Prose Multiple Choice Reflection

My task for the first multiple choice practice was to complete a section of 10 prose questions within a given time limit. After I took this assessment, I was given another 10 prose questions to gauge my current skills and shortcomings.

My initial goal was to simply answer each factual question correctly (and keep the hyperventilation to a minimum). When I got my scores back, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had gotten a 10/10 on both the pre and post assessments. 

For me, the most difficult questions were either analytical or inferential. In particular, I initially struggled to comprehend the characterization in the first prose passage, and I had to read it around three times before I could understand how to approach the questions. While this strategy did save me from making mistakes on the more difficult questions, I wasted a lot of time that could have been used other sections. In addition, I had difficulty with analytical questions regarding character portrayal and ironies in the text, and I was only able to narrow those questions down to two answers. Ultimately, I chose the right answers, but I could do better in interpreting characters and nuances in the text through the first reading, and not the third.

One technique that could help in improving my pace would be to "eliminate answers that are synonymous" (37). This logical reasoning would help me reduce time without losing the tedious examination needed for certain questions. I also want to begin working on questions in order. I notice that skipping around on questions can cause me to "lose [my] pace on the scan sheet" (37). Overall, I hope to work more efficiently next time, so that I can save enough time for harder passages.

Works Cited:
Murphy, Barbara L., and Estelle M. Rankin. 5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature 2018. McGraw-               Hill Education, 2017.