LR: Q Stem or Stimulus first? Forum

[tipler4213]

So, I know Powerscore recommends reading the stimulus first, but I have typically always read the question first. Normally, I only miss 2 per section, so I wasn't too worried, but I thought I'd ask some of the people in the 0-2 misses per section which they did? Thanx.

[UTexas]

-1 on LR in December 2009. Stimulus first, carefully and critically.

Search "stem" and "stimulus" here or on Google for copious discussion on this topic.

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/s ... mit=Search

[spearnreel]

I read it in the order given. If you are only getting around 2 wrong per section, why even change things up...you are scoring better than I am. Usually after reading the stimulus, I already know what the question is going to be and can almost go right into the answer choices.

[T14_Scholly]

If you've already consistently practiced stem first, it's probably a good idea to stick with that.

[dbrddr]

I always read the question stem first. It's much easier to prephrase the correct answer when you know beforehand that you're answering a flaw-in-the-reasoning question, an assumption question, a main point question, etc. I think one of the main reasons I usually miss 0-2 on LR sections is that I often spend 25-30 seconds on main point and assumption questions precisely because I know before I read the stimulus how I should read it; I then have the luxury of spending 2-3 minutes on some of the more difficult strengthen and weaken questions in the late teens and early twenties.

[tomwatts]

Stem first. You read an Inference question totally differently from a Strengthen question. Better to know what you're looking for first.

[r6_philly]

I tried both and I like reading stem first. Sometimes I read the stimulus first then get to the stem, then I have to go back to re-read the stimulus to focus on the problem (weaken, assump, etc...)

also, if I see "which most parallels" or the like, I skip the question until the end. They are time killers.

[TheTopBloke]

Question stem first.

[straxen]

Every test prep company maintains that its answer to this question is the best, in reality this is a matter of personal preference.

I flirted with question stem first but ultimately preferred the stimulus-first approach. After reading the stem, I would find that I would search out the answer to the question in a manner which prevented me from truly grasping the elements of the stimulus...trying to relate everything back to the question was distracting. If I had a good grasp of the argument first then worried about the question then 2/3 to 3/4 of the time I wouldn't have to go back to the stimulus, and usually when I did have to go back to the stimulus it didn't take long to come back with the answer to the question. If keeping it all straight isn't a problem for you, and isn't slowing you down, then a strong argument can be made for reading the stem first.

[cubswin]

Stimulus first ftw