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byCollegedunia Team Content Curator
GMAT does not directly test your vocabulary skills. Having a good GMAT vocabulary preparation will help you to answer effectively verbal reasoning questions. The verbal reasoning section has 23 reading comprehension and critical reasoning questions. If you spend much time-solving complex words and phrases, good GMAT vocabulary practice can help you save time. Your GMAT verbal reasoning practice should focus on vocabulary, grammar rules, and logical reasoning. Practice regularly with GMAT vocabulary list to learn new words and use them in your answers and everyday life. Your verbal reasoning score ranges from 60 to 90, and the total score ranges from 205 to 805. Achieving a score above 645 is recommended for the top-ranked universities worldwide. You can start your GMAT vocabulary preparation by reading books, using prep apps, and solving more sample papers.
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GMAT Vocabulary Strategies
While preparing for GMAT vocabulary, you will need to understand both the content of the passages and how to answer the related questions. In GMAT, you will face 23 verbal reasoning questions. For the ones who need help in GMAT vocabulary, here are four steps to prepare vocab for GMAT exam:
Read Magazines and Newspapers with Similar Language to GMAT Vocabulary
The verbal reasoning syllabus includes 2 sections; reading comprehension and critical reasoning. GMAT Reading Comprehension passages involve a variety of topics, including:
| Biology | Astronomy | American History | European History |
| Economics | Environment Science | Physics | Human Resource Management |
In addition to working through actual GMAT passages, test-takers can also read publications like Scientific American, Financial Times, The Economist, and Bloomberg Businessweek to get comfortable with the writing styles that appear on GMAT. These magazines often contain composition and language found in certain texts and case studies that you may encounter in your MBA program. So, understanding this GMAT vocabulary can help not only on the exam but also in business school. Get your hands on a few GMAT verbal books to boost your learn more vocabulary words:
Make a GMAT Vocabulary List
Try to write down every word that you are unfamiliar with in a separate list. Then, write down the definition of each word on the list. As you go through the exam, you will notice these words appearing in multiple places on GMAT. For Instance, the word “species” is often included in both GMAT Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions. The words “prime,” “median,” “mean,” and “reciprocal” are found in many Problem-solving and Data Sufficiency questions. Words like “consumption,” “dramatically,” “proliferation,” and “yield” are common words that can help you better understand what areas you can work to improve on. Once you know what these words mean, studying for GMAT syllabus becomes much easier.
Use GMAT Vocabulary Flashcards
From your list of unfamiliar words, write one word on one side of an index card. On the other side of GMAT vocabulary flashcard, write the definition in your own words. Test yourself on 5–10 words per day, eliminating words once you are confident that you know them. Continue using GMAT vocabulary flashcards PDF practice as you study from official GMAT material and encounter more words you don’t know. This will keep the words in your head and help you process GMAT passages and questions more efficiently.
Practice With Sample Papers and Official Resources
Go through each section of the exam, and look at the questions you answered correctly or incorrectly. This will help you learn the language of GMAT. While GMAT preparation, take a full-length GMAT mock test. Then, review your results. Familiarize yourself with the types of words used in each of the sections, including Quantitative and Integrated Reasoning, and identify the words that you did not understand.
GMAT Vocabulary List
Improving your vocabulary list for GMAT will help you to answer questions and your daily life communication. You can effectively prepare and learn new vocabulary by taking more GMAT verbal practice tests. Here is a list of words that you come across while preparing for GMAT.
| Analyze: To examine something (usually a passage or argument, in the context of GMAT) and break it down into its constituent parts; to inspect in detail. The Analytical Writing Assessment asks you to analyze and critique a given argument. | Assertion: A statement, usually backed up by some kind of solid proof or reasoning. Synonyms include ‘claim’ and ‘contention.’ |
| Assumption: The underlying reasoning of an argument. ‘Premise’ is a synonym. You’ll be asked about the assumptions of various arguments frequently in Critical Reasoning questions in the Verbal section. | Cite: To refer back to your source or reasoning. |
| Claim: An assertion, argument, or statement. | Contention: Can mean a conflict or clash. In the context of GMAT, it usually refers to an argument or assertion, especially a controversial one. The verb form is ‘to contend.’ |
| Corroborate: To support or validate an existing opinion, belief, or argument. Other synonyms include ‘verify’ and ‘confirm.’ Often used in the phrase ‘corroborating evidence.’ | Faulty: Some Critical Reasoning questions may ask you if or how an argument is faulty. Faulty is a synonym for ‘flawed’ or ‘invalid.’ An argument is faulty if there’s a gap in its logic, or if the conclusion doesn't flow logically from its premise. |
| Imply: To imply is to suggest based on evidence (but not state explicitly). The adjective form is ‘implicit,’ which is the opposite of ‘explicit’ (overt or clear). Many students get confused between ‘imply’ and ‘infer.’ They are similar, but not exactly alike. An inference is a conclusion we can reasonably draw based on given evidence. An implication is a strong suggestion that is not directly stated. | Infer/Inference: To infer is to conclude based on given evidence/information. When a Critical Reasoning question asks you to draw a conclusion based on a passage, it is asking you to make an inference. |
| Maintain: In the context of GMAT, ‘maintain’ means to argue, assert, or contend, particularly repeatedly or after opposition. | Mitigate: To lessen, diminish, or render less extreme or severe. Often used in the phrase ‘mitigating circumstances,’ which refers to circumstances that make a crime more understandable but don’t entirely exonerate someone of his/her crime. |
| Paradox: This is common in Critical Reasoning questions on the Verbal section. A paradox is something that is seemingly contradictory or doesn’t make sense, or two facts that don’t seem to coexist logically. The clues that a GMAT question may be asking you to identify a paradox are words like ‘discrepancy’ and ‘contradiction.’ | Posit: To posit is to present an argument or hypothesis about something that is currently unknown or uncertain. |
| Premise: A premise is a statement upon which an argument or theory is based. | Redundancy: ‘Redundancy’ refers to something (a word, phrase, or piece of information) that’s repetitive and thus meaningless or unnecessary. It comes up most commonly in Sentence Correction questions, which ask you to eliminate redundancy in the answer choice you choose. |
| Sufficient: Data Sufficiency questions, on the Quant section, ask you if a given piece of information is ‘sufficient’ to solve a problem or complete an equation. ‘Sufficient,’ in the context of GMAT, means ‘enough on its own.’ In other words, could you answer this question or solve this problem or equation with only that numerical value or piece of information? | Undermine: To weaken or invalidate (usually an argument, in the context of GMAT). |
| Validate: Often used interchangeably with ‘corroborate.’ | Warranted: ‘Warranted’ means justified, deserved, or necessary. |
GMAT vocabulary Apps
GMAT vocabulary apps are very essential for verbal reasoning preparation. GMAT online classes and apps provide flexible learning time and a user-friendly interface. Here is a list of apps that you must follow to ace your vocab for GMAT Verbal Section:
- Manhattan Prep GMAT
- Ready4 GMAT (Prep 4 GMAT)
- GMAT Exam Prep (Pocket Prep, Inc.)
- Economist GMAT Tutor
- GMAT Prep Course (Veritas Prep)
Incorporate GMAT vocabulary list into daily reading and actively engage with challenging words. Explore online resources like GMAT prep websites and apps for effective vocabulary practice. Focus on learning manageable amounts of new vocabulary daily and implement them in your answers.
FAQs
Ques: Is vocabulary needed for GMAT?
Ans: GMAT does not directly test your vocabulary skills. Solving GMAT verbal reasoning section effectively required good grammatical knowledge. GMAT reading comprehension and critical reasoning section includes 23 questions and tests your grammatical knowledge.
Ques: How to prepare for verbal ability for GMAT?
Ans: To improve your verbal abilities, allocate enough time for preparation, read the most updated books, practice vocabulary with apps, and take regular practice tests.
Ques: How can I improve my vocabulary for GMAT?
Ans: To improve your vocabulary skills, you need to start reading newspapers and magazines. Make a list of important vocabulary words, use flashcards, and join apps for better practices. Take verbal reasoning practice tests regularly to improve your score range.
Ques: Is GMAT verbal tough?
Ans: Your skills in reading and comprehending, evaluating arguments, and expressing ideas are tested in the verbal reasoning section. Candidates who are weak in grammar can find the verbal reasoning section tough. Practice regularly with sample papers, read books, and use apps for a good verbal reasoning score.
Ques: Is GMAT easy for Indian students?
Ans: GMAT exam syllabus is designed to evaluate candidates’ verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and data insights sections according to real-world business scenarios. Indian students with good academic skills and effective practice can achieve higher scores.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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