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GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Questions, Strategies, Samples, and Tips

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Rituparna Nath

Content Writer at Study Abroad Exams | Updated On - Jan 24, 2023

GMAT Verbal Reasoning section examines how well the candidates analyze and comprehend the verbal passages to evaluate and articulate arguments and reasoning in English constructively. There are 36 GMAT Verbal Reasoning questions to be answered in 65 minutes. The three main question types of verbal reasoning are - Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning and Sentence Correction. GMAT Verbal Reasoning is the most difficult section in the exam for its analytical approaches. Very few can score above 44 in GMAT verbal section. Few skills that are measured in GMAT Verbal Reasoning are as follows

  • To understand critical sentences
  • To understand coherence and logic running through the passages
  • To deduce a conclusion from the in-between lines in the passages

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Reading Comprehension

GMAT verbal topics include reading comprehension passages that are usually 350-400 words long. Reading Comprehension passages in GMAT Verbal Reasoning are taken from journals or business magazines. The reading Comprehension section can be alarming sometimes, but the candidates have to read the passage and answer the questions. Generally, ⅓ rd of the Verbal Reasoning section is devoted to Reading Comprehension questions. Due to the split screen presentation of GMAT Reading Comprehension questions, the passage will be there on the left side of the screen and the questions will be on the right side. Candidates can see only one question at a time. There is no back option to go back to the previous question once the "next" button is clicked.

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Reading Comprehension Strategies

  • Unfamiliar and challenging passages are designed to measure the analytical skills of the candidates. One should answer the reading comprehension questions on what is explained in the passage itself.
  • Read the Reading Comprehension questions properly before moving to the detailed analysis of the passage. Skimming the passage will help to have an overview of the questions as well as the passage.
  • Always focus on fact, idea, or argumentative thread lying in between the lines of the passage.
  • One must distinguish between the main idea and the supporting idea of the comprehension passage.
  • Similar kinds of answer options might cause confusion. Always refer to the comprehension passage for proper clarification.
  • One should focus on the information stated in the reading comprehension passages rather than outside knowledge.

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Reading Comprehension Tips 

GMAT Reading Comprehension tips for GMAT Verbal Reasoning include-

  • Mostly factual-based comprehension passages are taken from science-related topics like biology, and chemistry.
  • Usually, social science passages deal with unambiguous questions.
  • Mostly, business-related passages have difficult approaches to dealing with as the candidates have to understand the tone and mood of the author
  • The straightforward questions are factually-based answers
  • In the science-related passage, the tone of the author is usually positive or neutral rather than negative
  • Focus on the theme, the author’s tone, and the specific topic mentioned in the reading comprehension passage.
  • To answer factual questions, candidates must read a few lines around the main keyword mentioned in the question.
  • One has to be precise with the paragraphs to understand the main idea of the comprehension passage.
  • Comprehension passages with questions and answers books are available in the market and online for religious practice.

Read More Reading Comprehension Passage Samples

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Critical Reasoning

GMAT Verbal Critical reasoning questions assess the business skills of the candidate. Most of the candidates appearing for the GMAT Verbal Reasoning have never discovered the argumentative analysis and logic that lies behind the successful business model. Mostly the candidates encounter 3 types of critical reasoning questions in GMAT Verbal Reasoning-

  • One must address the argument that lies in the GMAT verbal critical reasoning questions and choose the correct answer, exposing the flaw or developing the flaw with the help of the underlying argument.
  • One must critically analyze the reasoning behind the given argument
  • For GMAT verbal critical reasoning questions one must come to a constructive conclusion on the basis of the given argument

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Critical Reasoning Question Strategies

  • Critical reasoning questions for GMAT Verbal Reasoning are always based on statements of factual information. One must substantiate the argument with the reasoning provided through the statements. Personal judgments are strictly prohibited when the reasoning is based on factual truth.
  • For GMAT logical reasoning questions, the conclusion might be on any part of the passage. To find the conclusion, a critical analysis of the given statements is required to find the appropriate clues.
  • While reading GMAT critical reasoning passages, one might expect a specific kind of question to find out the flaw in the argument. The answer options might be different from expectation, therefore, one must read the question beforehand.
  • The GMAT logical reasoning answer choices can be confusing for their similarity. To avoid confusion, the options must be read carefully.

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Critical Reasoning Tips 

  • It is important to understand the GMAT logical reasoning questions for answering the critical reasoning question.
  • To answer the critical reasoning questions, the candidates must understand the strengths and the weak parts of the argument.
  • To find the GMAT logical reasoning conclusion to the question, the candidate must find a suitable answer containing the author’s viewpoint.
  • IN GMAT verbal critical reasoning there must be a logical connection with the answer option.
  • Skim the GMAT verbal reasoning questions answer options thoroughly for eliminating the wrong ones.

Read More Critical Reasoning Samples

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Sentence Correction 

Sentence correction of Verbal reasoning section of GMAT Verbal Reasoning measures few behavioral skills of the candidate like -

  • Problem solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Good communication skills
  • Decision making
  • Hypervigilance

Sentence correction questions do not examine the critical grammatical skills of the candidates rather check how often the latter makes good use of grammar to understand the fragmentation of the business structure.

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Sentence Correction Questions Strategies

  • Candidates must understand the intention behind the sentence correction question.
  • Candidates must go through the error part of the given sentence correction question prior to the answer choices.
  • Some confusing answer choices may put the candidates in a dilemma in choosing the correct answer.
  • Linguistic appropriateness and language precision are important to evaluate sentence correction questions.
  • The answer choices are involved in terms of GMAT modifiers, clauses, parallelisms, changes in meaning that are more difficult to grasp.

GMAT Verbal Reasoning - Sentence Correction Tips

  • The answer choices must include no errors in grammar, structure, diction and meaning.
  • GMAT sentence correction tips include candidates to pay attention to detail. Single answer choices can contain multiple errors.
  • Going through all the GMAT verbal reasoning questions answer choices and comparing them to notice errors helps in solving the sentence correction questions.

Read More Sentence Correction Samples

GMAT Verbal Reasoning Preparation 

The following are a few of the GMAT Verbal reasoning preparation tips that will guide the candidates in scoring high:

  1. For GMAT verbal test reading various kinds of books, both fiction and non-fiction helps in accumulating vocabulary.
  2. Avoid jumping from one section to the other, to concentrate in one section at a time for better GMAT score.
  3. During practice one must work on the wrong answers and find the reason behind its incorrectness
  4. Read the question prior to checking the GMAT verbal reasoning questions answer choices
  5. GMAT verbal preparation material like GMAT books, flashcards, videos are of great help
  6. Customized GMAT verbal study plan should be created according to the requirements

GMAT Verbal Sample Papers

Along with the books and other preparation materials, here are some verbal reasoning test in PDFs for practice:

GMAT Verbal Reasoning can be aced by practicing from a timed practice paper as it will provide ideas about the time-management. Along with good practice material, a dedicated mindset for the GMAT Verbal Reasoning can help get a better score.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

Ask your question

Answered Questions

BS

Bhavya Singh

18 Mar 21ISB Hyderabad

Several factors affect the chance of a candidate getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad. Not only the GMAT score, but also the application profile, essays, and performance in the interview combined together decides whether a candidate should get a seat or not in such an elite institute. The points listed below are some important aspects to consider for admission to such institutes.

  • There is no fixed cut-off for ISB Hyderabad, as declared by the institute. There are examples of people with a GMAT score of 720 not getting a seat from the interviews. On the other hand, there are candidates with a score of 700-710 but are successful in getting a seat in ISB Hyderabad.
  • GMAT score is not the only criteria for getting a seat, but the door to get an interview call. The quality of essays written by the candidate, his/her application/ profile, and the performance in the interviews are also considered.
  • For candidates with an average profile, a GMAT score of 720+, along with a complete application and a good essay can be considered to have high chances to receive an interview call. After having a call, the rest depends on how the candidate will perform in his/her interview.

This is the overall scenario for admission in ISB Hyderabad, for a student with an average profile.


MN

Mahak Nigam

30 Jun 22Master of Business Administration Degrees & Finance, Aditya Institute of Management Studies and Research

More than 140 Business Schools in India accept GMAT scores. Here is a list of popular B-School that accept GMAT scores.

IIM Ahmedabad (PGPX) IIM Bangalore (EPGP) IIM Calcutta (PGPEx)
IIM Indore (EPGP) IIM Kozhikode (EPGP) IIM Lucknow (IPMAX)
XLRI Jamshedpur MDI Gurgaon IMT Ghaziabad
IIFT Delhi FMS Deli ISB Hyderabad/Mohali

Many other reputed B-School across the country also accept GMAT scores.


AV

Arvind Verma

30 Jun 22Studied at Indian School of Business

ISB Hyderabad accepts both examination scores. So, you can opt for either of GMAT or GRE. Your chances of selection or rejection will remain the same. Go through the examination pattern and syllabus and choose the one in which you feel that you will be able to score better. Ultimately having a good score is what matters during admission. As per the recent trends, ISB Hyderabad cutoff for GMAT is 600, while for GRE it is 311. 


AS

Aditi Sen

12 May 21PGDM from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad (2019)

There are many business schools in India that require GMAT scores at the time of admission.

Some of the top business schools with requiring GMAT scores in India are:

Institute Name

GMAT Score

ISB, Hyderabad & Mohali

730 or higher

S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai

550

IIM Ahmedabad

711

School of Management, NMIMS Mumbai

600

IIM Bangalore

710

Great Lakes Institute of Management

600

IIM Calcutta

701

XLRI Jamshedpur

710

IIM Lucknow

680

IMT (All campuses)

720

IIM Indore

700

ICFAI Business School (Hyderabad & Mumbai)

700

IIM Kozhikode

700

A few other institutes include - MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, Sunstone Business School Noida, ISB Indore, and more.


NM

Nishad JK Makol

10 Mar 23PGDM Marketing & Consulting, S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (2017)

I see that you already have more than 50 months of work experience. My suggestion for anyone with such work experience is to opt for the 1-year PGPM Program rather than the 2-year PGDM Program. Keep working for another year and earn your fee for the 1-year program. This way you will save time. Money and even be spared from investing additional efforts when the same could be done in lesser time. The cutoff for both the programs is

Program

Cutoff

PGPM

660

PGDM

85 Percentile