One of the most common and damaging misconceptions that test-takers have about GRE Verbal is that it simply tests your knowledge of the definitions of words. While it is true that you will need to learn the definitions of a large number of vocabulary words in order to do well on the GRE Verbal sections — I’ll discuss some specific strategies for learning GRE vocab later on — relying on vocab memorization alone is a flawed strategy for earning a high Verbal score.

The fact is, GRE Verbal is so much more than just a vocab test. After all, if given enough time, most people could probably memorize and recite the definitions of many words. So, if that were all it took to earn a top-notch Verbal score, more people would be doing it, right?

Just as GRE Quant tests not only your knowledge of math concepts, but also your logical reasoning skills, GRE Verbal tests more than just your knowledge of vocabulary. In order to score high in Verbal, you need to understand how specific words relate to specific concepts in GRE questions, how words convey tone, how sentence structure affects meaning, how sentences and paragraphs relate to one another, and so much more.

Furthermore, in order to perform well on the Verbal sections, you must master the process of arriving at correct answers. Doing so requires structured and highly focused practice in which you deeply analyze sentences and passages, and consider not just the meaning of words but the logic of what is being said.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can simply memorize a couple thousand vocabulary words and ace GRE Verbal. If you’ve already started down that road, you’ve probably noticed that you’re struggling with many medium and hard-level Verbal questions.

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep