| Many law enforcement candidates react to | | | | important information is located. |
| reading comprehension questions by thinking, "This | | | | 3. Without fail there will be one or more questions |
| part of the test is going to really slow me down." | | | | asking you to identify the main idea. Usually a |
| And, to a degree this part of the test will slow | | | | passage will have a few sentences stating the |
| you down. However, if you follow the strategies | | | | author's main idea. While reading, underline these |
| described in this article you will be able to | | | | sentences. This will save you valuable time. |
| complete your test at a steady pace and gain | | | | 4. Underline key words, phrases and facts, such |
| valuable points. | | | | as dates, names and events. |
| Most police entrance exams emphasize reading | | | | 5. If you are totally confused by a sentence or |
| comprehension. Why? Because to properly | | | | phrase in the passage, read the sentence before |
| perform their jobs, law enforcement officers are | | | | and after the difficult sentence to clarify its |
| expected to understand and comprehend what | | | | meaning. If you're still confused, move on. Don't |
| they read. | | | | dwell too long or you'll lose valuable time. |
| Reading comprehension questions will typically be | | | | 6. Try to visualize by forming a mental picture of |
| based on one or more situational paragraphs, or | | | | the events described in the passage as you read. |
| require a candidate to determine the proper | | | | When you are able to visualize something, it's |
| course of action to take based on reading police | | | | easier to comprehend. |
| rules and procedures. | | | | 7. Answer the questions based on the information |
| Firstly, I would suggest you do a lot of reading | | | | in the passage, not prior knowledge. If you don't |
| before taking the test. Newspaper and magazine | | | | agree with something stated in the passage this is |
| articles can improve your concentration and your | | | | not the time to argue your point. Remember your |
| ability to understand what you read. Read with | | | | goal is to get the highest score. In this part of the |
| purpose. Underscore details and ideas that appear | | | | test, you are being tested on your ability to read |
| crucial to the meaning of the articles. Identify the | | | | and comprehend, not your knowledge of the |
| writer's point of view and their supporting | | | | subject. |
| information. When you finish with an article, | | | | Do's and Don'ts |
| summarize it. Ask yourself, what was the author's | | | | Do read actively, not passively. Pause briefly after |
| purpose in writing the article? What was the main | | | | each paragraph to think about the points made by |
| idea. What was the article's focus, key information | | | | the author. Jot down a brief outline as you go. |
| and words? | | | | Don't get too concerned with details as you read |
| Another suggestion is to take practice law | | | | a passage, especially long passages. Just take |
| enforcement exams. The best practice exams will | | | | notes of where the details were in the passage. |
| include reading comprehension sections taken | | | | You can quickly list statistics, numbers, dates, |
| directly from actual exams used by law | | | | names titles, etc. |
| enforcement agencies. | | | | Do pay attention to the passage structure. Is it |
| Here are seven proven strategies to help you | | | | organized chronologically, by comparison of two or |
| pass the reading comprehension part of the law | | | | more arguments, or was there some other |
| enforcement written exam: | | | | classification system? This will help you locate |
| 1. Skim the answers before reading the passage. | | | | details later. |
| This will let you know what to look for while | | | | Do summarize the passage. Take a few seconds |
| reading. As you read the passage, mark or circle | | | | to recap the main idea of the passage. This may |
| anything that answers a question. Continue reading | | | | help you answer several questions quickly. |
| that passage until you're done. Don't answer the | | | | In summary, if you follow these simple tips and |
| question until you've read the entire passage | | | | strategies you will find reading comprehension test |
| because you'll break your concentration. | | | | questions far easier to answer correctly. |
| 2. Ask yourself after you read a paragraph, | | | | Remember read with purpose. By far the most |
| "What exactly did that paragraph say?" Spend a | | | | effective method to help you hone your skills and |
| couple of seconds summarizing the contents of | | | | build your confidence, besides reading newspaper |
| the paragraph. While doing this look at the | | | | and magazine articles, is to take actual practice |
| paragraph to help you remember where | | | | exams used by law enforcement agencies. |