A great and often overlooked way to get accustomed to the style and subject matter of GRE Reading Comprehension passages, as well as Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion questions, is to regularly read high-quality newspapers and magazines such as The Economist, The Atlantic, Scientific American, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. In those publications, you will encounter sophisticated writing from a variety of perspectives and in different tones, much like in GRE Verbal. These sources are known for their thoughtful reporting and editorial rigor, and they challenge readers in the same way GRE Verbal questions do—by requiring close reading, sharp reasoning, and a sensitivity to nuance. They also cover a wide range of topics across the biological, physical, and social sciences, the arts and humanities, politics, history, and areas of general interest. This diversity mirrors the content you’ll find on test day.

The more exposure you have to GRE-type material, the more at ease you will feel when reading the actual test passages. Perhaps you already read one or two of the publications I mentioned from time to time. Make it a daily habit. If you check The New York Times in the morning, consider adding a weekend essay from The Atlantic or a science feature from Scientific American in the evening. The goal is not just volume—it’s consistency. Reading widely and regularly builds familiarity with how complex ideas are introduced, developed, and challenged in written form.

This kind of reading also builds your vocabulary in a natural and effective way. Learning and retaining hundreds of GRE vocabulary words is a core part of your preparation, and reading high-quality publications allows you to see many of those words used in authentic contexts. You’ll see how a word’s meaning can shift slightly depending on tone or usage, and you’ll develop an intuitive sense for which words “fit” in certain contexts and which do not. You’ll also come across unfamiliar words that may not be on your current study list but are worth learning. If you pause and look up the definitions of those words—especially when the surrounding context helps illuminate meaning—you’ll find that your vocabulary deepens without the process feeling forced.

As you read, you can also begin to train yourself to spot the same structural elements that appear in GRE passages. Ask yourself: What is the main point of the article? Is the author presenting an argument or critiquing one? What evidence is offered, and how is it organized? Does the author assume something without stating it outright? Do they describe a process, highlight a cause-and-effect relationship, or walk through a historical event? Practicing this kind of analytical reading in the real world will make it second nature by the time you sit for the test.

None of this has to be overly formal. You do not need to approach every article like a passage on a diagnostic exam. The key is to make high-quality reading a consistent part of your day. If a certain article sparks your interest, dive in. If a word throws you off, take a minute to investigate it. With time, you will find that these small acts of curiosity pay off. You will become a sharper, more confident reader. And when you encounter a particularly dense or abstract GRE passage, it will no longer feel like unfamiliar territory. It will feel like something you’ve already been doing—because it is.

Reach out to me with any questions about your GRE prep. Happy studying!

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep