How to read a question

[navdeep_bajwa]

I have a question for instructors

I want to know how to read a question in the right way word to word, read a part and analyzing or another other better way and how not to miss key details or a keyword from a question

[StaceyKoprince]

The details of how to best to do this can vary from question to question, but in general:

1) Read "piece by piece." When reading the first sentence, make sure you understand everything before you move to the next sentence. If necessary, break the sentence down into smaller pieces (other punctuation marks, such as commas, help to break the sentences down).

2) Write while you read. Train yourself to take notes while you mostly continue to look at the screen, glancing only occasionally at the paper. You should be writing almost constantly, right from the start. Your writing may be a little messier than normal, but you'll be less likely to make transcription mistakes if you mostly keep your eyes on the screen while reading. Write down everything that is or might be important. If a quant problem mentions that x is an integer, write down "x=int" (or something similar - whatever works for you). If a CR problem mentions that all junior girls and McKinley High are in at least one club, make sure you write the relevant parameters: junior, girls, at least one. Make sure that you have a consistent way to note the kinds of information that will come up on all kinds of problems (eg, a lot of problems are going to tell you something is an integer, so have one consistent way to note that down every single time).

3) When you're reviewing / analyzing a problem, ask yourself what you didn't write down that you should have written down and what you did write down that wasn't necessary. Re-write the notes as they should have been written to make it easiest for you to do the problem. If you made a careless mistake (for example, overlooked an important detail), ask yourself WHY you made that mistake (for example, I didn't write it down on my scratch paper) and develop some new habit to avoid making that mistake in future (for example, next time, I will write down *every* descriptive word in a quant problem: integer, positive, whatever).

4) Whenever possible, "insert" yourself into the problem. On quant word problems, draw a picture or imagine yourself doing whatever the problem is describing. On CR problems, pretend you're having an argument with someone and this is what the other person is telling you. As you read through, think about how you'd respond: well, you can't just assume that! You didn't provide any evidence for that! Your conclusion may be true, but it may not be if <whatever> is actually the case! And so on. I pretend I'm arguing with my sister. :) On RC, if you're not already interested in the topic yourself (and, let's face it, chances are you won't be!), think of someone you know who would be interested, and pretend you're reading it so that you can tell him/her about it later. What's the overall message? What would be the most interesting things to tell your friend later about this passage?

[navdeep_bajwa]

Thanks a lot Stacey I really appreciate your insightful tips

[StaceyKoprince]

you're welcome!