Weak English Skills

bluedevilmike
Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:25:46 +0000

It’s very hard to master a new language at a high level – like the MCAT Verbal would demand. The vast majority of people in this world, even native English speakers, will not read research papers in a flash.

I read very well, but I never touch either the Economist (which I love) or the NYT (which I can’t stand). Frankly, most of my skills were developed prior to age 3 and during my first two years of high school.

You’re right that the best option available to you – but frankly I think your expectations are a little too high – is simply to read everything you can get your hands on.

That is the best option – since you’re talking about the MCAT Verbal, not conversational English – but I really think your expectations (“great”) are too high.

How much you’d need to read would vary considerably. I think you could see strong improvement with a year, but frankly languages are complicated phenomena and I don’t think you’d become able to read textbooks and papers “quickly and efficiently” after just one year.

Three hours a day is always going to be better than two and worse than four. Your personal curve, of course, is going to depend very strongly on how smart you are and what kind of reading you do (active vs. passive), most of which are inborn traits which you’re just going to have to accept.

In your position, I would make a 9 my goal on the Verbal and really hope to demolish the other sections.