How to Master the GRE Verbal Reasoning Section

Published on: 27 January 2021 Last Updated on: 24 December 2024

The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) assesses a graduate school applicant’s aptitude. They range from verbal skills and mathematical skills necessary to succeed in their higher education.

Test-takers work through five total sections: one Analytical Writing, two Quantitative Reasoning, and two Verbal Reasoning sections.

Especially if you don’t have a background in a writing and reading-intensive discipline. Plus, the Verbal Reasoning portion of the exam can be quite challenging.

Many GRE test-takers don’t know where to get started with improving their reading comprehension skills.

What is Verbal Reasoning?

According to the official GRE website, the Verbal Reasoning section “assesses your ability to evaluate and analyze with written material.

Then it checks how you synthesize information you obtain through analyzing relationships within sentences and recognize relationships among words.

The two Verbal Reasoning sections of the exam have 30 questions each and give test-takers 20 minutes to complete them.

They include the following types of questions to test the skill sets described above:

1. Reading Comprehension Questions

Throughout the Verbal Reasoning section, test-takers will encounter three different subtypes of reading comprehension questions:

Traditional multiple-choice questions with five choices and one correct answer.
More complex multiple-choice questions with three choices and either one, two, or three correct answers. No partial credit is given for identifying some but not all the correct options.
Select-in-passes questions, where the exam taker reads a short passage and then answers questions about the specific function of sentences within the text.

2. Text Completion Questions

These questions are based on a passage with one to five sentences. Within these passages, one-, two-, and three-word spaces are left blank, and the test-taker must answer multiple-choice questions about which words would best complete the sentence if filled into the blank space.

3. Sentence Equivalence Questions

Each of these questions presents a single sentence with one word missing. The test-taker is given six choices of words that could fill in the blank.

Also, they must identify which two options, if chosen, would create sentences with equivalent meaning.

How to Prepare

Since the GRE tests aptitude and skill sets, not your knowledge of specific topics, many students find it difficult to strategize their studying.

When it comes to the Verbal Reasoning section, the following preparation methods can sharpen the skills that the section assesses.

1. Brush Up on Your Vocabulary

Vocabulary plays a big part in GRE’s success. Answering text completion and sentence equivalence questions becomes quite challenging if you aren’t familiar with the answer options.

Additionally, strong vocabulary skills will help you easily parse the complex passages included in the reading comprehension questions.

There are two steps to improving your vocabulary skills: simple memorization and vocab-in-context.

You can use flashcards with word definitions to help with memorization, and you can read dense materials or study vocabulary words within complete sentences to practice the latter.

2. Take Practice Tests

Practice tests are a great way to know where you stand. It will help you learn about your strengths and weaknesses and how much you must improve to achieve a higher score.

It will also guide you in deciding how rigorously you will have to work on your existing vocabulary skills.

Consider using guides and reference books like Kaplan GRE study books to practice with questions that accurately simulate the difficulty of the exam.

3. Pacing and the Process of Elimination

When taking practice tests, focus on your pacing throughout the Verbal Reasoning section.

Get a gauge for how long the passages typically take to read and understand and how long each type of question takes you to answer.

To get through questions faster, work on your process-of-elimination strategies.

It’s also important that you recognize when you simply don’t know the answer to a question and are better off choosing a random answer than spending too much time on it.

4. Markup the Text

One mistake most test-takers make when reading through a passage is not making simple annotations, which results in them having to reread the passage.

It will save precious time to take to circle or underline important points or keywords while going through the text the first time.

5. Stick to the Text and Information Given

Never get carried away by your opinions or background knowledge when dealing with a critical reasoning question based on a given passage.

The passages present all the information you need—assuming information can lead you astray.

6. Tacking Test Day

The most effective way to prepare for all sections of the GRE is to familiarize yourself with the skills tested, types of questions asked, and pacing.

If you focus on these elements and take full-length practice tests to simulate the day of the test, you’ll know exactly what you’re up against and how to tackle every aspect of the exam.

How Does GRE Help Your Professional Life?

You might wonder, “How does spending time mastering these tricky verbal questions benefit me professionally?”

It’s a valid question, no doubt!

The skills you develop while preparing for the Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE aren’t just helpful in school. Yes, they are applicable to the real world. They can also impact how you communicate, think critically, and problem-solve.

Enhanced Communication Skills

Reading comprehension questions force you to read through the matter properly and understand it with a step-by-step approach.

Seriously, does anyone ever send you anything that is easily understood at work?

When you are working, you will be dealing with reports, proposals, and technical documents. In meetings or in emails, you need people to understand what you mean to say quickly. This is why GRE puts emphasis on that, as well as understanding and articulation.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

The type of analytical reasoning you use to answer GRE questions is the same kind of thinking you’ll be doing if you’re in a position of leadership. Or you must make high-stakes decisions.

Whether you are interpreting data sets, inferring information from texts, or computing information from a graph or chart, you are likely to need those skills if you’re looking for insights about a market trend. Or even trying to draw conclusions based on project results.

Those kinds of higher-order reading skills are something you can develop in the GRE’s Verbal Reasoning section.

You’ll quickly realize that succeeding in the GRE prepares you for a similar competitive environment.

Something that will surface time and again in your professional existence. It can be a little difficult when you’re first starting out. However, you can find plenty of free online practice problems, and you must utilize them well.

Final Thoughts

Verbal Reasoning on the GRE is a project. Like everything else on this exam, you’ll need a blend of strategy, consistent practice, and mental discipline to achieve your maximum potential.

But if you take advantage of it, it can result in gaining skills that will be helpful throughout your academic & professional career beyond.

Whether we’re talking about writing better papers, reading more effectively, thinking through complex issues, or thriving under pressure, you can conquer them all.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

5 Communication Tips for Introverts in College

Introversion is a sensitive topic of debate in the education sector. Psychologists, educators, and administrators alike go to great lengths to understand introverts in schools. It is also a great subject to give your dissertation expert for your research project. Student life as an introvert is tough. While most of the world around you can’t stop talking, you find energy from silence and solitude. While joining college is an exciting prospect for most students, it is another dreary phase if you are an introvert. The awkward moments, taunts, and struggles in forming friendships are just a few of the problems you will encounter. One way of dealing with this challenge is to leverage your qualities of introversion and boost them with the best communication skills. This guide highlights a few communication tips you can use as an introvert in college to make your life more comfortable. 1. Leverage Online Communication With the advent of digital technology, it is now easier to reach out and make friends. In college, you can collaborate and bond with other students online. It is more comfortable than face to face interactions, and it will also boost your confidence. By communicating online, you still manage to speak your mind on class subjects and other issues while maintaining your privacy. With time, you will form closer bonds with some of your online collaborators, and you will find it easy to interact. 2. Use your Listening Power Extroverts like speaking out, and it is terrifying to introverts. In college, you will have to interact with all kinds of people, and they expect you to chip into arguments. However, you can use your intense listening skills to your advantage. You need to show your acknowledgment of the speaker for them to leave you at peace. You can also defuse tense and awkward moments by nodding in agreement to move on the discussion. 3. Trust Yourself In college, you have to cope with pressure from different angles. Everyone wants you to join into whatever they like. As an introvert, this is one of the most daunting phases of your life, but you have to trust yourself. This is the only way to make the right decisions. You have always thought through decisions, and this should not change due to peer pressure. Stick to your guns and take your time when making decisions. Always consider your needs and wellbeing before making a decision. As the other students discover your introverted nature, they might want to exploit you. You have to use your personality as a strength to always make the right decisions. 4. Learn from a model Extrovert You have to prepare yourself for several years of life amidst hundreds of extroverts. It is good to prepare yourself and learn how to communicate with everyone around you. You should consider learning from an extrovert with whom you share some interests. Create a solid foundation for this relationship. As you gain their trust, speak out your mind, and seek their help to communicate more freely. It is a tough decision to make, but it will help you go through college more comfortably. 5. Learn To Speak Up If You Feel Ignored This is the toughest communication tip for an extrovert but also the most important. Extroverts will readily speak up whenever they want, but for you, this will not happen. However, your input is still important in class discussions and other important forums. You should practice to speak up at the most appropriate moments. Look for an opportunity to put across your thought when no one else has the floor to avoid awkward moments. Wrapping Up Life as an introvert in college can get tough, but if you work on your communication skills, things will get better. Use these tips to boost your interactions in college and enjoy more comfortable school life. Read Also: Online Schools The Only Source For Personalized Education 7 Reasons Why Online Education Is Very Popular How Contents On Web Influence Students

Feel Free To Learn Russian Language With NovaMova

Today, knowledge of the Russian language on the territory of any post-soviet country. This is necessary, as knowledge of English in the US. This language gains popularity and about 50% of the citizens of our country use it for their communication. Our Russian language lessons will help everyone to learn grammar, spelling within a minimum of time. In particular, you can also learn how to speak and read correctly. What are our Russian language courses for foreigners? We will help everyone to learn Russian, regardless of their level of knowledge. Our school offers programs of various complexity. We can help both a foreigner who does not speak Russian at all. Or a student who wants to increase his/her level of literacy. In this way one can increase his vocabulary, making his/her speech more intelligent. Aside from that, before starting lessons, we always test your level of knowledge, study goals and adjust the training program to the profile or subject you are interested in. In addition, we have a personalized approach for everyone. In this case, come to a trial lesson, start learning with our experienced teachers, and soon you will see the results - you will easily express your thoughts in Russian. The advantages of our center Our teachers managed to develop a unique methodology - the Russian language for foreigners. This combines the traditional approach and different innovative methods. In particular, it allows us to be confident in success: after our practical lessons, you can read, count and correctly write in Russian; • Teachers of NovaMova language school are native speakers and they will help you with grammar and pronunciation of Russian words; • Special attention is always paid to everyday topics - it will help you to easily communicate in any public places. This immersion learning method and effective programs will bring you the needed result; • Minimum cost - Above all, it is important for us that everyone could attend our courses, regardless of his/her financial wealth. Therefore, we offer the best prices for a Russian language course; • Due to, the fact that our accredited center is located in Kyiv and Odesa, you can easily get to the classes from every corner of the city. Contact us, our experienced teachers will determine your level of knowledge and help in the short term to fill all the gaps. In this way, one can achieve brilliant results in the knowledge of the Russian language. You will see, that it is quite easy to learn Russian in Ukraine. We provide only high standards of education. Read Also: Language And Speech Disorders In Children: How Speech Therapists Can Help 5 Golden Rules Of Children Language Learning Tips To Help You Learn A New Language In A New Country

Features To Look For When Investing In Teacher Desks For Your Institution

If you are a teacher, you know how important it is for you to be equipped with the right desk. As teachers, we spend an incredibly long time on our desks. From grading papers, to eating our lunch, we well as using it as a pedestal to keep books and charts, the perfect teacher desk can be an asset to encourage a conducive learning environment. Given how important teacher desks are, it is surprising to note that that not a lot of attention is paid to the selection process. Most educational institutions can be guilty of just taking into consideration the pricing and virtually ignoring every other aspect that should be considered. In this article, we are going to look at important features to consider when buying teacher desks. Why Teacher Desks are Important? You need to think of a teacher’s desk as being the perfect partner for them. If you are equipping your teachers with the best desks, you are contributing towards increasing their productivity, efficiency and overall convenience. Remember all the stuff that our teachers had piled up on their desks. We are talking about tons of binders, projects, books, charts, papers, stationery, and so many other things. One of the most important things that a good desk helps teachers with is organization. If the teacher’s desk is organized and optimized, the entire classroom can also be considered to be organized. The proper organization ensures that the teacher is able to locate and find everything that they want to and there are no unnecessary delays to the process. From single or double pedestal desks to the ones that have locked drawers, to having the ones that come with inbuilt plug points and charging stations (for laptops and tablets), the modern teacher desk comes in different forms, features, and sizes. List of 5 Features to look for when investing in Teacher Desks 1. Durability and Safety of the Teacher Desk- Ideally, you would not want to keep buying teacher desks every other academic year. This is why it is best to invest in one that is sturdy and durable. Given the times we are living in, make sure that the desk is made of materials that are easy to clean and sanitize regularly. If the material is not conducive to frequent wiping and cleaning, it might get damaged. 2. Ethical Protection for Dresses in the Teacher Desk- The teacher’s desk is often placed facing the children. In between the two legs of the table, the open portion in the front where the legs are placed should be covered from the student-facing side. This will ensure protection for female teachers that wear dresses or skirts. This is something simple but should be accounted for when investing in a teacher’s desk. 3. Security and Locking of the Teacher Desk- Teachers are oftentimes required to safely store grade answer scripts, question papers, and other sensitive documents in their desks. Having a proper lock and key ensures that the same does not get into the wrong hands at any point in time. There are different locks that come with the best teacher desks. From numbered ones to old-fashioned locks that are accessed with a key. 4. Charging and Plug Points in the Teacher Desk- Modern educational environments require smart classrooms. This means that there is an emphasis on using technological tools like laptops, tablets, and other devices to stream video and teaching material on projector screens. This is why you need to go for teacher desks that come inbuilt with plug points and charging devices for electronic gadgets. 5. Features and Convenience of the Teacher Desk- In addition to the security and plug points, teacher desks should also have multiple drawers to help store academic stuff and stationery. The material of the desk should also be able to withstand the pressures and loads that it would be routinely subjected to. If the same has the provision of wheels, it could also be moved around depending on the requirements. The Bottom Line You need to pay a lot of thought and attention to teacher desks. While it might look like something that does not deserve a lot of attention, the reality is different. A good teacher desk can help improve the efficiency and productivity of the teacher. If you have any other questions that you would like us to address, please let us know in the comments section below. Read Also: How to Learn Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning Here Are the Benefits Of Continuous Learning 5 Golden Rules of Children Language Learning 4 Factors to Consider When Making a Great eLearning Course

How to Master the GRE Verbal Reasoning Section