mzkfrk wrote:Sometimes I come across an RC or two which after i read .... I just have no idea about it.... just like yesterday, i came across an RC based on pure finance(i'm a tech guy).. question is, how should one proceed after that, during the gmat exam... should one re-read the passage or just go ahead and make the best educated guess for the questions...
and yes i understand during preparation,one should read all types of passages to get himself acquitted with the diverse topics... but still sometimes above case may happen....
This is a common misconception among GMAT students - Content does not matter. Structure does.
People pursue an MBA based on a vast variety of backgrounds. In any given MBA class, you will find a mixed bunch of techies, finance people, marketing, as well as an eclectic collection of psych majors, liberal arts and humanities, poets, what have you. The admin committees actively seek such a mixture, since a large part of the learning process in an MBA involves learning from your peers, not only your professors.
The GMAT, as a gateway to an MBA and a product custom tailored for its admin committee clients, must reflect this diversity to the best of its ability. Therefore, Nothing in this test should assume a certain background or prior knowledge by an applicant. Of course, some passages will speak your language more than others, but always keep in mind that you SHOULD be able to answer the questions you are provided, regardless of whether you're an engineer or a historian. Any overly technical/ professional jargon should either be explained in the text, or not used in a question. If a certain passage fails to do so and reads like something from an econ 304 advanced text book, than it is probably not an official text.
Your job is to rise above the scary jargon and tell yourself in your simple words what the passage is about, and what the structure is. "This academic thinks that we need more taxes. That academics thinks the opposite". Translate into layman's terms, an effort which already serves you by forcing you to not just move passively from one sentence to the next, but actively do something with the information presented - process it, analyze it, put in in boxes (categories) and label the boxes. Bypass anything that is too difficult for you to understand - the passage will either explain what it means later, or not use it in a question.
As to advice for dealing with RC passages as a whole, begin by checking out Master GMAT instructor Ilana's article on the "bird's eye view" on this site.
