Verbal Section in GRE General

The GRE® Verbal Reasoning section is a critical component of the exam, often seen as the most challenging due to its vast and unpredictable nature. The GRE® Verbal syllabus isn't confined to specific topics but spans a wide array of vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension skills. Effective GRE® Verbal Reasoning practice is essential, focusing on mastering GRE® vocabulary, understanding complex texts, and critically analyzing relationships between words and ideas.

To excel, familiarize yourself with the GRE® Verbal Reasoning score structure and the types of questions you'll encounter, such as reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence. Developing strategies for each question type is crucial for achieving a high score. Additionally, a thorough understanding of the GRE® Verbal section breakdown will help you manage your time effectively during the exam. With targeted GRE® Verbal Reasoning preparation, you can build the skills necessary to succeed in this challenging section.

Verbal Reasoning Section- Highlights

Structure of GRE® Verbal Reasoning Section

The GRE® Verbal section is a crucial part of the GRE® exam, assessing your ability to analyze and comprehend complex written material. This section consists of two subsections: the first contains 12 questions, and the second has 15 questions. As a computer-adaptive test, the difficulty level of the second subsection and your overall GRE® Verbal reasoning score depend on your performance in the first subsection.

You’ll have 18 minutes to complete the first subsection and 23 minutes for the second, making time management essential. Each subsection includes a mix of GRE® Verbal reasoning questions, such as Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.

To excel, focus on GRE® Verbal reasoning practice, familiarize yourself with the GRE® Verbal reasoning syllabus, and develop strategies for effective time management. Regular practice will improve your GRE® Verbal reasoning score and help you achieve your desired results.

Subsection 1

• Text Completion (3 questions): These questions require you to fill in the blanks within a passage using context clues and an understanding of vocabulary.
• Sentence Equivalence (4 questions): Here, you'll select two answers that create sentences with equivalent meaning, focusing on nuanced vocabulary usage.
• Reading Comprehension (5 questions): These questions assess your ability to understand and interpret passages on a variety of topics.

Subsection 2

• Text Completion (3-5 questions): These continue to challenge your vocabulary and context skills with more complex passages.
• Sentence Equivalence (3-4 questions): You’ll need to identify sentences that are semantically equivalent, using advanced vocabulary and grammar knowledge.
• Reading Comprehension (7-8 questions): This portion will test your ability to comprehend and critically analyze longer and more difficult passages.

By mastering these question types, you can enhance your performance in the GRE® Verbal section and achieve a competitive score. Focused practice on these elements, along with strategic time management, will help you succeed on test day.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Practice Test Free

GRE® Verbal Reasoning practice is essential for achieving a high score on the GRE® exam. This section tests your ability to analyze and understand written material, evaluate arguments, and identify relationships between words and concepts. To excel, focus on practicing various GRE® Verbal reasoning questions, including Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.

Effective GRE® Verbal reasoning practice involves building a strong vocabulary, improving reading comprehension skills, and mastering the strategies needed to tackle complex texts under time constraints. Utilize GRE® Verbal reasoning practice tests to familiarize yourself with the question formats and timing.

Consistent practice will help you identify areas for improvement, enhance your critical reading skills, and boost your confidence. By focusing on targeted GRE® Verbal reasoning preparation, you can significantly improve your performance and achieve a competitive GRE® Verbal reasoning score.

Geeksforgeeks is providing Free Verbal Practices:

GRE Verbal Reasoning Syllabus

To excel in the GRE® Verbal Reasoning section, it's essential to understand the different question types and develop effective strategies for each. This section assesses your ability to analyze written material, recognize relationships between concepts, and draw conclusions. Here's a breakdown of the key areas you'll encounter:

Text Completion

Text Completion questions evaluate your ability to interpret the overall sense of a passage and fill in missing words to maintain grammatical correctness and logical flow. These questions may involve one to five sentences with one to three blanks. Your goal is to select words that make the passage coherent and meaningful.

Example: Consider the sentence: "The artist's new work, while widely praised, was often criticized for its lack of ________."

• Possible options might include: originality, coherence, depth, clarity, or innovation.

Answering Strategies:

1. Read the entire passage to grasp its overall meaning.
2. Identify structural words like "although" or "moreover" that guide the sentence's logic.
3. Predict words that fit the blanks before looking at the answer choices.
4. Check the coherence of the completed sentence by reading it with your selected words.

Sentence Equivalence

Sentence Equivalence questions test your ability to select two words that complete a sentence with similar meaning. This type of question consists of one sentence with one blank and six answer options, from which you must choose two correct words.

Example: "The CEO's approach to the new policy was both _______ and effective."

• Potential answers might include: pragmatic, realistic, visionary, bold, strategic, cautious.

Answering Strategies:

1. Understand the sentence as a whole and predict what kind of word would fit.
2. Choose words that create sentences with equivalent meanings, even if the words themselves are not synonyms.
3. Use word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to infer meanings if you're unsure of certain options.
4. Re-read the sentence with your selected options to ensure they make sense.

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension questions assess your ability to understand, analyze, and interpret written passages. These passages cover a range of topics, from physical and biological sciences to social sciences and humanities. You'll encounter around 10 passages, most of which are one paragraph long.

Example: A passage might describe an experiment in the social sciences and ask you to identify the author's primary conclusion or the evidence supporting a particular argument.

Answering Strategies:

1. Start by reading the questions first to know what to look for in the passage.
2. Identify the main idea, scope, and purpose of the passage.
3. Differentiate between facts and opinions presented.
4. Consider all answer choices and avoid letting personal bias influence your selection.
5. Work within the context of the passage, using only the information provided.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Score

The GRE® Verbal Reasoning score is a crucial component of your overall GRE® exam performance, reflecting your ability to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate complex written material. Scored on a scale of 130 to 170, the GRE® Verbal Reasoning section is divided into two subsections, each contributing to your total score.

To achieve a high GRE® Verbal Reasoning score, focus on mastering the core question types, including Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. Effective preparation involves regular practice with GRE® Verbal Reasoning practice tests and developing strong critical reading skills.

Your GRE® Verbal Reasoning score is pivotal for graduate school admissions, and a high score can significantly enhance your application. Understanding your GRE® Verbal Reasoning score in the context of percentiles can also provide insights into your performance relative to other test-takers.

GRE Verbal Topics

Preparing for the GRE® Verbal Reasoning section requires a strong grasp of various grammar and language concepts. Here are some essential topics that are commonly tested, along with sample questions to help you practice effectively.

Modifiers and Parallelism in GRE® Verbal Reasoning

Modifiers and parallelism are critical in maintaining sentence structure and clarity. Incorrect usage can lead to confusing sentences, which the GRE® Verbal section tests you on.

Sample Question:The art studio is spacious, pleasantly cluttered, and has good lighting.

• and has good lighting
• and being well-lit
• and is lit well
• and well-lit
• and the lighting is good

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: The correct answer maintains parallelism with the other parts of the sentence ("spacious, pleasantly cluttered"). Parallelism is crucial for creating balanced and grammatically correct sentences.

Verbs and Tenses in GRE® Verbal Questions

Understanding the correct usage of verbs and tenses is essential for tackling GRE® Verbal questions. These questions often test your ability to use the correct verb forms to convey the appropriate time and action.

Sample Question:Bill ________ a new house.

• has just bought
• have just buy
• have just bought
• has just but

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: "Has just bought" is the correct present perfect form, indicating a recent action. Understanding verb forms and tenses is vital for answering these types of questions correctly.

Subject-Verb Agreement in GRE® Verbal Reasoning

Subject-verb agreement questions test your ability to ensure that the subject and verb in a sentence agree in number and person.

Sample Questions:

1. A group of students __ stopped from entering the college.
2. Tina and Mary __ were playing in the mud right now.
3. Not only the manager but the employees too __ a holiday for New Year.
4. My spectacles ___ broken.

Explanation: For each sentence, identify whether the subject is singular or plural and ensure the verb agrees accordingly.

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions in GRE® Verbal

Understanding idioms and their meanings is crucial for GRE® Verbal success, as these questions often appear in the context of sentence equivalence or reading comprehension.

Sample Question:The project did not appear to hold out bright prospects.

• highlight
• show
• offer
• promise

Correct Answer: C

Explanation: "Hold out" in this context means "offer." Knowing the meanings of common idioms helps in selecting the correct answer.

Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives in GRE® Verbal Reasoning

Correct usage of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives is fundamental for constructing clear and accurate sentences in the GRE® Verbal section.

Sample Question:Replace the words in brackets by the correct personal pronouns. Note that Sue is the person speaking. The () means that you are asked a question.*

My name is Sue. (Sue) ___________ am English. And this is my family.

Correct Answer: I

Explanation: "I" is the correct pronoun to replace "Sue," ensuring the sentence is personal and correct.

Pronoun Agreement in GRE® Verbal Questions

Pronoun agreement questions require you to select the correct pronoun that matches the antecedent in number, gender, and person.

Sample Question:What is unique about these category is their relation to these things that are taken on to add to a being’s natural capacities.

• What is unique about this category is its relation to those things that are taken on
• What is unique about this category is its relation to them things which are taken on
• What is unique about those category is it's relation to those things which are taken on
• What is unique about these category is their relation to these things that are taken on

Correct Answer: A

Explanation: "This category is its relation" is the correct choice as it maintains agreement in number and makes the sentence grammatically correct.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Preparation

The GRE® Verbal Reasoning section is scored on a scale of 130-170, with 1-point increments. While no partial credit is given for any questions, your percentile score is crucial for university admissions. A high percentile indicates you performed better than the majority of test-takers, which is what universities primarily consider.

For example, scoring in the 90th percentile means you performed better than 90% of those who took the test, placing you in the top 10%.

GRE® Verbal Target Score

Achieving a competitive GRE® Verbal score is crucial for gaining admission to prestigious programs. Understanding the average GRE® Verbal scores required by top universities helps you set realistic goals and strategize your preparation effectively. Aiming for a score over 160 is ideal for most applicants, though many reputable institutions accept scores around 150 or above. However, keep in mind that GRE® Verbal scores alone do not determine your admission chances—your percentile rank, overall application, and program-specific requirements also play significant roles.

Below is a comprehensive table showcasing the average GRE® Verbal scores for applicants admitted to various universities:

Key Takeaways for GRE® Verbal Preparation

• Score Range: Aim for a GRE® Verbal score above 160 to increase your chances of admission to top-tier programs. However, many good universities accept scores in the 150-159 range.
• Percentile Score: Focus on your percentile rank, as it indicates how you compare to other test-takers. The higher your percentile, the better your application will stand out.
• Consistent Practice: Regular practice and preparation are essential for improving your GRE® Verbal score. Utilize high-quality prep materials, including practice tests, vocabulary drills, and reading comprehension exercises.
• University Research: Check the average GRE® scores for your target programs over the past five years to set a realistic score target.

GRE® Verbal Practice Tests

When preparing for the GRE®, the Verbal Reasoning section often poses a significant challenge due to its complex vocabulary, intricate sentence structures, and demanding reading comprehension passages. To excel in this section, consistent practice with GRE® Verbal Practice Tests is essential. These practice tests help you familiarize yourself with the question types, improve your time management, and identify areas that need more focus.

Why GRE® Verbal Practice Tests Are Crucial for Success

1. Simulate Real Exam Conditions: GRE® Verbal practice tests replicate the actual exam environment, helping you get accustomed to the pressure and pacing required to perform well on test day.
2. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: Regular practice allows you to pinpoint specific areas where you excel and areas that require further improvement, whether it's vocabulary, sentence equivalence, or reading comprehension.
3. Improve Time Management: The GRE® Verbal section is time-sensitive, with only 30 minutes allotted for each of the two sections. Practice tests teach you how to allocate your time effectively across different question types.
4. Enhance Vocabulary and Critical Reading Skills: Engaging in regular practice helps you build a stronger vocabulary and develop sharper critical reading skills, which are essential for tackling GRE® Verbal questions.
5. Track Progress and Set Goals: By taking multiple practice tests over time, you can track your progress and adjust your study plan to meet your target score.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Section Practice Test

The GRE test format for Verbal Reasoning broadly consists of three different categories of questions that are divided into two sections of 30 minutes each and they are:

• Reading Comprehension
• Text Completion
• Sentence Equivalence