GRE Verbal Test
The GRE verbal test consists of 30 multiple choice questions that you must complete in 30 minutes. Success in this section of the test requires strong vocabulary skills, and an ability to analyze written material. There are four types of questions:
- Analogies - You must review the relationship between one word pair (the "Reference", and the revire a list of five word pairs and select the word pair frmo that list that has the most similar relationship to the Reference pair.
- Antonyms - You are given one word and then must select from a list of five words ones that is the closest to being its direct opposite.
- Reading Comprehension - In this section you must read a passage and then answer questions that demonstrate your comprehension of what you have read.
- Sentence completions - You must select the correct words to fill in the blanks in a sentence.
The GRE verbal test is a computer adaptive test. Each time you answer a question correctly the computer will select a harder question for your next question. Your score does not depend only on how many questions you get right, but on the difficulty of the questions you answer correctly. For this reason, the first 6 to 10 questions are the most important.
Key to success on the GRE verbal test is making sure that you answer ALL the questions. The GRE test does punish you more for a question that you don't answer than a wrong answer. Learning how to pace yourself is key to success on the test.
Advance preparation for the GRE verbal test should focus on vocabulary building exercises and reading analysis skills. Building your vocabulary will have the largest impact as this will affect about 75% of the questions. Reading analysis skills can also be developed through study and practice.
