Thus, an MCAT passage contains about three times as much information for its length as does the original article. In addition to being dry and unfamiliar, MCAT passages often start in the middle of an explanation, so there is no point of reference. Furthermore, the passages are untitled, so you have to hit the ground running. A reading technique that is natural for one person can be awkward and unnatural for another person. However, it's hard to believe that many of the methods advocated in certain books could help anyone.
Some books recommend speed reading the passages.
This is a mistake. Speed reading is designed for ordinary, nontechnical material. As mentioned before, however, MCAT passages are dense. Most often, however, they are based on articles that have been condensed to about one-third their original length. Furthermore, the bulk of the time is spent answering the questions, not reading the passages.