VR strategy: re-read or move on?

[MudpuppyLake]

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When you get wrong answers on a practice MCAT Verbal Reasoning section, is it a good idea to go through and re-read the passages/answer choices to figure out what went wrong?

I don't like the idea of re-reading something I did not understand the first time, especially since I will not see this passage ever again...but is this the secret to doing well on VR?

 

[Dr. Doctor]

I think everyone reviews verbal a little bit differently so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. What I found worked best for my review of verbal reasoning was going through and figuring out why I picked the wrong answer--what in that answer sounded good to me--and why I did not pick the right answer--what in that answer sounded bad to me.

As far as passage review goes your right you will never see that passage again, however, you will experience similar types of passages as you prepare and when you take the actual MCAT. Look back at the passage and ask yourself did I understand what the author's purpose was for the passage--the why. look at any arguments there might be in the passage and see if you misunderstood them or mixed them up--arguments are key in MCAT passages. Make sure as you are reviewing the passages you ask yourself, did I spend too much time on details. A lot of times people, myself included, look at the details as the basis for MCAT verbal questions when its the author's purpose that the test makers will draw most of the questions from. I took the MCAT twice and I was able to increase my verbal score by three points using this method if that means anything.

 

[HCHopeful]

It depends on the source of Verbal practice you're using. I find with Kaplan verbal (bleh!) it is quite useless to go back and check why you got it wrong. This is simply because Kaplan's questions are almost all fact-related to the passage, so you can easily see why you missed.

I went over the questions more so when I first began doing verbal, because I was averaging about a 28/40. Now, however, I'm at about a 34/40, and when I look at what the answer is I usually say to myself, "Oh, okay, that makes sense." To me, there is no need when you feel this way. However, if you're missing the same type of question over and over again it would be useful to go back through and see what errors you're making.

It depends on how well you're doing. If you're scoring 38/40 on average, then it would probably help to really pin down those details as to why you're missing what you do. Otherwise, you can improve verbal through PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

By the way, these are my favorite verbal materials:

1) EK 101 Passages*
2) The Berkeley Review Passages
3) Kaplan

*I have TPRH Verbal Workbook, but I'm saving towards the end of studying so I can use them to my full advantage. I've heard they're the best.

I like to do different sets every day. This way I don't catch on to a particular type of style. If you want to feel good about yourself, do TBR passages. If you want to feel horribly, do Kaplan. I despise Kaplan, but alas, it's still practice.

Good luck, OP.