GRE VERBAL TEST SYLLABUS

Reading Comprehension

1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8

Understanding the meaning of individual words and sentences

Understanding the meaning of paragraphs and larger bodies of text
distinguishing between minor and major points
summarizing a passage
drawing conclusions from the information provided
reasoning from incomplete data to infer missing information
understanding the structure of a text in terms of how the parts relate to one another
identifying the authors assumptions and perspective analyzing a text and reaching conclusions

about it
1.9 identifying strengths and weaknesses of a position
1.10 Developing and considering alternative explanations

Text Completion

Passage composed of one to five sentences

One to three blanks

Three answer choices per blank (fi ve answer choices in the case of a single blank)
The answer choices for different blanks func-tion independently; i.e., selecting one
choice for one blank does not affect what choices you can select for another blank
Single correct answer, consisting of one choice for each blank; no credit for partially
correct answers

Although
However
While But
least Conversely
Even though
In spite of

Instead of

Another

Since As a result

In contrast No longer Yet

Though
Not
On the other hand Despite Instead Paradoxically

Regardless Except Neverthelessz

Therefore Because Thus Consequently

in

the

Sentence Equivalence

Basic Sentence structure: Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives

Verb Tense
Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Pronoun Agreement
Subject Verb Agreement
Modifiers
Parallelism