GRE Reading Comprehension: Syllabus, Effective Tips and Strategies, and more

GRE reading comprehension sections examine the test taker’s ability to understand a given passage and answer the questions. In addition, candidates get 5-7 reading comprehension passages in the GRE reading comprehension section. GRE RC passages are excerpts from topics around humanities, social sciences, business, and natural sciences. Moreover, GRE RC questions constitute roughly 50% of the GRE verbal reasoning section in the syllabus. And GRE comprehension reading passages differ in length from 100 to 450 words, and students must answer every comprehension question within 1 minute.

GRE Reading Comprehension Syllabus: Overview 

The GRE reading comprehension passages can be non-academic or academic, and candidates may come across 1-6 questions for every comprehension passage. In addition, the total number of GRE reading comprehension questions in the verbal reasoning section is usually 10-13. Moreover, each GRE reading comprehension passage remains structured in four building blocks. Below are some notable GRE reading comprehension sections. 

Building Blocks	Description
The Point	Carries the details that the author is trying to address.
The Background	Emphasizes the details to develop an understanding of the passage.
Support	Additional data provided in the passage as examples or evidence.
Implications	The concluding section might comprise a solution or an effective opinion to end the passage.

GRE Reading Comprehension: Question Types 

Question Types	Description
Multiple Choice Questions	Pick one appropriate alternative as an answer from five choices.
Multiple Choice Questions	Select single or multiple answers from three provided alternatives.
Select-in-Passage	Choose the suitable sentence from reference to the passage.

Concepts related to GRE reading comprehension questions

The above GRE reading comprehension question types remain based on specific ideas illustrated in the GRE test passages. Some of these ideas are as follows:

• Main-idea reading comprehension questions: It is the most common reading comprehension question type where the test-takers must find the primary purpose or idea of the given passage. 

• Detailed fact question: Candidates must specify the particular details required

• Implied question: In this part, students must detect the implied/proposed idea

• Extrapolation questions: The most complicated of all, this needs the applicants to gather or compare the author’s opinions with other circumstances

• Structural question: This question type asks to determine the format or writing pattern

• Author’s tone question: Quite a tricky question type, here candidates need to recognize the author’s tone

• Exception/Negative question: This question type requires the candidate to determine the damaging or false answer from the options

• Contextual questions: It demands the aspirants to assume the meaning of an unfamiliar word by reading the passage.

Aptitudes evaluated in GRE reading comprehension

GRE reading comprehension usually evaluates aspirants on a broad range of capabilities, and scores are credited consequently. In addition, GRE reading comprehension materials prepare test-takers to read and comprehend formats of prose that happen in college. The assessment areas GRE reading comprehension passages comprise:

• Comprehending the meaning of phrases and sentences
• Understanding the importance of lengthy passages and texts
• Summarising a passage
• Capability to distinguish between major and minor texts
• Analyzing unfinished sentences and figuring out missing attributes
• Understanding the interconnections of the texts
• Evaluating and concluding a text
• Understanding the writer’s premises
• Evolving alternative answers

Effective tips for preparing for GRE reading comprehension 

Practicing for the GRE test is essential and substantial preparation will assist you in getting an outstanding score in the GRE Verbal section. Below are some practical tips for preparing for GRE reading comprehension. 

Focus more on reading

The primary and the most prominent tips for GRE reading comprehension would be to read as much as possible and to read vigorously. You can skim through academic texts, which will assist you in getting used to the high level of reading and boost your critical reading aptitudes. In addition, you can read different academic books, research papers, or newspapers to sharpen your reading aptitudes. Besides, it is prudent to determine the essential terms and phrases to help you comprehend the primary idea behind whatever you are reading.

Work on improving your vocabulary

Yet another crucial tip that you must remember, not just for the GRE reading comprehension section but the whole GRE Verbal section, is to develop your vocabulary understanding. Students in this section must understand their words and their meanings. Therefore, you must have sound knowledge of different terms used in the English language.

Solve as many practice tests as possible 

We cannot emphasize enough how crucial it is to take GRE reading comprehension examinations or mock tests as much as possible. In addition, you can go through the official GRE reading practice examinations as they are both positively accurate and similar to what you will see on the GRE test. Moreover, this approach will provide you with an idea of how you will perform in the test.

Key Takeaways

• Many aspirants fall on the track as they run to ace reading comprehension in GRE. However, with the tips above, you can better find your way all to the finish line. 

• Besides relying on the study materials, you can also solve previous years’ question papers to get better scores. 
• Practice, practice, and practice again to ensure that you score high in the GRE reading comprehension section. 

Visit our website to learn more about the GRE test and effective tips for strengthening your preparation!

FAQs

Question 1: How can I better prepare for GRE reading comprehension?

Answer 1:

• Read as much as possible.
• Learn to concentrate on relevant points in the passage.
• Take as many practice examinations as possible.

Question 2:  Is GRE reading comprehension tough?

Answer 2: The GRE is not challenging if you understand the reading comprehension strategy and practice enough.