GRE Verbal Reasoning

GRE verbal reasoning focuses on English level and logic skills. It contains three question types:

• Reading Comprehension
• Text Completion
• Sentence Equivalence

Reading comprehension questions emphasize logical or reasoning, which tests the ability to understand context. You need to figure out the meanings stated or implied in the passage to answer questions correctly.

In general, you have to read the passage at first and catch up the main idea, test points such as the author's tone and attitude, and structure of context. When you answer questions, you usually need to scroll fore and back to check the relevant point in the text.

Reading comprehension is of half score in the whole verbal reasoning test, one-fifth of which test critical reasoning abilities.

Exercises of reading comprehension

Tips for Reading comprehension questions The passages in Reading Comprehension vary in length from short extracts, one or two minutes to read, to small essay, three or four minutes to read. In general, you have to answer questions after completing the reading, and each question costs about one minute. In most cases, GRE passages will not have more than four questions per passage.

In GRE verbal reasoning, a quarter of score is from Text completion questions. Each test completion question contains one, two, or three blanks, and test-takers need to finish the sentence by best answers. The final verdict should make logical sense match with context and in-built clues.

Exercises of text completion

Tips for Text completion questions On average, test-takers need to answer each question in about 1 minute. So you shouldn't spend more than 2 minutes on one question. For any questions that you are not sure, take notes, and only review them if you have spare time.

Sentence Equivalence questions require test-takers to complete sentences by selecting two right words or phrases in options. The two selections should make a sentence with the SAME overall meaning. Both choices must be correct; in other words, you cannot get score if only one choice is right.

Exercises of sentence equivalence

Tips for Sentence equivalence questions When you see a blank to fill out, just as regular text reading, you should read the context carefully and try to fit the blank with your word. Once you are sure of the overall meaning of the sentence, begin to look at the available options.

Because you need to get two same meaning sentence, you should notice synonyms, or at least closely similar words. If the possible candidates are more than two among options, you should ensure that the words make logical sense once you insert it in the blank.

Practice to enhance your reading skills, especially to understand the intention of sentence quickly. Look for clue words that help to understand. For example, 'but' and 'however' show changes or contrasts, whereas 'and' and 'moreover' lead similar ideas.

Both Text Completion and Sentence equivalence questions are heavily relied on English vocabulary skill. Excellent vocabulary level helps very much for Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions. These two types account for more than half of questions in verbal reasoning. It is the reason we recommend to take vocabulary building as the first job of GRE preparation.

There are many ways to enrich English vocabulary. To work efficiently, you had better study under guiding of tutor. If you used to teach-self, you should evaluate your current level correctly and get the right word list. For example, some word list includes synonyms that are particularly helpful for Text Completion questions.

You may get latest and official information of GRE Verbal Reasoning from Verbal Reasoning Measure.