David@VeritasPrep wrote:The difference is that Power Score is written for the LSAT and adapted for the GMAT. When I teach the LSAT there are literally two dozen types of questions to consider. In that case it is better to read the stimulus first. Also, on the LSAT you have 35 minutes to do 25 questions - so that is about 1 minute and 24 seconds a question. Compared to about 2 minutes per question on the GMAT (if you are good at Sentence Correction and can add the time saved there).
I would actually advocate something a little different than either of the approaches mentioned. I like to have my students look to the question stem first, but only to determine whether or not the stimulus should have a conclusion. This is because correctly identifying the conclusion is the number one skill necessary for critical reasoning. Basically, all main question types except for Inference, Paradox and Bold-Faced will have a conclusion and your main job is to begin by identifying that conclusion.
So I do look to the question stem first, but only to see if it is one of the types (strengthen, weaken, method of reasoning, most useful to know etc) that do have a conclusion OR if it is an inference, paradox, or bold-faced, which may not.
If I see that I have an inference question I know that I read the stimulus quickly, looking for the scope and then I go straight to the answer choices for process of elimination. If it is a paradox - I am not looking for a conclusion, but rather the paradox. And if it is bold -faced I will look for the main conclusion on the first read, (but of course there is the possibility that there is not a main conclusion maybe only some opinions or something).
So that is what I would say - each approach has some logic behind it and as JayMW says - what works for you is what works. Neither Ron nor the Power Score authors are taking this for you!
bravo. this is the best post i've read about this issue, because for me this strat encompasses the purported benefits of both approaches. i've done some lsat stuff where the authors actually advise you read the stem first. the powerscore suggests the opposite.
i can definitely see the benefits of both approaches, and i really like your approach. it really is mega-important to have a clear, unbothered mind on CR (especially CR and RC, but in general all of GMAT). so for me personally reading the stem first and trying to cram it in there bothered me. but then again, i'm the kind of person that needs to write down things so that it won't keep me from sleeping at night lol. so, if i have some tentativeness in the back of my mind, especially trying to divide my attention between the information in stem while trying to discern the stimulus accurately and quickly, i was slowed down.
