What to Expect from the GRE Verbal Section

The revised GRE verbal section will assess how strong your vocabulary is in additional to your understanding and structuring of complete and correct sentences. You will also be examined on how well you can analyze the given paragraphs and sentences. You need to begin your practice for this section months ahead if you are aiming for a high score.  

In the GRE online test, you will come across a mandatory section known as the GRE Verbal. You can probably understand by the name itself that this section will test out three separate areas of your command over the English language:

1.         Sentence Equivalence

2.         Reading Comprehension

3.         Text Completion

This blog will discuss the best test strategies that can be applied across these three sections in detail- each of these steps all entail improving your vocabulary—which is the key to completing this section. By doing just this, you can easily improve your chances of getting a high score in this section alone.

A better understanding of English as a language is correlated to how strong your vocabulary is- possessing a strong vocabulary is the only way through which you can effectively express any ideas that you may have in an articulate and cogent way. The following steps are the best ways by which you can improve your vocabulary; you need to however invest two months to cover all these steps properly:

•          Word List by Barron: This list contains approximately 4000 words and going through all of them is one way to ensure that you land that 160+. The revised format of the GRE test does place as much emphasis on this section, so if you manage to complete at least 800 of these words, you can easily get a 150+.

•          Regular Revision: To have to revise regularly, this is only way that you can learn the entire list of words. You can apply these words that you learn in everyday situations, or whenever you get the opportunity. 

•          Flash Cards: Flash cards help you to revise even when you are busy. You can get them ready made or can even make your own- this way you will learn faster as you will be writing them.

Sentence equivalence:

This is actually the easiest section and should be no trouble at all if your vocabulary is strong. Always begin by selection two words that have the same meaning, then move on to completing the sentence correctly by choosing any of the six given choices. You will notice that three of these choices will be incorrect, and the others will be suitable answers. Always stick with the two synonyms as these are the best answers.

Reading comprehension:

This section will be very tough and without a strong vocabulary, you will get stuck. You will also need to possess a good understanding of the language and have a very high understanding/ reading speed. To ensure that you score well in this section, you will need to:

• Read plenty of novels by the best authors, as the language and its usage will be very good.

• Read through a good newspaper or magazine every day as the quality of the language will be good here.

• Strengthening your understanding of the reasoning and flow of the text.

• Read up on as many questions as you possibly can. This will help you to save on time on each question and answer them quickly.

• Ensure that you practice regularly using as many mock question papers as you possibly can.

Text completion:

You ability to be able to complete an entire picture will be tested here. So you will have to pick out the right words to fill in the blanks in sentences, in a way that it will be easy to read and make sense as well. There will be many clues hidden throughout the passage that is given; you can use these to try to figure out the right answer. So make sure that you read the passage carefully before you begin on the answers.

What has been mentioned above requires loads of effort and time from you, but this has its benefits. To know how you can score a 160+ in this section, log on to www.gregurus.com.

The GRE Test Format

The GRE is needed by those who are pursuing an education abroad. Preparation for this test is not as easy as it sounds. You have to choose the right materials and organize yourself in way that would effectively apply your concentration.  

The GRE Test:

The GRE is a common standardized test, the score that you receive on this test forms a crucial part of your admission process. There are two forms of this test, one that assesses a range of skills that you learned in school (general exam) and the test that evaluates the depth of your knowledge on eight subjects (subject tests). Typically the general test is more commonly taken with just a few students taking the subject exams.

The Test Format:

The GRE is normally conducted online and always has three sections (quantitative, analytical writing and verbal). The general test covers only certain skills that are vital for all graduate students. The subjects test are conducted thrice annually on paper and assume your extensive knowledge on specific subjects (biochemistry, biology, chemistry, mathematics, psychology, physics, English literature, molecular and cell biology). Your choices between these two exams are determined by the study programs that you are applying to.

Test paper and questions:

The verbal section will have two sets of questions that concentrate on vocabulary and a third section that covers only comprehension. The first two sets of will assess your structuring of sentences and use of right words in these sentences. The comprehension passage and several questions based on your understanding of this passage.

In the math section, you are tested on data analysis, algebra, geometry and arithmetic that are typically at high school levels, you may also see questions based on statistics and probability. In the analytical writing section, you have to write your views on a given topic, either analyzing or critiquing it.

Test Location, Registration, and Scores:

Registration can be done through phone, online and mail. The cost that you have to pay will differ with the subject and general exam. The registration center or authority will then tell you what you have to do to register. Only after registering will you get the test location, at the test location, you have to present any identity proof and then adhere to the rules. Your GRE score is valid for five years and you can send a report of the same to any four graduate schools of your choice.

The GRE score is useful in admissions, log on to www.gregurus.com to know what you have to do to register.