GRE Verbal Reasoning: Question Types, Format & How to Answer
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section plays a vital role in assessing a candidate’s ability to read, interpret, and critically evaluate written material, particularly in academic contexts. As GRE scores are used for admission into graduate, business, and law programs, test takers should anticipate a moderately challenging difficulty level in this section.
In this blog, we explore the key components of the verbal reasoning section, including the types of questions you’ll encounter, effective strategies to approach them, and an overview of the scoring system.
- What is the GRE Verbal Reasoning Section?
- GRE Verbal Exam Pattern & Format
- What are the Types of GRE Verbal Questions?
- Reading Comprehension Questions in the GRE Verbal Section
- Text Completion Questions in the GRE Verbal Section
- GRE Verbal Syllabus
- GRE Verbal Section Scoring
- Key Takeaways by AdmitX
- FAQs
What is the GRE Verbal Reasoning Section?
The verbal reasoning section of the GRE General Test evaluates a candidate’s skill in analyzing written content, extracting and expressing information accurately, identifying relationships between words and ideas, and understanding how different parts of a sentence relate to one another. This section appears after the analytical writing portion and may be presented either before or after the quantitative reasoning section, depending on the test sequence.
GRE Verbal Exam Pattern & Format
- The GRE Verbal Reasoning is divided into two separate sections. Each section contains a different number of questions.Â
- In the first section, test takers need to answer 12 questions within a time limit of 18 minutes.Â
- The second section includes 15 questions, which must be completed in 23 minutes.Â
- Altogether, the verbal section presents a total of 27 questions to be answered in 41 minutes.
| Section | GRE Verbal Reasoning Section |
|---|---|
| No. of Sections | 2 |
| No. of Questions | Section-1: 12 Section-2: 15 |
| Types of Questions | Reading Comprehension Text Completion Sentence Equivalence |
| Total Questions | 27 |
| Time Duration for each Section | Section-1: 18 Minutes Section-2: 23 Minutes |
| Total Time Duration | 41 Minutes |
What are the Types of GRE Verbal Questions?
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section (both sections 1 and 2) includes the following types of questions:
Reading Comprehension – These questions require candidates to read and interpret prose similar to what is encountered in graduate-level studies, then answer objective questions based on the content.
Text Completion – In these, candidates are asked to read and analyze brief passages, filling in the missing words to create a logical and meaningful version of the text.
Sentence Equivalence – These questions involve selecting words that complete a sentence in a way that produces two coherent and contextually appropriate outcomes, even with limited information.
The table below provides a summary of these question types along with their formats and specific tasks.
| 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 |
| Text Completion | Read given passages Each passage is composed of 1-5 sentences There are 1-3 blanks per sentence Selecting one answer choice per blank Each blank functions independently | Multiple Choice Questions |
| Sentence Equivalence | Each Question consists of a single sentence 1 blank per sentence 6 answer choices per blanks Selecting two of the answer choices | Multiple Answer Questions |
Reading Comprehension Questions in the GRE Verbal Section
Reading Comprehension in the GRE Verbal Reasoning section typically features 3 to 4 passages, each followed by 3 to 4 related questions. These questions are designed to evaluate a broad set of skills necessary for understanding academic texts. These skills include:
- Understanding the meaning of specific words and sentences
- Grasping the overall meaning of paragraphs
- Differentiating between key ideas and supporting details
- Summarizing the passage effectively
- Drawing logical conclusions
- Inferring information not directly stated
- Analyzing how different parts of a sentence relate to one another
- Identifying the author’s viewpoint
- Proposing alternative explanations based on the text
Approaches Required to Answer Reading Comprehension Questions
To effectively tackle questions in the Reading Comprehension section, test takers can adopt the following strategies to better grasp the context of the given passage and select the most accurate answers:
- Read the passage actively and attentively
- Ask thoughtful questions while reading and try to answer them
- Develop possible explanations or hypotheses and assess their accuracy
- Reflect on how specific parts of the text relate to the overall passage and other information presented
Format of Questions in Reading Comprehension
There are 3 types of question formats in the reading comprehension part of the GRE verbal section.
- Select a single answer
- Select multiple correct answers
- Select a sentence from the passage
How to Answer Reading Comprehension Questions?
- Although the Reading Comprehension questions in the GRE Verbal section may be based on unfamiliar topics, test takers shouldn’t feel discouraged.Â
- All questions can be answered using only the information provided within the passage, and no prior subject-specific knowledge is needed.
- Once a passage is presented, candidates should read it thoroughly before moving on to the questions.
- After gaining a clear understanding of the content, they can begin answering by focusing closely on what is being asked.
Each response should be based strictly on the context and details found in the passage.
Text Completion Questions in the GRE Verbal Section
- Text Completion questions in the GRE Verbal section are designed to evaluate the test taker’s ability to interpret, assess, and revise their understanding of a given passage as new information is presented.
- These questions feature short passages with one or more blank spaces. Using contextual clues from the surrounding text, test takers must select the most appropriate words to fill in the blanks and construct a coherent and meaningful passage.
Question Structure
- Each passage is composed of 1-5 sentences, with 1-3 blanks per sentence
- If there are 2-3 blank spaces, each blank has 3 answer choices
- If there is only 1 blank, there are 5 answer choices
- Each blank has 1 correct answer
- There is no credit for partially correct answers.
How to Answer Text Completion Questions?
- Test takers must read the passage carefully.
- They must identify the words or phrases that are missing from the surrounding lines and words.
- They can try to fill in the blanks with words or phrases that seem to complete the sentence.
- Finally, they must check that the passage is logically, grammatically, and stylistically correct.
Sentence Equivalence
- Sentence equivalence questions in the GRE verbal section consist of 3-4 paragraphs or prose pieces, and each piece contains 3-4 questions.Â
- Similar to text completion questions, sentence equivalence questions also evaluate the test taker’s ability to reach a conclusion about how a passage should be completed.
- The partial information forms the basis for completing the passage.
- It consists of a single sentence with one blank and asks test takers to identify the 2 choices that lead to a complete sentence.
Question Structure
- Each question consists of a single sentence with 1 blank and 6 answer choices.
- Test takers have to choose 2 of the answer choices
- There is no credit for partially correct answers.
How to Answer Text Completion Questions?
- Test takers must read the sentence to get an overall picture.
- They should identify the words or phrases that seem significant to them.
- They must check that the passage is logically, grammatically, and stylistically correct.
GRE Verbal Syllabus
The passages are based on material found in books and periodicals, both academic and non-academic, such as
- Physical Sciences
- Biological Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Business
- Arts & Humanities
- Everyday Topics
GRE Verbal Section Scoring
- The Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE is scored on a scale ranging from 130 to 170, in one-point increments.Â
- The scoring involves a two-step process.Â
- First, the number of correct responses is calculated to determine the raw score, note that there is no penalty for incorrect answers.Â
- This raw score is then converted into a scaled score through a process called equating, which accounts for variations in difficulty across different test versions.Â
- The final scaled score reflects the test taker’s overall performance, while the percentile rank indicates how they performed in comparison to other test takers.Â
- Both the number of correct answers and the difficulty level of the sections contribute to the final score.
Key Takeaways by AdmitX
The Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE General Test is designed to assess a test taker’s ability to read, understand, and analyse written academic content. It features three distinct types of questions, each demanding a specific strategy to answer effectively. To perform well, it is crucial for test takers to first become familiar with the structure and format of the section. This understanding helps in developing a focused and efficient approach before attempting any questions.
FAQs
How many questions are there in the GRE Verbal Section?
The GRE Verbal Reasoning section includes a total of 27 questions. Section 1 contains 12 questions, while Section 2 has 15 questions.
How is the GRE Verbal Section scored?
The Verbal Section is scored on a scale of 130 to 170, in one-point increments. Scoring involves two steps: First, your raw score is calculated based on the number of correct answers. Then, it is converted into a scaled score through a process called equating, which accounts for slight differences in difficulty between test versions.
What should I read to prepare for the GRE Verbal Section?
The most reliable resource for preparation is the official GRE test prep material provided by ETS, the organisation that conducts the exam.
What is the time limit for the Verbal Reasoning Section in the GRE General Test?
The total time allotted for the Verbal Reasoning Section is 41 minutes.
What is considered a good score in the GRE Verbal section?
A score of 158 or above is typically seen as competitive for most programs and universities.
