If so, then you have reached the correct blog. There鈥檚 no denying that most Indian test-takers do find the 91热爆 verbal reasoning section pretty tough when compared to the quantitative section. Let鈥檚 look at some quick stats from the ETS鈥檚 July 2012- June 2017 report. The table below lists out the average scores of test takers across countries where the 91热爆 is taken by a large number of students each year.

91热爆 Country wise Test Takers Statistics – 91热爆 (…formerly 91热爆edge)

As you can see, Indian test takers scored the least in the verbal section when compared to the rest. Even though we have a large percentage of the population exposed to English on a daily basis, there exists a gap in learning. While everyday conversations help us improve general fluency a good 91热爆 score requires deeper learning and a strong command over the language. This is partly due to the fact that the 91热爆鈥檚 vocabulary comprises as many as 3500 words, many of which hardly find use in day-to-day speech.

Indian test takers are noted to be naturally good with quants, it鈥檚 preparing for the verbal section that鈥檚 likely to take up the better part of your efforts, as well as act as the determining factor behind your final score. Some of the best universities require a strong 91热爆 Verbal reasoning score and hence the command you have in the universal language to consider your application. Here is the list of some famous universities and their average 91热爆 Verbal reasoning score requirement.

Famous Universities With Average 91热爆 Verbal Reasoning Score

Download our eBOOK on “91热爆 Verbal Reasoning scores for Top 35 US Universities“

听Structure of 91热爆 Verbal Reasoning:

The intent of the 91热爆 Verbal reasoning section is to test your ability to comprehend written text, form conclusions and figure out relationships between two or more parts of a sentence. There are two sets of 20 questions each and you get 30 minutes to answer each set.

The three types of questions that come on this section are:

• Reading Comprehension (RC) – 10 questions/set
• Text Completion (TC) – 5-6 questions/set
• Sentence Equivalence (SE) – 4-5 questions/set

The following graph shows the time spent by students on preparing for the 3 topics of the Verbal section. As you can see, students spent most of their time on Reading Comprehension (RC). This makes sense because 10 out of 20 questions, or 50% of this section, are from RC Passages, with Text Completion (TC) and Sentence Equivalence (SE) questions comprising the rest. Vocabulary building is also a very important part of your 91热爆 Verbal reasoning preparation as you鈥檒l need to learn at least 1000 high-priority 91热爆 words.

Download our eBOOK on “High Priority 91热爆 Words“

Learning just 30 91热爆 words per day can improve your vocabulary in a span of 30 days. 听Check out WordBot now, a free vocabulary learning app that has the meanings of 3000+ 91热爆 words along with picture guides, their synonyms, antonyms, and usage in sentences. Don鈥檛 be surprised even if find yourself learning even more than 50 words a day! 听

91热爆 Verbal Reasoning Section Graph

To improve your skills on the verbal section, practice Reading Comprehension; review your passages and your answers after each practice session. If you add one English newspaper (The New Yorker, Arts & Letters Daily, or The Atlantic) to your daily schedule, it helps you to learn words in their proper context, enhancing your vocabulary and as a bonus, brushing up your knowledge of current affairs for the AWA section.

Download our eBOOK on “Ultimate Guide to Crack tough RC’s“

The 91热爆 Verbal Section comprises three sections out of which only two would be scored. However, test-takers have no way of determining which of the 3 sections is unscored. Each section has 20 questions and you will be given 30 minutes to answer each (Roughly 1.5 minutes for each question). Most of the questions are multiple-choice questions, where one of the five answers will be correct.

You can begin your preparation by understanding where you stand at the moment. Take a score predicting test here.

Tips and Tricks of the trade:

1. Sentence Equivalence (SE):

These questions could be challenging at moments as you might not be able to think of two words which when placed in a blank will produce sentences that have exactly the same meanings. There can be an approx. of 8 SE questions in the 91热爆 Verbal section. The following are some handy tips to ace Sentence Equivalence questions:

• As you read the sentence, fill in the word which you feel is most suitable, based on the context.

• Notice the signal words like and, but, yet, since, thus, although and while. These words will help you to understand the context of the word, and hence, help you make a better choice.

• Make reasonable guesses of the meanings of unfamiliar words.

• Consider all the choices even if you are completely sure. You might come across an even more appropriate word.

• Also, be careful while choosing a word. Many times test takers choose a word which doesn鈥檛 have a synonym in the group. Avoid this mistake at all costs.

Let鈥檚 understand with an example:

While serving in a place marred by bitter conflict, the high degree of alertness that they develop often gets so ingrained in the psyche of some of the serving soldiers that they continue to display the same sense of _________ in civilian life, often to the discomfort of those close to them.

1. aggression
2. distrust
3. discipline
4. assault
5. suspicion
6. restlessness

Correct answers: 听B & E

Scoring conditions:

• If you select any option other than B & E, you will not get any marks.
• If you select either B or E and not both, you will not get any marks.
• If you select both B & E, you will be awarded full marks for the question.

2. Text Completion (TC):

Text completion type questions are a step up from the SE type. You will have to fill two or more blanks in a 5-6 sentence long paragraph. Choices are to be made from the list of words given and marks would be provided only if you choose all the correct options. Like the SE section, no partial marking system is applied.

Following are the tips for TC type questions:

• Since the questions are lengthy and monotonous, break the text into smaller parts to digest quickly.

• Understand the tone and context that is being aimed by the sentence. Read it 2-3 times until you grasp the context of the question.

• Add your own word to fill up the sentence and then select the closest answer to that word.

Let鈥檚 try out an example and apply the tips:

Climate change has already led to the ________ of some bird species in parts of England, where intensively farmed land gives them no room to ______ to warming temperatures. Birds are facing a double-edged sword from climate change and declines in habitat quality as land management is making it harder for cold-associated birds to find cool corners of sites. As biodiversity across England _______________, stopping the destruction of habitat such as hedgerows and old orchards and creating new nature reserves can give opportunities for wildlife to adapt to global warming.

1. A) disappearance 听听听听听听听听听听听D) migrate G) is fostered
2. B) evolution 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听E) retaliate H) continues to fall
3. C) conservation 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听F) adapt I) continues to spread

Correct Answer: 听A, F & H

Scoring conditions:

• If you select any option other than the correct ones, you will not get any marks.
• If you select the correct option for blank (1) and the wrong option for blanks (2 or 3) or any other combination, you will not get any marks.
• If you select the correct option for all the blanks, you will be awarded full marks for the question.

3. RC Passages:

One can expect around 5 RC Passages in each section which might vary in their length from 1 to 5 passages. These passages are picked up randomly from Scholarly journals, magazines, works of literature, politics, art, culture, textbooks, biographies, lifestyles, etc. These passages are composed well with complicated structure and advanced vocabulary. These passages make even a good reader break a sweat.

The three types of questions you will be answering are:

• Multiple Choice questions with one correct option: You will be required to choose from a set of five answers.
• Multiple Choice questions with more than one correct option: The twist with these types of questions is there is no partial credit provided for the answer. You will have to choose from a set of 3 answers out of which, one/ two/ even all three answers could be true.
• Select in Passage: The answer to this question lies in the passage. You need to select a sentence in the passage that answers the question.

With 30 minutes dedicated for each section, whilst solving these passages, time is of ultimate value.

Download our eBOOK on “Ultimate Guide to Crack tough RC’s“

听Following are a few tips if kept in mind can help you through 91热爆 Verbal Reasoning section:

• Introduction and Conclusion of long comprehensions: To develop an understanding of long passages, read the introduction and conclusion first. Often these are enough to give you sufficient hints to answer the questions.
• Keywords and Context: If you find the keyword from the question in the text, read the preceding and succeeding sentences before forming a complete understanding. Then you can understand the intent and context of the author.
• Save the most complex passage for the last: Know your strengths and weaknesses beforehand. If it takes you a longer duration of time to solve certain passages that talk about say: history. Then skip it and then come back to it after you are done with other ones. This rule is pretty much the same as what applied to your school board exams.
• Stick to the information provided: Do not get carried away by your own opinions on the matter while answering a critical reasoning question based on the passage. Assuming information can be a self-destructive step while solving RC Passages.
• Take notes as you read: While going through the text, take notes simultaneously and notice the keywords.
• Misinterpreting the linking words: Every paragraph of the RC could be a turning point in the reading or it might simply support the preceding paragraph. Develop the understanding of linking words or phrases, like however, in contrast with, but, on the other hand, in addition, yet, in conclusion, and others.
• Wasting time in comprehending useless information: 听This often happens with long RC passages. If you try to unravel the complexity, you are caught in the trap. Skim through the comprehension once focusing your attention on the first and the last paragraph of the comprehension to understand the intent of the RC. Then, read all the questions and look for the keywords in the body paragraphs. Extracting only the meaningful information from a long passage is a skill that you鈥檒l keep getting better at with practice.
• Not taking notes: Test takers often don鈥檛 take notes and have to read the passage again. It wastes precious time. Take notes of significant points in the text as you go through RC the very first time.
• Adding details of your own: Strictly remember that the answers if the questions asked would be available in the RC passage. Do not make assumptions and find the answer.

Let鈥檚 try to apply these tips in the example below:

Through her works, Abril Bolivar aimed to take the average middle-class reader from a state of ennui and indifference to a state of enlightenment. Long before terms such as socialist, feminist, and progressive intellectuals got their modern definitions, Abril championed the cause of the marginalized section of the late 19th-century Bolivian society such as peasants and laborers in her writing.

Since Abril’s rather premature death at 45, her work has acquired greater significance. Her novels have achieved cult status, some are even made into movies, and her short stories were lapped up by schools and colleges as an essential part of their curriculum. Even those with a cursory interest in literature find her novels and short stories appealing. What perhaps has not found as much appreciation is her disquisitions, especially those where she explains her art, her view of the world, and philosophy of life.

Abril, in one of her speeches at a literary conference of Latin American writers, said that she did not subscribe to the “art for art’s sake” school of thought. In light of the themes she chose to write, this would give the facile impression of Abril being a pamphleteer for a cause. However, her language is more of an aesthete than an ideologue. Her writings express the restlessness of an artist and not the certitude of a propagandist.

Based on the information provided in the passage, the author most likely believes Abril’s work to be:

1. A fine blend of art as well as a social discourse
2. More biased toward social causes rather than aesthetics
3. More of cult literature following among movie-makers, students, and those with a cursory interest in literature
4. A propagandist that would leave the reader in a state of restlessness of an artist
5. Less interesting as compared to her disquisitions on her art, her view of the world and philosophy of life.

Correct Answer: Option A

Scoring conditions:

• If you select the incorrect option(s) / sentence, you will not get any marks
• If you select all correct choices, you will be awarded full marks.

4. Vocabulary

There are more than 3000 91热爆 words that you will have to learn. Though you won鈥檛 ever be directly tested on these words separately, 91热爆 verbal reasoning comprises questions which can be solved only if you are familiar with their meanings. Without a vocabulary of 91热爆 words, the chances of making a mistake grow several times. Let鈥檚 take a look at the graph of actual 91热爆 verbal reasoning scores obtained by test takers who prepared with 91热爆 (…formerly 91热爆edge) vs. the number of words learned by them.

91热爆 Vocabulary – 91热爆 words

Words Seen: Words that they have only seen, but not mastered.

Words Mastered: Seen the word & mastered using WordBot, by taking a test in 91热爆 Style.

The graphs make it pretty clear to get a 160 above on the verbal section; you need to master the words with practice tests.

Download our eBOOK on “How to learn 91热爆 Words to score 160+ in Verbal“

听3 pointers that can lead you to improve your 91热爆 Vocabulary:

Following are some most effective ways to keep in mind during this tenacious process of learning:

1. Choosing the right word-list: English is a vast language and mastering it all with a limited amount of time available might not be feasible. However, there鈥檚 still a lot you can achieve through smart work. Hence, right at the beginning, you need to select the correct list of 91热爆 words. Basing on the frequency of their appearance on the 91热爆, apps like WordBot have a compiled list of words along with their meanings accompanied by picture-guides that can assist your learning.

2. The technique of mastering words: Let鈥檚 discuss exactly how big this list that could get you through 91热爆 verbal reasoning is. There are around 3000 91热爆 words that you need to learn while preparing for the verbal. Mugging is not the solution for a list this large, at least not for the majority of them.

1. 1. Redefine Definitions: The dictionary definition of the word might not be that interesting and you might find it hard to keep those words in mind. So, reinterpret the definition given by the dictionary in your own words, you will realize that learning a definition written by you is comparatively easy to learn.
   2. Use the words in your daily life: Once you have learned a few words, try to add them to your daily conversations. As you carry your flashcards, think of the scenarios where you can use those words. Make sentences with them; say them out loud so that you familiarize yourself with the tone of that word.
   3. Keep a list:听Type out the unfamiliar words several times a day. Scribble it on the back of your notebook, text that word to someone; or write an essay containing that word.
   4. Revise and Repeat: Remembering 1000s of words can be challenging and you will start forgetting the words you learned first as time passes by, so remember to revisit the words from time to time to keep them in your memory.

3. Use apps: There are several apps that are designed to make this boring process into some type of game. They help you keep track of your overall development.

Apps like Wordbot from 91热爆 (formerly 91热爆edge) are premeditated to provide you with assistance throughout the process of your learning. They not only operate with a list but also test you from time to time keeping your memory intact throughout the months of your preparation.

Some other tips for prepping for 91热爆 Verbal Reasoning:

• Knowing where you stand: Take a practice test and know where you stand at the moment. It will help you find your strengths and weaknesses and the degree of improvement that you actually require. It can be helpful in deciding how rigorously you need to address your existing vocabulary. Since 91热爆 vocabulary comprises words that aren鈥檛 used in your day to day life, even if you realize you have a great deal of learning to do, don鈥檛 lose hope and start today.
• Start a habit of reading editorials: Newspapers like the Hindustan Times, The Economist has great articles in their editorials which can help you improve your vocabulary as well as keep you updated with the current events. It will help you with the other sections of your 91热爆 Test as well. If you can, develop a habit of reading good books. 听There is no better way of learning words than seeing them in their very own context.
• Don鈥檛 focus only on Vocabulary: It will amount to at max 50% of your score but the rest would come from your comprehending ability, your capability of understanding the context, and of course, reading speed. So prepare and practice RCs well.
• Assess yourself: Before going for the actual test, take practice tests and mock tests to get a better understanding of your state of preparation as well as the 91热爆 time structure. These texts are important as the way you will be giving your exams would be entirely different from how you speak or write English in your daily life.

Download our eBOOK on “Ultimate guide to crack 91热爆 Verbal Reasoning“

Now that you have got what you need to begin your battle against 91热爆 Verbal reasoning, how about you give it a try? Remember, practice is the key and no matter what, don鈥檛 give up! You are already a step closer to your dream 91热爆 score.

So select a good application to supplement your learning and start today! Keep this guide handy if you feel it can be of help.听

All the best!

The post 91热爆 Verbal Reasoning – Tips to Master With Examples appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

Preparing for 91热爆?听If the answer is yes, then you would probably nod your head in agreement when I state 91热爆 Reading Comprehension is tough. The Verbal section opens the assault with a strong army of Reading Comprehension (RC) exercises leading the attack. RC can play mind games and can bring down even the strongest of competitors.

Lack of proper learning and practice in RC can spoil the time you need for the other sections and leave you hanging in terms of your target score.

Rakshit Rana was an engineering student who spent a major chunk of his time in engineering classes and labs. After a tiring day at college, he was relieved to get back home to take the nap he earned. His smile was quickly replaced by frustration when he realized his Verbal preparation was pending.

Being an engineering student, Rakshit was able to cope fairly well with the Quant section, but found it impossible to concentrate on the Verbal part.

He performed poorly in his practice tests and scored only 148 in Verbal and spent most of his time in the RC section.

To achieve his target score, Rakshit had to overcome his RC hurdles. His Verbal trainer chalked out a study plan, provided him with comprehensive materials, empowered him with various techniques, and enabled him solve a lot of Reading Comprehension questions.

With a 15-point score boost, he ended up scoring a whopping 163 in his Verbal and a total of 326!

Can some of the tips that helped Rakshit help you conquer 91热爆 Verbal too?

听

Expert Tips That Helped Rakshit Conquer His Verbal Trouble

听

#1: Sail Stranger Tides

Reading on subjects related to your field of interest is good. But to get 91热爆-ready, you have to break out of your comfort zone, start experimenting, and step into unknown territories of literary interests.

This helps you to sharpen your reading skills and enables you to pick out the essentials from any given passage. This practice not only helps you in your Reading Comprehension, but also in your Analytical Writing Assessment.

听

听

#2: Calling the Keywords!

Speed reading, in this case, would mean grouping words and reading the passage very quickly without paying too much attention to “the”, “and”, etc. In short, you have to just grab the essentials of the entire piece of passage rather than beating around the bush.

During speed reading, care should be taken that you identify the important keywords and highlight them. This helps you save those precious seconds of time.

听

#3: Bust the Myth!

Some aspirants believe that reading the questions even before reading the passage helps. But sadly it does not. In fact, this has proven to make you take longer to finish the RC question, since you end up reading the passage each time in light of the question. 听

Read the passage first and arrive at a gist.

Read the questions carefully and then read the passage a bit more keenly the second time to find the relevant answers.

This also helps you to visually track your answer in the passage.

[EXPERT WEBINAR]: How to Crack Tough RC Passages?
Understand how to find the main idea of a passage, the purpose of a passage, as well as speed reading techniques in just 60 minutes –

听

#4: Skim, Scan, & Solve

This is the ultimate speed reading technique that helps you solve RC passages well before the timer runs out.

SKIM: To quickly read the passage and grasp the underlying message, without stopping on words you are unfamiliar with (shorter phrases, bigger punch).

When should you use it?

• Reading the passage for the first time.
• To understand the key idea or objective of the passage.
• To recheck the information provided after you have answered it.

Having skimmed the above passage, you should have gathered an overall understanding of the passage including:

• The topic
• The main idea
• Rough idea of the purpose why the passage is written
• An idea of the flow of the passage (how the argument is built)
• A few key ideas of the passage and their approximate location in the passage

SCAN: Now proceed to the questions and then search the passage for specific details pertaining to the question asked. This is essentially what scanning is about.

When should you use it?

• Searching for a specific answer.
• Finding a specific numerical data in a given passage.

Example:

Read the following question and try to answer it by going back to the passage that you just finished skimming!

Q. It can be inferred that the process described in the passage makes use of which of the following?
A) The tendency of hot air to rise
B) The directional movement of wind
C) The temperature differential between the sea and the desert.

Answers: B and C

Now comes the final section…

SOLVE:

What are you waiting for? The clock is ticking!

Start answering all the questions.

听

#5: Jump the Jargon!

Jargon and technical terms, especially ones that pertain to science, economics, etc. are meant to just weigh you down. 91热爆 does not evaluate your knowledge in any particular field. If you get stuck on terms that you are not aware of, remember that the information needed to answer the questions is always available in the passage itself. So get into the zen mode and forget all the distractions.

In the above passage, you can ignore the words that have been highlighted. Remember, RC tests language competency and does not judge your scientific capabilities.

So this how you hit the googly ball of 91热爆, which is Reading Comprehension, out of the stadium with your Switch hit!

听

[EXPERT WEBINAR]: How to Crack Tough RC Passages?
Understand how to find the main idea of a passage, the purpose of a passage, as well as speed reading techniques in just 60 minutes 鈥�

听

The post 91热爆 Super Over 鈥� Save Time in Reading Comprehension appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

Let鈥檚 face it: nobody likes spending time reading dense and obscure paragraphs about the American economy under President Nixon or the influence of the Renaissance movement on modern culture, especially when you are under severe time crunch.

Unfortunately, no matter how much you dread it, reading comprehensions contribute to 50% of the Verbal Reasoning section of the 91热爆, so there really is no way out but to deal with the RCs.

The thing about RCs that daunt most test-takers are the length and complexity of the passages. Obscure topics; use of cryptic and complicated words and phrases; and an abundance of names, facts, and figures all contribute to the sense of overwhelming helplessness that engulfs these students.

However, you will be glad to know that you need not fear RCs at all. Sure, it may seem like an uphill task to read and deconstruct, let alone critically analyze a passage on a topic you are unfamiliar with or unconcerned about, but there are a few simple tips and tricks you can adopt to breeze through the RCs.

What is the pattern of the RCs?

Typically, each of the two sections on the Verbal section will have about five passages, which could range from short (one paragraph) to long (five paragraphs). There will be one to five questions per passage, with 听a total of ten questions per section.

There are three types of questions:

1) Multiple-choice questions, where you must pick one right answer out of the available five.

2) Multiple-choice-multiple-selection questions, where you will have to pick one or more correct answers out of three given options.

3) Select-in-passages, where you have to click on a sentence in the passage to answer the question asked.

Why is it difficult to manage time in the RCs?

The problem with managing time efficiently in RCs is rooted in one of these core issues:

1. Passages are too complex/dense or boring
2. Questions are too ambiguous to comprehend
3. Answer choices are confusing and it is difficult to differentiate one from the other

But fear not! We can categorize each of these difficulties into a problem area that you can solve and fix!

For example,

1. Passages are too complex: This hints at your lack of familiarity/disinterest in reading
2. Questions are too ambiguous: This highlights your lack of practice with the different question formats
3. Answer choices are confusing: This indicates lack of reasoning skills and vocabulary

Demarcating these issues into significant problem areas ensures that you know exactly what to work on and how to go about saving time in 91热爆 RCs!

How to ace 91热爆 RCs?

Now that you have a basic idea of what to expect out of the Reading Comprehension section, let us discuss some strategies and tips that will make it easier for you to conquer the section:

#1: Build your vocabulary:

The easiest way to perform well on the RCs is to build your vocabulary slowly and steadily. Of course, this takes time. If you are already a voracious reader, you will have a distinctive advantage over the rest. If you aren鈥檛, remember, it鈥檚 not too late to start! Instead of buying bulky vocabulary-building books, start by reading the English newspaper every day. Mark the words and idioms that are new to you and look them up later. This is the easiest and most effective way to gain complete command over the language.

91热爆 Pro Tip: Visual memory tends to be a lot more stronger than any other form of memorizing information. That’s why, the best way to learn AND remember words is to relate it to a picture. This way, when you see the word, you’ll recall the image and this will help you understand the emotion & context easily.

#2: Tackle RC at the end:

This in particular is applicable for students who are nervous regarding the timer. If you feel anxious and tend to make mistakes out of nervousness, then save RC passages for the last. Remember, all the questions on the 91热爆 carry the same points, so answer TC/SE first as it is relatively easier.

91热爆 Pro Tip: During 91热爆 Online Preparation, get cracking on topics that you are familiar with. Since RC passages are taken from a wide range of subjects from history to mathematics and ecology, start with the ones you are familiar with. This will help you develop a keen interest in RC and hence solve better.

#3: Factual Reading vs Analytical Reading:

Did you know that it is important to employ a different reading technique for different types of questions in RCs?

There are two main types of reading, namely Factual Reading, and Analytical Reading.

Factual Reading:

Skimming through a passage to understand facts, figures, dates, numbers etc is the essence of factual reading. Ideally, it takes 1-1.5 minutes for long passages and is crucial in answering factual questions such as 鈥淲hat is the conclusion from this passage?鈥�, meaning of a specific sentence etc.

Analytical Reading:

The concept of breaking down a passage into a series of ideas that are interconnected by a common theme is called Analytical Reading. Though this approach takes longer, it helps answer inferential questions accurately.

It follows the principle that every passage consists of a couple of main ideas that are supported by specific examples and details. Analyzing a passage using this structure is the key to unraveling the purpose of the passage and keenly grasp the tone of voice used. Is it positive? Critical? Is it laudatory or disapproving?

If you come across an unfamiliar word or phrase, don鈥檛 dwell too much on it. Read the sentences before and after it and try to glean the meaning from that. It is the norm for the RCs to be riddled with jargon and obscure language. It is usually done to distract students and test their alertness and presence of mind.

The easiest way to get around this is to read the entire paragraph and try to place the words in the relevant framework. Additionally, try to grasp the tone of the passage. Understanding the tone and the intent of the writer can often help you get the meaning.

91热爆 Pro Tip: Often paragraphs are structured into a series of main ideas that convey a specific purpose.听Check our video lesson on how to grasp the purpose of an RC passage here!

To see part 2 on how to grasp the Main Idea of an RC Passage, click听!

#4: Make relevant notes when you learn to read RC passages:

Never underestimate the importance of underlining and making notes. While you read the paragraphs, underline or mark those facts, names, or dates that catch your eye. Put your scratchpad to full use and jot down whatever you feel is crucial in the passage.

#5: Never read the questions first!

This is a sure shot way to build assumptions and make incomplete inferences. Read the passage first with an unbiased mind. Presumptions and prejudices can often cloud your judgment and understanding of things and will mislead you. 听Make inferences, but never make any assumptions.

#6: The answers you seek lie in the passage!

When you feel flustered with a complex passage. remember that the answers lie in the passage itself. You are not required to have any additional knowledge of the subject/topic. Conversely, avoid bringing in your knowledge of a subject while answering the RCs. Stick to what is given in the passage, and nothing more. Use analytical reading to simplify your reading.

#7: Don鈥檛 get bogged down by the details.

The passages are packed to the brim with facts and figures designed to slow you down, but you mustn鈥檛 fall into that trap. Only read through the details when the question demands it. Otherwise, skim the passage to understand the main points and supporting points.

#8: Befriend time!

Demarcate 15 minutes of your Verbal section time for RCs. Try not to spend more than five minutes on the long passages, and two minutes on the shorter ones. This will help you keep track of the time. Work this way, while you practice, so that it becomes a habit in you.

#9: Keep score!

Lastly, remember the old adage of 鈥減ractice makes perfect.鈥� Attempt as many mock tests as possible before the test day and ask a friend or teacher to score them for you. Acquaint yourself with every possible type of RC and aim to master all of them.

See, now tackling RCs don’t seem so bad, does it?

Go on now, conquer听91热爆 RCs. We wish you all the very best!

P.S: Comment and let us know what听you听think of these tips and which topics you want us to blog about听

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This is one of the most frequent statement you would hear from students who have already taken their 91热爆.

50% of the question in the 91热爆 Verbal section, actually appear from Reading Comprehension.听Many students find the Reading Comprehension section the toughest of all. Some even tend to get discouraged after attempting a few questions. While there is no denying that this is a difficult section, there is definitely hope to score well. In order to score above 160 in the Verbal section, you need to be cool-headed and confident about听multiple factors like 91热爆 words, sentence structures, grammar and analytical reading.

Should you听read fast or read smart? Should you read the passage first or should you go through the question first and then read the passage?

Let me throw light on some simple, yet efficient strategies that can help you tackle Reading Comprehension with confidence.

1. Read, read, and read.

Yes, the first tip is read, read, and read. Read from a wide range of publications鈥攏ewspapers, magazines, opinion pages, editorials, journals, etc. This will give you exposure to different kinds of writings.听The biggest mistake 91热爆 aspirants commit is that they spend less time reading topics they are least interested in. Reading long articles about science, geography, history, law, sports etc. can help you come out of your comfort zone. Passages in 91热爆 Reading Comprehension actually come from these topics and so gaining expertise in reading these topics is the most basic step in mastering RC.

The following are some of the reliable sources you can use for improving your reading.

a) Editorials from Hindu
b) The Hindu Magazine
c) The Economists
d) Wall Street Journal
e) Scientific American
f) Aldaily.com
g) The Caravan magazine

on cracking tough RC passages. Learn all the techniques that can help you master RC.

2. Read the entire passage first听听

While most of the students tend to read the question and the answer choices first, they obviously invite trouble by searching for the right context clue inside the passage. The majority get lost somewhere in between and waste time.

So the thumb rule is,

Do not get into the questions/options directly.

The passage is constructed in such a way that it seems to be extremely tricky. The test designers add attractive words and those words are subtly added in the questions to confuse the test taker. Also, after reading the answers you start framing skewed judgments’ which becomes difficult to vanquish later. Thus, best is to go by the traditional way – Read the entire passage and then start answering.

3. Read Analytically

Analytical reading is a proven technique to build your comprehending skills. Even as you read, learn to analyze the writing and mentally make note of the following:

1. What is the main idea/purpose of the writing?
2. Is the author making a strong point in the writing?
3. Is there a conflict stated or is there a concurrence of thought?
4. Are there examples provided/parallels drawn?
5. Are difficult ideas explained clearly? Are they subject to various interpretations?
6. Are illustrations, evidences, and examples effective?
7. Is there an argument in the article?
8. Is the argument convincing? Logical? Authoritative?
9. How does this article fit relative to other authors on the subject?
10. Is this article describing a new event or thing, or is it another example of something familiar?

You need breaks in the flow of ideas, so that you can assimilate what you have read, and then move on. You can break a long sentence into short manageable units, from which you can understand ideas easily. One way to read analytically is to skim the text first and then return to a deeper reading. You might highlight relevant passages, take notes or jot down thoughts on a particular character or theme as you read. You may also understand the goals of a character or read it from a historical perspective.

to view the video tutorial听on Analytical Reading. Learn from an expert RC trainer.

4. Improve your accuracy

The key is not to read faster, but to read smarter. Intelligent reading means knowing when to pay attention and when to relax. You shouldn鈥檛 skim or skip any parts of the passage as you read, but you should slow down and pay more attention to important parts, and speed up and pay less attention to the unimportant parts. The best way to improve is to work with passages, identify where you went wrong, and ensure you got it right for the right reason. Critical thinking is the ability to question, analyze, and understand the context of information before you accept or reject it. Train yourself to question and process different types of information by setting daily habits. The goal is not to come to a conclusion, but to be able to understand what you can and cannot know from the evidence. Putting words on paper will help you visualize and evaluate them more critically.

If you would like to practice a actual 91热爆 style reading comprehension question, click here.

5. Take Notes

While practicing, it is good idea to take notes for medium sized and long passages in RC. When you take notes:

1. Be brief; capture only the essence of the points from the passage
2. Use short-forms and abbreviations to save time
3. Do not jot ideas or points that have been clearly articulated in the passage. Capture only the impression that you get from those lines, or the author鈥檚 impression. You can always revisit the passage and read the details if there is question based on this impression.
4. Capture the essence of the author鈥檚 observation/assertion/opinion/view

The post 91热爆 Verbal : Techniques to get started with Reading Comprehension appeared first on 91热爆 Blog.

Divide and Rule

The bigger the better does not hold well with RC passages, especially when they are loaded with a difficult vocabulary. When you look at a passage, you should understand that a paragraph is a flow of ideas presented to you by the author in a logical sequence. The mantra is to break a long paragraph into those meaningful fragments mentally and then try to decipher the underlying meaning of each and every part. One thing to note here is, if you have a good knowledge of punctuation and conjunctions, you definitely are at an edge over others. The art of comprehending a paragraph is most of the times a game of punctuation, conjunctions, and vocabulary. Once divided into smaller parts, you can extract individual ideas… and then comes the most important part: to relate different ideas and form an overall understanding of the paragraph.

听

What is the question?

If you thought understanding a passage is all you need to do, well not really! You also need to understand the type of questions asked: main-idea, vocabulary based, conclusion based or support the argument. Every type needs a different approach to answer. If you ask me how? Well, let us say the question is a simple 鈥榬eplace the sentence from the passage with a suitable word鈥�; for this you need to be really good with your vocabulary! For understanding the central idea, you will have to dig deeper into each and every paragraph and read the passage from the author鈥檚 perspective and not your own! The conclusion based questions, on the other hand would test your understanding of the paragraph and will take much of your time. To cut it short, you need to identify which type of questions you are most comfortable and accurate with and then try to focus on the questions where you are not good at. But, in the end if you think a particular question is taking more time than expected you can always skip to the next one! Yes, that鈥檚 the benefit of sectional adaptive in 91热爆 (but, that does not mean that you skip every other difficult question!).

Need for Speed.

Good news for those of you who do a good amount of reading every day! You would definitely have a better pace to read and comprehend. But is that enough? Along with the rate at which you read content what is also important is to understand the flow of ideas in that content! Needless to say a better grip over vocabulary will give you a stronger tool to fight RC. You also need to identify which type of question you encounter and accordingly decide how much time you need to put into answering it. Let me give you an example, if the question is a simple vocabulary based it should take the least time while the conclusion based questions would take you the longest. Every other type will fall somewhere in between. So I would suggest you to keep on identifying the questions and the average time spent on each type of question as you practice RC passages. ETS provides a number of RC passages to practice and at the same time you can practice with 91热爆edge where you can get a detailed feedback after every practice session. So until you master RC, keep on practicing!

In fact, if you have more queries particularly regarding 91热爆 Reading Comprehensions, please post your question/doubt as comments below. Our Verbal Experts will get back to you and provide all possible assistance.

Happy Learning with 91热爆!

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