Timing When Starting RC

JoshAllen4PrezJoshAllen4Prez Core Member
edited March 2 in Reading Comprehension 45 karma

I just started studying for RC. Does anyone have any thoughts on whether it's best to (1) give myself extra time during drills so that I can "learn how to do it slow before learn how to do it fast," or should I (2) stick to the exact time that I'll have on test day so that I don't get too used to/comfortable with that extra time?

Timing When Starting RC
  1. Which one is best when starting out:11 votes
    1. (1) extra time in drills, moving towards target time
      90.91%
    2. (2) always doing target time in drills
        9.09%

Comments

  • hendrickshendricks Live Member
    427 karma

    If you just started, then you really shouldn't be thinking about time. Please take my word for it. The most important thing starting out is understanding how these passages are put together. The next step is getting good habits in place. Only once you can reliably get most, if not all, of the questions right should you think about how long it is taking.

  • backphlipbackphlip Alum Member
    23 karma

    For drills, I do 1 passage at a time. Start completely untimed, giving yourself as long as you need to finish the passage and be fairly confident with most/all of your answers. After you can usually go -0 or -1 on the passage, start to introduce timing. My method was to give myself target time + 3 minutes for a passage, working my way down to drilling at target time (while still reliably going -0 or -1). After that point, you should be able to get a full timed section done without feeling super rushed.

    For all drilling, you want to sit in the sweet spot where you're not overly rushed and taking mental shortcuts to save time, but you also have enough of a time crunch to feel a bit of pressure to not waste it either.

    Hope this helps!

  • natemanwell1natemanwell1 Core Member
    314 karma

    it depends. sometimes its good to go slow and sometimes its good to go fast. its better to mix things up

  • JoshAllen4PrezJoshAllen4Prez Core Member
    45 karma

    @hendricks said:
    If you just started, then you really shouldn't be thinking about time. Please take my word for it. The most important thing starting out is understanding how these passages are put together. The next step is getting good habits in place. Only once you can reliably get most, if not all, of the questions right should you think about how long it is taking.

    Super helpful to hear this process spelled out like that. Thank you!

  • JoshAllen4PrezJoshAllen4Prez Core Member
    45 karma

    @backphlip said:
    For drills, I do 1 passage at a time. Start completely untimed, giving yourself as long as you need to finish the passage and be fairly confident with most/all of your answers. After you can usually go -0 or -1 on the passage, start to introduce timing. My method was to give myself target time + 3 minutes for a passage, working my way down to drilling at target time (while still reliably going -0 or -1). After that point, you should be able to get a full timed section done without feeling super rushed.

    For all drilling, you want to sit in the sweet spot where you're not overly rushed and taking mental shortcuts to save time, but you also have enough of a time crunch to feel a bit of pressure to not waste it either.

    Hope this helps!

    This also makes a ton of sense ... really appreciate you sharing that with me.

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