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rubykap · 03-11-2008, 09:29 PM

hi friends.

i am having my exam on 3rd april.I am giving this 2nd time.Previously i got Q-720, V- 350. i have completed barrons word list.i have completed whole barrons, nova and kaplan verbal work book.My biggest problem was RC's .

can anyone suggest my how can i improve in these 20 days?
how many hours should i devote to get atleast 500 ?
please help me to make study plan..

please help me out.

thnx and regards.

Oldman · 03-11-2008, 10:38 PM

Hi Ruby,

I recommend practicing as much as you can. Seach google for the 1000 RC document.

For reading comps., the question types follow a very predictable pattern.

Learn to identify these as you read to save time.

gunzi · 03-11-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldman

Hi Ruby,

I recommend practicing as much as you can. Seach google for the 1000 RC document.

For reading comps., the question types follow a very predictable pattern.

Learn to identify these as you read to save time.

oldman: when you say that they follow a predictable pattern, what do you mean? each time i try a few RC's i'm stumped and i never know how to approach them afresh.. HELPP!

Oldman · 03-12-2008, 03:33 AM

I think Nova covers it the best. Here are the 6 types:

Here's the 6 basic types:

1. Know the six question types:

o Main idea
o Description
o How the passage is organized
o Extension from author’s main idea or argument
o Application
o Tone

2. Through practice, you will “see” the question types in the passage and will be able to anticipate what they will ask.

3. As you read, outline the six question types. For example, once you read the main idea paraphrase it on your scratch paper.

The other two strategies are to pratice to get faster. I believe you can do this by learning to maintain your concentration so you only have to read it once, and take notes as you go. That's where the 1000 RC doc comes in. I don't recommend taking tons of notes. But as you read, jot down the main point, the author's tone, and the evidence he offers for his argument. Nearly every Reading comp is the author presenting some case, making a claim and supporting his claim with evidence. Very similar to the AWA section of the GRE, but in reverse. Think of yourself as grading the AWAs.

One other thing I've noticed, is I don't have to read the short ones. I just look at each question and pick them out. For the long ones though, take your time and read. Increasing your speed at antonyms/analogies/and sentence corrections will help a lot. That's why I don't waste too much time on antonyms. If I can't get it in 15 seconds, I move on. My goal is 10-12 seconds. You get like 9 analogies. If you complete in them in 10 seconds each, when the avg. time per question is 60 seconds...well you're the math guy :-) but as you can see it really gives you more time to relax, concentrate and study the passages. That's one reason to have that vocab down cold. Even if I know a word, if I can't think of it in 3-5 seconds, I make a flash card. On the exam, I want to know the word instantly, and take only about 9-12 seconds to answer the antonym.

Analogies take a bit more time, and if you don't know the definitions, you can work on eliminating wrong answer choices. This is a pretty good strategy and at least increases your chances of getting them right.

For me the harder SCs take the longest. These are basically just short RCs though. So if you can increase your concentration and pick up on the logical flow faster, you can increase on these as well. For me, the verbal section is a lot of time management strategy. There's no exact science, besides practing under timed conditions. I would recommend knowing all of Barron's high frequency words before you start practing, then get a base score. Next analyze your test and see what you are doing wrong.

Some things to ask:

1. Is it strictly a timing issue? In other words, give more time do you get a lot of them right? If so, it may be more of a timing issue.

2. Is it because you aren't up to par on vocab? If not, bust out the flash cards. It's all hard work there.

3. Is it going back and forth? One thing I've noticed on big book is they lump everything together. So you mind has time to "warm-up" and is used to the question type. On the real exam, they're all mixed up. I like to go back and forth between question types to mimic the exam.

rubykap · 03-12-2008, 05:02 AM

thnx for the reply....

quantifyMe · 03-12-2008, 04:04 PM

Oldman! That was a gem of a reply. Thanks so much...

quantifyMe · 03-12-2008, 04:07 PM

one question though, what is the "1000 RC doc"?

03-11-2008, 09:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
rubykap Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	taking gre second time...need help hi friends. i am having my exam on 3rd april.I am giving this 2nd time.Previously i got Q-720, V- 350. i have completed barrons word list.i have completed whole barrons, nova and kaplan verbal work book.My biggest problem was RC's . can anyone suggest my how can i improve in these 20 days? how many hours should i devote to get atleast 500 ? please help me to make study plan.. please help me out. thnx and regards.

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03-11-2008, 10:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Oldman Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 242	Hi Ruby, I recommend practicing as much as you can. Seach google for the 1000 RC document. For reading comps., the question types follow a very predictable pattern. Learn to identify these as you read to save time.

03-12-2008, 03:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Oldman Within my grasp! Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 242	I think Nova covers it the best. Here are the 6 types: Here's the 6 basic types: 1. Know the six question types: o Main idea o Description o How the passage is organized o Extension from author’s main idea or argument o Application o Tone 2. Through practice, you will “see” the question types in the passage and will be able to anticipate what they will ask. 3. As you read, outline the six question types. For example, once you read the main idea paraphrase it on your scratch paper. The other two strategies are to pratice to get faster. I believe you can do this by learning to maintain your concentration so you only have to read it once, and take notes as you go. That's where the 1000 RC doc comes in. I don't recommend taking tons of notes. But as you read, jot down the main point, the author's tone, and the evidence he offers for his argument. Nearly every Reading comp is the author presenting some case, making a claim and supporting his claim with evidence. Very similar to the AWA section of the GRE, but in reverse. Think of yourself as grading the AWAs. One other thing I've noticed, is I don't have to read the short ones. I just look at each question and pick them out. For the long ones though, take your time and read. Increasing your speed at antonyms/analogies/and sentence corrections will help a lot. That's why I don't waste too much time on antonyms. If I can't get it in 15 seconds, I move on. My goal is 10-12 seconds. You get like 9 analogies. If you complete in them in 10 seconds each, when the avg. time per question is 60 seconds...well you're the math guy :-) but as you can see it really gives you more time to relax, concentrate and study the passages. That's one reason to have that vocab down cold. Even if I know a word, if I can't think of it in 3-5 seconds, I make a flash card. On the exam, I want to know the word instantly, and take only about 9-12 seconds to answer the antonym. Analogies take a bit more time, and if you don't know the definitions, you can work on eliminating wrong answer choices. This is a pretty good strategy and at least increases your chances of getting them right. For me the harder SCs take the longest. These are basically just short RCs though. So if you can increase your concentration and pick up on the logical flow faster, you can increase on these as well. For me, the verbal section is a lot of time management strategy. There's no exact science, besides practing under timed conditions. I would recommend knowing all of Barron's high frequency words before you start practing, then get a base score. Next analyze your test and see what you are doing wrong. Some things to ask: 1. Is it strictly a timing issue? In other words, give more time do you get a lot of them right? If so, it may be more of a timing issue. 2. Is it because you aren't up to par on vocab? If not, bust out the flash cards. It's all hard work there. 3. Is it going back and forth? One thing I've noticed on big book is they lump everything together. So you mind has time to "warm-up" and is used to the question type. On the real exam, they're all mixed up. I like to go back and forth between question types to mimic the exam.

03-12-2008, 05:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
rubykap Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4	thnx for the reply....

03-12-2008, 04:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
quantifyMe Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12	Oldman! That was a gem of a reply. Thanks so much...

03-12-2008, 04:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
quantifyMe Trying to make mom and pop proud Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12	one question though, what is the "1000 RC doc"?

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