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Unrealistically difficult RC passage? Ptest 2

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:28 pm
by nStiver
Yesterday, I took prep test 2, from october of 91. It all seemed fairly normal until I came across this RC passage about bugs spawning in the winter vs the summer or something to that effect. It was literally the hardest reading comp passage I have ever seen. Questions 14 to 21, section one. I wonder if they didn't really have it figured out as to what constitutes a reasonable level of difficulty on the new format, seeing as they probably had a relatively small pool of data about the modern exam to begin with.

Re: Unrealistically difficult RC passage? Ptest 2

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:42 pm
by czelede
Have you done any of the PTs in the 50s? There's a change in RC difficulty there as well. Sometimes certain sections are just harder than usual, it happens all the time.

Re: Unrealistically difficult RC passage? Ptest 2

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 4:50 pm
by nStiver
czelede wrote:Have you done any of the PTs in the 50s? There's a change in RC difficulty there as well. Sometimes certain sections are just harder than usual, it happens all the time.
Yes, one of the hardest ones is PT 54 if I remember correctly. I took the Feb 2009 LSAT and I am pretty sure I rolled the RC section because of the fact that I only finished 3 of 4 logic games and still pulled out a good score. It seemed pretty easy at the time, but maybe I was just "in the zone" or something. Many of the PTs in the 50s have very challenging RC sections.

Re: Unrealistically difficult RC passage? Ptest 2

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:17 pm
by CurbYourEnthusiasm
nStiver wrote:Yesterday, I took prep test 2, from october of 91. It all seemed fairly normal until I came across this RC passage about bugs spawning in the winter vs the summer or something to that effect. It was literally the hardest reading comp passage I have ever seen. Questions 14 to 21, section one. I wonder if they didn't really have it figured out as to what constitutes a reasonable level of difficulty on the new format, seeing as they probably had a relatively small pool of data about the modern exam to begin with.

Agree 100% man. I took this test the other day and I couldn't believe how difficult this passage was. RC is my worst section to begin with, but I got so angry after this passage, I think I may have gotten half of them wrong. Do PT 3 RC after...much, MUCH easier.

Re: Unrealistically difficult RC passage? Ptest 2

Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 1:00 pm
by youknowryan
nStiver wrote:Yesterday, I took prep test 2, from october of 91. It all seemed fairly normal until I came across this RC passage about bugs spawning in the winter vs the summer or something to that effect. It was literally the hardest reading comp passage I have ever seen. Questions 14 to 21, section one. I wonder if they didn't really have it figured out as to what constitutes a reasonable level of difficulty on the new format, seeing as they probably had a relatively small pool of data about the modern exam to begin with.
The water bugs section is easily doable when one tracks the relationships. Just watch the shifts from micro and macro (I've forgotten the entire word) and the different ramifications associated with each. This passage is totally about method and not knowledge. The daunting terms are not all that relevant if you know that each is actually quite different and clearly explained. BTW, I do not have a science background. If I can pull it off, anyone can. If you hated this one wait until your run across riddled basins of attraction (it's actually just like this section in that the language is what is really scary, but the concepts are pretty easy to identify).