do we need to change the way we study english ?

[redemption]

On one hand we have exams like fms which have questions which can be done only if you know the meaning of the words involved...( cramming those wordlists) or RC's which are meant to be read at lightning speed ( just the stuff coaching insti's endorse) because the answer is more or less given in the passage itself.

On the other hand, after seeing this year's CAt I feel that the kind of english is totally comprehension based...reading between the lines..trying to get the general idea or the feelings of the author...and many of us are still clueless about which answer to mark for which question and why....
So does it require a higher level of understanding...a change in approach or what ?..

[smilingtears]

Originally Posted by redemption

On one hand we have exams like fms which have questions which can be done only if you know the meaning of the words involved...( cramming those wordlists) or RC's which are meant to be read at lightning speed ( just the stuff coaching insti's endorse) because the answer is more or less given in the passage itself.

On the other hand, after seeing this year's CAt I feel that the kind of english is totally comprehension based...reading between the lines..trying to get the general idea or the feelings of the author...and many of us are still clueless about which answer to mark for which question and why....
So does it require a higher level of understanding...a change in approach or what ?..

Can't say what to do about the close options..
But,as for the comprehension skills I can say there's no way out than reading...
And that too eclectic reading..Anyone can read suspense,mystery n chicklit..
But getting into philosophical books,or the ones which don't generate interest usually are the ones difficult to comprehend or understand..partly because of lack of interest..n partly because of lack of habit..

Taking our reading habits to a higher level might be of help..A jump from fiction to nonfiction is required..to get accustomed..

[ghosh84]

Originally Posted by redemption

On one hand we have exams like fms which have questions which can be done only if you know the meaning of the words involved...( cramming those wordlists) or RC's which are meant to be read at lightning speed ( just the stuff coaching insti's endorse) because the answer is more or less given in the passage itself.

On the other hand, after seeing this year's CAt I feel that the kind of english is totally comprehension based...reading between the lines..trying to get the general idea or the feelings of the author...and many of us are still clueless about which answer to mark for which question and why....
So does it require a higher level of understanding...a change in approach or what ?..

reading fast is always a major requirement...it will not only help u in RC section but will also help u throughout the papaer......consider a person having a reading speed of 500 words a min and another having 350 words a min....it means that the former one will read 150 words more per min....and in any exam u need to read the question so u see he will also save mins in reading the paper......and read variety of books that will help u in understanding the inner meaning of the psg

[thePartner]

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[ghosh84]

re: above

are u dumb.....or speechless

[redemption]

Originally Posted by smilingtears

Can't say what to do about the close options..
But,as for the comprehension skills I can say there's no way out than reading...
And that too eclectic reading..Anyone can read suspense,mystery n chicklit..
But getting into philosophical books,or the ones which don't generate interest usually are the ones difficult to comprehend or understand..partly because of lack of interest..n partly because of lack of habit..

Taking our reading habits to a higher level might be of help..A jump from fiction to nonfiction is required..to get accustomed..

Thats true...but very difficult to read something which doesnt interest you. I think newspaper articles or magazines should suffice as far as reading "boring stuff" is concerned...
By the way...those Cat questions...instead of requiring some super abilities...maybe they were just poorly designed...

[redemption]

Originally Posted by ghosh84

reading fast is always a major requirement...it will not only help u in RC section but will also help u throughout the papaer......consider a person having a reading speed of 500 words a min and another having 350 words a min....it means that the former one will read 150 words more per min....and in any exam u need to read the question so u see he will also save mins in reading the paper......and read variety of books that will help u in understanding the inner meaning of the psg

Reading fast is good..but not with the kind of questions we had in this years Cat...do u seriously think that reading fast would have helped you single out the correct option ?...heck..im stumped even after reading the passages twice...

[deep_agrawal]

Well, i am not really sure we need to change the way we study english. English preparation, i feel, depends a lot on the knowledge gained over the years...(Rather than an attempt to cram everything in one year or so...). But this year's CAT illustrated that we need to not only be quick at reading; we also need to understand the inherent meaning. I feel the answer options were testing the manager in us. (As in the way we choose the right option out of so many similar ones - we may encounter such situations in life as managers).
Anyways, we really can't be sure what lies in store for us in CAT 2007. So, we cant really say that a Particular approach is right or not.

Waiting for your comments,
Deep

[redemption]

Originally Posted by deep_agrawal

Well, i am not really sure we need to change the way we study english. English preparation, i feel, depends a lot on the knowledge gained over the years...(Rather than an attempt to cram everything in one year or so...). But this year's CAT illustrated that we need to not only be quick at reading; we also need to understand the inherent meaning. I feel the answer options were testing the manager in us. (As in the way we choose the right option out of so many similar ones - we may encounter such situations in life as managers).
Anyways, we really can't be sure what lies in store for us in CAT 2007. So, we cant really say that a Particular approach is right or not.

Waiting for your comments,
Deep

I think that you're right in the sense that the test makers are trying to test our knowledge gained over the years rather than our ability to cram some formulae or words in a few months...be it english or even quant or di....But the fact is, that we can always polish / refine our skills/knowledge, and we should make every effort to do so...
But the point is, should we read too much into those close option questions in English?...I mean, were they " testing the manager in us" or like i said earlier maybe just poorly designed ( if i may dare say so ..).

[deep_agrawal]

Originally Posted by redemption

But the point is, should we read too much into those close option questions in English?...I mean, were they " testing the manager in us" or like i said earlier maybe just poorly designed ( if i may dare say so ..).

Well, lets not get into the discussion about that. It would be an endless one. The main point is how we prepare for CAT 2007 rather than bemoan about 2006. Trying to read philosophical stuff would be a good way to get that started. (Altough i am not a non-fiction/philosophical reader myself ). But then that is what the IIMs expect maybe....