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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.

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