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Content Writer - Study Abroad | Updated On - Jun 19, 2024
GRE text completion is an important part of the verbal reasoning section. GRE Text Completion tests your reading comprehension. Verbal reasoning passages with missing words (blanks) challenge you to infer the missing information based on context. Analyzing the overall idea, key phrases, and logical flow is crucial. Answer filling blank questions strategically and ensure your choices are coherent and meaningful. Effective GRE text completion tips for preparation include improving your grammatical and vocabulary skills. Focus on understanding the overall message and key phrases. Solving regular GRE text completion practice questions can lead you to a higher verbal reasoning score.
Tips for GRE Text Completion
Before going to the tips section, let’s understand the questions in brief. The candidates can expect 6 text completion questions in each section of GRE verbal. There can be
- Single blanked text completion
- Double blank text completion
- Triple blanked text completion
Irrespective of the number of blanks, there is no chance of partial marking. For each blank, 3-5 answer options will be given from which the candidates have to pick the correct one. The answer option often looks similar, or sometimes they have similar meanings too. The following tips can help them here:
Read First and Consider all the Answer Choices
For each and every gap, checking all the answer options will be the smartest idea. The candidates often tend to skip the remaining options if the first answer option seems correct.
For the single blanked questions, it may not be an issue but for multi-blanked questions, it is a serious issue. A candidate may mark the answer of the first blank without checking all the options, but when they reach the second or third blank, the meaning of the sentence becomes unclear because the answer option selected in the first blank is wrong.
It takes more time to go back to the first gap to check all the answers, and then pick the correct one, and again come back to the second gap. Therefore, we ask the candidates to read the questions along with all the provided answer options before marking the answers.
Also, check out: GRE Sentence Equivalence Preparation Tips
Answer the Second or Third Gap First
The correct answer option for the first blank of the multi-blanked GRE text completion questions happens to be a difficult one. That’s why we suggest the candidates find out the answer to the second or the third blank. To do so, they need to break the sentences into 2-3 small parts and find out the correct answer.
Answering is always up to the candidates, so they can follow their own sequence here.
Break the Sentence
The text completion questions with 2–3 blanks come with a long sentence. As a result, it becomes more and more difficult to understand the question. We suggest the test-takers to break the sentence in parts to answer the questions easily. Breaking the sentence also clears the meaning of the sentence. Also, finding out the best and befitting answer option becomes easier.
While solving the question after breaking it, leave the part, which appears the most difficult, for last. Maybe, there is a difficult word or phrase, and you have not understood the meaning of it clearly – do it later, solve the easy blanks first. Guessing the answers can improve your chances of getting a higher GRE score.
Put it Together To Get a Compact and Meaningful Sentence
While answering, it is alight to break the sentence in parts. But, before moving on to the next question, the candidates must read the sentence with the selected answer options at least once to make sure that the selected answer options make sense in the sentence and provides meaning. Make sure the sentence is logically and grammatically correct.
Understand the Connecting Words to Sense the Tone of the Next Part
While answering, look for the sentence structures - look for connecting words like “and”, “but” “however”, “though”, “although”, “contrarily” and others like these. These words or phrases defies the tone of the part followed by. These phrases do help to find out the correct answer.
The terms like “and”, “also”, “plus”, “additionally”, and “along with that” indicate a similar tone with the previous part. The terms like “but”, “yet”, “however”, “on the other side”, and “though” indicate a contradictory tone with the previous part. This technique is also called understanding the signal words, and it is an excellent way to answer the text completion questions of GRE exam pattern correctly.
Insert Own Words
After breaking the sentence into parts, the candidates can insert their own words to complete the sentence roughly. Once the sentence seems complete, they can look for the synonyms of the words they used for the blank.
Use the Elimination Method
When all the answer options are too close and candidates are finding extreme difficulty to find the correct one, the elimination method can be a real help. In this matter, eliminate the less befitting answer option.
Enhance your Vocabulary
Learn new words daily – this is not a trick; rather, it is a way to master GRE verbal section with ease. Not just the words! Learn the phrases, idioms for a compact knowledge of vocabulary. A good vocabulary and grammatical knowledge can lead you to a good GRE score.
Don’t Waste Time
Remember GRE sentence completion questions; irrespective of the number of blanks, carry the same point. So do not give more time to the questions with multiple blanks.
In case, you have answer one blank correctly and stuck in the 2nd or 3rd blank, it is better to guess the answer and move to the next when you are unsure of the correct answer. It is because it will be a waste of time. You can invest this time on other questions where you are sure of the credit points.
GRE text completion questions are definitely tricky in nature, but having an enhanced vocabulary is definitely an advantage here. It is not that this section is not doable – it is doable, but proper GRE verbal practice is needed with the application of the GRE verbal tricks.
FAQs
Ques: How to get better at GRE text completion?
Ans: Focus on building vocabulary and understanding sentence structure. Practice breaking down sentences, identifying connecting words, and using the elimination method to get better at GRE text completion.
Ques: How many text completion questions in GRE?
Ans: You can expect 6 text completion questions per GRE verbal section, with single, double, or triple blanks. Practice GRE verbal sample papers for better understanding.
Ques: How to answer text completion questions?
Ans: Read the entire question with all answer choices. Consider tackling the second or third blank first by breaking down the sentence. Ensure your chosen words create a logical and grammatically correct sentence.
Ques: What is the best guessing strategy for the GRE?
Ans: If unsure, eliminate wrong answer choices and guess among the remaining options. Don't waste time; move on if necessary.
Ques: How to memorize 1,000 words for GRE?
Ans: You can memorize 100 words by using flashcards, and spaced repetition apps, and actively use new words in reading or conversation. Consistency is key.
Ques: How to increase GRE by 10 points?
Ans: Developing a personalized study plan, practicing consistently with timed tests, and analyzing your mistakes to target weaknesses can help you to increase GRE by 10 points.
Ques: What is the difference between GRE sentence equivalence and text completion?
Ans: GRE sentence equivalence asks you to find two words that create similar meanings to a highlighted phrase. Text completion involves filling in blanks within a sentence.
Ques: Is it easy to get 320 in GRE?
Ans: A score of 320 is above average. It depends on your academic skills, preparation, and time management skills. On average, 2 to 3 months of effective preparation requires achieving a higher score.
Ques: How to learn GRE Text completion?
Ans: Practice with real GRE text completion questions, analyze answer choices, and understand how vocabulary and sentence structure work together to convey meaning.
Ques: What is a good GRE verbal score?
Ans: GRE verbal scores range from 130 to 170, you need to achieve a minimum score of 155+ to get admission to some of the top-ranked universities worldwide.
*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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