How to Prepare for Verbal in GRE: GRE Verbal Tips & Strategies

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. 

Read More: GRE Vocabulary List

Reading Comprehension Preparation

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.

Read More: GRE Reading Comprehension 

Focus on Signal Words 

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!

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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.

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:

Name of the University	Average GRE Verbal Score
Harvard University	150-170
Stanford University	160-164
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	157-162
University of California, Berkeley	155-160
Princeton University	154-157
Columbia University	161-165
University of Chicago	145-151
Yale University	161-165
University of Pennsylvania	158-163
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor	156-160

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Conclusion

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.