Back to the basics: Better Reading Comprehension

by DJNY 11:00 0 comments

There are numerous techniques available on beatthegmat that may help you score better on reading comprehension. But, not all RC techniques are equal. And some may require extensive practice before you finally start seeing the results that you really want to achieve. Keeping this in mind, here are a few specific tips that will help you perform better at RC without worrying about tactics and techniques:

1.       Details are not important

      You know how you read every “serious and official” looking document? That’s not how you read GMAT RC passages! On the contrary, what you are trying to get, is just the outline and gist of the passage. After reading the passage once, you should be able to describe what the passage is about, without going into any details. This is the most basic rule of performing better on GMAT RC questions. Otherwise, it may take you longer, just to “memorize” or “understand” every detail that will be of no consequence to you while answering the questions that follow. Also, remember that the passage is always going to be right there in front of you! So, just go through once without delving into the details.

2.       Writer’s intention

       You should be able to tell whether a passage is biased or unbiased. You should also be able to tell whether the author/writer is using a specific tone just to get his/her message across. This is something that you already do when you read research papers or news reports. Today, no research happens without a motive, and no news organization publishes content without a motive or in some cases propaganda behind the news article. Apply your skill of identifying intention, tone and diction, to get a better understanding about the passage.

3.       Directional words

       Look for directional words such as Moreover, furthermore, however, but, etc. These words either imply change in the logical direction or that more supporting points are going to follow. GMAT test makers are obsessed with making sure that they provide you with passages that have no or minimum paragraphs. This is because, change in paragraph usually means a change in idea or sub-topic. So, being able to identify directional words will help you know how the passage flows and how ideas likely change in the passage.

      

That’s it. Those are the basics of RC that you absolutely must remember. And they are really simple: don’t fret about the details, identify the writer’s intention, and take a mental note anytime you see directional words within the passage.

“Getting” the passage is extremely important on the GMAT. The same passage is generally used to ask at least 3 questions, and if you answer those 3 questions correctly, your score takes a major jump. Get RC questions wrong in a row and your score takes a major hit. So focus on RC using the above techniques and beat the GMAT!

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