How to Improve Reading Comprehension
The purpose of reading is to connect the ideas on the page to what you already know. If you don't know anything about a subject, then pouring words of text into your mind is like pouring water into your hand. You don't retain much. For example, try reading these numbers:
7516324 This is hard to read and remember.
751-6324 This is easier because of chunking.
123-4567 This is easy to read because of prior knowledge and structure.
Similarly, if you like sports, then reading the sports page is easy. You have a framework in your mind for reading, understanding and storing information.
Improving Comprehension.
Reading comprehension requires motivation, mental frameworks for holding ideas, concentration and good study techniques. Here are some suggestions.
Develop a broad background.
Broaden your background knowledge by reading newspapers, magazines and books. Become interested in world events.
Know the structure of paragraphs.
Good writers construct paragraphs that have a beginning, middle and end. Often, the first sentence will give an overview that helps provide a framework for adding details. Also, look for transitional words, phrases or paragraphs that change the topic.
Identify the type of reasoning.
Does the author use cause and effect reasoning, hypothesis, model building, induction or deduction, systems thinking.
Anticipate and predict.
Really smart readers try to anticipate the author and predict future ideas and questions. If you're right, this reinforces your understanding. If you're wrong, you make adjustments quicker.
Look for the method of organization.
Is the material organized chronologically, serially, logically, functionally, spatially or hierarchical? See section 10 for more examples on organization.
Create motivation and interest.
Preview material, ask questions, discuss ideas with classmates. The stronger your interest, the greater your comprehension.
Pay attention to supporting cues.
Study pictures, graphs and headings. Read the first and last paragraph in a chapter, or the first sentence in each section.
Highlight, summarize and review.
Just reading a book once is not enough. To develop a deeper understanding, you have to highlight, summarize and review important ideas.
Build a good vocabulary.
For most educated people, this is a lifetime project. The best way to improve your vocabulary is to use a dictionary regularly. You might carry around a pocket dictionary and use it to look up new words. Or, you can keep a list of words to look up at the end of the day. Concentrate on roots, prefixes and endings. Going through word-of-the-day of CAT4MBA will definitely help you in this regard.
Use a systematic reading technique like SQR3.
Develop a systematic reading style, like the SQR3 method and make adjustments to it, depending on priorities and purpose. The SQR3 steps include Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review.
Monitor effectiveness.
Good readers monitor their attention, concentration and effectiveness. They quickly recognize if they've missed an idea and backup to reread it.
Should You Vocalize Words? Yes, although it is faster to form words in your mind rather than on your lips or throat. Eye motion is also important. Frequent backtracking slows you down considerably
rc speed reading
It has generally found that reading quickly help in comprehending better, so probably quick reading say 350 word per minute will be quite good for cat rc.
Samuel
If you consider last 2 years
If you consider last 2 years CAT paper it is quite clear that question makers are giving ample time to read everything carefully and then to answer them.
CAT is no longer a test of speed and so is true all part of it including RC.
With a slow speed of 250 one can easily read a passage of 1000+ words within 4 minutes and if you give another 3/4 minutes to the passage to answer 4/5 questions then its OK.
Because 8-10 marks in 7-8 minutes is good in the latest CAT version.
problem in english
heloo everyone, im going to start preparation for cat. i bought some books refered by experts of this site. but the problem is that i cant understand a lot portion in those books. the language is very tough in those books.how to start. i have given my first year exam n want to start from now. please help me regarding the above mentioned problem. plz help.
problem in english
heloo everyone, im going to start preparation for cat. i bought some books refered by experts of this site. but the problem is that i cant understand a lot portion in those books. the language is very tough in those books.how to start. i have given my first year exam n want to start from now. please help me regarding the above mentioned problem. plz help.
reply
hey if u know any good
hey if u know any good material for preparing CAT then do let me know....
Five Reasons for Lack of Reading Comprehension
Five Reasons For Lack Of RC
- Failure to understand a word
- Failure to understand a sentence
- Failure to understand how sentences relate to one another
- Failure to understand how the information fits together in a meaningful way(organization)
- Lack of interest and concentration
english problem
This comment has been moved here.
not need to worry
hi dear
i am glad to hear this u have just complited ur firs year and started preparation fot CAT.It is very good.I would like to say that u should complite ur basic first.
for English :1.read 1st page to last page of english books of class 6 to 12(CBSE). 2.read 10 to 20 words from a good dictionary.
advantage of to do this:
1.ur basic of grammer will be strong
2.word power will be increase.
after do this u can go for any books.
most impotent u have 2 years for Cat.
good book
" how to prepare for verbal ability and reading comprehension for cat " written by Arun Sharma published by TataMacGrahill publications, is a good book that can help your preparation a lot
HOW TO STUDY FOR VOCAB
Hello frndz..
m new to this group..just joined few days ago. well m preparing for CAT08..via a correspondence course and m really facing difficulties for vocab section.. Plz suggests me ways to study vocab....
And also tell me abt sm good CAT books available in the market so that i can practice more...and we all know the more the better....
So people plzz suggest me as soon as possible.
Ritika
Solution to the problem
Hi..........even i m a student and right now preparing for cat.To improve ur rc plz read the newspaper from top to bottom.Chew it and throw away.............And the words which u dont get just discuss it wid ur frnds but dont go to the dictionary................................This way i have improved and definetely u will also.....................
Bye.
hello frnz this is arshad,
hello frnz this is arshad, tell me some tips to increase the speed in rc
RC in CAT
hi, im preparing for CAT , i have problem in RC section that even if i spend more or less time on passage , i still dont improve my accuracy . Also many of times i m sure that i got right option but it turns out to be wrong . The options all look similar most of times ,any suggestions would be of great help , ty :D