GMAT Verbal Tips

Use these handy GMAT verbal tips as you prepare for the test. A high GMAT verbal score requires a consistent course of study. That's why you should purchase a study guide and use it every day.

GMAT Reading Comprehension

Read articles online. This is another way to prepare for the GMAT's computer adaptive aspects in addition to taking an online practice test.

Read articles about business, social science and science since those are the most popular topics covered in the reading passages.

Analyze what you read. Reading with a critical eye will prepare you for the GMAT's reading comprehension questions. In the months prior to the GMAT, practice reading while paying attention to the author's main arguments in order to quickly come to a conclusion.

Know the lingo. While the GMAT doesn't test on vocabulary terms like the SAT, you should know the most common words used in the GMAT. You can get through the test faster if you know the most common terms, and this will give you more time to work on other parts of the test.

Skim passages first in order to get a better sense of their structure and outline.

Read the questions before going on to read the passage. That way, you'll know what information to look for.

Read business passages carefully. These are the most difficult reading comprehension questions, since the corresponding questions usually ask about the author's tone or opinion.

GMAT Sentence Correction

Go over basic grammar rules. It's a good idea to read basic grammar texts such as The Elements of Style, but only focus on the grammar rules the GMAT covers.

Look for grammar errors in the answer choices. The correct answer will contain no grammar errors, but spelling and capitalization are irrelevant.

Make sure that the answer you choose does not change the meaning of the sentence.

Choose the answer that fixes all of the errors in a sentence.

GMAT Critical Reasoning

As with reading comprehension, you should read questions first before reading the passage so you know what to look for.

Know the terms used in the questions. If you come across any words you don't know during your practice tests, write them down and go over them later.

Identify the assumptions and conclusions in each passage. Breaking down an argument into its component parts will help you strengthen, weaken or paraphrase certain claims.

Know when to separate correlation from causation. Some questions are designed to trick you into thinking that one event caused another just because the timing of those events. Don't fall for this flawed logic.

Know the most common types of reasoning used by the GMAT such as citing authorities, using analogies, noting ulterior motives, or demonstrating logical inconsistencies. Identifying reasoning methods saves you time by making it easier to find the flaws within an argument.

Read more free advice on securing a place on an MBA program in our admissions section.

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