Do you aspire to score 160+ in the GRE Verbal? This may look tough, but with good GRE verbal preparation it is an achievable target. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test students appear for to pursue higher education abroad.
The GRE General test pattern has three sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The candidate’s language and reading skills are tested in the GRE Verbal Reasoning portion.
Read on to learn how to prepare for GRE Verbal 2024 and achieve your dream score.
How to Prepare for GRE Verbal: Important Tips for Aspirants
The first thing to know if you are wondering how to prepare for the GRE verbal is that you will have to answer vocabulary questions. This will be done after selecting suitable words for any given sentence based on context, reading the comprehension questions regarding the main ideas, and interpreting the information.
Before knowing the best tips, you should know the exam format. The GRE Verbal test consists of 27 questions, with Section 1 comprising 12 and Section 2 comprising 15 questions, respectively. You will get 18 minutes for completing Section 1 and 23 minutes for Section 2. This is scored on a 130-170 scale with increments of one point each.
It is a section-adaptive test, i.e., the performance in the first subsection will determine the difficulty of the questions in the second subsection.
A high GRE score can significantly enhance your chances if you aim to study abroad. Those thinking of how to prepare well for the GRE Verbal should note these tips carefully:
Learn Suitable Vocabulary
You should strive to learn proper GRE vocabulary for acing the section. This will help you understand tough passages in the reading comprehension portions. You can rely on flashcards and other sets for simple learning.
Make sure you memorize words and their meaning, i.e., to help you use them in a suitable context. Try writing sentences with several words as a form of practice.
Try to read a wide range of content and articles in several publications, such as the New York Times, Atlantic, Nature, Economist, and more. Science passages should also be practiced as much as possible.
See if you can capture the main idea of any passage and provide supporting evidence for the same.
Signal phrases and words inform you contextually about any passage or sentence. This will help you choose the correct answers since signal words are mostly transitions, indicating whether any earlier information will be countered, supported, or clarified.
Some major words include however/although, furthermore/indeed, and rather/by contrast/instead.
Make Use of Official Materials
The best material for preparing for the section will be the official materials released by ETS. You can also get assistance with practice tests online.
Identify and Smoothen Out Weaknesses
Upon completion of questions in the GRE Verbal section (when you are giving practice tests), make sure you find out where you went wrong. Patterns of wrong answers will help you closely find out strategy-related or any content-linked weaknesses that you have. This will help you iron them out, too.
Always Pace Your Examination Properly
Make sure that you practice writing the GRE Verbal answers in a timely manner and with the right strategy. Make sure you take timed practice tests and track areas where you are losing out on time. Create your own blueprints for choosing the right answers as well.
Create a Passage-Based Strategy
It is vital that you possess the proper strategy for GRE passages. You should practice proper time management for this section as well. Swiftly skimming through the passage prior to reading the questions will help greatly. Read the questions, and then watch out for information to give you the correct answer.
Skimming is more important for quickly absorbing the core points. You will only spend a huge amount of time reading through the entire passage carefully before going onto the questions.
Mark & Return Should be Properly Used
You will have similar points for all types of questions, be they easy or hard ones. This means that you should complete easier questions at the outset. If any question seems tough initially, mark it likewise and return to it later on. This strategy will make sure that you do not end up wasting any valuable time or points in the examination.
Answer Each and Every Question
The GRE does not have any negative markings for guesses or incorrect answers. It is advantageous to answer each and every question carefully. Always track the time spent carefully, and whenever you have some minutes in hand, swiftly skim through the questions that remain before choosing your answers.
Smart Guesses are the Need of the Hour
You should try and guess smartly, putting into play your knowledge, insights, and process of elimination for coming up with answers. You should make sure that you try to eliminate the wrong answers as much as possible.
Stay Calm & Remember to do as You have Practiced
You have already taken practice tests and studied well. Now, it is important to remain cool and calm when you take the real examination. You should prepare suitably and maintain a positive attitude, even when faced with difficult questions. If you cannot tackle a few initial questions, move on to ones that are easier for you.
This was all about preparing for the GRE Verbal 2024. Following the tips mentioned in this article can pave your way toward a successful GRE result. If you do not have much time in hand and are worried about beginning your GRE preparation, check out our article on how to prepare for the GRE in 2 months. Here's to wishing you all the best!
Download these useful guides to ace your GRE preparation
Do's and Don'ts
Given is a table outlining dos and don'ts for the GRE Verbal preparation:
Do
Don't
Practice Regularly: Dedicate consistent time each day for practice.
Cramming: Avoid last-minute cramming sessions.
Use Official Materials: Focus on GRE-specific study guides and materials.
Rely Solely on Vocabulary Lists: Focus on context and usage instead.
Learn Contextual Usage: Understand how words are used in different contexts. |
Memorize Without Understanding: Memorizing words without understanding their meanings.
Develop Reading Skills: Practice active reading and summarizing passages.
Ignore Time Management: Practice under timed conditions to manage pacing.
Review Mistakes: Analyze errors to understand underlying concepts.
Overlook Vocabulary Building: Regularly expand your vocabulary.
Understand Question Types: Familiarize yourself with different question formats.
Skip Practice Tests: Take practice tests to simulate real exam conditions.
Stay Calm During Exam: Maintain composure and focus during the test.
Guess Randomly: Make guesses based on context and elimination.
Following these dos and avoiding the corresponding don'ts can help streamline your GRE verbal preparation. Consistency, understanding context, and practicing under realistic conditions are key to achieving success in this section.
Structure of GRE Verbal section
The GRE Verbal section is structured to assess a test-taker's ability to comprehend written material, analyze relationships between components of sentences, and evaluate information presented in multiple forms. It consists of two main types of questions: Reading Comprehension and Text Completion/Sentence Equivalence.
Reading Comprehension questions require understanding and interpretation of passages from various disciplines, testing skills in identifying main ideas, understanding logical relationships, and drawing inferences.
Text Completion questions involve completing sentences with the most appropriate words or phrases, assessing vocabulary, and understanding sentence structure. Sentence equivalence questions present a single sentence with a blank and require selecting two answer choices that produce sentences with the same meaning, testing vocabulary and understanding of context.
The GRE Verbal section comprises 27 questions in total; one section has 12 questions, and the other has 15 questions. Test-takers are allotted 41 minutes to complete the section, with the difficulty of questions varying based on performance as the test progresses.
Understanding the structure and types of questions is crucial for effective preparation and performance on the GRE verbal section.
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Answering Strategies in GRE Verbal Section
Effective answering strategies can significantly enhance performance in tackling the GRE Verbal section. Understanding and applying these strategies can help manage time efficiently and improve accuracy across the different question types.
Firstly, Reading Comprehension questions require active reading. Skim the passage initially to grasp its main idea and structure before delving into the questions. Focus on understanding the author's viewpoint, identifying key details, and noting any logical connections or shifts in argumentation.
For Text Completion questions, analyze the sentence structure and context clues the surrounding sentences provide. Try predicting the missing word(s) based on the overall theme and tone of the passage.
In Sentence Equivalence questions, analyze the sentence for clues that define the relationship between the blank and the rest of the sentence. Look for synonyms or antonyms among the answer choices that fit cohesively with the sentence's overall meaning.
Managing time is crucial. Allocate a set amount of time for each passage or set of questions to ensure completion within the allotted 41 minutes. If stuck on a question, make a guess rather than leave it unanswered, as there is no penalty for incorrect answers.
Practice with official GRE materials to familiarize yourself with the question formats and pacing. Reviewing mistakes and understanding the rationale behind correct answers helps refine strategies and improve performance over time. By combining these strategies with consistent practice, test-takers can confidently approach the GRE Verbal section and maximize their score potential.
Target Score Accepted by Universities: GRE Verbal
Here's a table outlining the average GRE Verbal scores accepted by top universities:
Effective preparation for the GRE Verbal section is crucial for achieving a high score, which can significantly boost your chances of studying abroad. By focusing on vocabulary building, honing reading comprehension skills, practicing with official materials, and developing strategic answering techniques, you can confidently navigate the complexities of the GRE Verbal section.
Consistent practice and a calm, focused approach on test day will pave the way toward your desired score. Remember, thorough preparation and a positive mindset are key to excelling in the GRE and advancing your academic and professional aspirations.
Important Resources For PTE/SAT/ACT Exam
PTE Examination Eligibility Criteria
There are no specific PTE exam eligibility criteria set by Pearson VUE – the organizers of the test./
The PTE exam pattern is designed to test whether candidates can study at international institutions that have English as the main language for instructions./
Canada is a country that is renowned for the quality of its educational infrastructure. As a result, it is no surprise that a list of PTE accepted universities in Canada is sought-after./
The SAT exam dates fall on Saturdays and the test is generally conducted on 7 Saturdays every year; the deadline for registration is four weeks prior to the date of the test./
According to the latest update on SAT syllabus 2022, SAT Subject Tests and the SAT optional essays have been discontinued which has now reduced the duration of the exam by 50 minutes./
Understanding the SAT exam pattern is of paramount importance for all those who want to study undergraduate courses from universities or colleges abroad./
The College Board India Scholars Program offers the SAT scholarship for Indian students. This scholarship helps students receive education from renowned institutes worldwide./
How to register for the SAT examination? Stay assured that the procedure is not at all complex. Students desirous of obtaining admission into bachelor’s or undergraduate courses in the US or Canada will find this to be an important examination./
It is very important for ACT aspirants to be aware of the complete ACT exam syllabus, as it will help them to avoid any surprises on the day of the examination./
The ACT is a widely accepted and standardized examination in the U.S. and several other countries. It is used majorly for undergraduate admissions into several colleges and universities./
Registration of the ACT examination is done through the official website online. Applicants need to register for the test at least two months before the test date. /
The American College Testing– ACT score is a part of the college applications in the United States of America (USA), depending on the institution students apply to. There are no fixed passing marks for this examination./
Carefully curated list of the top SAT prep material can prove invaluable to reducing aspirants' efforts. So, to simplify your research, here are 10 SAT exam books to consider for thorough preparation./
Aim to learn 20-30 GRE words daily for effective vocabulary growth. Consistency is key to retaining and applying these words in context.
How do I get better at GRE vocabulary?
Improve GRE vocabulary by using flashcards, reading widely, and practicing with quizzes. Focus on understanding word usage in passages to reinforce learning.
How do I get 170 in GRE verbal?
Achieving a perfect 170 in GRE verbal requires mastering advanced vocabulary, practicing with official GRE materials, and honing strong reading comprehension skills through consistent practice.
How do I score high on the GRE verbal?
Score well in GRE verbal by practicing with timed tests, analyzing mistakes, and focusing on both vocabulary enhancement and strategic reading comprehension techniques.
What is the minimum GRE verbal score?
GRE verbal scores typically range from 130 to 170. Check specific program requirements to determine their minimum score expectations.
How many mistakes are allowed in the GRE?
GRE scoring doesn't penalize incorrect answers. Focus on accuracy, as scores are determined by the number of correct responses and the difficulty level of those questions.
Do GRE results expire?
Yes, GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date. After this period, most institutions will not consider the scores for admission purposes.
How many attempts are allowed in the GRE?
You can take the GRE once every 21 days, up to five times within any continuous rolling 12-month period. Policies vary by institution depending on which scores they consider if you take the GRE multiple times.
Akansha Semwal is a content marketer at upGrad and has also worked as a social media marketer & sub-editor. Experienced in creating impressive Statement of Purpose, Essays, and LOR, she knows how to captivate the attention of Admissions Committee. Her research-driven;study-abroad articles helps aspirants to make the prudent decision. She holds a bachelor's & master's degree in Literature from the University of Delhi.
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