🎓 GRE reference page
Complete topic map for GRE Verbal — Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and Reading Comprehension — with the strategy patterns that raise scores fastest.
2
verbal sections
27
questions each
170
max score
Question type breakdown
Reading Comprehension
~60% of questionsText Completion
~25% of questionsSentence Equivalence
~15% of questionsTopics by question type
About 25% of Verbal questions. For multi-blank questions, fill the easiest blank first — it constrains the other choices. The correct answer fits the logic of the sentence, not just the meaning of individual words.
About 15% of Verbal. Both correct answers must create sentences with the same meaning — not just sentences that both make sense. If you cannot find two answers that produce equivalent sentences, start over rather than guess.
About 60% of Verbal. For 'primary purpose' questions, the answer is about what the passage does, not what it says. For 'select all that apply' questions, evaluate each answer independently — partial credit is not given.
GRE vocabulary is tested in context, not as standalone definitions. Flashcard apps (Magoosh GRE, Quizlet GRE 500) are the most efficient tool. Learn 15–20 new words per day for 4–6 weeks — that covers the core high-frequency list.
Commonly searched questions
At 150, most errors come from vocabulary gaps and RC inference mistakes. Build your vocabulary to 500+ high-frequency words using Magoosh GRE or a similar flashcard deck. For RC, practise identifying the main idea of each paragraph before answering questions — most wrong answers distort or exaggerate what the passage says.
Learning 400–500 high-frequency GRE words is sufficient for most test-takers targeting 155–165. A core list of the top 300 most commonly tested words (available on Magoosh, Manhattan Prep, and ETS materials) covers the majority of Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence vocabulary. Depth matters more than breadth — learn words in context, not as isolated definitions.
Students with a strong reading background (regular academic readers) typically see a 5–8 point improvement in 6–8 weeks of focused preparation. Students who need to build vocabulary from scratch typically need 10–14 weeks. Daily reading of academic articles (The Economist, Scientific American, academic abstracts) supplements vocabulary and RC speed.
GRE Verbal uses sophisticated academic English vocabulary that is challenging for everyone, including native speakers. Non-native speakers typically find Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence harder due to vocabulary gaps, while Reading Comprehension can be more manageable with good academic English reading habits. Dedicated vocabulary study levels the playing field significantly.
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