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Should we read the question stem first?

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Should we read the question stem first or stimulus first?

Question stem first
8
47%
Stimulus first
9
53%
 
Total votes: 17
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Should we read the question stem first?

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
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by madhur_ahuja » Sun May 31, 2009 10:04 pm
Always read the stimulus first and then the question. This is the better strategy.
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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..
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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
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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