Welcome to the PCAT Reviewof the

Reading Comprehension and Writing Sections

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Kerr Hall

Instructor: Ashley Reed

Today’s Review

Reading Comprehension:• Basics• How to Prepare• Test-taking Strategies

Writing:• Basics• Essay Essentials• Scoring Criteria• Secrets to Success• Do’s and Don’ts• Hints for Stronger Writing

Reading Comprehension:Basics of the Test

Time: 50 minutes Number of questions: 48 Time per question: ~ 1 minute Format: 6 science-related reading

passages with 6-9 questions about each passage

Reading Comprehension:Basics of the Test What is actually being tested?

Comprehension: How well did you understand the passage?

Analysis: Can you make further inferences about the topic based on what you read in the passage?

Evaluation: Can you recognize the assumptions and biases embedded (but not stated) in the passage?

Reading Comprehension: How to Prepare Read articles with subject matter similar to the test.

Suggested journals:

• Science• Nature and Nature Physics• Scientific American• National Geographic• Journal of the American Pharmaceutical Association

Practice “active reading”: underline main ideas, circle key words, note transition phrases and conclusions

After reading an article, jot down a short summary to make sure you’ve understood it

Reading Comprehension: How to Prepare When reading for practice, ask yourself the following

questions:• What is the main idea of the article?

• What does the author want me to know?

• What evidence does the author present to support his/her position? Does the author offer facts, opinions, or both?

• Is this article persuasive or simply informational?

Remember that you are practicing the skill of reading, not memorizing facts

Always read actively – don’t just read and forget!

Reading Comprehension: How to Prepare Practice under test-taking conditions (or as nearly

as you can simulate them for a computer-based test)

Complete the sample exercises in test prep books from Barron’s, Kaplan and the Princeton Review

If you practice using online sources, remember that they may not accurately reflect the format of the test

Follow time constraints and read answer explanations thoroughly and carefully

Reading Comprehension:Test-taking Strategies Allow 6-8 minutes for each passage and its

accompanying questions

Begin with EITHER

• the passage with the most questions OR

• the passage that seems easiest to you

Leave 30 seconds to a minute at the end of the section to fill in answers for the questions you skipped

Reading Comprehension:Test-taking Strategies For each passage…

Skim the questions before reading the passage

Read the passage quickly but carefully

Jot down notes on your whiteboard if it helps you and doesn’t slow you down

Pay attention to first and last sentences: they are often critical!

Reading Comprehension:Test-taking Strategies If you get stuck on a question, skip it and move on

Base your answers solely on information in the passage, not on prior knowledge of the topic

Look for key words that signal…• Contrast: however, nevertheless, despite,

alternatively, although, but, yet

• Emphasis: above all, essentially, especially, primarily, particularly

• Conclusions: therefore, thus, consequently, hence, in conclusion, it can be seen that

Reading Comprehension:Here We Go!

1 essay

7 questions

6 minutes

Reading Comprehension:Correct Answers

1) B

2) C

3) B

4) A

5) D

6) D

7) D

Writing:Basics of the Test

Two 30-minute essay sections

Tests the ability to reason through writing

Problem-solving essays: you will be asked to discuss a possible solution to a problem

Topics are not necessarily pharmacy- or even science-related

Writing:Basics of the Test Sample essay topics:

“Discuss a solution to the problem of developing affordable alternatives to fossil fuels.”

“Discuss a solution to the problem of voter apathy.”

“Discuss a solution to the problem of promoting healthy dietary habits.”

“Discuss a solution to the problems resulting from insufficient supplies of donated human organs.”

“Discuss a solution to the problem of protecting endangered species.”

Writing:How to Prepare

Be informed! Read newspapers and magazines, watch the news, and/or listen to news radio

Do 5-minute prewriting drills

Write timed practice essays and have a friend score them

Writing:Secrets to Success

Follow the three-step method:

• Prewrite and plan 5 minutes

• Write 23 minutes

• Proofread 2 minutes

Writing:Essay Essentials In your essay, you should:

1) Explain the problem

2) Offer a solution to the problem

3) Discuss the advantages of your solution; briefly mention drawbacks without letting them overwhelm the advantages

4) Evaluate alternative solutions to the problem

5) Conclude by resolving the drawbacks to your solution

Prewriting Practice

In the next 5 minutes, outline an essay that answers the following prompt:

“Discuss a solution to the problem of the rising cost of higher education.”

Writing:Scoring Criteria Argument

• Superior reasoning and argument, strong composition Solution

• Clearly relevant and developed with strong evidence Explanation

• Strong, integrated explanation of problem and solution Alternate solutions

• More than one solution evaluated Organization

• Logical, focused and coherent

Writing: Score Reporting

Writing scores are reported in two parts:

Conventions of Language Problem Solving

So even if your grammar and spelling aren’t perfect, you can still wow them with your critical thinking skills.

Writing:Do’s and Don’ts

Do:• Follow the prompt

• Take a few minutes to outline and prewrite

• Write a short, concise essay • Use objective, factual evidence

• Include clear transitions between paragraphs

• Proofread for clarity

Writing:Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t:

• Ignore the prompt and write an opinion piece or a political diatribe

• “Data dump” (include too much evidence or counter-evidence)

• Use overly complex sentence structures or big words if you aren’t certain of their meanings

Writing:Hints for Stronger Sentences Alternate sentence structures:

• Good: “A balanced diet is the foundation of good health. A variety of foods is the key to balanced nutrition. Most people have access to a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and other components of a balanced diet.”

• Better: “A balanced diet is the foundation of good health. Eating a variety of foods ensures balanced nutrition and tastes good too. Fortunately, most of us have access to a wide range of fruits, vegetables, and other components of a balanced diet.”

Writing:Hints for Stronger Sentences

Alternate sentence length:

• Good: “Fall is my favorite season. The air is crisp. The leaves are vibrant. Halloween is the best night of the year.

• Better: “Fall is my favorite season. The air is crisp, the leaves are vibrant, and Halloween is the best night of the year.”

Writing:Hints for Stronger Sentences Use sentence transitions to make your

writing smoother and more polished:

• “In addition to X, Y is also a possibility.”

• “Although X is the key factor in…, it is also important to note that Y….”

• “The final reason for X is that…”

Use paragraph transitions to move smoothly between sections of your essay

Questions?

If you have questions, feel free to email me: reeda@email.unc.edu