160 now, 170+ in October?? Forum

[313D313]

I am currently enrolled in a Testmasters course. Intial diagnostic was a 154. I have been mainly doing the homework assigned which is basically untimed practice.
I also took prep test 34, 35, and 36 timed and scored a 168, 162, and 166 consecutively.

Today we took the 2nd diagnostic in class(0ct 08) and i scored a 160. I felt alot more bothered by time then when i took the other 3 prep tests and this most affected my score in the reading comp section where i got a -7. (highest previously was a -4). I scored -4 on the logic games, a -7 on the first LR, and -4 on the 2nd LR.

What is the best way to work on speed? I plan on taking 3 prep tests a week from now on, but should i also take individual timed sections of LR,RC,and LG??
(for the most part the questions i am getting wrong are because i am not spending enough time on the question)

[whymeohgodno]

Speed on RC...man I wish I knew how to solve that puzzle as well.

[313D313]

yea i did not have a problem with speed on the first 3 prep tests i took, but then again thats a small sample.
i guess i am going to do a timed reading comp section every day now.

[3|ink]

yea i did not have a problem with speed on the first 3 prep tests i took, but then again thats a small sample.
i guess i am going to do a timed reading comp section every day now.

TITCR.

However, the most important aspect of RC is developing that 6th sense that tells you what to commit to memory and what to simply notate for future reference if necessary. This is developed by reviewing after your timed sections.

[lawyerwannabe]

yea i did not have a problem with speed on the first 3 prep tests i took, but then again thats a small sample.
i guess i am going to do a timed reading comp section every day now.

TITCR.

However, the most important aspect of RC is developing that 6th sense that tells you what to commit to memory and what to simply notate for future reference if necessary. This is developed by reviewing after your timed sections.

In general, you want to be able to identify the flow and main point of the passage without ever referring back to the passage itself. When it comes to more detailed oriented questions, do not try to remember every single thing the passage says. Simply circle / underline / highlight a key phrase, name, the mentioning of a proponent or opponent, etc. in the reading so that if a question asked something regarding the phrase or the person you can quickly move back to the specific part of the passage and answer the question correctly and efficiently.

I also recommend doing outside reading of dense material and trying to read the material as fast as you possibly can while still being able to confidently know what the purpose and main point of the material was after reading it.

[313D313]

thanks everyone for the reading comp tips,

the time aspect bothered me in general, the only questions i got wrong on the LG section were the ones i did not answer because of the time constraint.

Most of the questions i got wrong on the LR sections were the ones i rushed.

[313D313]

Am i in good shoes if i have a 160 now aiming for a 170+ in october and my problem right now is timing?

[313D313]

anybody??

[whymeohgodno]

Am i in good shoes if i have a 160 now aiming for a 170+ in october and my problem right now is timing?

Not really.

Not saying you don't have a chance, just saying it's not a scenario that I'd call "good".

Even jumping from 167-170 is extremely difficult and that's just a matter of a few questions.

Just study really hard and see how you do.

[313D313]

[Not really.

Not saying you don't have a chance, just saying it's not a scenario that I'd call "good".

Even jumping from 167-170 is extremely difficult and that's just a matter of a few questions.

Just study really hard and see how you do.[/quote]

i agree, i am just trying to stay optimistic but i also feel that as i get more comfortable with the timing and pacing issues my score will defintely go up. Hopefully itll go up to a high enough point were then ill just have to focus really hard and tighten uo the screws to get those couple of extra questions i need right.

[glewz]

Tough but not impossible. Keep doing the homework & you should be in the high 160s or low 170s. Timing will be resolved as your instructor gives you direction closer to test date. (e.g. how many tests to take per week / mindset tips / etc.) Best preparation is to keep on getting familiar with concepts.