Hey David,
Thanks for the detailed reply, feel grateful. I have been pretty accurate in CR, this based on previous practice tests, getting on an avg 3 to 4 questions wrong - Same with RC , and SC has been my Strong and also my weakest area. Please find below my approach to each Question type :
CR : First I read the Stimulus, to get a general idea of what the question is about. Then the question and stop and process the answer in my mind and then look for the answer. Ofcourse, this method changes for different question types.
RC :
Type 1 : Long passage : Here i read the whole of first paragraph, to get a general idea about the passage and then read the first lines of each subsequent paragraphs, and mark important words (nouns), dates etc. After this, i read my abbreviated notes and think about the general idea of the passage. This helps me in answering General Questions such as Main idea, tone etc... For specific questions/inference i revisit the the passage with the aid of key words from my note. Using this strategy, i still have trouble with inference questions.
Type 2 : Short Passage : I treat this as a long CR passage and read each sentence noting down the purpose of the author (giving examples, making a point, refuting etc). Basically i am interacting with the author, "why are you writing this?" Using this strategy i get lost in words, sometimes rereading to get a hold of the flow etc, and then mess up with the answers , virtually after all this my mind goes "BONK! What did i just read?"
SC :
Type 1 : Whole Sentence : I simply dont read the question and jump into the choices, compare each choice to see which concept is being tested. Having said that, i get paralyzed when i see words such as "being, having been, to be etc..." I guess i give too much heed to my ear.
Type 2 : Half Sentence : This is a monster for me, often i get stuck between two answer choices and often end up choosing the wrong answer choices, I also tried this experiment, "Wait Kashyap, you are making a mistake, chose the other" . The result? More mistakes
I also get BONKED when i see parallelism and comparison questions. I tried to practice few questions before the exam, but to no gain. I just tremble, when i spot them.
But when i redo these questions, untimed i seem to do well. Hence during the later half of my practice sessions i tried
a practice test (untimed) and ended up scoring Q46 and V44 , a score of 740 (a dream). Then my conclusion - untimed i do well, it is all in the head! Hence started hiding the timer, but still was stuck at a max score of 35.
Type 3 : Single/ few words : Relatively easy , accuracy rate of 90% or more, just see the context of usage and spot the correct answer.
I received my official Score card today. AWA was doing good at 5.5. Math is at Q47, i saw few monsters during the exam, but just let them go. During the actual test, Verbal , during the second half, i was simply not myself, i was glossing over the passage/questions, wanted to get up and shout at the people making noise (laughing loud), tried to show my displeasure by throwing the marker (ofcourse making noise) , was shattered, i knew that i was being visited by easy questions, i knew something must have been wrong. Held my nerve/emotions for the last few questions and had to see the inevitable.
