How do we know when to use symbols for conditional logic?

[tzyc]

Sometimes it's faster to answer questions just by reading and sometimes it's faster to take notes to see the conditional logic...how to decide when to take notes?
I guess people take notes (using symbols) while reading the stimulus, but sometimes I notice I should have used symbols only after reading stimulus. (I try not to use symbols first, because I do not want to waste time...)
But I have no time for reading the stimulus again after noticing that...so I wonder how do we know when to use symbols and when not to?

Thank you

[Not Malakai]

If the language in the stimulus is dense and allows for conditional logic, i'll usually use symbols. I know that the questions from 15-24 will generally be harder, and if there are alot of conditions in a stim. i'll use symbols in that instance as well.

Generally, I often find myself using symbols for Principle Justify, Principle-Example, and Parallel Reasoning questions (only if the stim. isn't some obvious Part-whole/Whole-to-Part/ad hominem/ X->Y->Z type), as well as when I see the world "Only" or "Unless" because those really use to throw my mind through a loop before.

Rule of thumb: If it's a LONG stimulus that allows or has some sufficient or necessary trigger, use symbols.

Also, what makes you say you have no time for reading the stimulus again after noticing in hindsight the benefit of actually using symbols? Generally, time spent re-reading the stimulus for the core (if present) is time well spent, since it's often a necessary step to getting the credited response, and if diagramming can get you the CR - it isn't such a waste of time as you may think in regards to re-reading the stimulus

Hope this helps

[tzyc]

Hello,
Thanks for the reply, they are really helpful
I guess it's because I try to answer the question without digramming as much as possible (to save time...I read slow ), and try to understand what the stimulus says by the 1st reading and leave plenty of time for the answer choises.
Sometimes when I spend a lot of time for the stimulus (those science or dense stimulus) and do not have much time left for the choises, I go through the AC really quickly but then entraped easily by wrong answer...so wanted to correct this habit and wondered whether there is a way to see when to use symbols and when not to.
But I guess I kind of have to read the stimulus to decide (at least the 1st sentence) or maybe skimming for condi. trigger along with the advice you provide. (Principle Qs parallel Qs etc)

Thanks again!

[rinagoldfield]

Superb advice, Not Malakai. I don’t have much to add, but I do want to underscore that diagramming matching (aka parallel reasoning) questions is almost always helpful.

On other question types, if I see lots of guarantee words"”words like "all" "only" "always" or "never""”I make quick conditional diagrams as I read. This takes almost no time, and often proves beneficial.

That said, I love the crispness of conditional logic, but not all test takers do. If conditional logic leaves you feeling turned around, try approaching most problems less formally, and save the formal notation for matching problems and problems with very long and guarantee-filled stimuli.