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Quick-reference strategies for every exam section
Essential strategies for reading exam success
Scan all questions before reading the text. This tells you exactly what information to look for, saving time and improving accuracy.
Identify key words in questions and find their synonyms or exact matches in the text. This is where most answers are located.
Example: Question asks for the reason? Scan for weil, deshalb, aus diesem Grund, or a paraphrased cause.
Spend equal time per question. If stuck after 1-2 minutes, mark it and move on. Return with fresh eyes if time allows.
First pass: read the introduction, topic sentences, and conclusion. Second pass: read carefully for specific details needed for questions.
Words like 'however', 'therefore', 'although' indicate relationships between ideas. These often appear in inference questions.
Example: German signals: jedoch/trotzdem = contrast, deshalb/daher = result, obwohl = concession.
Cross out obviously incorrect options first. This increases your odds even if you're unsure between remaining choices.
Questions usually follow the order of the text. If question 3 is about paragraph 2, question 4 likely refers to later paragraphs.
Examiners use words from the text in wrong answers. Always verify the answer matches the question's intent, not just keywords.
Example: If the text says früher but the answer says heute, the shared nouns are a trap, not proof.
Don't stop for unknown words. Use context clues or skip and return if the word is critical to answering a question.
If time permits, re-read questions and verify your answers make sense in context. First instincts are often correct, but double-check obvious errors.
Understand why each paragraph exists: introduction, development, example, contrast, conclusion. This helps with 'purpose' questions.
Notice if the author is neutral, critical, supportive, or skeptical. Tone questions require understanding the author's attitude, not just facts.
Develop the ability to read 250+ words per minute while maintaining comprehension. This gives you buffer time for difficult questions.
Don't read the full passage before seeing questions. You'll waste time on irrelevant details and forget important information.
Sometimes the answer is exactly what the text says. Don't look for hidden meanings when a direct statement exists.
Different question types (detail, inference, main idea) require different strategies. Apply the wrong approach and you'll waste time.