{"id":13448,"date":"2017-01-06T17:17:55","date_gmt":"2017-01-06T22:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/grockit.com\/gmat\/?p=135"},"modified":"2020-09-11T20:42:29","modified_gmt":"2020-09-11T20:42:29","slug":"gmat-reading-comprehension-tips-cat-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/gmat\/gmat-reading-comprehension-tips-cat-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"GMAT Reading Comprehension Tips: CAT Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The GMAT Reading Comprehension section is delivered as a CAT, or a Computer-Adaptive Test. This requires GMAT strategies you may be unfamiliar with. On some sections, the computer can be less of an assistance and more of a hindrance. Often, the\u00a0older you are, the more likely it is that you spent your childhood, teen years, and even adulthood learning how to read in a paper-based world. Standardized testing, especially reading comprehension, is very different on a paper-based test than it is on a CAT. Years of paper-based reading trains many test-takers\u00a0to take notes on the passage itself, underlining significant sections of the passage and putting notes in the margins near the relevant text. On a CAT, you don\u2019t have the luxury of marking up the text. Learning to read actively\u2013even without the benefit of marking up the text\u2013is key to improving your reading comp score.<br \/>\nHere are a few ways to do that:<br \/>\n<div  class='avia-icon-list-container   avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_heading  avia-builder-el-first '><ul class='avia-icon-list avia-icon-list-left av-iconlist-big avia_animate_when_almost_visible avia-iconlist-animate'>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue841' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Outline the passage paragraph by paragraph as you read<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>You will have scratch paper on the GMAT, and you should plan to take advantage of it. Jotting even just a few words to summarize each paragraph can help you get a handle on the passage and sharpen your focus. An example might look like this:<br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 1\u2014intro, historical background<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 2\u2014traditional interpretation<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 3\u2014problems with trad. interp., and new interp.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 4\u2014conclusion<\/em><br \/>\nTaking notes like this as you read forces you to synthesize the text and read more efficiently.\u00a0 Get into the habit now; use a notebook to annotate practice passages, even if you\u2019re practicing on paper.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue808' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Keep track of proper nouns, dates, and other key words and phrases<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>Often, a question will refer back to a specific detail without giving you a line reference, and hunting for that detail in the passage can cost you precious time.\u00a0 Expedite the process by keeping track of the kinds of details that are common subjects of questions.\u00a0 Examples of this would be references to individuals or groups of people, places, theories, ect.; dates or time periods, particularly if chronology is important to the passage\u2019s meaning; and key ideas that are addressed in detail only in one part of the passage.\u00a0 Since you can\u2019t indicate those things by underlining them or putting a star or other mark in the margin nearby, instead write a couple of words with a line reference to tell you where to find what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<li><div  class='iconlist_icon  avia-font-entypo-fontello'><span class='iconlist-char ' aria-hidden='true' data-av_icon='\ue84c' data-av_iconfont='entypo-fontello'><\/span><\/div><article class=\"article-icon-entry \"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\" ><div class='iconlist_content_wrap'><header class=\"entry-content-header\"><h4 class='av_iconlist_title iconlist_title   '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Go to CAMP<\/h4><\/header><div class='iconlist_content  '  itemprop=\"text\"  ><p>CAMP\u2014or Central Point, Approach, Map, and Perspective\u2014issues are commonly addressed in questions.\u00a0 Central Point is the main idea of the passage; often this will be summarized in one sentence, and you can indicate that sentence in your notes with a line reference.\u00a0 Approach is how the author is writing the passage: is it a recommendation, a historical account, a rebuttal of a different idea, or something else entirely?\u00a0 There are lots of possibilities here, but remember that each detail in the passage will in some way serve the author\u2019s primary motivation in writing the passage; nailing the author\u2019s approach can help you answer questions that ask you about the purpose of a specific statement or the passage as a whole.\u00a0 Map is that paragraph outline that we talked about in number 1 above.\u00a0 And Perspective is a one-word summary of the author\u2019s tone: is it positive, negative, neutral, or something else?\u00a0 Boil the tone down to a single word, and you\u2019ll be prepared if it is the subject of a question, which it often is.\u00a0 By taking a few quick notes on the CAMP issues before you tackle the question, you\u2019ll be able to focus on finding correct answers that align with your CAMP notes, instead of being tempted by distracting wrong answers.\u00a0 A sample CAMP note set might look like this:<br \/>\n<em><strong>C:<\/strong> lines 4\u20147<\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong>A:<\/strong> Rebuttal of traditional theory<\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong>M:<\/strong> <\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para.1\u2014intro, historical background<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 2\u2014traditional interpretation<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 3\u2014problems with trad. interp., and new interp.<\/em><br \/>\n<em>Para<\/em><em>. 4\u2014conclusion<\/em><br \/>\n<em><strong>P:<\/strong> Critical<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><footer class=\"entry-footer\"><\/footer><\/article><div class='iconlist-timeline'><\/div><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><br \/>\nReading on a CAT can require some adaptation of your usual approach, but with practice, it\u2019s absolutely a surmountable challenge.\u00a0 Start early, be consistent with taking CAMP notes on scratch paper during your practice, and remember that active reading is the key to success on the GMAT!<br \/>\n<div  style='padding-bottom:10px; ' class='av-special-heading av-special-heading-h3    avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_iconlist  avia-builder-el-last  '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >GMAT Reading Practice Tips and Strategies<\/h3><div class='special-heading-border'><div class='special-heading-inner-border' ><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nMost of us, whether or not we consider ourselves inveterate readers, have already fallen into rather stubborn reading habits\u2014some of them good, some bad, but none of them perfect for test prep. Our reading habits are shaped by a number of factors, from how we were trained to read as undergraduates (a biology major is trained to read differently than an English major), to personal preference or natural inclination (some of us prefer novels to magazines, while others prefer not to read for pleasure at all).<br \/>\nWhile those of us who read often are in better shape for the Reading Comprehension section on the GMAT, GMAT-specific reading practice is vital for everyone who takes the exam. The Reading Comprehension section requires a certain type of reading and thinking that must be practiced.<br \/>\nHere are some basic steps you can take to prime yourself for GMAT-style reading even before you begin practicing with test material:<br \/>\n1.\u00a0<strong>Read Articles:\u00a0<\/strong>Get in the habit of reading quality writing in article form. Put down your remotes, your game controllers, and (you\u2019ll rarely here this from an educator) your novels. Internet junkies surprisingly have an advantage here since most of the written information on the internet is in article form. If you\u2019re not sure where to look, begin with regional newspaper websites, e.g. <a href=\"http:\/\/latimes.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Los Angeles Times<\/a> or <a href=\"http:\/\/nytimes.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New York Times<\/a>. For quality articles infused with humor and a light tone, but that still maintain a scholarly bent with grown-up vocabulary, check out web magazines like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.salon.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Salon<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.slate.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Slate<\/a>. Remember, though, that you will rarely encounter humor on the GMAT.<br \/>\n2.\u00a0<strong>Know Your Weaknesses:\u00a0<\/strong>GMAT passages are generally broken up into physical and biological sciences, the social sciences, arts and humanities, history, and business. Though it\u2019s far from a general rule, students often perform better on articles that they find interesting. If you are the arts-and-humanities type who abhors science, try reading some science articles (avoid esoteric articles in science journals, though, since they aren\u2019t written for a specialized audience.)<br \/>\n3.\u00a0<strong>Read Actively and Take Notes:\u00a0<\/strong>As you read these articles, try to rid yourself of the habit of reading passively. In other words, constantly ask yourself \u201cwhat is the main idea or purpose of this article?\u201d or \u201cwhat is the purpose of this paragraph in the context of the passage?\u201d Get in the habit of jotting down brief notes in the margins\u2014or perhaps on a blank document on your computer\u2014so you can more easily immerse yourself in the meaning and structure of the article. Pay close attention to the first and last paragraphs, and especially the first and last sentences of each body paragraph.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The GMAT Reading Comprehension section is delivered as a CAT, or a Computer-Adaptive Test. This requires GMAT strategies you may be unfamiliar with. On some sections, the computer can be less of an assistance and more of a hindrance. Often, the\u00a0older you are, the more likely it is that you spent your childhood, teen years, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28908,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[55],"tags":[515,84],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13448"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13448"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13448\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36081,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13448\/revisions\/36081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}