How to kick start and boost up in RC?

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NicNemesis: Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts; Posts: 5; Joined: Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:44 pm

by NicNemesis » Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:18 pm

Hey guys..

I really am stuck with RC section..
Issue here is whenever i try to attempt RC questions, i get so agitated and really cannot concentrate.. Paras are so wordy and not even reach to half of the passage, I lost my interest and concentration..

How can i do that? Am i the only one facing difficulties concentrating in RC? Did you ever face such prob? how did you handle?

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Reading Comprehension | Sun Jul 03, 2011 9:18 pm

VivianKerr: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1035; Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:13 amFollowed by: 365 members; Location: Los Angeles, CA; Thanked: 474 times

by VivianKerr » Mon Jul 04, 2011 6:45 am

Hi NicNemesis,

This is a common RC problem.

The main issue is that right now you are reading "passively", just reading to understand overall the topic and the main point, but without any specific kind of task.

You need to read the passage like a detective looking for clues. You have to read "actively" and take notes as you read.

This is what I fill out for EVERY single RC passage:

Topic:
Scope:
Function of 1st P:
Function of 2nd P:
Function of 3rd P:
Author's POV:
Purpose:

The idea is that you are always searching for the next piece of information to fill out your notes, so you are NEVER without a task.

You can see an example of how I did this here: https://www.beatthegmat.com/rc-99-passage-39-t81093.html

And you can see how detailed my "mental notes" are here: https://grockit.com/blog/gmat/2011/03/21 ... te-taking/

And a little more explanation of just what the "topic", "scope", "function" and "purpose" are: https://grockit.com/blog/gre/2010/12/16/ ... -passages/

Start your work on RC by practicing breaking down the passages and taking these notes. I even recommend you work untimed at first and without any questions, just until you have the strategy down.

You can also use GMAT-like passages to practice this, if you'd prefer to "save" your GMAT passages with questions until after you've got some experience with the strategy. Scholarly magazine articles, and newspaper opinion columns are excellent ways to do this.

You'll really start to see improvement on RC if you can SLOW DOWN and commit to reading for structure/rhetoric.

Good luck

Vivian Kerr
GMAT Rockstar, Tutor
https://www.GMATrockstar.com
https://www.yelp.com/biz/gmat-rockstar-los-angeles

Former Kaplan and Grockit instructor, freelance GMAT content creator, now offering affordable, effective, Skype-tutoring for the GMAT at $150/hr. Contact: [email protected]

Thank you for all the "thanks" and "follows"!

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HSPA: Legendary Member; Posts: 1101; Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 7:26 amFollowed by: 13 members; Thanked: 47 times; GMAT Score:640

by HSPA » Mon Jul 04, 2011 7:26 am

Along with what Vivian wrote(it is genuine approach or a way to practice), try to go through the basics, which are thought by Ron purewal in his thursdays with Ron.

Once you are through with the classes you can make all OG questions in quick time without loosing interest.

Ron covered all OG question types or models which you make see in exam. These free classes from Ron are extremely powerful and those 4 hours of class is worth gold.

Google with 'thrusdays with Ron'

First take: 640 (50M, 27V) - RC needs 300% improvement
Second take: coming soon..
Regards,
HSPA.

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