<p>I just finished my freshman year of undergrad and I have been studying MCAT verbal section during last month. I have seen improvements and now I can make 10 in untimed condition (I got below 8 on my first practice exam also untimed). I think I am gradually developing the type of logic that verbal section is testing for. </p>
<p>However, my goal now is to make a 10 in strict timed condition. I think one of the main problem I have stems from my reading speed. It takes me 4-5 minutes to read a single passage which I think is really slow and much slower than when I read less abstract materials. How can I increase my reading speed on these tough passages? Another problem I face is that I tend to waste a lot of time on questions. I am usually able to narrow answer choice down to 2 choices in the first 10 seconds but then I stare at the 2 choices for the LONGEST time because there is so much gray area.</p>
<p>What are some good techniques and strategies to improves these shortcomings? I do my verbal passages from 101 ExamKrackers Series btw.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Part of it is your normal reading speed, part of it is that you likely don't have a good strategy on how to attack passages.</p>
<p>People always complain about the passage mapping strategy that Kaplan teaches, but this is where it really works. If you were to take Kaplan and follow their instructions, this can easily be overcome.</p>
<p>Given that you're just going to be a sophomore, I'd say don't worry about it until you're closer to the point you'd actually take the MCAT.</p>
<p>The only passages I've mapped are underground dungeons in old video games, and it helped me out quite a bit.</p>
<p>If Kaplan's passage mapping is anything like that, then it will be a great success. I shall find out in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>As a matter of fact I am planning to take Kaplan during the summer after sophomore year. I am studying this early mostly because verbal is my main weakness (On the SAT I got 640 in critical reading while well above 700 in other subjects)</p>
<p>I think the main reason why I spend excessive of time on each passage is because of the 'answer choice staring' that I have mentioned. For example, out of 7 questions, I will ponder at 1 or 2 questions for the LONGEST time due to the ambiguity of the answer choices, but spend well less than a minute for each of the other questions. If it weren't for those 1-2 questions, I would probably be able to at least be close to finishing each passage on time.</p>
<p>GoldShadow wins the thread.</p>
<p>uber - I couldn't read to save my life (seriously). Practicing as part of my prep class only a few months before the actual exam boosted my score from an 8 on my diagnostic to a 14 on the real thing. You'll learn how to read when you absolutely have to read. My advice? Put down the MCAT VR books and actually enjoy your summer. Okay?</p>