BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Should we read the question stem first?

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic

Should we read the question stem first or stimulus first?

Question stem first
8
47%
Stimulus first
9
53%
 
Total votes: 17
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:26 pm
by kranti » Sun May 31, 2009 9:27 pm
I am finding contradictory suggestions from different books.
Some books suggest to the read the question stem first and then read the stimulus, and some other books suggest to read the stimulus first and then the question.

What is your take on this?

P.S: If this topic is already discussed, please point me to the proper link
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Critical Reasoning |
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat May 02, 2009 3:55 am
Thanked: 17 times

by madhur_ahuja » Sun May 31, 2009 10:04 pm
Always read the stimulus first and then the question. This is the better strategy.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 575
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:58 amFollowed by: 4 members
Location: India
Thanked: 18 times
GMAT Score:710

by rahulg83 » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:11 am
I'd rather prefer reading question first, and then attack the stimuli as you will have a clear picture in mind of what you need to do with it..
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:22 am
Location: India
Thanked: 1 times
GMAT Score:630

Re: poll

by gmatstud » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:31 am
always the stimulus....i can tell by experience... used to read question first and would always try to look at answer in arguments rather than understanding the arguments. This can lead to chosing an answer in a haste.

Always understand the arguments first. It'll be easier to attack questions then
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 487
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:49 am
Thanked: 36 times

Re: Should we read the question stem first?

by dtweah » Mon Jun 01, 2009 9:03 am
kranti wrote:I am finding contradictory suggestions from different books.
Some books suggest to the read the question stem first and then read the stimulus, and some other books suggest to read the stimulus first and then the question.

What is your take on this?

P.S: If this topic is already discussed, please point me to the proper link
From Reading comprehension days, I have always read everything before reading any question and have been hard pressed to abandon this tradition. Before I systematically began breaking CR questions down, I refused to read questions first. Since I began a more rigourous, thorough and systematic approach to CR, I have found it is a Must to read the question First. It makes no sense reading for 15 seconds when you don't even know whether you would be inferring, weakening, strengthening, resolving paradox, or identifying flaw. That kind of reading I think is blind.

My Vote is with reading the question first and I go against my heart on this one.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:26 pm

So far it is even stevens!

by kranti » Mon Jun 01, 2009 7:03 pm
So far it is even stevens!

I think I will vote for stimulus first. I think the problem with reading question first is that it makes you biased, and this may undermine your ability to understand the stimulus properly.

Dont you think that the question may actually become a distraction to your understanding of the stimulus?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:55 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 5 times

Re: So far it is even stevens!

by vinaynp » Tue Jun 02, 2009 7:54 am
kranti wrote:So far it is even stevens!

I think I will vote for stimulus first. I think the problem with reading question first is that it makes you biased, and this may undermine your ability to understand the stimulus properly.

Dont you think that the question may actually become a distraction to your understanding of the stimulus?
I would read the question and then would read the stimuli.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:26 pm

Re: So far it is even stevens!

by kranti » Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:07 am
vinaynp wrote:
kranti wrote:So far it is even stevens!

I think I will vote for stimulus first. I think the problem with reading question first is that it makes you biased, and this may undermine your ability to understand the stimulus properly.

Dont you think that the question may actually become a distraction to your understanding of the stimulus?
I would read the question and then would read the stimuli.
Can you please provide the reason?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 154
Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 12:55 pmFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 5 times

Re: So far it is even stevens!

by vinaynp » Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:34 am
kranti wrote:
vinaynp wrote:
kranti wrote:So far it is even stevens!

I think I will vote for stimulus first. I think the problem with reading question first is that it makes you biased, and this may undermine your ability to understand the stimulus properly.

Dont you think that the question may actually become a distraction to your understanding of the stimulus?
I would read the question and then would read the stimuli.
Can you please provide the reason?
It is based on my experience as it helps me to look for relevant stuff in stimuli. Also, I again read the question after reading the stimuli. So, I read the question two times before and after the stimuli.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 487
Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 5:49 am
Thanked: 36 times

Re: So far it is even stevens!

by dtweah » Tue Jun 02, 2009 12:14 pm
kranti wrote:
vinaynp wrote:
kranti wrote:So far it is even stevens!

I think I will vote for stimulus first. I think the problem with reading question first is that it makes you biased, and this may undermine your ability to understand the stimulus properly.

Dont you think that the question may actually become a distraction to your understanding of the stimulus?
I would read the question and then would read the stimuli.
Can you please provide the reason?
Here is another way to put it. Even if you will not read the question, just look at it for 2 seconds to see words like Weaken, Strengthen, Flaw. Resolve Paradox.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:43 pm
Thanked: 1 times

Re: Should we read the question stem first?

by atulkumar79 » Tue Jun 02, 2009 5:47 pm
kranti wrote:I am finding contradictory suggestions from different books.
Some books suggest to the read the question stem first and then read the stimulus, and some other books suggest to read the stimulus first and then the question.

What is your take on this?

P.S: If this topic is already discussed, please point me to the proper link
I would go for reading the question first. I agree it is hard to get into a mode of reading the question first, but if you have the question in your head then you know which part of the argument you need to focus on. It helps me form an answer before even looking at the choices.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1