GRE Preparation Tips: Winning the Verbal Reasoning Section

Many candidates assume that being good at English Language assures top GRE Verbal Reasoning score. This is not true, GRE Verbal is not all about being proficient in English. Like any GRE exam section, it involves identifying strategies, vigorous practice, and patience to read long passages & so on. Of course being flawless in grammar and having a good diction is beneficial. In effect, the GRE Verbal section tests the candidate's proficiency in Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. Follow the tips for getting a great Verbal score: Understand What is expected: Get a hang of the format completely. The types of questions, number of questions in each category and similar information should be gathered first. Post that, devise a timetable to divide study time between each of these sections. Read Excessively: One of the basic requirements is to develop a reading habit. One that is wide in variety and not restricted to a particular genre. Reading a lot, regularly at that, from good resources is gainful in many ways. It improves reading speed, teaches new words, sharpens grammar and word usage, helps you to organize words in a coherent manner, and improves your general knowledge and so on. This is definitely a must for a good Verbal score. Avoid Assumptions: The reading passages are provided from eclectic sources. The passage presented to you may contain familiar or completely new information. In either case, do not assume any information that is not provided in the passage. This leads to wrong answers. Read the passage carefully and answer based on only what is given there. Be mechanical about it. Analyze Author’s Argument: Before you answer any questions from the Reading comprehension, try to identify what the author wants to convey. And mark the sentences which give you validation for his argument. Also, make a mental note of words which change the direction of a passage. Be on the lookout for important words which indicate author’s point of view. Understand the relationship between each paragraph and summarize the passage before you attempt the questionnaire. Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Words, and then Match with the Answer Options: In the Text Completion section, read the sentences completely first. Then, fill in the blanks with the words you think fit the best in the given context. Then match your words/synonyms with the ones provided in the answer options. If you look at answer options in advance, the words may appear similar and cause confusion. This leads to incorrect answers. Follow this from the time you start the test prep itself. Read the Text Again After Filling Blanks: The text should make complete grammatical and logical sense post your selection of answer. Insert these words and read the passage completely to ensure the same. Only then proceed to the next question. Improve Vocabulary: Sentence completion can be cracked with a good vocabulary. Learn new words daily by maintaining a word list. It is easier to learn new words and their synonyms by understanding the meaning of the word, how it is used and so on. This is more effective and reliable than plain mugging. Revise the new words on a periodic basis and start using them in your day to day lives for better retention.