Test taking tip (passage reading)

[zoner]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi everyone

I was wondering if an experienced test taker could give me some advice.

In BS and PS sections, out of all the questions I got wrong, about 60-65 % are due to not catching some vital information in the passage or failing to connect the dot with the passage information and a graphs or figure.

Another 30 % is due to careless mistakes such as calculation error or wrongly chosen answer.

5-10 % due to not knowing the concept or information flat out.

Can someone please help me out in terms of what to do so that I don't make these errors?

 

[epsilonprodigy]

Well, I guess I might be "experienced" in the wrong way, since I am a re-taker, but here's my $0.02:

You did the first and most important step already: you characterized your tendencies. Looks like you may need to pay more attention to the passages. This is what has helped me:

• Do NOT get hung up on the prose of the science passages. Skim, locate, but place most of your attention on any figures, tables or graphs. Note what the variables are, note any trends, or if there are reactions listed, briefly note what is where.
• Let pertinent equations enter your mind as you do this. This will help you predict probable question material which is a huge help.
• In my experience (I, too, struggle mainly with "stupid mistakes") many issues can be attributed to attention to the question stems.

In verbal, I would say that if you're missing passage info, you may want to use the highlighting tool more liberally. Or, if you're not a fan, maybe just try to pause and quickly clarify what each paragraph just told you as you go.

In general, I find that looking for superlatives is really valuable. In the sciences, look for the most extreme values listed... the most and least extreme graph trend, the highest/lowes Ksp, the strongest and weakest bond.... etc. In verbal, same thing, only here you're looking for phrases like "the single best determiner," " most importantly," "boldest," "first," "pioneering," etc.

Hope this helps!

 

[zoner]

Well, I guess I might be "experienced" in the wrong way, since I am a re-taker, but here's my $0.02:

You did the first and most important step already: you characterized your tendencies. Looks like you may need to pay more attention to the passages. This is what has helped me:

• Do NOT get hung up on the prose of the science passages. Skim, locate, but place most of your attention on any figures, tables or graphs. Note what the variables are, note any trends, or if there are reactions listed, briefly note what is where.
• Let pertinent equations enter your mind as you do this. This will help you predict probable question material which is a huge help.
• In my experience (I, too, struggle mainly with "stupid mistakes") many issues can be attributed to attention to the question stems.

In verbal, I would say that if you're missing passage info, you may want to use the highlighting tool more liberally. Or, if you're not a fan, maybe just try to pause and quickly clarify what each paragraph just told you as you go.

In general, I find that looking for superlatives is really valuable. In the sciences, look for the most extreme values listed... the most and least extreme graph trend, the highest/lowes Ksp, the strongest and weakest bond.... etc. In verbal, same thing, only here you're looking for phrases like "the single best determiner," " most importantly," "boldest," "first," "pioneering," etc.

Hope this helps!

Yes, it did. But Skimming just doesn't work on some passages. I just took AAMC 3 yesterday and there were a couple of passages where you actually literally had to draw the experiment in your mind or on paper or else it didn't make sense. There was even a graph where it didn't make sense until you carefully read the passage information. (it was the one about the melting point of acetamide) Some experimental passages only made sense after reading them three times very carefullly after the test. Granted I only got a couple of questions wrong on those passages due to educated guessing, but the answers I got wrong could have easily been avoided if I knew EXACTLY what the experiment was all about.

This is making me think that maybe I should quickly sketch of the experiment being described and do a bullet point for any two experimental differences.

just to vent, this kinda passage really pisses me off. i mean, most of the time, why do we have to comprehend poorly written passages that only verbally describes an experiment and why would we ever need to do that as a doctor or as a scientist? most of scientific papers I've read, the descriptions are well written and often accompanies cartoon or nice diagram.

 

[PolIV]

In my opinion, I read the passages pretty carefully, particularly the bio passages. The bio doesn't require THAT much outside knowledge, much of it is provided in the passage. I spent my time reading the bio and outlining/drawing out diagrams if I had to. There are always key answers or facts that can be used for the majority of the questions. Once I started doing this, my bio score jumped up a few points. I ended up with a 12 on the real thing.

 

[zoner]

In my opinion, I read the passages pretty carefully, particularly the bio passages. The bio doesn't require THAT much outside knowledge, much of it is provided in the passage. I spent my time reading the bio and outlining/drawing out diagrams if I had to. There are always key answers or facts that can be used for the majority of the questions. Once I started doing this, my bio score jumped up a few points. I ended up with a 12 on the real thing.

Wow, thats great. I am just nervous that once I start outlining or drawing a diagram, it might take away too much time. However, I guess that might make up for the time I waste on trying to figure out the answer because i didn't understand the experiment carefully.... Hmmm, this sounds like a great advice. Gonna try this on my next one.

 

[PolIV]

Good luck! I would also review old tests and look at where they got the answers from in the passages. This will help you learn how to read those passages. Not everything is important; you just need to know what to pay attention to.

 

[zoner]

Good luck! I would also review old tests and look at where they got the answers from in the passages. This will help you learn how to read those passages. Not everything is important; you just need to know what to pay attention to.

I tried to do that, but don't you think they really ask you about various things? the things they ask you about an experiment aren't often consistent.

 

[PolIV]

I tried to do that, but don't you think they really ask you about various things? the things they ask you about an experiment aren't often consistent.

That's true, but that wasn't what I meant.

You should be looking at what TYPE of things they pull out from the passage. For example, various measurements are important, little facts they have about the experiments in terms of conditions, etc.