MANAGING THE TESTS
This guide is designed to provide you with comprehensive strategies and insights for excelling in the Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension, Science, and Mathematics portions of college entrance examinations. By delving into each section, you will equip yourself with the necessary tools to approach each test portion with confidence and precision. Prepare to enhance your understanding and performance across these critical areas, thereby maximizing your chances of success in the competitive landscape of college admissions.
Reading Comprehension
The Reading Comprehension sections of college entrance exams assess multiple skills, including your ability to determine the main and secondary ideas of a text, understand implicit and explicit information, utilize your vocabulary, and draw conclusions and inferences. To excel, consider the following strategies:
Reading Speed: Know your reading speed. How many words per minute can you read and comprehend? This knowledge will serve you well on exam day. However, ensure that your speed does not compromise your understanding of the material.
Passages: Review each passage critically. Focus on reading the first and last sentences of each paragraph to identify the topic, main idea, and supporting details. This approach helps you map out the information and understand the organization of ideas within the passage.
Easy Peasy: Prioritize easier questions. Start with passages and questions on familiar subjects before tackling more challenging ones. Be mindful of the item numbers you are skipping to avoid confusion. Misplacing answers can waste precious seconds on erasing and correcting mistakes.
Questions First: Read the questions before the selection. This approach gives you an idea of what to focus on while reading. As you go through the passage, mentally note which questions correspond to the information in front of you.
Skim and Scan: Adapt your reading technique to the type of question. Skim for main ideas and secondary ideas. For detail-oriented questions, scan the text. For inference questions, read the sentences before and after the referenced sentence. If necessary, read the entire paragraph. Remember, you don’t always need to read the entire selection—read critically to find the answers efficiently.
Don’t Add Information: Stick to the information provided in the passage. Do not add your own knowledge or assumptions, as this can lead to incorrect answers. Focus on the given explicit and implicit information.
Skip When Necessary: If needed, skip difficult questions but stay within the passage. Moving from one passage to another might force you to reread sections unnecessarily. Remember, exams are time-sensitive, so maximize your efficiency. Return to skipped items if time permits.
Pro Tips:
Improve Your Reading Speed! Practice reading passages and time yourself. Aim to improve both speed and comprehension. Online tools and apps can help track your progress.
Annotate Strategically! As you read, make brief annotations or underline key points. This can help you quickly locate important information when answering questions.
Familiarize yourself with Common Question Types! Practice with different types of reading comprehension questions—main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary in context, etc. This familiarity will help you navigate the exam more confidently.
Develop Critical Reading Skills! Engage with diverse reading materials like books, journals, and articles. Critical reading not only expands your vocabulary but also enhances your ability to analyze and understand complex texts.
Practice Summarizing! After reading a passage, practice summarizing it in your own words. This can reinforce your understanding and retention of the main ideas and details.
By applying these strategies and techniques, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the Reading Comprehension section with confidence. Keep practicing and refining your skills to ensure success.