How to Study for the GRE Verbal Section
The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a test made by ETS to help graduate schools assess the basic academic abilities of applicants. Since Ph.D. and Masters degree students are supposed to have good analytical skills, the GRE tests your critical thinking in 3 ways: through verbal reasoning, quantitative problem solving, and analytical writing.
To get a high score in the verbal reasoning section, you must have a strong vocabulary and excellent critical reading skills. You must also become familiar with the format of the test, and learn to answer questions quickly and accurately. If you get a passable score on the verbal section, and passable scores on the math and writing sections, you should be in good shape to gain admission to graduate school. With even higher scores, you increase your chances of getting into more competitive schools, or earning financial aid.
Learn How GRE Computer Adaptive Testing Works
The GRE is only given in computer adaptive format, as paper tests were discontinued over 10 years ago. A computer adaptive test (CAT for short) is one that adjusts to your performance. The way it goes on the GRE is like this: You are presented with one question at a time. Depending on whether you answer it correctly or not, your next question is either harder or easier. When you get a question right, some points are added to your raw score and you are then presented with a new question that at least as difficult as the previous question, and worth more points. When you get a question wrong, no points are added to your raw score, and your next question is easier and worth fewer points.
At the end of the test, your raw score is converted to a number between 200 and 800. Because of the adaptive nature of the GRE, you cannot skip questions or go back and change your answers. You must select an answer to the question you are given before you can see the next question. And all this is under the 30 minute time constraint!
Moreover, the GRE gives a severe score penalty for not finishing the test. If your time runs out before you get to the final question (there are 30 questions total), your score will be worse than if you had just answered the remaining questions incorrectly. Therefore, if you see that you are rapidly running out of time, it is better to randomly guess on the last remaining questions.
Know the Testing Time Limits
For the GRE verbal section, you have to answer 30 questions in 30 minutes. Most of the short verbal vocab questions can be answered in 15-20 seconds if you are well prepared. Some of the reading passages and their question may take several minutes. While you study to master the content of the GRE, you should also practice pacing. Even if you get better at answering questions correctly, you can get a low score if you do not answer the questions fast enough. The best way to improve your pacing is to take full length practice tests.
Know the 4 Main Question Types
The GRE verbal section has approximately 7-8 questions of each of these 4 types.
Antonyms: You are given a single word and 5 answer choices, one of which is the nearest opposite. GRE antonyms often feature obsure vocabulary, uncommon definitions of common words, or tricky answer choices.
Analogies: You are given a pair of words and 5 other pairs of words as possible answer choices. The correct choice will have the same relationship between the words as the original pair. For example, if the question is GLOVE:HAND, the correct choice might be SOCK:FOOT. (But not FOOT:SOCK. Order matters!)
Sentence Completion: You are given a sentence with 1 or 2 blanks. The 5 answer choices will be a word or pair of words that best fill in the blanks.
Reading comprehension: The GRE will have 2 or 3 short reading passages with 2-4 questions per passage. The questions can cover the main ideas and details, or more subtle apsects of the passage, such as the author's intent. The passages themselves are dry and pretty boring.
The 4 different GRE question types will be randomly distributed. You will not necessarily get 7 antonym questions, followed by 7 analogies, etc. The only questions that will be grouped together are reading comp questions from the same passage.
How to Study Vocabulary
Start building up your vocabulary so that you can answer the antonym, analogy, and sentence completion questions in under a minute. The faster you can answer those short vocabulary questions, the more time you'll have for reading comprehension. You can get workbooks and study guides with the 200 or 300 most commonly tested GRE words. You should study not only definitions, but also word roots, synonyms, antonyms, and words with similar roots. Make flashcards and practice during your lunch breaks or commute.
How to Practice Critical Reading
The GRE is very predictable when it comes to reading comp. As you study, you'll start to notice that all the passages have a very similar structure whether they are persuasive or descriptive articles. The questions, likewise, have standard wording. If you pay attention to the patterns, you will also notice that right answer choices share core elements, and wrong answer choices are cut from the same few molds. Recognizing right and wrong answer choices by their wording can help you out on tough GRE questions.
Since you are allowed scratch paper during the test, you can also jot down quick notes while you read. Many GRE test takers do this to help them focus on the key ideas while they read.
Take Full Length Practice Tests
The most effective thing you can do to prepare for the GRE is to take several full length sample tests that include the Analytical Writing, Quantitative, and Verbal sections. It is important to time yourself during the exam, and take it under test like conditions. You can download free GRE practice tests from the test maker's website. If you have paper exams, do the questions in order without skipping and going back. This will help prepare you for what the real GRE is like.
Measure Your Progress
It is important to keep track of which questions you have the most trouble with so that you can focus your study time on the weak areas. Take a practice GRE exam once a week to chart your improvement and build up your confidence. Set an interim score goal and a final GRE score goal, this will help keep you motivated to study.
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