The GRE, or Graduate Record Exam, has a verbal section consisting of four different kinds of question. All four kinds of question require a good vocabulary, but the intellectual skills required to solve each type are different. Along with a good knowledge of GRE vocabulary words, you can also make use of some simple strategies to improve your GRE verbal score.
Sentence Completion
Sentence completion questions test your logic. A typical question in the sentence completion section will have one or two words missing, leaving you to figure out the missing word(s). The sentences will be framed on different subjects but you need not be a master in the subject to figure out the correct word.
The simple approach is to read the sentence strategically without looking at the multiple choice answers. As you read, the logic of the word sequence should automatically form in your mind. Many times the words will be indirectly given in the sentence itself with the use of words like “and” and “since”. Also look for words like “but” and “although”, which are signals indicating that the sentence, while going forward, contradicts or qualifies the first set of words. Therefore, it is important to read the sentence trying to figure where the sentence is going before you even look at the multiple choice answers. Once you figure out the word, all that you need to do is look at the choices given and pick out that word.
Analogies
Analogies test your vocabulary and your knowledge of word relationships. A typical GRE analogy question will have a pair of words related to each other in some way. You need to figure out from the choices the correct pair that matches this relationship. The approach to be adopted is to understand the relationship between the words given before looking at the choices. All the choices will have a pair related to each other in some way or other but the correct choice is the one that shares the relationship as the given pair. Understanding the relationship of the words is therefore very important to choosing the right answer.
Antonyms
A typical question in this section will have a word, followed by five choices. You have to figure out the word that has most nearly the opposite meaning as that of the given word. The words are from American English. During your GRE verbal prep, you will have to improve you knowledge of American English. If you cannot remember the meaning of a word, think about the context in which the word is used. The context should give you clues about the word’s meaning. GRE practice tests help a lot in improving your knowledge of GRE vocabulary words.
Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension tests your understanding of what you read. The passages used in the GRE test are generally from three disciplines: social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. The questions that follow the passage will test your ability to grasp the content and also make some concrete conclusions. Read through the passage quickly but actively, focusing on the key words.
The main advice is to make sure that you do as many GRE practice tests as possible. This will not only help in your GRE vocabulary review but also help you in developing winning strategies.