The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) requires excellent reading comprehension ability to prepare. This is because during a significant part of the CLAT paper you have to read long passages on current affairs, legal and logical reasoning and thus being able to read fast and correctly can help you to save time and increase your final score. The following is a mere tip on how to improve your speed and comprehension of reading.
The passages in CLAT are normally associated with newspapers, journals and current affairs. They do not only check your reading speed, but also your skills in reasoning and detecting conclusions as well as understanding complex concepts. Passages which are inferred by questions are between 400 and 450 words and do not have any passages above that. Therefore, it is not only to read faster but also to remember and process information effectively.
The secret of improvement lies in consistency. Spend at least 30-45 min/day reading editorials in reputed newspapers e.g. The Hindu or Indian express and journals e.g. LiveLaw or The Economist. Not only will this help you to become faster, but will also widen your vocabulary and overall awareness- which is important in CLAT as well as in current affairs sections. Slowly, you will find your brain processing information at a quicker rate with less loss of comprehension.
Skimming refers to the process of catching a glimpse of the passage to understand its central message whereas scanning refers to the process of finding certain information or keywords. These skills are useful in dealing with long passages. As an example, consider the first and the last lines of every paragraph, they may include the main idea. Then hurry up through less relevant examples or information. These tricks can help you to save a great amount of time during the exam, which is why they should be practiced regularly.
Rushing must never be done to the expense of comprehension. First, seek holistic understanding, be it at a slow pace. As soon as you are able to read the reasoning and tone of various passages, you can begin to time yourself. Track your progress by use of online reading speed tests or CLAT preparation online mock tests.
Passages in CLAT tend to be of high vocabulary or legal terminologies. Learning new words in context would be a better practice than memorizing word lists. Write down words that are not known in the process of reading and consult the meaning. The knowledge about the way words operate in various situations will assist in giving correct answers to inference-based and tone-related questions.
You can put aside the practice sessions during which you are supposed to attempt 5-6 passages within a set time. This will replicate the real test situation and will help you to endure longer reading. Practice with time also assists in dealing with pressure during an exam and to be focused throughout.
To aspirants aspiring to sharpen their prowess by allowing them to benefit with organized coaching and professional tutelage, Dhyeya Law offers an enabling platform to coach in CLAT preparations and acquiring analytical reading skills that are crucial in winning.