The Official September 2016 Study Group - WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS Forum

[34iplaw]

Any good recommendations for ||reasoning questions? I feel like these take me too long.

[20170322]

Just went -0, 26 minutes on PT 70's RC.

Drill. Baby. Drill. It really does work.

See, you still got it BOY!!

CRUSHING it!

Eh, two steps forward, one step back.

[20170322]

Any good recommendations for ||reasoning questions? I feel like these take me too long.

Before reading the answer choices, annotate. So like "A-->B, B--> not C. Not C--> A" Like, if thats the argument structure, just quickly skim through the answer choices for one that applies. The second one of the answers starts to stray, cross it out and move on.

[Alexandros]

Any good recommendations for ||reasoning questions? I feel like these take me too long.

Before reading the answer choices, annotate. So like "A-->B, B--> not C. Not C--> A" Like, if thats the argument structure, just quickly skim through the answer choices for one that applies. The second one of the answers starts to stray, cross it out and move on.

And if it's something that is not easily annotatable, if you summarize the reasoning in one sentence in your head, "chose A because it was the lesser of two evils" or something like that, and go into the answers with that in mind, it makes it a bit easier.

[Mikey]

Update of further prep stuff today:

RC 1: 5/5 (6:56)
RC 2: 7/7 (8:14)
Both were from different PT, I chose them from one of the problem sets from 7sage.

GUYS THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WTFFFF?!?!??!?!? I never thought I would actually improve in RC, this is crazy af but I'm super glad that it's happening. I'm still somewhat doing the memory method, except instead of not looking at the passage, I just glance at each paragraph and just say in my mind what that paragraph's purpose is.

Will be doing 2 more RC passages later.

[TheKingLives]

.

[Alexandros]

Update of further prep stuff today:

RC 1: 5/5 (6:56)
RC 2: 7/7 (8:14)
Both were from different PT, I chose them from one of the problem sets from 7sage.

GUYS THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WTFFFF?!?!??!?!? I never thought I would actually improve in RC, this is crazy af but I'm super glad that it's happening. I'm still somewhat doing the memory method, except instead of not looking at the passage, I just glance at each paragraph and just say in my mind what that paragraph's purpose is.

Will be doing 2 more RC passages later.

DUDE THAT'S FANTASTIC!! Not that I'm surprised but congrats!

[Mikey]

Any good recommendations for ||reasoning questions? I feel like these take me too long.

Before reading the answer choices, annotate. So like "A-->B, B--> not C. Not C--> A" Like, if thats the argument structure, just quickly skim through the answer choices for one that applies. The second one of the answers starts to stray, cross it out and move on.

Basically what sweet said, but I just want to add on by saying that what helped me save a bit of time on those questions, is eliminating an A/C by it's conclusions structure first. You can usually always eliminate 1 A/C by doing this, sometimes even 2 or 3. Unless it's the very difficult level 5 ones, those might be more tough to eliminate an A/C by its conclusion.

You can do this with parallel flaw questions as well, but be wary that this doesn't always work for PF like it does for PR.

[Mikey]

DUDE THAT'S FANTASTIC!! Not that I'm surprised but congrats!

[proteinshake]

Update of further prep stuff today:

RC 1: 5/5 (6:56)
RC 2: 7/7 (8:14)
Both were from different PT, I chose them from one of the problem sets from 7sage.

GUYS THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WTFFFF?!?!??!?!? I never thought I would actually improve in RC, this is crazy af but I'm super glad that it's happening. I'm still somewhat doing the memory method, except instead of not looking at the passage, I just glance at each paragraph and just say in my mind what that paragraph's purpose is.

Will be doing 2 more RC passages later.

congrats! that's pretty much exactly what I do -- read a paragraph, summarize it, then reassess that passage as a whole.

[Mikey]

Update of further prep stuff today:

RC 1: 5/5 (6:56)
RC 2: 7/7 (8:14)
Both were from different PT, I chose them from one of the problem sets from 7sage.

GUYS THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WTFFFF?!?!??!?!? I never thought I would actually improve in RC, this is crazy af but I'm super glad that it's happening. I'm still somewhat doing the memory method, except instead of not looking at the passage, I just glance at each paragraph and just say in my mind what that paragraph's purpose is.

Will be doing 2 more RC passages later.

congrats! that's pretty much exactly what I do -- read a paragraph, summarize it, then reassess that passage as a whole.

Yep! Do you do any markings at all? The memory method goes against doing any markings but my own personal preference is to always quickly circle names or groups. Even though I can remember where the names/groups are located, I still think it's helpful to have my eyes go directly towards the circled name/group.

[34iplaw]

Update of further prep stuff today:

RC 1: 5/5 (6:56)
RC 2: 7/7 (8:14)
Both were from different PT, I chose them from one of the problem sets from 7sage.

GUYS THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WTFFFF?!?!??!?!? I never thought I would actually improve in RC, this is crazy af but I'm super glad that it's happening. I'm still somewhat doing the memory method, except instead of not looking at the passage, I just glance at each paragraph and just say in my mind what that paragraph's purpose is.

Will be doing 2 more RC passages later.

congrats! that's pretty much exactly what I do -- read a paragraph, summarize it, then reassess that passage as a whole.

Yep! Do you do any markings at all? The memory method goes against doing any markings but my own personal preference is to always quickly circle names or groups. Even though I can remember where the names/groups are located, I still think it's helpful to have my eyes go directly towards the circled name/group.

I think it's prudent to mark certain things just so you don't waste time searching for them ... like lists or when there is a significant shift. That said, the less you mark, the more jarring and important your marks are.

[Mikey]

I think it's prudent to mark certain things just so you don't waste time searching for them ... like lists or when there is a significant shift. That said, the less you mark, the more jarring and important your marks are.

Yeah, I think very minimal markings is good. I tried a few other methods that were pretty heavy on doing markings, but I found it to waste SO much time and it would also make me lose focus a lot. I like the memory method because it lets you go with the flow of the passage.

[34iplaw]

I think it's prudent to mark certain things just so you don't waste time searching for them ... like lists or when there is a significant shift. That said, the less you mark, the more jarring and important your marks are.

Yeah, I think very minimal markings is good. I tried a few other methods that were pretty heavy on doing markings, but I found it to waste SO much time and it would also make me lose focus a lot. I like the memory method because it lets you go with the flow of the passage.

Yeah - I agree. I can mark relatively heavily and get everything right in 10 minutes, but I think it really slows me down in trying to pinpoint things. I do sometimes just dot the page as I read (not noticeable) as it slows my reading down... other than that... I am starting to do the following...

I note views... sometimes if there are three views, I'll just draw a line along the portion that represents that view with a # next to it (sometimes with examples or any structure that sort of lends itself to that...where it expounds on a list if that makes sense)

I'll circle or asterisk where there is some kind of contrast or distinction or logical structure.

I'll also make sure to draw an arrow or something fairly notable when we first hear the author's voice...mainly since, at times, this isn't even until the last paragraph.

[Rupert Pupkin]

I think it's prudent to mark certain things just so you don't waste time searching for them ... like lists or when there is a significant shift. That said, the less you mark, the more jarring and important your marks are.

Yeah, I think very minimal markings is good. I tried a few other methods that were pretty heavy on doing markings, but I found it to waste SO much time and it would also make me lose focus a lot. I like the memory method because it lets you go with the flow of the passage.

Yeah - I agree. I can mark relatively heavily and get everything right in 10 minutes, but I think it really slows me down in trying to pinpoint things. I do sometimes just dot the page as I read (not noticeable) as it slows my reading down... other than that... I am starting to do the following...

I note views... sometimes if there are three views, I'll just draw a line along the portion that represents that view with a # next to it (sometimes with examples or any structure that sort of lends itself to that...where it expounds on a list if that makes sense)

I'll circle or asterisk where there is some kind of contrast or distinction or logical structure.

I'll also make sure to draw an arrow or something fairly notable when we first hear the author's voice...mainly since, at times, this isn't even until the last paragraph.

I used to destroy my passages and questions markings wise, just to actively read, I guess. Then i realized that my markings weren't even remotely helpful, I just did them to stay focused. After a while of only use markings that are truly helpful, I managed to work through questions way more efficiently. It was annoying to me at first because marking was just the way I got through passages, but once I got over that hump, it was much more efficient to mark less.

[Mikey]

I used to destroy my passages and questions markings wise, just to actively read, I guess. Then i realized that my markings weren't even remotely helpful, I just did them to stay focused. After a while of only use markings that are truly helpful, I managed to work through questions way more efficiently. It was annoying to me at first because marking was just the way I got through passages, but once I got over that hump, it was much more efficient to mark less.

Yeah, I feel like RC is more of experimenting with ways that work best with you, and then adjusting from there.

[Mikey]

I think it's prudent to mark certain things just so you don't waste time searching for them ... like lists or when there is a significant shift. That said, the less you mark, the more jarring and important your marks are.

Yeah, I think very minimal markings is good. I tried a few other methods that were pretty heavy on doing markings, but I found it to waste SO much time and it would also make me lose focus a lot. I like the memory method because it lets you go with the flow of the passage.

Yeah - I agree. I can mark relatively heavily and get everything right in 10 minutes, but I think it really slows me down in trying to pinpoint things. I do sometimes just dot the page as I read (not noticeable) as it slows my reading down... other than that... I am starting to do the following...

I note views... sometimes if there are three views, I'll just draw a line along the portion that represents that view with a # next to it (sometimes with examples or any structure that sort of lends itself to that...where it expounds on a list if that makes sense)

I'll circle or asterisk where there is some kind of contrast or distinction or logical structure.

I'll also make sure to draw an arrow or something fairly notable when we first hear the author's voice...mainly since, at times, this isn't even until the last paragraph.

At least you have something that you feel works for you! So that's really good.

The bolded: yeah usually if there's not much being expressed by the author like 1 or 2 things, I just memorize it. But if I see that there's some HEAVY use of expressions by the author, I just sloppily write an "a" next to it. But I RARELY ever do this.

[YupSports]

BR'd the LG and RC from 48.

It would be a walk in the park to 170+ if I could keep eliminating these minuscule mistakes.

I can't tell you all how many times during my BR the past two days I uttered the phrase: "Are you kidding me?!" with regards to my selected answers on the PTs.

Any tips on avoiding the easy mistakes? Nothing really surprises me anymore, and I am not flummoxed by any questions, yet I cannot put it together.

[Mikey]

BR'd the LG and RC from 48.

It would be a walk in the park to 170+ if I could keep eliminating these minuscule mistakes.

I can't tell you all how many times during my BR the past two days I uttered the phrase: "Are you kidding me?!" with regards to my selected answers on the PTs.

Any tips on avoiding the easy mistakes? Nothing really surprises me anymore, and I am not flummoxed by any questions, yet I cannot put it together.

I don't really have any advice for avoiding mistakes, seeing as I do them myself a lot, but maybe it's the time pressure that influences some of your mistakes? I also find myself saying "are you kidding me? mikey you're an idiot!" when BRing and seeing the right answer so clearly stated, haha.

[Alexandros]

BR'd the LG and RC from 48.

It would be a walk in the park to 170+ if I could keep eliminating these minuscule mistakes.

I can't tell you all how many times during my BR the past two days I uttered the phrase: "Are you kidding me?!" with regards to my selected answers on the PTs.

Any tips on avoiding the easy mistakes? Nothing really surprises me anymore, and I am not flummoxed by any questions, yet I cannot put it together.

That's a great place to be, all things considered!

Are you noticing more little mistakes during PTs than drills? Could be endurance - something that would hopefully improve with time/more PTs. If you're noticing misreading the question stem is happening frequently, I find underlining the important words (strengthen/weaken, except, etc) to make sure I've actually read/registered them is helpful. Also, obviously this is tricky with a timed test, but, if you can, slow down a bit to make sure you've read the stimulus, question stem, and answers completely and that the the answer you picked is the correct one.

Eta: and if it's RC, actually verify it with the text if you can (especially for the really specific questions.) If you don't have time, make your best guess, put a mark beside the question, and come back to it at the end if you have time.

[Alexandros]

Gonna spend the evening on LG and RC. Totally exhausted today and I've done almost nothing. Gah.

[Mikey]

Gonna spend the evening on LG and RC. Totally exhausted today and I've done almost nothing. Gah.

did you get some sbux as instructed?

[Rupert Pupkin]

Gonna spend the evening on LG and RC. Totally exhausted today and I've done almost nothing. Gah.

did you get some sbux as instructed?

Im about to go on a s$ run rn as we speak #crushing

[proteinshake]

Update of further prep stuff today:

RC 1: 5/5 (6:56)
RC 2: 7/7 (8:14)
Both were from different PT, I chose them from one of the problem sets from 7sage.

GUYS THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING WTFFFF?!?!??!?!? I never thought I would actually improve in RC, this is crazy af but I'm super glad that it's happening. I'm still somewhat doing the memory method, except instead of not looking at the passage, I just glance at each paragraph and just say in my mind what that paragraph's purpose is.

Will be doing 2 more RC passages later.

congrats! that's pretty much exactly what I do -- read a paragraph, summarize it, then reassess that passage as a whole.

Yep! Do you do any markings at all? The memory method goes against doing any markings but my own personal preference is to always quickly circle names or groups. Even though I can remember where the names/groups are located, I still think it's helpful to have my eyes go directly towards the circled name/group.

I haven't marked anything in any of my PTs, but that doesn't mean it might not be helpful once in a while!

[Alexandros]

Gonna spend the evening on LG and RC. Totally exhausted today and I've done almost nothing. Gah.

did you get some sbux as instructed?

Did get an iced coffee at the not-sbux café. I couldn't bring myself to walk the two extra blocks to Sbux I'm afraid.