DS "Thinking" not catching on after 5 weeks

[pandoracarey]

I am halfway through my 9 week class. I haven't done any practice tests because I just know from the homework, that I am still not able to get through any DS questions and get them right. I have to look at the answer key almost every time to understand the answer. And, even then, I only understand about 80% of the explanations. I am not sure how to get better at this section.

I am frustrated because class seems to assume that I know how to think the way that the DS questions expect me to think. But, so far I have not caught onto this way of thinking. So, how am I supposed to get better? Do you have any advice?

The good news is the CR, short/long passages, and the sentence correction makes sense to me and I am getting through those homework sections with ease.

The DS is dragging me down.

Thanks,

[terence.battle1]

Have you done the labs also? Data sufficiency are unique questions and require you to start each one by looking for what is truly being asked. When you do DS are you first looking at the question and rephrasing it? The questions are often disguised and require about 10-15 seconds or reworking it to truly find what is being asked, then once that is acknowledged it's going through the statements.

[StaceyKoprince]

I agree with terence about the labs. Here's what I'd do:

1) Talk to your teacher; tell him/her that you're struggling with DS and ask for help. Ideally, arrive at class a little early; you and the teacher aren't tired (as you are after class) - though, of course, be aware that the teacher does also have to set things up for class that evening.
2) Use office hours to discuss DS. Have you been signing up for office hours? If not, go do so RIGHT NOW. Office hours expire every week - so every week that you don't use them, you lose them.
3) Re-watch the tape of class 1, where DS is introduced. Take notes. Pause the tape and re-wind for anything that you don't fully understand.
4) Start doing the DS-related labs, in order. Again, take notes, pause and re-wind whenever necessary - really take your time.
5) Use the forums. You can't post OG questions here, unfortunately, but you can post about anything in the strategy guides, CAT exams, pretty much anything as long as it isn't an actual OG question.

When using the forums, don't just post a problem and say "I didn't understand this." Actually write out what you did and how you were thinking about it - what worked, where you felt lost, everything. That will help the teacher to see where you might be having trouble so that we can address whatever the issues are. Ditto for office hours (where you can discuss OG questions, by the way). Explain, let the teacher "observe" your thought process and actions, and then the teacher will know where you need help.

Good luck!