Goodness. I've been an emotional trainwreck all week. Anyway, i think my head is clearing up and i got the courage to do 4 passages from the LSAT book today. 25/27. That's impressive. I only had 2 wrong on a 6 question passage. it's amazing. I can actually say that my reading comprehension has improved.
Anyway, from this point on, my life will get a daily dose of passages.
Showing posts with label verbal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label verbal. Show all posts
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
myreadinglab frustrations
I spent the last 30+ minutes chatting with customer support and the first one,i can't find a word to describe since i don't want to use the word 'useless'. The second one was pretty much the same.
I hate that if you score less than 80% on just one practice test, the test feature is disabled. knowing this, i've always taken a test first prior to taking a practice test. I'm not sure what got into me but i took a practice first this evening and i score 70. I scored a 80 and a 90% on the remaining but that doesn't change anything because all you need is one sub-80 score. The rep told me that only instructors can make any changes and for self-study mode, there's nothing that can be done.
I find that VERY annoying. If someone signs up for this, they're pretty much signing up because they'd like to practice to improve. I want all the practice i can get and considering the practice is just a means for one to practice skills learned in the model, i don't see why that should be a determinant in taking the test.
I think the default feature should be the other way around. Tests should be available by default and for people enrolled instructor led courses, instructors should set the cuttoff limit for mastery.
What's even more annoying is that customer service can't reset it. If an instructor can do that in a course, why can't customer service reset for people not taking a course? People who take kaplan tests call and have the test reset so they can take it again. I'm fine with the fact that myreading lab tests can be taken once. I'm not fine with the fact that tests are disable even if your average practice result is greater than 80. The problem with this is that encourages skipping practice and going directly to tests because once the test is disabled, you're stuck and each time you log in, it tells you that you haven't completed the module. I just went back to the intermediate reading course and realized that i took the 2 tests and skipped the just 1 out 5 or 6 practice tests.
I'm not happy with this and i hope it changes. I can't be too pissed at them because i know this program is mainly for people enrolled in instructor led courses and it looks like that's the group pearson caters to. I do think however that if they were to cater to independents, they'll expand their market greatly for tehre are thousands of LSAT, MCAT and GRE takers out there who'd like to improve their comprehension. if the GMAT has a RC section, then add it to it. i think there are about 55000+ takers of the MCAT alone each year. Not sure how many people take the GRE each year but i'll bet it it's more than the MCAT.
I'm just ranting cuz i'm a little upset but then again, i know pearson caters to students with instructors so i'm in a class on my own.
I hate that if you score less than 80% on just one practice test, the test feature is disabled. knowing this, i've always taken a test first prior to taking a practice test. I'm not sure what got into me but i took a practice first this evening and i score 70. I scored a 80 and a 90% on the remaining but that doesn't change anything because all you need is one sub-80 score. The rep told me that only instructors can make any changes and for self-study mode, there's nothing that can be done.
I find that VERY annoying. If someone signs up for this, they're pretty much signing up because they'd like to practice to improve. I want all the practice i can get and considering the practice is just a means for one to practice skills learned in the model, i don't see why that should be a determinant in taking the test.
I think the default feature should be the other way around. Tests should be available by default and for people enrolled instructor led courses, instructors should set the cuttoff limit for mastery.
What's even more annoying is that customer service can't reset it. If an instructor can do that in a course, why can't customer service reset for people not taking a course? People who take kaplan tests call and have the test reset so they can take it again. I'm fine with the fact that myreading lab tests can be taken once. I'm not fine with the fact that tests are disable even if your average practice result is greater than 80. The problem with this is that encourages skipping practice and going directly to tests because once the test is disabled, you're stuck and each time you log in, it tells you that you haven't completed the module. I just went back to the intermediate reading course and realized that i took the 2 tests and skipped the just 1 out 5 or 6 practice tests.
I'm not happy with this and i hope it changes. I can't be too pissed at them because i know this program is mainly for people enrolled in instructor led courses and it looks like that's the group pearson caters to. I do think however that if they were to cater to independents, they'll expand their market greatly for tehre are thousands of LSAT, MCAT and GRE takers out there who'd like to improve their comprehension. if the GMAT has a RC section, then add it to it. i think there are about 55000+ takers of the MCAT alone each year. Not sure how many people take the GRE each year but i'll bet it it's more than the MCAT.
I'm just ranting cuz i'm a little upset but then again, i know pearson caters to students with instructors so i'm in a class on my own.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year
Another year, thank God for his protection and grace and blessings this past year.
Hopefully, i don't get lazy in studying for this exam
Hopefully, i lose my "maryland belly."
Hopefully, i succeed during the app season
By God, i'm going to excel on this exam
I was thinking about buying verbal virtuoso but i read what's his name's email again and he said it teaches you to find the "authors opinion." I think that's what Powerscores reading comprehension bible has taught me, and more. I find that after going through it, when i get a question wrong, it's because i didn't read all the choices or i didn't understand what the question was asking for. This has been very few instances. Also, i totally understand the passages are saying now no matter how complex and convoluted they seem. It's made me an active reader. I find that i barely turn back to reference the passage, i did that once to make certain the lists were consistent with the lists in the choices and i knew exactly where to search. I'm not scared of doing passages anymore.
From this point onwards, it's a matter or practicing daily to eliminate errors and master the strategies i've learned from their book so it becomes second nature.
I know lots of people make laudatory remarks concerning PS LRB but not so much for their RCB. I have looked at their LRB and reading the first chapter made me regret buying the logic book i purchased (which btw, amazon reduced the price for the book aned i haven't had the time to read it plus the library has it). I should've returned that book but i think i'll keep it, for now.
Anyway, if i had to do it over again, i wouldn't buy the Ivyhall books. It's not that they aren't good, they helped me get from a 7 to a 9 with minimal use last year. It's because While it talks about the main point, structure, purpose and what nots, in addition to listing sample question types just as PS does, lacks the practice that PS offers and I like the way PS attacks the stuff better. I'd say I'd have invested the money i paid for the ivy hall RC book in buying PS RCB. Then the money i used to buy their passages book to buy PS passage type training book which i have but i'd have saved money. Then i'd buy access to myreading lab. The rest will be practicing with the cambridge book, EK 101, TPRH verbal passages book and whatever i can find. I don't think EK resembles the real deal as most people say. I felt the passages on my exam where much easier to comprehend even with my poor comprehension skills and the most of the answer choices were obvious.
Anyway, i returned the readers edge. It's a complete waste. I did not improve one bit.
Here's to getting rid of that which isn't helpful and making use of the helpful. May the good God guide me according to His WORD.
Hopefully, i don't get lazy in studying for this exam
Hopefully, i lose my "maryland belly."
Hopefully, i succeed during the app season
By God, i'm going to excel on this exam
I was thinking about buying verbal virtuoso but i read what's his name's email again and he said it teaches you to find the "authors opinion." I think that's what Powerscores reading comprehension bible has taught me, and more. I find that after going through it, when i get a question wrong, it's because i didn't read all the choices or i didn't understand what the question was asking for. This has been very few instances. Also, i totally understand the passages are saying now no matter how complex and convoluted they seem. It's made me an active reader. I find that i barely turn back to reference the passage, i did that once to make certain the lists were consistent with the lists in the choices and i knew exactly where to search. I'm not scared of doing passages anymore.
From this point onwards, it's a matter or practicing daily to eliminate errors and master the strategies i've learned from their book so it becomes second nature.
I know lots of people make laudatory remarks concerning PS LRB but not so much for their RCB. I have looked at their LRB and reading the first chapter made me regret buying the logic book i purchased (which btw, amazon reduced the price for the book aned i haven't had the time to read it plus the library has it). I should've returned that book but i think i'll keep it, for now.
Anyway, if i had to do it over again, i wouldn't buy the Ivyhall books. It's not that they aren't good, they helped me get from a 7 to a 9 with minimal use last year. It's because While it talks about the main point, structure, purpose and what nots, in addition to listing sample question types just as PS does, lacks the practice that PS offers and I like the way PS attacks the stuff better. I'd say I'd have invested the money i paid for the ivy hall RC book in buying PS RCB. Then the money i used to buy their passages book to buy PS passage type training book which i have but i'd have saved money. Then i'd buy access to myreading lab. The rest will be practicing with the cambridge book, EK 101, TPRH verbal passages book and whatever i can find. I don't think EK resembles the real deal as most people say. I felt the passages on my exam where much easier to comprehend even with my poor comprehension skills and the most of the answer choices were obvious.
Anyway, i returned the readers edge. It's a complete waste. I did not improve one bit.
Here's to getting rid of that which isn't helpful and making use of the helpful. May the good God guide me according to His WORD.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Powerscore RCB
It's obvious i'm desperate. I've come to realize that logic is important when it comes to this exam. i've been a little lazy reading the logic book i got from amazon. I took a look at Powerscore's LRB and i thought it is a better choice than the logic text simply because it teaches how to take tests.
Today, i went down to UB to borrow their RCB. I was a little surprised they didn't have it on reserve. CCBC has the LRB on their reference shelves so you can't even check it out. Anyway, i read through the RCB and i like it. I've only done a little over 20 pages but so far, i feel like it's the best of EK verbal along with the Ivy Hall verbal mastery. EK offers strategies which i find here but explained more in detail in a way that i like. Ivy Hall goes into question types and tells you to read and all that but the RCB offers that and something more. It actually offers practice.
Plus it includes stuff from myreading lab. So far, it's talked about transitional phrases, active reading and context clues for meanings. I think this is the best of everything.
So, i'll use this for the rest of december, do their passage type training and see how i do when i start TPR tests. Must i add that i think i'm reading a little faster now and i'm vocalizing less. I'll post an update on how i'm doing later.
Today, i went down to UB to borrow their RCB. I was a little surprised they didn't have it on reserve. CCBC has the LRB on their reference shelves so you can't even check it out. Anyway, i read through the RCB and i like it. I've only done a little over 20 pages but so far, i feel like it's the best of EK verbal along with the Ivy Hall verbal mastery. EK offers strategies which i find here but explained more in detail in a way that i like. Ivy Hall goes into question types and tells you to read and all that but the RCB offers that and something more. It actually offers practice.
Plus it includes stuff from myreading lab. So far, it's talked about transitional phrases, active reading and context clues for meanings. I think this is the best of everything.
So, i'll use this for the rest of december, do their passage type training and see how i do when i start TPR tests. Must i add that i think i'm reading a little faster now and i'm vocalizing less. I'll post an update on how i'm doing later.
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