1. Lecture Notes for Verbal Reasoning Lesson 2 Strategies, tactics and tips for reading the VR passages according to Exam Krackers

2. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Time Management Plan on at least eight minutes per passage Some passages take longer than others Check your timer only once. After youve finished 3rd or 4th passage Checking time too frequently is distracting Try to finish VR section with two minutes to spare Dont try to finish early in order to return to difficult passages Practice timed reading A 600 word journal passage in three minutes.

3. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Read for the main idea of each passage Dont worry about reviewing the passage for facts. Imagine listening to a friends story. Listen for the main idea and ignore the details.

4. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Try to identify the function of each part of the text. Read with questions in mind: Whats the author trying to say? Whats the authors point? Whats the authors position on the topic? Whats your impression of the author? Scrutinize the structure of each passage. Organize a mental map. Each paragraph will explore a new angle of the main idea. Each paragraph will provide supporting detail for the main idea. Passage structure is logical, manageable, and even predictable.

5. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Avoid judging the passages. Dont get caught up in your reactions to the ideas or your lack of interest in the subject. Dont focus too much on details and specifics. Emphasis will be on the main idea, the authors purpose and the argumentative structure. Dont skim for information or use speed reading techniques. Very little information retention from skimming. Read as you normally would with careful concentration. Save time when answering questions

6. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Increasing reading speed has little impact on your verbal score. Focus on enhancing efficiency at answering questions. Test-takers lose crucial time because they: Hunt for the answer in the passage. Read the passage many times over. Dont waste time and distract yourself by jotting margin notes. Passages present one overriding theme Details are less important than overarching theme. Emphasis on ambiguities and gray areas Certainty with an answer can be a trap.

7. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Dont read the questions first A waste of time because it forces you to read for detail. Short term memory lapse guarantees youll forget the questions. Dont circle of underline words Directs focus to details. Interrupts reading of the passage.

8. Strategies, Tactics, Tips Reflect on the main idea after completing a passage. Take 20 seconds and mentally construct the main idea in a couple of sentences. Writing the main idea takes too much time. Dont skip passages, but rather address them in order. Jumping around wastes time. Loss of concentration and confidence. Its difficult to determine which passages are more difficult.