I just Beat The GMAT!

Eldorjon wrote:Hello Hrishi

- As I said before on PowerPrep there were several repetitions, but did every question. In my previous tests was short of time on verbal part so this time I made PowerPrep a bit hastily.

- Don't think that my RC speed improvement was achieved with a lot of prep. Big part of improvement was achieved in a short time. I improved my speed from about 15 minutes for a passage to below 10 minutes (7-8 minutes average in 2 or 3 days. During these days I read two books on speed reading, though did not follow every exercise in them. One of these books is available on this forum, the second is of no use, so you don't need it. If your reading speed is very low you can increase it hugely in very short time, but as you got faster increase will become more difficult. I should also mention that I did not read a lot and reguarly. Every bit of text you read in English contributes to your reading skill. You have one month and possibly have time to read an article a day looking out the most unfamiliar words (the meaning of which you cannot guess) on dictionary. Devote 10 min a day for reading, you have nothing to lose.

If you read one passage in more than 10 min, then you should consider speed reading exercises. The main point here is getting rid of your subvocalization and some exercise. You don't need to read the book, because 90% of it is about convincing you that you can improve. The files on the following link will be enough:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/tips-for-imp ... d-t77.html

Also, I am realizing that the concentration has the huge effect on reading speed and comprehension. I have not developed any approach to this problem yet, but try to improve your concentration. RC strategy from GIN may help in this. Here is some of them:

Paraphrase with exaggeration! You should think for 1-2 seconds in every 2-3 sentences and repeat your understanding in your own language. But when you paraphrase add something to it. When you repeat your understanding in your own language, say something in your mind that will make you remember that. For example, if author says scientist A was wrong. I paraphrase this in my own language: Wow look at this author , he says this stupid scientist made wrong assumptions.Lets see why?.... It may sound silly but it is very effective. This exaggeration also keeps your attention at high levels.

3)Related to the previous item: Reading with the desire to learn and at least agree or disagree with the author! In almost all passages, either the author or the people mentioned argue for X and some other people argue for Y OR there are two things described and author gives evidences etc.
It is not easy to stay focused in a long RC passage, to achieve this,I always tried to take sides,when possible, and criticize either the author or the other parties... Since I like arguments and discussions, this technique helped me follow turns in the passage, evaluate evidences and claims, expect what might come next. So, simply, take sides.(even in a neutral passage that just describes a phenomenon,you can find a way to stay focused by using number 2 and 3 above). Never ever read a gmat passage as if you are reading newsweek. What all gmat books tell you is => Read to learn?! But how??? Once again,I am repeating, the only way to read to learn is to TAKE SIDES and CRITICIZE,QUESTION,MAKE FUN OF THE AUTHOR or OTHER PARTIES. BE AGRESSIVE,ACT LIKE THEIR WORST ENEMY OR BEST FRIENDS.

Hope this will help