One of the most persistent and harmful myths about the GRE Verbal section is the belief that Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions are nothing more than vocabulary tests. Many test-takers are told that success comes down to memorizing as many word definitions as possible.

In reality, strong performance on these question types demands far more than an impressive word list. While vocabulary building is absolutely important, students who rely on memorization alone often hit a wall when they face medium- and high-difficulty questions.

What’s usually missing is a solid grasp of sentence logic. To excel at Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, you must learn how to break down sentence structure and interpret meaning at a deeper level. That means practicing skills such as understanding how sentence structure shapes meaning, recognizing how context alters word meanings, seeing how different parts of a sentence connect, and spotting common traps and clues built into vocab-based questions.

Take transition words like “although” or “despite.” These small words can flip the meaning of an entire sentence. Catching that shift can be the difference between choosing the correct answer and falling for a trap. The same goes for determining whether a blank calls for a positive or negative word, or realizing that Sentence Equivalence blanks must be filled with words that function as synonyms. These insights come from logical analysis, not rote memorization.

In short, vocabulary study alone isn’t enough for GRE Verbal success. It’s your ability to analyze sentence structure and meaning that allows your vocabulary knowledge to truly work for you.

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

Warmest regards,

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep