Main Idea and Primary Purpose
Identify central claims, the author’s purpose and accurate summaries. Review the passage evidence after submitting.
Try Type 1 free sampleGRE Verbal Reasoning at a glance
Verbal Reasoning tests how well you understand written arguments, follow the logic of sentences and interpret words in context.
27 questions in 41 minutes. Section 1 has 12 questions in 18 minutes. Section 2 has 15 questions in 23 minutes.
| Question type | Typical count | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | About 13 | Read a passage and answer questions about its ideas, evidence or argument. |
| Text Completion | About 7 | Use context clues to fill one to three blanks in a short text. |
| Sentence Equivalence | About 7 | Choose two of six options that each fill the same blank and give the sentence essentially the same meaning. |
Counts by type are approximate and can vary. ETS test structure · Typical question mix
Skills to develop
Distinguish a claim from its supporting details, draw inferences from evidence and recognise precise word meanings in context.
General strategy
Predict the answer in your own words, then check the options against the text. If you get stuck, mark the question and return to it within the same section.
Free samples and full access
Try three complete 15-question sets, one from each Verbal Reasoning category, with question guides and answer rationales. The full collection contains 14 sets and 210 questions. The other 11 sets and ten full GRE General Test mocks are included with Complete GRE Verbal Reasoning. Analytical Writing is a separate section.
Practice sets
Reading Comprehension
-
-
Supporting Details
Find specific facts, verify paraphrases and distinguish details that apply to different conditions.
Start Type 2 practice -
Inference
Connect clues, draw supported conclusions and make predictions within the limits of the passage.
Start Type 3 practice -
Author’s Tone and Attitude
Identify the writer’s stance, its strength and the words that signal approval, doubt or criticism.
Start Type 4 practice -
Vocabulary in Context
Use examples, contrasts and neighbouring sentences to work out the meaning of highlighted words and phrases.
Start Type 5 practice -
Function and Purpose
Identify the job a detail, example, quotation or paragraph performs in the writer’s argument.
Start Type 6 practice -
Argument Analysis
Identify conclusions and assumptions, assess new evidence and evaluate how well an argument holds up.
Start Type 7 practice -
Passage Structure
Follow the order of ideas, recognise shifts and explain how sentences and paragraphs relate.
Start Type 8 practice
Text Completion
Use the context to fill one, two or three blanks. Start with one blank, then practise checking several choices in the same passage.
-
One Blank
Predict one missing meaning from context, then test it against five choices.
Try one blank free sample -
Two Blanks
Find the clearest clue first and use it to check how the two completions work together.
Start two blanks practice -
Three Blanks
Track how a passage develops and verify all three completions together.
Start three blanks practice
Sentence Equivalence
Choose two of six options for one blank. Each choice must fit the sentence on its own, and both completed sentences must have essentially the same meaning.
-
Foundations
Predict the missing meaning and check that two choices express it.
Try Foundations free sample -
Context Clues
Use contrast, cause, negation and qualification to predict the missing meaning.
Start Context Clues practice -
Synonym Pairs and Nuance
Compare near-synonyms for meaning, tone, scope and strength.
Start Synonym Pairs and Nuance practice
GRE Analytical Writing
Practise the 30-minute Analyze an Issue task across six sets with model answers.
Open Analytical Writing