Verbal Reasoning Patterns

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Hi,

I have heard this numerous times that with enough practice, people start to see the patterns in this section with respect to questions and answers (i.e. they get a feel for what kinds of questions will be asked and what to look for in the correct answer choices).

I have done tons of practice but I am not improving. I am just not getting the feel for this section. Can those who did/are doing well on this discuss the patterns/trends they see? I just can't seem to figure out what it is that I am not seeing.

A discussion of this section, perhaps from the point of view of the exam writers would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[rockafella12]

Hey, I am not an exam writer but I can tell you that with practice you will begin noticing a pattern.

I got a 7 on my first real VR in 2011. Since then I have taken both Kaplan and PR and my scores are consistently around 10-11 with the occasional 12/13. That being said, I would use the EK strategy and the EK 101 Verbal book.

I think a lot of the improvement comes in the review of the sections you took. You need to write down what type of question it was and why you missed it. For example, I miss a lot of specific inference questions because I don't follow the Main Idea, choose too strong of an answer, or sometimes miss an important detail. A lot of times though, I can attribute it to a lack of either energy, focus, or confidence.

Hope that helps

 

[Gauss44]

Hi,

I have heard this numerous times that with enough practice, people start to see the patterns in this section with respect to questions and answers (i.e. they get a feel for what kinds of questions will be asked and what to look for in the correct answer choices).

I have done tons of practice but I am not improving. I am just not getting the feel for this section. Can those who did/are doing well on this discuss the patterns/trends they see? I just can't seem to figure out what it is that I am not seeing.

A discussion of this section, perhaps from the point of view of the exam writers would be helpful.

Thanks

You know, I wish someone would take the time to compile all of the tips and patterns in all these threads, scattered about nearly impossible to find deliberately, but always there when you're looking for something else.... A spreadsheet and a sticky would be ideal. ...Or an edited sticky, where tips would be preserved and non-tips deleted.

Then, I wish, there was a poll where you could vote on whether or not you believe that each tip is true or useful. Maybe I'll do part of that if I ever get time.

Patterns for wrong answers (EK's strength):
Opposites
Exaggerations
Correct info about the wrong person, situation, etc.; (faulty detail)
Beyond the scope (wild answer that has little to do the the passage)

Patterns in reading, what will be asked:
Unconventional use of a word that doesn't fit with the rest of the language in the passage
Anything that looks inserted by someone other than the author
A quote or key statement (a non-detail) that is very abstract
A change of topic in the passage that isn't obvious
A surprising caveat or sub-point that's easy to miss

IMO, if you do enough passages right, certain things will start to seem redundant. If you are not comprehending the passage and why answers are correct or incorrect, there will be no redundancy because you didn't understand in the first place.

 

[4 lyfe]

How many verbal passages have you done? Also, most of your learning will come from thorough post analysis of the verbal passage, questions, correct ans choice, and wrong ans choice.

 

[pacer]

How many verbal passages have you done? Also, most of your learning will come from thorough post analysis of the verbal passage, questions, correct ans choice, and wrong ans choice.

I am going to be re-writing the MCAT in Jan. Wrote it for the first time in August 2012 and scored a 6 on VR.

I have done all the passages in EK 101, TPR workbook and AAMC practice tests. I have kept a journal with the questions that I get wrong and why but it seems to be scattered, meaning that there is no specific question type that I consistently get wrong etc.

I am doing okay with the sciences and have a "feel" for the correct answers on those sections. I am missing the same kind of thing for verbal and my score seems to be variable.

I have the TBR and Kaplan materials left. I will also be redoing the AAMC FL's closer to test date.

Can someone please discuss the patterns, trends in the questions and answers for this section?

 

[pacer]

Can someone please discuss the patterns, trends in the questions and answers for this section?

 

[mehc012]

Can someone please discuss the patterns, trends in the questions and answers for this section?

If it were that easy to just spiel onto a thread, verbal wouldn't be one of the most difficult sections to improve. There is no magic bullet...just taking practice passages and reviewing the answers. If you can't pick up on the patterns doing that, I'm not sure why you think reading someone else's wording of their impression of their experience is going to help you suddenly see them.

 

[dannybht]

OP you should follow my advice below!


Alright guys I think I've found the solution to verbal. It's been helping me get at most 1-2 wrongs per passage!!!



3 Major things!



1. Attack the passage critically!

How? Read it like a story and attack each and every paragraph! Find the MAIN IDEA in each paragraph. You HAVE to do this in order to see the development of the authors argument and be able to do even answer half the questions!!



2. Attack the questions and scrutinize every ANSWER! (One of the most important skills you need to master)



Master POE! Live breathe and sleep Process of elimination. No doubt about it. You need To prove every answer wrong until you get a correct answer that is left. The importance of POE is that it will get rid of answers that will make you second guess!!! The key to POE is to find the KEYWORDS that aren't used correctly, phrases that aren't even mentioned in the passage.



3. Write down a log of questions you got wrong and why!



This will help you prepare for questions and help you see patterns in the answer choices.



My advice is to practice doing main ideas and POE!!! Then review your log of questions and mistakes.



PRACTICE then REVIEW and REPEAT!!!

 

[FeinMS]

A discussion of this section, perhaps from the point of view of the exam writers would be helpful.

No one knows accurately about this other than the writers themselves.

 

[Gauss44]

OP you should follow my advice below!


Alright guys I think I've found the solution to verbal. It's been helping me get at most 1-2 wrongs per passage!!!



3 Major things!



1. Attack the passage critically!

How? Read it like a story and attack each and every paragraph! Find the MAIN IDEA in each paragraph. You HAVE to do this in order to see the development of the authors argument and be able to do even answer half the questions!!



2. Attack the questions and scrutinize every ANSWER! (One of the most important skills you need to master)



Master POE! Live breathe and sleep Process of elimination. No doubt about it. You need To prove every answer wrong until you get a correct answer that is left. The importance of POE is that it will get rid of answers that will make you second guess!!! The key to POE is to find the KEYWORDS that aren't used correctly, phrases that aren't even mentioned in the passage.



3. Write down a log of questions you got wrong and why!



This will help you prepare for questions and help you see patterns in the answer choices.



My advice is to practice doing main ideas and POE!!! Then review your log of questions and mistakes.



PRACTICE then REVIEW and REPEAT!!!

I think I know what "attack the passage" or "attack the questions" means: to confidently, aggressively, and actively read and work on them?? 10 points? 1 point?

 

[Gauss44]

No one knows accurately about this other than the writers themselves.

I agree; however, I think what is meant by "from the point of view of the exam writers" is to pay attention to what the author is trying to tell you and why. For example, when a friend calls you up, you listen to his or her tone AND what s/he is saying; in other words, you listen for the overall point. Another way of saying this is to make sure you pay attention to why you think the author bothered to include each paragraph, based on the tone and main idea.

This can be difficult because some people get into the habit of doing almost the opposite for science passages (ex. skimming for details) without even being aware of it, and then that can limit performance on VR.

 

[Gauss44]

Can someone please discuss the patterns, trends in the questions and answers for this section?

Sure, I put my answer above. If I find time, I might make a point to put links to other threads about patterns, etc. I get why you are asking. It is much easier to find something when you know what you are looking for. It makes practice more efficient.