How many blanks can a Text Completion question have, and is there partial credit?

One to three blanks, and there's no partial credit — every blank must be correct.

What must the two answers in Sentence Equivalence have in common?

They must be a synonym pair that both fit and produce sentences with the same meaning.

What makes an answer correct in Reading Comprehension?

It must be provable from specific lines in the passage — not merely true in general.

What's the most effective way to build GRE vocabulary?

Learn words in context via sentences, word families and roots — the way the test uses them.

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GRE Verbal: The Three Question Types

Text Completion, Sentence Equivalence and Reading Comprehension — what each tests and the fastest way to attack it.

The big picture

GRE Verbal (27 Qs, 2 sections)
- Text Completion — Fill 1–3 blanks from context
- Sentence Equivalence — Pick TWO words → same meaning sentence
- Reading Comprehension — Passages + inference/detail questions
- Vocabulary + logic — Meaning from context is everything

Text Completion — read the clue, then the blank

A short passage has one to three blanks; choose the word that best fits each (no partial credit for multi-blank — all must be right). The trick: find the clue and the signpost (a word like 'although', 'because', 'yet') that tells you whether the blank agrees or contrasts with the rest.

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Real example: 'Although praised as ___, the plan was actually reckless.' 'Although' signals contrast, so the blank must be positive — 'prudent'. Predict your own word before reading the options.

🧠 Memory hook: Find the signpost (although/because) first. It tells you the blank's direction.

Sentence Equivalence — two words, one meaning

One blank, six options — pick the TWO that both fit AND produce sentences with the same meaning. So you're hunting a synonym pair, not just any two workable words.

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Real example: If 'gregarious' fits, look for its partner 'sociable' — two options that mean the same. Two words that both fit but mean different things is the classic trap answer.

🧠 Memory hook: Two answers that are SYNONYMS. Find the pair, not just two that fit.

Reading Comprehension — answer from the text, not your view

Passages come with detail, inference and 'purpose' questions. Every answer must be provable from the passage — the right choice is supported by specific lines; wrong ones are true-in-the-world but unsupported, or distort the text.

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Real example: Question: 'The author implies…' → find the exact sentence that backs the choice. If you can't point to it, it's probably the trap that 'sounds reasonable' but isn't stated.

🧠 Memory hook: If you can't underline the proof in the passage, it's not the answer.

Vocabulary in context wins Verbal

GRE Verbal rewards knowing words in context far more than obscure trivia. Build vocabulary through word families and roots, and always learn a word inside a sentence — that's exactly how the test uses it.

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Real example: Learning 'laconic' as 'using few words' inside 'his laconic reply' sticks better than a bare definition — and that's the form Text Completion tests.

🧠 Memory hook: Learn words in sentences, not on flashcards alone. Context is the test.

Frequently asked questions

How many blanks can a Text Completion question have, and is there partial credit?: One to three blanks, and there's no partial credit — every blank must be correct.
What must the two answers in Sentence Equivalence have in common?: They must be a synonym pair that both fit and produce sentences with the same meaning.
How do you identify the direction of a Text Completion blank?: Find the signpost word (e.g. although, because, yet) that tells you whether the blank agrees or contrasts with the clue.
What makes an answer correct in Reading Comprehension?: It must be provable from specific lines in the passage — not merely true in general.
What's the most effective way to build GRE vocabulary?: Learn words in context via sentences, word families and roots — the way the test uses them.

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