GMAT Verbal Reasoning

What's on the Verbal section?

The Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam consists of 36 multiple-choice questions. It measures your ability to read and comprehend written material, reason and evaluate arguments, and correct material to express ideas effectively in standard written English. You will have 65 minutes to complete it. There are three types of questions:

i. Sentence Correction

ii. Critical Reasoning

iii. Reading Comprehension.

The test is adaptive, meaning that each question is assigned a difficulty level, and you will be presented with questions based on your performance on the previous question. The score will also change based on your performance throughout the exam instead of being scored at the end. Because of time mismanagement, it is detrimental to miss many questions at the end of the exam.

Sentence Correction

The Sentence Correction questions of the Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam present a sentence, part, or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence are five ways of phrasing the underlined part. Paying attention to grammar, word choice, and sentence construction, you must choose the answer that produces the most effective sentence.

These questions measure two broad aspects of your language proficiency. First, correct expression refers to sentences that are grammatically and structurally sound. The second, effective expression, refers to sentences that express an idea or relationship concisely and grammatically.

Critical Reasoning

The Critical Reasoning questions of the Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT exam are based on a short reading passage, usually fewer than 100 words. Typically, the short text comes with a question asking which of the five answer options strengthens or weakens an argument, tells why the argument is flawed or strongly supports or damages the argument.

These questions are designed to measure your ability to make arguments, evaluate arguments, and formulate or evaluate a plan of action.

Reading Comprehension

The Reading Comprehension passages come with questions that ask you to interpret material, draw inferences or apply to a further context. The passages discuss social sciences and humanities, physical and biological sciences, or a business-related field.

These questions are designed to measure your ability to understand words and statements, understand logical relationships between significant points, draw inferences, and follow the development of quantitative concepts. Specifically, the following reading skills will be tested: main idea, supporting idea, inference, application, logical structure, and style.

Click on the links below to learn more:

  1. About the GMAT
  2. Contact Dr. Donnelly about GMAT lessons
  3. Read our students' reviews
  4. How is the GMAT scored?
  5. GMAT - Section by Section
    1. Integrated Reasoning Section
    2. Quantitative Reasoning Section
    3. Verbal Reasoning Section
    4. Analytical Writing Section
Best GMAT Tutor in New York

Improve your GMAT Score

with private lessons

Dr. Donnelly can teach you the correct approach for each type of question appearing in the Verbal Reasoning section of the GMAT. This will significantly increase your chances of getting the required score to attend the business school of your choice.

Private GMAT lessons with Dr. Donnelly are available either online via Zoom or in person at his San Diego based-office or (depending upon the time of year) his Manhattan-based office.

Over the years, Dr. Donnelly has helped hundreds of students to improve their GMAT scores significantly and achieve their goal of getting accepted into a top-tier business program. We are confident that he can do the same for you.

Contact Dr. Donnelly Today

What our students say

about Dr. Donnelly!

Best Private GMAT Tutor

5 star review

"I got a 700 on the GMAT on Saturday. 95% verbal and 68% math. Thanks again for all of your help."

Anoop V., Manhattan, New York.

Best Private GMAT Tutor

5 star review

"I was admitted to NYU's Stern School of Business today! Thank you for all the help!"

Madeleine S., Manhattan, New York.

Best Private GMAT Tutor

5 star review

"Dr. Donnelly's private tutoring stands apart from other mainstream/commercial review programs because he isolates an individual's weaknesses and tailors a successful review and test-taking strategy that conforms to an individual's needs -- rather than those of the masses. Dr. Donnelly was able to quickly understand and dissect my thought process in order to help me break old habits and establish stronger test-taking skills so I could get that higher score I wanted."

Jacqui S., Manhattan, NY.

Best Private GMAT Tutor

5 star review

"Dr. Donnelly is a wonderful teacher. He is quick to pinpoint weaknesses and, in many cases, turn them into strengths. He always has a structured lesson plan and pertinent homework assignments and puts aside time in the lesson to go over "trouble problems" from the previous lesson. I highly recommend taking a prep course with him. His patience, humor, and kindheartedness makes an otherwise uncomfortable standardized test almost enjoyable."

Mia P., Manhattan, New York.

Read More Reviews
Top