GRE Verbal Reasoning: Question Type, Topics, Score, and Preparation tips
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GRE Verbal Reasoning: Question Type, Topics, Score, and Preparation tips

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Collegedunia Team

Content Curator | Updated On - Jun 20, 2024

GRE verbal reasoning questions ask the candidates to analyze and answer about the passage or fill in the blanks on a sentence or a paragraph by using appropriate words provided as options. In Verbal Reasoning test of GRE, you need to read passages, understand the meanings of words and phrases, perceive the author’s perspective and synthesize information accordingly. There are three types of GRE Verbal Reasoning questions you need to answer, which require analytical and interpretative reasoning. Check out official GRE verbal reasoning practice questions available online, which will help you get a high GRE Verbal Reasoning score.

How to score 160 in GRE Verbal Reasoning

 GRE Verbal Reasoning Section of GRE General test contributes to half of the total GRE score. GRE Verbal score around 160 is equivalent to 90-95 percentile. You will need to solve GRE verbal practice questions every day to reach your goal. The following are a few GRE Verbal Reasoning techniques:

  • When weighing your options for answer follow the elimination process
  • Solve GRE verbal practice questions rigorously.
  • Increase your GRE vocabulary
  • In text completion, questions do not jump to conclusions just because the words match.
  • When answering GRE sentence equivalence questions, do not assume that synonyms are correct answers because the meaning needs to be the same.
  • When answering reading comprehension, multiple-choice questions, choose your options carefully. Paraphrasing will help you in this part.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Exam Pattern

GRE verbal section has 40 questions to attempt in 60 minutes. There are three types of questions in the GRE verbal reasoning section: reading comprehension, sentence equivalence, and text completion. Each GRE verbal section contains 5-7 reading passages of different lengths with 10-13 related questions. Solve GRE Verbal Reasoning practice tests to get accustomed to the question patterns.

Also check GRE Verbal 10 days preparation plan

GRE Verbal Reasoning Syllabus

GRE Verbal Reasoning syllabus involves three questions:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Sentence Equivalence
  • Text Completion

Also check GRE Preparation Time

GRE Verbal Reasoning Topics

You must follow the online websites for GRE verbal topics 2023. You will get various GRE verbal reasoning practice questions available online. GRE verbal type of questions are usually on the following topics:

  • Modifiers and Parallelism
  • Verbs and Tenses
  • Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
  • Nouns, Pronouns, and Adjectives
  • Pronoun Agreement

GRE Verbal Reasoning Question Types

The three types of GRE Verbal questions are reading comprehension, text completion, and sentence equivalence. Half of the questions need you to read and comprehend and answer the attached questions. The other half of the questions require you to read and interpret the given passage to complete sentences or paragraphs.

Also check Reading comprehension strategies

GRE Reading Comprehension Question Types

Reading comprehension of GRE verbal section contains mainly three types of questions:

  • Multiple choice questions with five options and only one correct answer. You need to find information from the passage.
  • Multiple choice questions with three options where you need to select all the correct answers. You will need to compare thoughts and ideas and draw conclusions.
  • Select the correct sentence within the passage which matches the given description
  • Find out the connection between the highlighted sentence and the given options.
  • Find out how the bolded and un-bolded parts of the passage are related.
GRE Reading Comprehension Sample Question

Answer Key: Question 1- (E), Question 2- (A) and (C), and Question 3- (the last sentence of the passage)

Also check Text completion Tips

GRE Text Completion Question Types

  • The reading passage of GRE text completion of the verbal section contains one to five sentences.
  • Single blanked questions contain 5 answer choices
  • Double blanked questions contain 3 answer choice
  • Triple blanked questions contain 3 answer choices
  • Only one answer is correct for each blank.
  • You may select the same answer for multiple blanks.
GRE Text Completion Sample Question

Answer Key: Option A (i), Option E (ii), and Option I (iii).

Also check Sentence Equivalence GRE Tips

GRE Verbal Reasoning Question Types Sentence Equivalence

  • Sentence Equivalence of GRE Verbal Reasoning comprises only one sentence and one blank.
  • There are six answer options given and you need to select two.
  • If only one option is chosen, you are not given any marks.
GRE Sentence Equivalence Sample Question

Answer Key: Choice D and F

GRE Verbal Reasoning Score

The score of GRE verbal is reported on a scale of 130-170 with 1 point increment. The average score in GRE verbal is 149.97. In terms of percentile, 80-90% or higher score in GRE verbal is helpful for admission in the renowned colleges in the world.

In the following table check the GMAT score and their equivalent percentiles:

Verbal Score Percentile
130
135 3
140 12
145 27
150 48
155 69
160 86
165 96
170 99

Above 160 GRE verbal scores happens to be the most acceptable scores for the world’s top B-Schools.

How GRE Verbal Score is Calculated?

GRE verbal reasoning is section-level adaptive and the score of verbal contributes equally towards the final GRE score like the score of GRE quant section. To calculate the GRE verbal score, the raw score is the score is first calculated. Raw points are based on the number of correct answers.

This raw score is converted into a scaled score with the help of ‘equating’ process where the total number of questions, number of correct answers, difficulty level, and accuracy levels are considered.

Obtaining a good score in GRE verbal is necessary for admission to the best B-schools in the world and for this, a strong GRE vocabulary will be needed. Along with this, GRE Verbal practice is necessary for in-depth preparation. Along with these, GRE verbal preparation tips can help the candidates to stay one step ahead.

GRE Verbal Reasoning Preparation Tips

Solving GRE verbal practice test online helps you in preparation for GRE Verbal. Consult GRE verbal books too. Here are a few GRE English preparation tips:

  • Read English magazines, newspaper articles, and practice paraphrasing.
  • Learn new words and phrases and their meanings every day.
  • Manage your time well: Solve the easy and known questions first.
  • Do not skip any part of the reading passage.
  • If one or more answers are correct in a question, remember to mark all possible answers.
  • After solving official GRE verbal reasoning practice questions, review your mistakes and work on them.
  • Avoid making the same mistakes every time, and you will be good to go.

*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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