Charles Chaney’s VR Mastery

• Curriculum for Increasing Verbal Reasoning Scores 1

Chaney’s VR Strategies

• • Many test takers find the VR section to be the most difficult section of the test and seems to be the most feared portion of the test.

The VR section might be the most important one because for many admissions officers, this part of the test might best predict how students will perform during their medical education and board exams.

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Cheney’s VR Strategies

• • Analysis of Verbal Reasoning.

– Know the test.

• Seven passages of about 600 words long.

• Five to seven questions per passage.

• One hour to complete the test.

– What does this portion of the test assess?

• Comprehending information.

• Applying concepts to situations.

• Interpreting facts.

• • Formulating inferences.

Drawing conclusions.

• Analyzing the author’s intent and tone.

• Recognizing key assumptions.

• Understanding the purpose and construction of arguments.

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Cheney’s VR Strategies

– Dealing with CBT (Computer Based Testing).

• Words on the screen seem not to register in the mind as efficiently as do words on a page.

• Strategies and advice.

– Read internet-based scholarly articles for at least one hour at the same time of day as the scheduled time of your MCAT exam.

– Rules for pacing yourself during this test.

• 8.5 minutes per passage with 5-7 questions.

• 3.5 minutes to read each passage with 5 minutes to answer questions.

--Scoring for the VR.

• You can miss no more than nine questions to score a 10.

• 4-6 missed questions leads to a score of 11.

• 3 missed questions leads to a score of 12.

• 2 missed questions leads to a 13.

• 1 missed question leads to a 14.

• A perfect performance leads to a 15.

• Shoot for a score of 10 or above.

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