GRE® Verbal Section

At a Glance

• Time:      30 minutes
• Format:  30 multiple-choice questions
• Tests:     Reading, analytical reasoning, and vocabulary

The Basics of the GRE Verbal Section

There is one scored verbal section on the GRE with approximately 7 sentence completions, 7 analogies, 8 antonyms, and 8 reading comprehension questions. If the experimental section is also verbal, you will see two sections, but only one will be scored.

GRE Sentence Completions

Sentence completion questions test how well you can determine the logic of a sentence. You are always shown a sentence with either one or two words missing. Your job is to pick the answer choice with the word or words that best fill the blanks. You won't need any outside knowledge to answer these questions. All the information you need will be in the sentence itself.

GRE Analogies

Analogies on the GRE test your vocabulary and understanding of word relationships. You'll see a pair of words in capital letters that are related in some way. For instance: AIRPLANE : HANGAR. These are referred to as the "stem words." There are five answer choices, each consisting of another word pair. Your task is to identify the answer choice with the word pair that is related in the same way as the stem words.

Try to establish the relationship between the stem words before looking at the answer choices. For instance, an AIRPLANE is stored in a HANGAR. Likewise, money is stored in a vault. A choice likepropeller : flight would not be correct, since the relationship is different—even though the words are related to the general subject of planes and flying.

GRE Antonyms

Antonyms present you with a single word followed by five answer choices containing words or short phrases. Your task is to find the answer choice that's most nearly opposite in meaning to the original word. These questions test vocabulary, so for your maximum score, you will need to maximize your vocabulary.

GRE Reading Comprehension

You've probably seen reading comprehension questions before—especially on tests like the SAT. Expect GRE passages to be tougher. The passages are taken from social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. "Reading Comp" tests your ability to understand written material and make some quick conclusions about it. You'll see questions about the main idea of a passage, its inferences, arguments, tone, or about specific details in the passage.