TPR vs. EK verbal strategies

[JeetKuneDo]

Sorry for another strategy thread, I guess I'm getting antsy about the mcat.

Anyways, I'm thinking of ditching the TPR verbal reasoning passage techniques. They seem really, really convoluted and inefficient. I'm thinking of ditching it right now while it's still early and using the EK techniques. Is EK the better option for verbal techniques than TPR? Thanks in advance.

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[dapmp91]

I have the same problem as you. My TPR course just started, and they have great amounts of practice passages, but their strategy seems a little bit whack. I mean I can't map a passage on the real MCAT, it would take my like 10 minutes to do just that. I do like their idea of getting the bottom line aka main point. I'm working on that, by writing it out and then just doing that in my head once I get efficient at it.

 

[ChemEngMD]

I took the TPR class from last November through this March and pretty much decided on my own that their verbal strategy wasn't for me. They want you to commit 100% to their theory and I just couldn't get myself to do it. This summer I've been studying using the Examkrackers books for the August 25th Exam and have found their verbal strategy to be a bit more up my alley. Although they have the same all-or-nothing approach, they tell you why they think you should use their method (as opposed to the one in TPR). EK explains why mapping, skipping passages, and other such techniques are a waste of time and effort simply to bring your verbal score up into the average range. If you want to get above this (10+) the EK method is probably the way to go.

Personally, I'm still using a hybrid method when I take my TPR practice tests (on TPR3 the last one I took I scored an 11 on verbal). I plan to try and adapt completely to the EK method, but I still may take small notes just because it helps me. If you have any more questions just shout em out lol

 

[iPodtosis]

Just wondering.... what's EK's verbal strategy? I have EK 101 but it doesn't talk about the strategies at all

 

[ChemEngMD]

Just wondering.... what's EK's verbal strategy? I have EK 101 but it doesn't talk about the strategies at all

It's not in 101 it's in the Verbal Strategy book (I have both). 101 is just practice passages. You can buy this book either in a package with the other EK books or individually off of Amazon. I don't think it's legal for me to tell you the strategy in details (copywrite infringement perhaps?), but the gist is to not skim, read every word, do every question in a row, form a main idea, and so on. They have some pretty nifty ideas, but I haven't gotten through the whole book, there should be some stuff on question stems and stuff too. Hope this helps!