In GMAT Reading Comprehension, what you don’t write can be just as important as what you do write. Many test-takers find themselves frantically scribbling notes, only to realize they’ve spent 4-5 precious minutes writing down information they never use. As part of our GMAT RC notetaking series, this article focuses on the three critical mistakes that waste time and hinder comprehension.
Think of your GMAT RC notes like a GPS route – following the wrong path not only wastes time but can lead you further from your destination. By avoiding these three common notetaking traps, you can:
- Save 2-3 minutes per passage
- Reduce mental clutter that clouds understanding
- Focus on what helps answer questions
- Maintain momentum while reading
Whether you’re just starting your GMAT preparation or looking to optimize your RC strategy, understanding what NOT to do is often the fastest way to improve. Let’s dive into the three notetaking habits you need to eliminate from your RC practice.
1 The Three Don’ts of Strategic Notetaking
Knowing what to write is just as important as knowing what not to write. These three don’ts will help you avoid the common note-taking traps that waste time and cloud understanding.
1.1 DON’T #1: Write Complete Sentences or Paraphrase
The most common mistake GMAT test-takers make is turning their notepad into a mini-transcript of the passage. While it might feel reassuring to write everything down, this approach typically adds 2-3 minutes to your solving time without improving your accuracy.
Why It’s Problematic:
- Takes 2-3 minutes to write yet adds no analytical value
- Creates a mental block by keeping you in “copying” mode
- Wastes mental energy on rephrasing rather than understanding
- Forces you to process the same information twice without any value-add
1.2 DON’T#2: Note Down Details, Explanations, or Examples
GMAT RC passages are strategically structured: main ideas form the skeleton, while details, explanations, and examples add flesh to the argument. However, questions rarely test these supporting elements. Writing them down is like photographing every street sign on a journey when all you need is the main route.
Why It’s Problematic:
- Drowns key points in a sea of details (making them harder to find later)
- Splits your attention between main ideas and supporting evidence
- Takes 30-40 seconds to write details that appear in <10% of questions
- Creates confusion during question-solving about what’s important
1.3 DON’T#3: Write Without Purpose
Writing notes “just in case” is like taking random photos during a journey without knowing what you’re trying to capture. Every note on your paper should serve as a strategic marker for understanding or answering questions. Avoid the “this might be important” mentality.
Why It’s Problematic:
- Notes without purpose create mental clutter that slows down question-solving
- Vague observations fail to capture relationships between ideas
- No clear hierarchy means spending extra time determining what’s important while answering questions
- Creates false confidence (“I wrote a lot, so I must understand it”)
- Makes it harder to spot the author’s main argument and supporting logic
2 SEEING IT IN ACTION
2.1 Passage:
Menacingly prevalent, the common description of the phenomenon of neo-tribal digitalism entails a schismatic online/offline behavioral split, in which digital authenticity, virtual community bonds, shared digital rituals, collaborative creativity, and dedication to online identities emerge alongside an ineluctable detachment from physical social connections, which participants often dismiss as superficial and/or lacking genuine resonance.
2.2 Example of Bad Notetaking (Illustrating All Three DON’Ts):
- Talks about digitalism (purposeless observation)
- The common description of neo-tribal digitalism says that people form strong bonds… (complete sentence)
- Digital activities: authenticity, bonds, rituals, creativity, online identities (unnecessary details)
- Something about online vs offline behavior (vague note)
- The author uses complex words (purposeless observation)
- Seems negative, but not sure (unclear purpose)
2.3 Quick Fix:
- NTD → online bonds ↑, real bonds ↓ = NOT author’s view (Shows key relationship, uses abbreviations, focuses on the main argument)
- Opening phrase = author’s view (Show the author’s viewpoint)
2.4 Time Impact:
- Bad approach: 2-3 minutes writing unfocused notes
- Strategic approach: 15-20 seconds
- Net time saved: ~2 minutes per passage
- Mental energy saved: Priceless for tackling questions
3 KEY TAKEAWAYS
3.1 Notes Are Your Compass, Not Your Camera
Don’t try to capture everything – your notes should point you in the right direction, not reproduce the passage. Remember: if you’re writing complete sentences or paraphrasing, you’re doing it wrong.
3.2 Main Ideas > Supporting Details
The passage will always be there for reference. Your notes should only capture what moves the argument forward, not the evidence that supports it. When in doubt, leave the details out.
3.3 Purpose is Everything
Every mark on your paper should serve a clear purpose for answering questions. Don’t write if you can’t explain why you’re writing something down.
In GMAT RC, effective notetaking isn’t about writing less – it’s about writing right. Each unnecessary mark costs you time and mental energy that should be spent understanding the passage and answering questions. By avoiding these three DON’Ts, you’ll transform your notes from a time-consuming transcript into a strategic tool that gets the job done. Start implementing these strategies in your next practice session, and watch your RC performance improve.
Let us know if you have any specific questions about your notetaking habits. You can share your notes in the comments section below for our review and feedback.
