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GMAT Verbal Section
The third and last section on the GMAT is the Verbal Section, which is in multiple-choice format. You have 75 minutes in which to answer 41 questions. The Verbal question types consist of Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension, and Critical Reasoning.
Sentence Correction Questions
Sentence Correction questions test your knowledge of written English. You are shown a sentence, which can be very long and contorted, and some or all of the sentence will be underlined. Your task is to find the most grammatically correct version of the underlined section from amongst the answer choices.
For each sentence correction question, read the original sentence carefully before looking at the answers. If you spot an error, you can eliminate choice (A) immediately, because choice (A) always repeats the original question.
You will not be tested on any grammar terminology here but are looking for correct grammar, good style and efficiency. You may be able to instinctively "hear" whether the sentence is correct by using the intuitive "ear" that you've developed by speaking and reading English.
You will see approximately 15 sentence correction questions during the Verbal section.
Reading Comprehension Questions
You can expect to see 4 Reading Comprehension passages on the GMAT, with three or four questions based on each. The passages will be approximately 200-300 words long.
When faced with a passage in a Reading Comprehension question, remember that you don’t need to memorize all the information in it. Instead, read through it quickly the first time and try to get a feel for the topic, the author's purpose, and the scope of the passage—i.e. how broadly or narrowly the writer treats a subject. You should read through the passage in its entirety before looking at the questions, so you don't get overly confused. The passages are written in difficult, often technical prose, adapted from books and journals in the broad areas of business, the social sciences, and the natural sciences.
Critical Reasoning Questions
Critical Reasoning questions are designed to test your analytical skills. You are presented with a short piece of text where a writer makes an assertion or states a point of view and then tries to support it, and a question relating to the text. Your task is to find the answer choice that strengthens or weakens the argument. You may also be asked to find an assumption that the argument makes or to make an inference yourself.
You will see approximately 13 Critical Reasoning questions. To do well on these, you need to understand the structure of the argument. Identify the conclusion, what evidence there is to support it, and what assumptions are made to draw the conclusion. Think about these steps before you look at the answer choices or the intentionally tricky wording of the answers can confuse you.
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions is the world leader in test preparation has been helping students score higher on standardized tests for 70 years. For information on the GMAT and on Kaplan’s range of classroom and online GMAT training courses, please visit www.kaptest.co.uk
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