GMAT Prep - Reading Strategically

When approaching reading comprehension on the GMAT, many test-takers are concerned about the amount of time it takes to read each passage before attacking the questions. Some attempt to address this problem by not reading the passage at all, or simply skimming, before trying to answer the questions. However, this often ends up taking even more time, as you then need to search the passage for answers, unsure of where to look. The best approach is to read the passage strategically before you look at the questions.

How to Read Strategically

When approaching a GMAT passage, your goal is not to fully comprehend all of the author’s ideas. Rather, it is to answer the questions correctly. Therefore, on your first read through the passage you do not want to focus on details, and can even skim over examples. Instead, you want to be on the lookout for the main idea of each paragraph. You should take short notes - about one abbreviated sentence per paragraph - summarizing the point of each. By doing this, you will automatically focus on the reason why the author is including information, rather than on what the information is, and you will distill the structure of the passage. These are the two key elements to answering reading comprehension questions correctly in GMAT Prep.

Other Advantages to Strategic Reading

Additionally, you should note any viewpoints that belong to someone other than the author; for example, many passages refer to "critics of a theory". This will help you remember what the author’s opinion is and what other opinions contrast with it. These points often show up in questions later.

The notes you take will also help you when you encounter a detail question. While you may need to go back to the passage to find the answer, you can use your notes to quickly find where in the passage you should be searching. This will be much more efficient than scanning the entire passage.

By reading passages strategically you will complete reading comprehension questions as quickly as possible, which will improve your ability to finish the section on time and receive a higher score.