GMAT veterans understand that pacing is key. In fact, I’ve already written about pacing strategy for the quantitative section [link]. While time management on the math section is relatively straightforward, the GMAT Verbal section is a different beast. Time cannot be equally budgeted to each question, mainly because of the Reading Comprehension passages. While this added complexity might seem daunting, many test takers actually prefer the variety of the verbal section. Whether you’re a math genius or a poet, there are simple ways to increase your effectiveness at pacing the verbal section. I’ve concocted some devious tips and arranged them by their respective categories: Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction and Critical Reasoning. Happy reading!

• Reading Comprehension
  • Speed is important, but comprehension is key – read through the entire passage without stopping. This is important since questions normally deal with the “tone”, “scope” or “central argument” of the article. Reading in sections or out-of-sequence can negatively affect your high level interpretation of a passage. Re-visit confusing sections after identifying these basics.  Deeply understanding a passage on the 1st or 2nd try will ultimately save you time as you cruise through the subsequent questions.
  • Details/Facts etc – don’t waste tons of time memorizing. If a question calls for specific facts from the passage, re-reading a specific quote is quick and easy. Again, focus on attaining a solid understanding of the passage as a whole.
  • Vocabulary – given the science or business slant of most RC passages, complex sentences and advanced vocabulary are the norm. Fear not! The meaning of specific words is less important than high-level themes. Read past these roadblocks to see if you can derive contextual definitions.

• • Taking Notes – Forget the note-taking you do in lecture or during meetings. Imagine instead that your notes are one-word summaries of main points in the passage. Writing specific facts is unnecessary.
  • Personal Knowledge of a Topic – its probable that you will encounter a passage dealing with familiar subject or issue (whether in practice tests or the “real deal”). Be careful not to let your existing knowledge distract you from the argument or scope of the passage in question. Authors may have taken an unusual stance or used questionable evidence. Your knowledge will help with vocabulary but choose your answer based only on the facts and voice used within the piece.
• Critical Reasoning
  • Read the Stem first! – (Hint: the stem is the part after the paragraph prompt but before the answer choices) Why read this first? The stem determines what you should be looking for while reading the prompting text. For example, if the stem was “Which statement best supports the author’s argument?” then you know that you need to identify the argument and then answer accordingly. By going into the paragraph with a goal in mind, you’ll save yourself from re-reading it later.
  • Look for keywords – …in the stem! There is a popular collection of words (i.e. support, weaken, criticize, violate, etc) that connote certain argumentative/declarative styles. Some test prep programs will break these down even further for you. The general idea is that such keywords can point you directly to the sort of answer you’re looking for and help focus your first reading of the prompt.
• Sentence Correction
  • Re-reading: the exception to the rule – good readers will often pause or trip-up when reading an incorrect sentence. This is the one time when re-reading should be encouraged. Yes, you should still try to read through the whole sentence in one go. However, analyzing specific pieces of a sentence is necessary so re-reading several times might be necessary.
  • Read all answer choices – … even if you think the initial sentence is correct. I often missed questions during practice tests because my mind would transpose words and letters to automatically correct errors in the sentence prompt. Reading the five answers shouldn’t cost much extra time and can help you re-affirm your conclusion through process of elimination.

Phew! So I’ve only scratched the surface here. Note that these are broad strategies that have worked well for me. However, every test prep system or class will have its own unique approach. I recommend exploring different materials or class options since they will provide much more detailed systems for enhancing your skills. Figure out what works for you and remember to share your feedback!

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