What should I read first? The stimulus OR the question? Forum

[Dr. Dre]

for logical reasoning

[Ruxin1]

for logical reasoning

So...you haven't even taken the lsat...? & it doesn't matter.

[Dr. Dre]

I read the question first but I was told that that is a bad technique and that I should read the stimulus first.

[RhymesLikeDimes]

I first identify the question type, and underline EXCEPT-words if they are there. I usually have to re-read the passage after finding out what the Q-type is anyway, so those people that say it's a waste of time are just being silly.

[CardozoLaw09]

I read the stem first - it allows you to know what your task is beforehand so you'd be reading the stimulus with that specific task in mind. If it was a main conclusion question then I'd be looking out for the conclusion in the stim. If I read the stim first and then the question stem I would probably have to go back and read the stimulus again to find the conclusion, but if I knew beforehand I was looking for the main conclusion I would actively look for that in my first read.

[Dr. Dre]

The problem with me, at least with the first time I took that damn test last October, was that I read the stem and then question, and then I found myself reading the stem again.

So what should I do for my retake? Change techniques?

[BerkeleyBear]

I first identify the question type, and underline EXCEPT-words if they are there. I usually have to re-read the passage after finding out what the Q-type is anyway, so those people that say it's a waste of time are just being silly.

+1 I normally have to go back and re-read some passages as well.

[ManOfTheMinute]

I read it in the order it was written. I did fine on LR.

[tuffyjohnson]

Kaplan promotes reading the question first. I had success doing it that way and then read here where people said it sucked. Try it on some PT's and if you seem to have success go with it.

[Dr. Dre]

I've already tried it. I have had some success, but that's not going to get me 170+ this October.

[Brixton]

I've seen it advocated both ways (reading stem first or question.) I'd be interested to hear what the 170+ scorers tend to do and their thought process on approach. However, what works better for one person might not for another.

[itachiuchiha]

Depends on the person. Best tip I can give you is to not read the directions.

[Clearly]

I personally read the stim first, I found reading the question first made it harder to understand the whole argument, I get tunnel vision and start reading it like I know I'm looking for an assumption, instead of taking it all in and processing the argument as a whole. I did much better this way.

[Iroh]

I prefer reading the stem first. I don't think it improves accuracy at all but it does help slightly with time. It's not something I would sweat either way.

[gaud]

I like reading the stem first because then I know what to look for.

[TripTrip]

I've already tried it. I have had some success, but that's not going to get me 170+ this October.

Either method can get you 170+.

[bp shinners]

I read the question first, and I wouldn't do it any other way.

If I'm doing a "Where's Waldo?" book and they tell me to find Waldo, no problem. If they ask me to find Jeff, I have no clue where to start.

Reading the question first is like getting a little picture of Jeff. I know what to look for in the stimulus, and I'm not going to waste time on superfluous stuff.

[TheMostDangerousLG]

The question. I did the stimulus first forever, and found that my timing MAJORLY improved after I started reading the question first. You really do end up processing the stimulus better on your first read-through, and usually don't need to return for a second read other than checking for details on the harder questions (whereas when I read the stimulus first, I almost always had to return to the stimulus after seeing the question). It also helps you get comfortable with the different categories of questions to the point that processing the question stem only takes a quick glance.

Seriously. I initially wanted to take the Powerscore guides as gospel and read the stimulus first, but on this one point, at least, they are wrong. (At least for me.)

[muskies970]

The problem with me, at least with the first time I took that damn test last October, was that I read the stem and then question, and then I found myself reading the stem again.

So what should I do for my retake? Change techniques?

I found that switching to reading the question first raised my score by approximately 5 points by itself, 170.

In had the same problem as you where I would go back and read the stem again. I definitely advocate for reading the question first, give it a shot

[tomwatts]

If I have to read two things and know that I run the risk of forgetting one of them after having read the other, I want the first thing I read to be as short as possible. Thus, question first, underline the key word or phrase ("strengthen"), and then the stimulus. That way, if you forget the question, you go back to the word you underlined and know what the question is asking by re-reading just one word.

[Macalpinerules]

I think the answer here is do what works best for you. I'm sure people have had success with either approach. In my experience (I read in the order that material is presented) after reading a stimuli I can often anticipate what the question will be. Some obvious questions to anticipate are discrepancy, Parralel and assumption questions.

[sl5uw13]

I like reading the question first so that I have it in the back of my mind and can predict the answer so I don't have to spend forever looking at the answer choices

[tuffyjohnson]

Which companies besides Kaplan promote Question first? I'd like to buy those first.

[CardozoLaw09]

Which companies besides Kaplan promote Question first? I'd like to buy those first.

Manhattan

[mindarmed]

stimulus, find conclusion, profit