Are you gearing up to tackle the GMAT exam but feeling uncertain about conquering the Reading Comprehension subsection ? Fear not,this article will provide you with the guidance and strategies you will need to excel in this critical aspect of the test.All subsections are as equally important as they all contribute to achieving a competitive score in your GMAT.The reading comprehension subsection targets your ability to analyze complex written passages,a skill vital for success in graduate management education and beyond.
Firstly, you need to understand the purpose of the RC subsection in GMAT, so let's dive into what the reading comprehension subsection actually measures and why is it important for managers to have such skills.
Being able to understand complex sophisticated writing.
A manager is expected to read a multitude of reports conveying information,mechanism,evaluation or mentions a historic event,and although they might not be well-versed in all areas,they still have to get a clear understanding of the information provided in the report.
Understanding the purpose of the passage components and the relationships among concepts and pieces of information in the passage.
In a passage, there are typically several elements and components , and for an analytical reader, it's crucial to grasp the purpose behind each component's inclusion at a specific point in the text.
Being able to draw inferences from statements and facts mentioned in the passage.
Not every bit of information needs to be mentioned clearly, some inferences will need your ability to conclude them from various kinds of information provided.For example, if the passage says “ All managers in the company are required to use blue pen,Jack is the marketing manager in the company” this previous statement brings us to figure out that Jack is required to use blue pen.This skill requires focusing while reading the passage,as every sentence mentioned might be useful to draw a certain inference at another part of the passage.
Being able to understand quantitative concepts while presented in written materials.
You won’t need to solve mathematical problems in the reading comprehension section, however, you will be subjected to quantitative information in the passage through expressions like None, all, some, many, most, etc. For example, if the passage says that none of the employees uses red pens, then the reader is expected to conclude that 0% of the employees uses red pens. As the word “None” has a quantative connotation.
Now let’s move to the reading comprehension format :
The number of questions is usually from 12 to 15 questions,divided into short and long passages.The short passages include 1 or 2 paragraphs,are typically less than 50 lines and have 3 questions.On the other hand,long passages include 3 or 4 paragraphs,are typically more than 50 lines and usually have 4 questions.
Knowing the question types will make you a lot more ready,save you time and will help you be more efficient in your exam.Take the time to know about the 6 following types of questions that you will come across in your GMAT.
This type asks the test taker to identify the central point or theme in the passage.
Example: In the passage the author is primarily concerned with doing wich of the following ?
This type targets details that you may not have remembered,but that’s okay,as you don't have to memorize every detail mentioned in the passage,instead,you will need to scan the passage with your eyes quickly until you reach the part that you think has the answer,that’s where you need to slow down to come across the detail you are looking for.
Example : The passage warns which of the following consequences of Vitamin E deficiencies ?
This type usually asks about the method used by the author in the passage or the role performed by a certain information.
Example : One function of the second paragraph is ____ .
this type is looking for unstated conclusions drawn from the passage.
Example : Which of the following can be inferred about France’s role in the cheese shortage of 2007 ?
In this type you will need to find the relationships between concepts,ideas or situations presented in the passage with other concepts,ideas or situations from outside the passage.You might be asked to find an example similar to the example in the passage or identify a comparable hypothetical situation.
Example : The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following statements about Vietnam’s immigration policy ?
This type will require you to determine how the author of the passage feels towards a certain idea.This will require you to read between the lines,as the author is not likely to state his feelings clearly towards a certain topic.
Example : The author's attitude towards the British monarchy is best described as ____ .
While reading your whole passage you don't have to memorize any of the mentioned information or detailes,instead, you need to create a map of what the passage consists of or the "layout" of the passage.
In order to create a map, that was mentioned previously, you might need to take notes while reading.Writing down quickly the main idea for each paragraph as you come across them will help you organize the passage into sections,which will save you a lot of time when you try to get back to a certain paragraph while answering, this will be extremely helpful in case of details questions .
This is not a necessary step, however, it can make a huge difference in your reading comprehension skills.The more you read,the more familiar you get with articles mapping and the better you get at active reading.
Mock questions will bring a clear understanding of how the exam will look like, find on the below links some free mock trials to GMAT RC.
test takers usually try to find the right answer at first glance,while it's a lot easier to trace the wrong ones,as there are more of them in the choices,and hence, being able to eliminate the wrong answers will narrow down your list of choices to what is very likely to be the right answer.
Wrapping it up, acing GMAT reading comprehension requires a set of strategies and planned techniques and when test day rolls around, keep your cool and trust that all your prep will pay off, and set yourself up for success in your academic and career adventures.
Reem Mahmoud
Student