Strategic reading

[chetan86]

Hi Stacey,

I need your help.

I am facing one issue while solving CR and RC questions.
I am not able to grasp much information from passage during my first read.

I required to read the passages (for both CR and RC ) again and again, and also most of the times I miss key words, which are important and essential to solve the questions.

Because of this issue, I am wasting lots of time and facing timing issue in verbal section.

I think, these issues might be due of lack of concentration, or time pressure but I am not sure.

I know that I have skills to solve almost all kind of questions but because of my reading skill I am not able to score high in Verbal.

Could you please guide me how can I tackle this issue and grasp as much as information during my first read?

Please let me know if you need any more information from my side.

Regards,
Chetan

[StaceyKoprince]

I am going to guess that the key words you think you are missing are not the words that I would want you to focus on anyway.

The most important words are "big picture" words: transitions, subjects and verbs, contrasts.

"Key words" for detailed info aren't really so useful on the GMAT.

If you have access to our GMAT Navigator program, look up the videos that I made for the 2nd-to-last passage in OG13 / OG2015 (the one about plant hormones).

You can also take a look at the "how to read" articles linked in this article:
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... rehension/

Spend a little time reviewing that, then come back here and tell me what you think you need to do that you aren't doing now, and what you are doing now that you think you need to change.

Also, how much time do you spend reading in general - books, business newspapers or magazines, other more "intellectual" magazines? If the answer isn't every day, start making this a habit. Start with 15 minutes once a day and work your way up to 30 minutes.

Read articles in the Economist, Scientific American, or on these sites:
http://magazine.uchicago.edu/
http://harvardmagazine.com/

[chetan86]

Hi Stacey,

I would definitely review the articles and come back here for your inputs.

I am not reading anything in general to improve my reading skills.
As per you suggestion, I will make habit to read at least 30 mins in general reading. I am sure, it will definitely help me to improve my score.

Regards,
Chetan

[StaceyKoprince]

Good - let me know how it goes!