| Introduction | | | | 2.) Inference Based Questions. These questions test |
| The GMAT reading comprehension section should be | | | | your ability to draw conclusions from available |
| a cakewalk for someone who reads a lot at graduate | | | | information rather than testing your knowledge of |
| level. Regular reading of some standard newspapers | | | | explicitly-cited facts. They might even ask you to |
| would make you adept at quickly grasping the | | | | evaluate the author's opinions, or guess what other |
| essence of the passage and give you an edge in | | | | conclusions could be drawn by the author. These are |
| solving the questions. The section aims to test your | | | | usually the most difficult type of questions. |
| understanding of the implications, meanings, and | | | | 3.) Theme Based Questions. These questions require |
| structures based on the passages given. | | | | you to identify the passage's overall theme, rather than |
| They generally have two to four passages of around | | | | supporting facts or arguments. Some people find these |
| 200 to 400 words each, in the GMAT verbal section. | | | | questions very difficult. You have to keep in mind that |
| The passages are generally followed by 4 questions. | | | | the fact that the answer choice has been discussed in |
| Although the passage will remain on your computer | | | | the passage does not make it the passage's central |
| screen while you go through all four questions, you will | | | | theme. You can safely eliminate answer choices that |
| be able to view one question at a time on your screen. | | | | focus on factual information and those that are too |
| Typical Reading Comprehension Passages | | | | narrow or too broad. Answer choices which refer to |
| Although there is no way of listing out all the types of | | | | or use the key words or concepts from the passage |
| passages you could encounter on the GMAT, the | | | | tend to be correct. |
| following 3 topics are very common. A slightly different | | | | 4.) Tone Based Questions. These questions require |
| optimum test-taking strategy is required for each type | | | | you to identify the passage's tone. You can follow the |
| of passage. Irrespective of the topic given, you can | | | | rule of negativity- the tone is more likely to be positive |
| safely assume that everything you require to answer | | | | or neutral rather than negative and if it is a science |
| the questions is included in the passage. The passages | | | | passage, the tone is almost certainly, neutral. |
| obscure topics are chosen intentionally to ensure that | | | | Tips and Strategies |
| no one gets an unfair advantage because of previous | | | | Use the paper |
| exposure to a particular topic. | | | | Since you will not be able to make marks on the |
| 1.) Social science Topics. The subjects of these | | | | margin of the passage, you might need to take very |
| passages tend to deal with history, politics, and | | | | brief notes on the key ideas of the passage. This will |
| geography. These are definitely among the easier and | | | | help clarify your thoughts as the passage tend to be |
| the enjoyable reading comprehension passages you | | | | very long with difficult sentences and paragraph |
| will read. Make sure that you read these passages | | | | structures. This will help you track down and keep an |
| slowly as they are generally followed by inference | | | | idea of where the information and facts can be found. |
| questions. | | | | Notes should be on the lines of Paragraph 1: Threat to |
| 2.) Science Topics. The topics of these passages | | | | global climate, Paragraph 2: Key Caused, Paragraph 3: |
| generally cover topics on biology, chemistry, and | | | | What are we doing about it' etc. Use abbreviations and |
| medicine. The best way to approach them is to do an | | | | short forms to save time. You could also use your |
| initial speed reading/skimming of the text. Your goal | | | | scrap pare to keep track of the answer choices you |
| should be to get an understanding of the passage, its | | | | eliminate etc. |
| structure and to analyze its outline. | | | | The first question |
| Although they are often quite boring, these passages | | | | Because GMAT is computer adaptive, you cannot use |
| can be easy as are factual and straightforward. So | | | | the standard trick of reading comprehension type of |
| these tend to be the easiest reading comprehension | | | | questions; read the questions before you read the |
| questions. It is unlikely that you will see inference | | | | passage. However you could gain a slight advantage |
| questions on these passages. Chances are higher that | | | | by reading the first question before you read the |
| you will several factual questions which can be | | | | passage. This will at leats help you in focusing on |
| answered directly from the passage. | | | | answering that question as you read the passage. And |
| 3.) Business Topics. Business passages tend to be the | | | | even that little time saved will count for something later |
| most difficult as they involve very difficult structures, | | | | on during the test |
| and present questions that require inferring information | | | | The Type of Passage |
| and sometimes even determining the authors' moods | | | | Identifying the type of passage you are reading before |
| and opinions. These types of passages need to be | | | | you set out will help decide on the way you should |
| read slowly and carefully. | | | | read the passage. Remember the tricks which have |
| Often, these passages tend to include compound | | | | been mentioned above for the types of passages and |
| words that few people have ever heard before, and | | | | try to use them as you go along to optimize your |
| that even fewer people use in ordinary conversation. | | | | score. |
| Don't worry too much if you come across these | | | | Watch out for the Roman Numerals |
| terms, they are easy to decipher if you them into | | | | When questions appear of the following format, make |
| individual components and examine each of their parts. | | | | sure you do not jump to any conclusions. |
| Typical Questions | | | | |
| Again, it is not possible to cover all the types of | | | | 1. I only |
| questions available, but the four types of questions | | | | 2. II only |
| covered below are the most common variety you will | | | | 3. III only |
| come across. | | | | 4. I and II only |
| 1.) Fact Based Questions. These tend to be the easiest | | | | 5. II and III only |
| ones to answer, but tend to be the most time | | | | While options I and II might be presented close to each |
| consuming. Before answering these questions, read | | | | other in the passage, option II might be buried |
| both the passage providing the relevant data, and | | | | somewhere else in the passage. It is important to |
| preferably even some lines before it carefully. You | | | | review all the options before you chose the option. |
| must remember that when a fact question refers you | | | | And Finally, Practice |
| to a specific line in the text for information one of the | | | | Reading through tricks and tips or magazine articles will |
| answer choices given will be a deceptive one taken | | | | not make you good at the GMAT Reading |
| straight out from that line number. However, you can | | | | Comprehension Section. Make sure you practice a lot |
| almost be sure that a sentence or two before the | | | | of questions both individually and by taking live GMAT |
| referenced line number will contain some information | | | | tests. You will probably come up with your own tricks |
| which will give you the proper frame for interpreting | | | | and tips to make you work faster and better. So the |
| the data - and hence will help you in picking out the | | | | only rule is: Practice. |
| right answer. | | | | |