GMAT Verbal Questions: Types, Strategy, & How to Maximize Your Score

You’ve probably heard that the GMAT verbal section is all about grammar and reading, but it’s really a test of how you think. From dissecting arguments to understanding complex texts under pressure, this section rewards clarity, logic, and precision. If verbal feels like a weak spot, don’t worry. As a GMAT coach, I’ve helped dozens of students improve their GMAT Verbal scores. In this guide, I will walk you through the exact strategies top scorers use to boost their performance and how you can do the same.

What Is the GMAT Verbal Section?

The GMAT Focus Edition Verbal section consists of 23 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes. It’s designed to test how well you can understand and analyze written material, evaluate arguments, and identify grammatically correct, clear English. Unlike the Quant section, which focuses on numerical problem-solving, Verbal measures your ability to read critically, reason logically, and communicate effectively.

The Verbal section includes two core question types:

1. Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension questions test your ability to understand, interpret, and analyze complex written material. You’ll read a passage, usually between 200 and 400 words, and then answer several questions about it. The topics can range from economics and business to science, history, or social studies. Prior knowledge of the topic of a passage isn’t what’s being tested – the challenge lies in navigating dense language and subtle reasoning under time constraints.

These questions test a variety of skills: identifying main ideas, analyzing an author’s tone or intent, drawing logical inferences, and understanding how ideas are structured and supported.

Many test takers make the mistake of trying to memorize every detail, but that’s not the goal. Instead, you should read actively. Understand how each paragraph contributes to the whole and note where key information is located so you can quickly return to it.

Strong reading comprehension starts with strategy. Learn to identify transition words that signal a shift in argument or tone. These markers help you understand the structure of the passage, which is often more important than the details themselves. Rather than reading line by line, think in terms of paragraph function: What is this section doing? Is it providing evidence, raising a counterpoint, or summarizing the argument?

2. Critical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning questions ask you to evaluate short arguments and determine how logically sound they are. These are logic challenges based on real-world scenarios. You might be asked to strengthen or weaken an argument, identify an assumption, find a flaw, or evaluate the effectiveness of a plan.

Each question includes a short passage that presents an argument, followed by a question and five answer choices. Importantly, the GMAT isn’t testing whether you agree with the argument – it’s testing whether you understand the reasoning behind it. Can you identify what the conclusion is? Can you spot what the argument is assuming but not stating? Can you tell how new information would affect the logic?

Success in the critical reasoning section depends on your ability to break down the argument’s structure. Can you distinguish between the premises and the conclusion? Many answer choices will sound reasonable, but only one will directly address the logical core of the question. That’s why precision is essential.

The best preparation involves practicing how to quickly identify argument parts, spot assumptions, and predict the right type of answer before reading the choices. Once you internalize common argument patterns and question types, this section becomes far more manageable, even intuitive.

How the GMAT Verbal Section Is Scored

Your GMAT FE Verbal score ranges from 60 to 90, and it plays a major role in your overall GMAT FE score (which ranges from 205 to 805). The score you receive reflects both the number of questions you answer correctly and the difficulty level of those questions, based on the GMAT's adaptive testing algorithm.

A Verbal score of 84 or higher typically places you in the 90th percentile, meaning you outperformed 90% of test takers. While a “good” Verbal score can vary depending on your goals and target programs, most competitive MBA applicants aim for at least an 82++, with top-tier programs often expecting higher, especially if your background is in engineering or another quant-heavy field.

For international students or STEM-background applicants, Verbal is often a differentiator. While it’s common for these applicants to excel in Quant and Data Insights, business schools want to see evidence that you can think critically, communicate clearly, and handle the reading and writing demands of an MBA program. A strong Verbal score helps balance your profile and signals that you're well-rounded and MBA-ready.

To truly understand how your Verbal score fits into your overall performance, it’s important to look at percentile rankings, which are included on your GMAT score report. A raw score of 82 may place you in the 76th percentile, while an 88 might land you in the 99th. These percentiles give admissions committees context and help you benchmark yourself against the applicant pool.

If you’re aiming for a high total score (705+), don’t rely on Quant alone. Investing time in mastering Verbal, especially Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning, can yield big returns on test day.

Proven Strategies to Improve Your GMAT Verbal Score

Whether you’re struggling with time pressure or low accuracy, here’s how to elevate your verbal performance:

Practice with Purpose

Improving your GMAT Verbal score isn’t about grinding through endless questions; it’s about how you approach each one. After every practice session, take time to review what went wrong and why. Were you tricked by a tempting answer choice? Did you misunderstand the argument’s structure?

Start building a personal error log that captures patterns in your mistakes. This reflection process helps you internalize the logic behind each question type, rather than just memorizing answers. It’s how top scorers train their brains to think like the test.

Read Like a GMAT Author

You can't fake comprehension. To improve, read high-quality, dense course materials such as editorials, economics essays, research summaries, and train yourself to think critically about structure. As you read, identify the main idea, note shifts in tone or reasoning, and ask what the author is really trying to claim.

Pay close attention to how each paragraph functions: is it providing an example, introducing a radical idea, or challenging a previous claim? This level of engagement will directly translate to faster, more accurate GMAT reading.

Train for Test Day Timing

Strategy without timing will cost you points. One of the most effective approaches is to start with questions you feel confident in. Build momentum early, then circle back to the tougher ones. Set internal benchmarks, roughly two minutes per question, and practice until that pacing becomes second nature. Another underrated tactic: read the question stem before diving into the full passage.

This primes your focus and helps you extract relevant information more efficiently. Simulate real conditions as often as possible so that time pressure becomes a training partner, not an enemy.

Read: GMAT Study Plan: Strategies to Ace Your Prep and Achieve Success

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Skimming the passage without understanding its structure: Many test-takers rush through reading comprehension to save time, but this usually backfires. You need a clear grasp of the author’s main idea, tone, and how each paragraph contributes to the argument. Without this, inference and structure-based questions become guesswork.
• Jumping into answer choices too quickly: Especially in critical reasoning, students often read the question and immediately scan the answers without first identifying the argument’s conclusion, evidence, and underlying assumption. That’s like trying to fix a problem before fully understanding it. Take 10–15 seconds upfront to map the logic.
• Letting one hard question tank your pacing: Getting stuck on a tough question can derail your entire section. If you can’t eliminate at least two choices within a minute, make your best guess and move on. Wasting four minutes on one question can cost you valuable points later on.
• Failing to review your practice properly: A lot of students look at the right answer and move on, but don’t unpack why they got it wrong or what trap they fell into. You’ll improve much faster if you keep an error log, note recurring patterns, and actively revise your approach.

Read: The 10 Best GMAT Tutors

Final Tips Before Test Day

As test day approaches, your focus should shift from cramming to confidence. Here’s how to finish strong:

• Prioritize rest and routine: Get consistent sleep in the days leading up to your exam, not just the night before. A well-rested brain performs significantly better under pressure.
• Stay sharp, not stressed: Light review is fine, but avoid last-minute cramming. Instead, focus on reinforcing key strategies, reviewing your error log, and walking through a few practice questions to stay fresh.
• Simulate real test conditions: If you haven’t already, take at least two full-length practice tests under timed, distraction-free conditions. This helps build mental endurance and highlights any pacing issues before they count.
• Visualize success: Spend a few minutes the night before imagining yourself moving calmly and confidently through the test. This simple mental rehearsal can reduce anxiety and improve focus.
• Control what you can: Know your test center policies, what to bring, and your transportation plan. Minimizing logistical stress helps you stay focused on what matters most: your performance.
• Trust your prep: If you’ve studied consistently and practiced deliberately, you’re more ready than you feel. Stay focused, manage your time, and make smart decisions. You don’t need to be perfect; you just need to execute your plan.

Work With Me to Master the GMAT Verbal Section

If you’re aiming for a top-tier GMAT Verbal score, you don’t need to go it alone. I’ve helped dozens of students boost their scores by focusing on exactly what the test rewards: logic, precision, and pattern recognition.

As one of my students put it, “tutors who can explain the answer to one problem are a dime a dozen. Mihir has an uncanny ability to understand and address the gaps in your understanding and prescribe specific test-taking strategies that work for you, so you never miss another problem like it.”

Whether you’re stuck on second-guessing critical reasoning or just want a clear, proven plan, I can help. Let’s work together to make sure every hour you study actually moves the needle.

Book a free intro call with me to talk through your goals. You’ve got what it takes; you just need the right strategy. Let’s get started.

Read these next:

• GMAT Data Sufficiency: Strategy Guide, Question Types, and Pitfalls to Avoid
• How to Improve Critical Reasoning for a Higher GMAT Score

GMAT Verbal – FAQs

How many questions are in the GMAT Verbal section, and how much time is allocated?

• In the GMAT Focus Edition, the Verbal Reasoning section comprises 23 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes. This equates to approximately 1 minute and 57 seconds per question. The section includes two types of questions: Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning.

Is Sentence Correction still part of the GMAT Verbal section?

• No, Sentence Correction questions have been removed in the GMAT Focus Edition. The Verbal section now focuses solely on Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions.

How is the GMAT Verbal section scored?

• In the GMAT Focus Edition, the Verbal Reasoning section is scored on a scale of 60 to 90, in 1-point increments. This scoring scale is consistent across all three sections of the exam: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights.

Can I review and change my answers in the Verbal section during the exam?

• Yes, the GMAT Focus Edition introduces a "Question Review & Edit" feature. After completing all questions in a section, and if time permits, you can review as many questions as you like and change up to three answers within that section.

Does the order in which I answer the sections affect my performance?

• The GMAT Focus Edition allows you to choose the order in which you take the three sections: Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Data Insights. Selecting the order that aligns with your strengths can help you manage fatigue and optimize performance.