Our next tip reflects the following key difference between answering GRE Quant questions and answering GRE Verbal questions. In most cases, when answering a Quant question, we’re concerned with only one answer choice, the correct one. On the other hand, in answering a Verbal question, we consider all the answer choices.

So, for best results, we have to practice Verbal differently from how we practice Quant. The best GRE Verbal practice approach is to treat every answer choice as a question to answer. In other words, we should seek to articulate exactly why each choice in a Verbal question is incorrect or correct.

For instance, when answering a GRE Text Completion question, you may get the sense that a certain choice correctly fills the blank, and you may be correct. But are you clear about why each of the other choices is incorrect? If not, you’re not done with the question. Only when you have determined exactly why every choice is incorrect or correct will you have completed the question. Here’s why.

If you get a Verbal practice question correct but don’t fully understand why every incorrect choice is incorrect, then there are gaps in your knowledge or skill set. For instance, let’s say you get a GRE Reading Comprehension question correct but don’t understand what is wrong with an incorrect choice in that question. In that case, next time you see a similar incorrect choice, you may think it’s correct. After all, if you don’t know why a choice is incorrect, you won’t know how to eliminate a similar choice.

So, when practicing GRE Verbal, make it your goal to understand why every answer choice is incorrect or correct.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep