GMAT Verbal Reasoning: Question Types, How to Answer & Prep Tips
The GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section includes questions based on English comprehension and critical reasoning. It evaluates the test taker’s ability to read and understand written material, assess arguments, and express ideas clearly. Similar to the GRE, this section has a moderately adaptive difficulty level, meaning the complexity of questions changes based on the test taker’s responses.
This blog covers detailed information about the GMAT Verbal section, including the types of questions, how to approach them, and useful preparation tips.
- What is the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section?
- GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section Pattern and Format
- Difficulty Level of GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
- What are the Types of GMAT Verbal Reasoning Questions?
- GMAT Verbal Reasoning Syllabus
- How to Answer Questions in the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
- Preparation Tips for the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
What is the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section?
The verbal reasoning section of the GMAT Focus test evaluates a candidate’s ability to analyze written material, extract and organize information, understand relationships between words and ideas, and identify connections within sentences. It emphasizes skills in critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and sentence correction.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section Pattern and Format
- The GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section includes a single section.
- It generally covers topics such as reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, and sentence correction.
- Test takers are required to answer a total of 23 questions within a time limit of 45 minutes.
- On average, this allows around 3 to 4 minutes to solve each question.
| Section | GMAT Quantitative Reasoning Section |
| No. of Sections | 1 |
| No. of Questions | 23 |
| Types of Questions | Reading comprehension Verbal reasoning Correction of sentences |
| Average Time Per Question | 3-4 Minutes |
| Total Time Duration | 45 Minutes |
Difficulty Level of GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
- Just like the quant section, the GMAT verbal reasoning section is score-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of the questions changes based on the test taker’s overall performance.
- If a test taker performs well, the questions become more challenging. If the performance is lower, the test presents easier questions
What are the Types of GMAT Verbal Reasoning Questions?
The GMAT Focus Verbal Reasoning Section consists of the following types of questions.
Reading Comprehension– It refers to reading and understanding the prose or paragraph commonly found in business schools.
Critical Thinking: In these types of questions, test takers are required to analyse the contextual information, based on which they have to showcase their ability to construct or formulate arguments
| Types of Questions | Tasks/Structure | Question Format |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Passage summarisation Drawing conclusion Meaning of words and sentences Infer missing information Identifying the author's assumptions Developing alternative explanations Understanding the structure of the text Distinguishing between major and minor points | Multiple Choice Questions Multiple Answers Questions Select-in Passage |
| Critical Reasoning | Argument Evaluation Argument Construction Formulating & Evaluating a Plan | Multiple Choice Questions Multiple Answers Questions Select-in Passage |
GMAT Verbal Reasoning Syllabus
The GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section does not follow a fixed syllabus, but the topics can come from a variety of academic subjects as well as real-life situations.
- Physical Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Business
- Arts & Humanities
- Everyday Topics
Basic descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, interquartile range, quartiles, and percentiles.
How to Answer Questions in the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
- While attempting questions in the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section, test takers can adopt certain approaches to improve their performance.
- Engaging actively with the reading passage is important.
- While reading, it’s helpful to ask questions based on the situations described.
- Forming hypotheses and evaluating their validity can also guide better understanding.
- Reflecting on how different parts of the text relate to one another can help in drawing logical inferences.
Preparation Tips for the GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
Here are some useful tips to prepare effectively for the GMAT verbal reasoning section.
- Begin by understanding the pattern and structure of the section.
- Make it a habit to read a variety of materials daily, including English newspapers, business magazines, and articles on current topics.
- While reading, focus on identifying key information like dates, events, names of people, and places.
- Regular practice with official GMAT resources available on the SMART Academy website can also help strengthen your preparation.
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
The GMAT Verbal Reasoning section is designed to assess a test taker’s reading comprehension and critical thinking abilities. It focuses on how effectively they understand written material, draw conclusions, make inferences, and support arguments with evidence. To prepare well, it is important to become familiar with the section’s format and structure in order to develop a clear and strategic approach.
FAQs
How many questions are in the GMAT verbal section
The GMAT verbal reasoning section consists of a total of 23 questions in only one section.
How to prepare for the GMAT verbal reasoning section effectively?
To prepare for the GMAR verbal reasoning section effectively, test takers must understand its pattern and format thoroughly. Apart from this, making a habit of reading every day and preparing with the official resources of the GMAT exam can help candidates ace the exam.
What to read for GRE verbal?
The best resource for studying for the GMAT verbal section is the official GMAT test kit provided by GMAC, the official agency that organises and administers the test. Along with this, SMART Academy also offers a comprehensive prep solution that includes a study plan, mock tests, study guides, etc.
What is the time duration of the verbal reasoning section in the GMAT Focus exam
The total time duration of the verbal reasoning section in the GMAT Focus is 45 minutes.
What is a good GRE verbal score?
For most of the courses and universities, a GMAT verbal score of 49 or higher is generally considered good.
