Canadian RC Strategy

[EastCoastDentist]

I've seen some comments on here saying that the search and destroy method doesn't work as well anymore on the Canadian DAT due to the addition of more tone and inference questions. Is this true? Should I abandon this strategy and read the articles instead? Maybe a combination of both?

Thanks

[Super Nova]

Hey EastCoast, for strategy, i think the most popular method is to read the first question, store it in your memory and know what you are looking for, and start reading the passage from the beginning until you get the answer to that first question. This isn't like search and destroy since you're actually reading the passage and not skimming it. And then read the second question and continue back where you left off and continue reading till you find it, OR, the answer to the second question may have been in the parts you already read! in which case its still fresh in your mind. This is pretty much a modified search and destroy method that has worked for many people! As for what to practice with, to be honest, just find reading comprehension exams online, because this is all about building up speed and familiarity. You could try specific RC exams for the DAT too! datcrusher has a bunch of them and their first one is free so maybe start with that. But to be honest, with the DAT being next week, i am not sure how much you will improve with such little time. worth a shot though. Hope that helps!

[EastCoastDentist]

Thanks so much! I have tried this strategy and it's working much better for me, especially for those tone/inference questions! My short term memory isn't all that great, so this strategy helps especially for some RC passages I have come across that are super dense scientifical articles. 

[Super Nova]

yeah exactly. i found that i would read the passage and then i would forget a lot of the info so this also worked wonders for me.