Reading Comprehension

All you need to know about reading comprehension :


1. Why Reading Comprehension?

A section on RC is found in all major aptitude tests including GMAT. The reason is whatever your profession, you will be required to comprehend dense, unfamiliar, uninteresting but very important material. Your purpose in reading should be firstly - and more importantly - to understand, and secondly, to increase your speed. The only way to increase your comprehension as well as your reading speed is by reading.

2. Where do passages come from?

Dont expect the passages to be very interesting or simple. The passages selected for this section tend to be wordy, dull, and lengthy. You will have to concentrate hard and will have to wade through passages on diverse topics. The topics for the GMAT RC passages are usually taken from these three broad areas :

(a) The humanities
(b) The social sciences
(c) The natural sciences

Each of them will cover a diverse area and because of this factor, the RC section is actually the most realistic and also the most directly relevant section in the test. This probably makes it more difficult than other sections.

3. How many questions will i have to attempt?

On an average there are likely to be around 2-3 passages in the section. The level of difficulty is medium. The passages will be of varied length and will be followed by about 6-8 questions each. This is going to require optimum concentration, accuracy, and fluency on your part.

4. How do I attempt this section?

You will have to develop the skill of active reading. By active reading I mean attacking the passage rather than passively plodding through it. You can be an active reader by :

(a) Reading the passage very carefully and thinking about it.
(b) Distinguishing the main idea from its supporting examples.
(c) Locating the key phrases
(d) Marking the important details of the passage

5. How do I start preparing for this section?

For starter, begin reading newspapers and current affairs magazines, book reviews, classics, etc. Make reading a part of your regular routine. This will help familiarize you with unfamiliar or difficult topics and as a bonus you will also be able to make intelligent and informative contributions in the interview stage.

6. What is more important - Speed or accuracy?

You will not get a tougher question than this one in your RC section. Opinions will vary from person to person. Accuracy is of course very important. Speed without accuracy is totally useless and at GMAT is actually counter-productive. On the other hand, however, accuracy alone will not help. Every section of GMAT has a cut-off mark which is crucial if you are to clear the test. Answering 35 questions in as many minutes is no joke. Unless you have developed the skill of accurate speed reading you will not be able to tackle this section adequately.

So, here's wishing you ALL THE VERY BEST in RC : )