GMAT Verbal Preparation Tips: How to Improve GMAT Verbal Score

Beginning with GMAT Verbal Reasoning preparation? Here is a curated article for students aiming to prepare for the GMAT exam and its Verbal Reasoning section with tips for each topic tested on this section along with some of the common tips that can help students ace this section in one go. So check it out now!

The verbal section of the GMAT exam measures the test taker's ability to read and comprehend the written material, reason and evaluate arguments, and correct written material to express ideas effectively in standard written English. The GMAT Verbal section is difficult to crack, but with the introduction of GMAT Focus, the topics on VR have been reduced along with duration. Very few test-takers get a perfect score of 90. In this article, we will give you tips and strategies to handle the GMAT Verbal questions accurately.

GMAT (Focus) Verbal Reasoning Highlights

GMAT Section	Verbal Reasoning (VR)
VR Syllabus	Reading Comprehension (RC) & Critical Reasoning (CR)
Verbal Reasoning Format	23 Questions
VR Duration	45 minutes
Scoring on Verbal Reasoning Section	60-90
Skills Tested on GMAT VR	Comprehension of English expressions, statement evaluation & reading ability
Latest on VR - Focus Edition	Sentence Correction has been deleted, questions have been reduced and so has the time

GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section: Skills Measured

The basic skills tested on the Verbal Reasoning section of GMAT include:

• Ability to read and should be able to understand written material
• Also, be able to correctly reason and be able to evaluate statements
• Should be able to express ideas clearly in English

These are the three core skills that are essential to crack the Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT (Focus) exam. Let us now look at how to go about preparing for the core topics of VR on GMAT in the following sections.

GMAT Verbal Section: Reading Comprehension Questions

Reading Comprehension passages are up to 350 words long. Because the Reading Comprehension section includes passages from several different content areas, the student may be generally familiar with some of the material.

GMAT Verbal Section: Reading Comprehension Tips

There are 3 common types of topics for comprehension passages. The way you go about answering the question will be slightly different for each.

• Passages dealing with the sciences, such as biology and chemistry are factual and straightforward.
• Passages dealing with the social sciences, such as history and geography will present many conclusive questions, so you have to read them slowly.
• Passages dealing with business-related areas are tough, as they have difficult structures, and may even ask you to determine the author’s mood and opinions

• When answering a factual question, keep in mind that they are the most straightforward kind of question.
• When you are asked to describe the tone of the passage, the tone is more likely to be positive or neutral than negative. In a science passage, it is likely to be neutral.
• As you read, focus on the main theme, the author's tone, and paragraph topics rather than the specific details of the passage.
• Read the first question before you read the passage. You will have a better idea of what to focus on.
• When answering a fact question, carefully read both the passage providing the data – and several lines before it.
• You must practice the art of summarizing the paragraphs and identifying the main idea

GMAT Verbal Section: Critical Reasoning Questions

Critical Reasoning questions are designed to test the reasoning skills involved in making arguments, evaluating arguments, and formulating or evaluating a plan of action.

GMAT Verbal Section: Critical Reasoning Tips

• You must learn to identify the structure of the argument
• Read the question first so you know what kind of question you have to answer before you read the argument.
• For 'strengthen' or 'weaken-the-argument' questions, determine what type of reasoning the author uses and choose an answer that either helps or hurts that way of reasoning.
• For questions that ask you to conclude, choose an answer that contains the basic idea of the author.
• The answer must be a logical extension of the argument in the passage. Never choose an answer simply because you feel it is true.
• Try to guess the correct answer before you read the answer choices. This will help you focus on the best answer.
• Read all the answer choices. Eliminate the ones you know are wrong, and analyze the remaining ones with a focus on identifying the one that presents the most correct answer.

GMAT Verbal Preparation Books

The GMAT verbal section is challenging, and students need to prepare thoroughly for this section. We have provided a list of resources and books for GMAT verbal section preparation.

• Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides: Make sure that you read these books from cover to cover. Do not miss even a single question from these books. Try to make short notes when you read the theory. These books will provide you with a strong base.
• GMAT Official Guide (GMAT OG): After you have completed the Manhattan Prep GMAT Strategy Guides, you must solve GMAT OG. There is no escaping from this book. You must try to solve the GMAT OG at least twice before the main exam.
• Online Resources: Make sure to utilize the following online resources:
  • GMAT Club Forum and GMAT Club YouTube Channel
  • Beat The GMAT
  • Thursday’s with Ron
  • Magoosh YouTube Channel

Common GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section Tips

Applicants preparing for GMAT Verbal Reasoning section should incorporate the following prep tips to enhance their sectional preparation:

1. Read regularly, inculcate this habit and cracking the VR section will be easier than usual.
2. Learn new vocabulary words every day and incorporate them in daily communication and writing.
3. Understand the use of new words also by understanding their meaning, synonyms and even antonyms.
4. Learn multiple new words and memorise them using mnemonics to be able to remember their meanings.
5. Discuss newspaper articles or magazine articles with parents and friends to broaden further understanding of new concepts.
6. Finally, ensure that you make note of all the new vocabulary and concepts so that you can refer back to them whenever needed.

These tips are essential for applicants to ace the Verbal Reasoning section on the GMAT and be able to get high scores on GMAT exam. 

Armed with these insights, you are now ready to start your GMAT Verbal Reasoning journey. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, create a tailored study plan, and dedicate time to consistent practice. With focused effort and strategic preparation, you can conquer the GMAT Verbal Reasoning section and achieve your desired score.