In this post, I'lll provide my top three tips on how to improve your Reading Comprehension skills for the GRE and maximize the results of your preparation.


The foundation of preparing effectively for GRE Reading Comprehension is understanding that it does indeed test comprehension.

Regardless of what knowledge of RC question types we have or what RC strategies we use, we have to understand what we’re reading to answer RC questions correctly. In other words, while GRE Reading Comprehension tips and tricks may help us to answer RC questions, ultimately, we’ll have to understand something a passage says in order to answer each RC question we see.

For instance, while keywords may help us to find information we need for answering a question, simply finding that information in the passage generally won’t be sufficient for correctly answering the question. We’ll have to understand the information and use that understanding to answer the question.

If we try to answer RC questions without understanding what we’re reading, we’ll consistently have trouble getting the questions correct. On the other hand, by basing our approach to GRE RC on the fact that it tests comprehension, we’ll effectively attack the passages and use the information in the passages to correctly answer the questions.


If we had to identify the one thing that makes GRE Reading Comprehension challenging, that thing would probably be the way the answer choices are designed. They aren’t designed to be straightforward. Instead, RC answer choices are designed so that incorrect choices seem correct and correct answers seem incorrect.

For example, some incorrect choices are written to be half correct. So, to avoid choosing these trap choices, we have to be careful to read choices in their entirety. Other incorrect choices will use wording that closely matches the wording of the passage. So, to avoid choosing these trap choices, we have to go beyond matching words to carefully considering the meaning conveyed by those words.

Meanwhile, correct answers can be worded quite differently from the passage. For example, a correct answer can reverse the wording of the passage to convey an equivalent meaning. So, we have to learn to recognize that a choice is supported by the passage even though, at first glance, the choice seems different from the passage.

In general, both incorrect choices and correct answers in GRE Reading Comprehension will play on our cognitive biases and any tendencies we have to gloss over what we read or fail to pay attention to detail. What all this means is that, to perform at a high level on RC, we have to master the art of telling the difference between trap choices and correct answers.


Having at the ready a clear strategy for answering each type of GRE Reading Comprehension question can be super helpful for a few reasons.

Different types of RC questions require different types of skills. So, by having a specific strategy for answering each type of GRE RC question, we’re more likely to arrive at correct answers. After all, there’s a big difference between muddling through answering a question and knowing exactly how to answer that type of question.

Furthermore, having a complete set of GRE Reading Comprehension strategies handy can help us answer RC questions efficiently, so that we complete the GRE Verbal section within the allotted time. After all, we won’t have to spend time figuring out how to answer the questions. Rather, we’ll know exactly what to do and just do it.

Finally, a huge advantage of learning strategies for answering GRE Reading Comprehension questions is that, if we experience anxiety, distraction, or fatigue on test day, we’ll be able to rely on strategies that we’re accustomed to using.Imagine you’re taking the GRE exam and for whatever reason become a little anxious, and you’re faced with a tricky RC question. The anxiety may be affecting you a little, but you know exactly how to answer the question, and on autopilot, you go through the motions and answer it correctly. You can see how valuable having a reliable strategy can be.

To continue on your way to GRE success, here’s a comprehensive guide to earning a 330+ GRE score.

Good luck studying, and reach out to me if you have any questions or need any more specific advice.

Warm regards,
Scott