Reading Comprehension improvement stepwise guide. Part 1.

[coderversion1]

Hi,

I just compiled some content on how to improve GMAT RC for myself and 2 of my colleagues. Posting it here, may be you find it useful.



First step would be to know the length of passages GMAT offers, approximately 350(max) words with 3-6
questions from it. There are specific patterns of questions asked which we will deal with later.

2. Key to effective reading lies in:
a. Reading fast.
b. Being able to comprehend things we read.
c. Develop a mental flow of the structure of passage linking one important point to the other. If possible write
it down like a flow diagram on a paper.
d. Able to comprehend topics not easily understandable by the individual, a science student may not understand
well a literary work, while a humanities student may not understand a passage from recent IEEE paper.

Let's address these issues one by one:

a. Reading fast: Go to this link and test your reading speed,Reading speed test.

240 words per min is mentioned as average, so may be we can try to achieve close to 300 words per min.

Reading speed can be improved by:
1. https://classiclit.about.com/od/howtorea ... espeed.htm
2. Practice on Speed Reader Software. ATTACHED.
3. Watch these really good videos: (articles related to them attached.
Part1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmQiOEC8UnM
Part2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNeJsp62 ... re=related
Part3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oztN0Xs ... re=related
Part4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsPFJYVm ... re=related
Part5: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gv9VLpa ... re=related
4. Useful Link: https://www.mindtools.com/speedrd.html#
5. LAST AND MOST USEFUL: https://www.pagalguy.com/forum/english-r ... speed.html

Above things, you may think is deviated from GMAT but its utmost necessity and key to improving not only RC but CR and SC too.

b. Being able to comprehend things we read. What to do for vague and unknown topics? Reading a wider variety of stuff will improve ability to comprehend.


TO BE CONTINUED ... I am sleepy already today.

[arun@crackverbal]

Good to see you are introspecting here. But remember - don't speed read on the GMAT. It will end up counter-productive since you will end up wasting more time going back and forth while answering the questions.

However this is not to be confused with skimming certain sections of the passage when you know it is about a specific experiment, event, example that you can always return to. In this case you will have to skim - not read "fast" - to save time.
Arun

[arun@crackverbal]

Good to see you are introspecting here. But remember - don't speed read on the GMAT. It will end up counter-productive since you will end up wasting more time going back and forth while answering the questions.

However this is not to be confused with skimming certain sections of the passage when you know it is about a specific experiment, event, example that you can always return to. In this case you will have to skim - not read "fast" - to save time.

Arun

[coderversion1]

Yes Arun agree with you, Aim should not be to speed read (Let's not confusing here with the term 'speed reading') and not understand anything. But to see reading speed also as a parameter of concern and may be it can be perfected, or made better. It will definitely help.

Will post next part of this post today.