GMAT Verbal: Topics, Question Types, Syllabus and Score
Content Curator | Updated On - May 16, 2024
Highlights:
- GMAT verbal consists of around 36 multiple choice questions.
- The type of questions in GMAT verbal includes Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction and Reading Comprehension.
- The reading comprehension has 13-14 questions, sentence correction has 12-13 questions and critical reasoning has 9-10 questions.
- GMAT exam is accepted for the MBA as well as the business programs in countries like USA, UK, Australia, etc.
GMAT verbal section is one of the four sections of the GMAT exam. It is designed to check your skills in reading, analyzing arguments, and correct written material to express ideas effectively in English. You will get 65 minutes to complete 36 multiple choice questions in GMAT verbal. If we calculate the time, you will get roughly under 2 minutes to answer 1 question. The GMAT verbal syllabus consists of 3 question types Critical Reasoning, Sentence Correction and Reading Comprehension. In GMAT Critical Reasoning, a short argument and 3-4 question relating to it will be provided. GMAT registration is mandatory to take the exam. The assessment is based on analyzing complex written material, evaluating arguments and sentence correction questions. GMAT is scored on a scale of 200-800. The total time allotted for GMAT examination is 3 hours and 7 minutes. This exam is accepted worldwide for an MBA or any management program.
GMAT Verbal Topics
The GMAT Syllabus consists of four sections - Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning and Analytical Writing Assessment. There are three types of GMAT verbal questions. These can help you with GMAT verbal preparation. They are:
- Reading Comprehension: These questions test the candidate's ability to understand and analyze complex written material, such as business-related articles and passages. The GMAT Reading Comprehension contains passages about a topic. You are expected to read the passage and then answer 3 to 4 questions about the passage.
- Critical Reasoning: These questions test the candidate's ability to evaluate arguments and make sound decisions based on the given information. This section will provide an argument based on which one answer needs to be selected.
- Sentence Correction: These questions test the candidate's ability to identify and correct errors in standard written English sentences. You will see a sentence that has some portion (or all) of it underlined. You then select the best version of the underlined portion of the sentence in the multiple-choice responses below.
GMAT Verbal Questions
The GMAT Exam pattern has multiple types of questions. Few of the GMAT verbal example are discussed in this article. The GMAT verbal course consists of multiple choice questions for all three sections. The GMAT verbal questions practice can lead to a higher score.
| Sections | Number of questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 13-14 |
| Sentence Correction | 12-13 |
| Critical Reasoning | 9-10 |
GMAT Reading Comprehension
The GMAT reading comprehension questions are from various fields of study including economics, social science, and natural science. Few things to remember while taking the GMAT reading Comprehension section are:
- Some passages are easier to understand than others. All questions must be answered based on what is stated or implied in the passage.
- Read the passage multiple times to understand what the question exactly asks.
- Remember the overall sense of the passage while keeping the key points in mind.
- You must develop good reading habits and strategies. This includes practicing active reading, taking notes, highlighting important points
- You must do the GMAT verbal review once in a while
- In addition to practicing active reading, it is important to work on a candidate's time management skills in the GMAT preparation process.
Sample Question
GMAT Sentence Correction
In GMAT Sentence correction, understanding and reading the sentence is crucial. The GMAT Sentence correction usually contains 2 or more errors. The sentences are lengthy and complex in structure. You need to understand the details in the question.
- Read the entire sentence and analyze the underlined part
- Read and understand each choice carefully and notice the errors.
- Pay attention to clarity, GMAT grammar and idiomatic usage, precision of language, and appropriateness of diction.
- Before answering, read the whole sentence and try to fit the answer.
Sample Question
GMAT Critical Reasoning
The GMAT Critical Reasoning section starts with a passage which is a written argument. You need to find something that either weakens or strengthens the argument. These GMAT verbal question types are known for using tricky words. So you must read the passage and answer choices closely.
- You need to understand the structure and the conclusion
- Based on this, you need to find the details that supports or weakens the argument or conclusion
- Identify the argument part of the sentence and the conclusion.
- Read all the choices before coming to a conclusion.
- Practice GMAT verbal practice papers to understand the pattern
Sample Question
GMAT Verbal Scores
GMAT scores are valid for 5 years. GMAT verbal scores are measured on a scale of 6-51. The GMAT Verbal scores are reported in intervals of 1 and the standard error of measurement is 3 points. The total GMAT score is 200-800. The detailed score of each section along with GMAT verbal scores are provided.
GMAT Score Penalty
You can retake the GMAT exam after checking the GMAT score validity. There is a penalty for each section or questions that you have not answered. Suppose if you do not finish within time, the scores will be calculated based on the correct answers only. Hence, it is helpful to take GMAT verbal mock test and practice papers.
- The GMAT verbal score will decrease significantly with each unanswered question.
- It is best to guess and attempt all questions rather than leaving blank.
GMAT Verbal Score to Percentile
The GMAT verbal score is reported on a fixed scale and includes a percentile ranking. You can check the GMAT score calculator for further information. This information appears on the Official GMAT Score Report that you and your designated university will receive. The conversion of scaled score to percentile are:
| Verbal Scaled Score | Percentile Ranking |
| 45 - 51 | 99% |
| 44 | 98% |
| 42-43 | 96% |
| 41 | 94% |
| 40 | 91% |
| 39 | 89% |
| 38 | 85% |
| 37 | 83% |
| 36 | 81% |
| 35 | 76% |
| 34 | 72% |
| 33 | 69% |
| 32 | 67% |
| 31 | 62% |
| 30 | 60% |
| 29 | 57% |
| 28 | 52% |
| 27 | 47% |
| 26 | 44% |
| 25 | 40% |
| 24 | 37% |
| 23 | 33% |
| 22 | 31% |
| 21 | 27% |
| 20 | 23% |
| 19 | 20% |
| 18 | 18% |
| 17 | 15% |
| 16 | 13% |
| 15 | 10% |
| 14 | 9% |
| 13 | 7% |
| 12 | 5% |
| 11 | 4% |
| 10 | 3% |
| 9 | 2% |
| 6-8 | 1% |
GMAT Verbal Practice Papers
Practice is the way to perfection for the GMAT exam. Besides this, you can join GMAT verbal classes for improvement. In GMAT Verbal section, you need to practice GMAT questions and sample papers to understand the exact type. The practice papers also help you understand how much time it might take to answer one question. Few GMAT verbal practice questions are:
GMAT verbal section is just one part of the test. You need to focus on all the sections of the GMAT exam to get admission to your dream business school. The GMAT verbal sample questions and books can be found online which will help you prepare for the exam.
FAQs
Ques: What are the types of questions on the GMAT Verbal section?
Ans: There are three types of questions in GMAT verbal section. They are Sentence Correction (SC), Reading Comprehension (RC), and Critical Reasoning (CR). You need to practice all sections to ace the GMAT.
Ques: How many questions are on the GMAT Verbal section?
Ans: There are 36 questions in total in GMAT Verbal section. There are varying numbers of each question type. However, most of the questions are multiple choice and answer.
Ques: How much time do I get for the GMAT Verbal section?
Ans: The total time allocated to solve 35 questions is 65 minutes. You need to answer all questions since GMAT has a penalty for unanswered questions.
Ques: What is a good score on the GMAT Verbal section?
Ans: A good score on GMAT verbal section depends on your target schools. However, a score of 35+ is considered good. You must check the official website of every university where you want to apply for the scores.
Ques: What is GMAT Sentence Correction (SC) about?
Ans: The sentence correction is one question type of GMAT verbal. GMAT sentence correction is all about identifying and correcting grammatical errors and unclear phrasing in sentences. You need to have a strong grasp over English grammar to excel this type.
Ques: What is GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) about?
Ans: GMAT reading Comprehension provides a passage followed by 3-4 questions. You need to analyze and understand complex passages from academic and technical fields. Then you need to select the correct choice of answer.
Ques: What is Critical Reasoning (CR) about?
Ans: The GMAT Critical reasoning also provides a passage with an argument to it. You need to understand, evaluate arguments and identify flaws in reasoning. Understanding the concept of the question is very important.
Ques: What are the few common Sentence Correction question types?
Ans: The common question types for GMAT Sentence Correction includes Parallelism, Idioms, Pronoun Agreement, Subject-Verb Agreement, Verb Tense. Having a strong grasp over English grammar is important.
Ques: What are some common question types of GMAT RC ?
Ans: GMAT RC section includes topics from multiple sources and fields of study. Some of them are Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science, Business and others. Practicing and reading various books will help you score in GMAT RC section.
Ques: What are some GMAT CR argument types?
Ans: The GMAT CR or Critical reasoning has an argument related to it. The common question types include Cause-effect, Comparison, Correlation and Definition. Understanding both the point of view and the conclusion is very important.
Ques: What are some good resources to study GMAT Verbal?
Ans: You can get multiple books and practice papers online for GMAT verbal and other sections. Some of the good resources are Official GMAT Guide, Manhattan Prep, Veritas Prep, Kaplan, GMAT Club.
Ques: Should I focus on one question type at a time?
Ans: Yes, focus on one area at a time. This will help to solve the questions individually. Sometimes, it is okay to mix it up, but it's also helpful to dedicate time to your weaker areas.
Ques: Is vocabulary important for GMAT Verbal?
Ans: Yes, vocabulary is very important for GMAT verbal. You need to understand the meaning of each and every word since the questions can be tricky. A strong vocabulary is helpful, but critical thinking and reading comprehension are more important.
Ques: How often should I practice GMAT Verbal?
Ans: Practicing GMAT verbal is the only way to score more marks in GMAT. You must aim for at least 2-3 hours per week, with practice tests closer to the exam date. However, the time might vary depending where you stand.
Ques: Can I take official GMAT practice tests for free?
Ans: Yes, you can take the practice tests for free. There are multiple websites available which will provide the practice test and samples. GMAT's official website also has multiple test papers.
Ques: How should I approach Sentence Correction questions on test day?
Ans: You must read the entire sentence carefully first, then eliminate obviously wrong answers before understanding the remaining choices. You must keep the grammatical mistakes in mind while selecting the answers.
Ques: How should I manage my time in GMAT verbal section?
Ans: Managing time is very important since unanswered questions will be negatively marked. Don't spend too much time on any one question, move on quickly if you're stuck, and prioritize accuracy over speed.
Ques: Do I get extra time if the time is complete for GMAT verbal?
Ans: You will not get any extra time. You need to complete the questions within the time. Hence, answer the questions with accuracy and if you run out of time, guess the remaining answers.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.