for info directly from the passage first, and then do tone/critical reading questions. You may end up reading the whole passage, but sometimes you dont have to, and every minute counts. I think I ended up with time to spare.

Even on fact question, do you work on 1 question at a time? Skimming and searching until you find answer for 1 question before you move on to next. Or you check out several questions ahead and search for answers to several questions at same time?

 

[sarah_bellum]

I had a 20 on RC. I went straight to the questions and never read the whole thing. Note: the RC on the actual DAT is pretty different from the practice tests.

 

[SanOnofre2002]

Writing notes while skimming doesn't work well w/ me either (RC 24). Maybe I just write too slow or can't decide quickly enough what to write. I wouldn't do that unless you've practiced that way A LOT.
Part of this RC section is the luck of an essay that you find easy to read. I had one essay about meteors and asteroids that seemed so elementary I couldn't believe it. Still had a few questions I had to search for but overall it saved me time. Suprisingly the hard one wasn't some complicated medical jargon filled one but something about sociology. Couldn't tell you what exactly it was now, I just remember hating it.
Best advice I could give is to keep you're focus. Dont let your mind wander while you're reading. Pretend like you're reading the secret to the universe.

 

[sacjumpman]

Writing notes while skimming doesn't work well w/ me either (RC 24). Maybe I just write too slow or can't decide quickly enough what to write. I wouldn't do that unless you've practiced that way A LOT.
Part of this RC section is the luck of an essay that you find easy to read. I had one essay about meteors and asteroids that seemed so elementary I couldn't believe it. Still had a few questions I had to search for but overall it saved me time. Suprisingly the hard one wasn't some complicated medical jargon filled one but something about sociology. Couldn't tell you what exactly it was now, I just remember hating it.
Best advice I could give is to keep you're focus. Dont let your mind wander while you're reading. Pretend like you're reading the secret to the universe.

I think that last part is excellent advice.

I have horrible problem daydreaming while I read and then I have to reread.

This is what I've been trying to focus on during practice tests. Focusing enough so I can answer questions without having to go back much. Go to get into the zone.

Can't say I have it down, but I think its very important.

 

[Electrons]

I have improved everything else except for this RC. I'm so frustrated that I can't seem to finish faster on this section. Writing takes even longer. I have been trying searching like FancyMyLotus recommended but I must be doing something wrong or something because i still didn't finish on time. I can read about 300+ wpm but still lag behind. 🙁 Anyone else has other idea?

I read 1 question and search answer for it until I find the answer then I move on to the next. I skip and marked on "tone" questions. Did I do it right or i'm missing something esle?

 

[phraud]

I just took the DAT today. For RC, I read the passage thoroughly, and then tackled the questions. It took me about 8 minutes to read each passage. I have a habit of wandering with my thoughts when I read. After every paragraph, I would quickly sum up what I just read in my head to make sure I actually read it. I would take the time to reread the paragraph again if I didn't get it the first time.

I didn't write down any notes while reading because I realized that I never referred to them during my practice tests. If you really read the passage, it's pretty easy to remember where specific things are.

The passages were fairly easy reads. I did come across a few tone questions, but they were fairly easy to answer since a lot of the answer choices were really out there.

I always use to go straight to the answers. But in all honesty, reading the passage first made things a lot easier for me. Hope this helps.

Oh yeah, I got a 21 in RC.