GMAT Prep – Verbal 101

The verbal section of the GMAT is the final section of the exam and so often times it is the one that is the most difficult for test takers. To be well prepared for this portion of the GMAT exam it is vital to do a number of full length practice tests to ensure that you are not exhausted by the time you reach the verbal section of the exam.

Here’s what you should expect from the verbal section of the GMAT:

41 multiple choice questions

75 minutes

The verbal section is made up of 3 types of questions: Sentence Correction (SC), Critical Reasoning (CR), Reading Comprehension (RC).

Sentence Correction problems will provide a sentence some of which will be underlined. To answer the question you will be given 5 choices of how to rephrase the underlined part of the original statement. The first choice will exactly match the original phrasing, while the other 4 will present alternative options. You must choose the best phrasing and construction of the underlined part. If there is no mistake the correct answer will be (A).

Critical Reasoning questions provide the test-taker with a ‘stimulus’ (short passage of text). The test-taker is then asked a question about the stimulus and must choose the correct answer from the five choices given. The question could ask the test-taker to strengthen or weaken an argument, draw a conclusion, or identify the assumptions in the stimulus.

Reading Comprehension questions provide the test-taker with passages of text upon which they are then asked a series of multiple choice questions. You can think of this as a longer version of Critical Reasoning questions.

For tips about tackling the verbal section of the GMAT check out gmat.teachstreet.com or our article on Mastering the GMAT Verbal.