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Are you aspiring to pursue a graduate business degree? Are you aware that the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is a vital component of the application process for many business schools? To excel in this standardized exam, it is crucial to understand and master each section, especially the GMAT Verbal syllabus section.
In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of the GMAT Verbal syllabus, providing you with valuable insights and strategies to conquer this challenging section successfully.
GMAT Verbal Syllabus: An Overview
The GMAT exam is a standardized test designed to measure analytical, writing, quantitative, verbal, and reading skills in English for admission to graduate management programs. The GMAT exam syllabus includes a verbal section that tests analytical skills in reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction. In this article, we will provide an overview of the GMAT verbal syllabus.
GMAT Verbal Syllabus sections
The exam is structured into four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative section and Verbal section. The AWA section requires candidates to write an essay analyzing an argument given in the question prompt.
The IR section evaluates candidates' ability to analyze data presented in various formats such as graphs, tables or charts. The Quantitative section measures candidates' mathematical problem-solving abilities.
The Verbal section of the GMAT exam assesses candidates' ability to read and comprehend written material critically, reason logically with words and sentences, and correct written material to conform to standard written English. It consists of 36 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 65 minutes.
Mastering the GMAT Verbal Syllabus
Having a good knack for a particular section might help you ace your improve your overall GMAT score. But it can be the first step at GMAT preparation, and if you master each section thoroughly, you might have an edge and your prospects of getting high will also be elevated. Here is how you can acr each section of the GMAT verbal syllabus;
To perform well in the GMAT Verbal syllabus, you need to improve your reasoning skills. Critical reasoning questions in this section require you to analyze arguments and identify flaws in them. Therefore, having strong analytical skills can help you answer these types of questions more efficiently.
Sentence Correction
The Sentence Correction section in the GMAT Verbal test assesses your grasp of English grammar and syntax. In this segment, you'll encounter sentences that might contain errors in grammar, usage, or style. Your task is to identify the error, or if the sentence is already correct, choose the "no change" option.
Some Key Points
- Correcting errors in sentences for proper grammar and syntax.
- Identifying mistakes in sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, verb tense, modifiers, and parallelism.
- Improving sentence clarity and conciseness.
Reading comprehension questions
In this section, you will be given passages on various topics such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or business-related topics, followed by multiple-choice questions that test your understanding of what you have read. To master this part of the syllabus.
Some Key Points
- Reading and understanding written passages on various topics.
- Identifying main ideas, supporting details, and author's tone.
- Drawing inferences and conclusions from the text.
- Analyzing the structure and organization of passages.
Critical reasoning
The critical reasoning questions aim at evaluating how well you can analyze an argument or piece of information logically. You will be asked about assumptions made by an author or whether their conclusion follows logically from the information presented.
Some Key Points
- Evaluating and analyzing arguments.
- Identifying assumptions, inferences, and conclusions.
- Strengthening or weakening arguments.
- Identifying logical flaws and reasoning errors.
| Question Type | Description | Skills Assessed |
| Sentence Correction | Identify and correct errors in sentences | Grammar, Sentence Structure |
| Critical Reasoning | Analyze and evaluate arguments | Logical Reasoning, Analysis |
| Reading Comprehension | Understand and analyze written passages | Reading Comprehension |
GMAT Verbal Syllabus: Questions and Preparation
The questions in the GMAT verbal reasoning section are divided into three types - Reading Comprehension (RC), Critical Reasoning (CR) and Sentence Correction (SC). RC questions require candidates to read passages from different subjects such as social sciences, natural sciences or business-related topics and answer questions based on their understanding of the passage.
CR questions evaluate candidates' ability to analyze arguments presented in brief paragraphs or short passages. SC questions test grammar proficiency by asking candidates to identify errors or correct sentences that are not grammatically correct.
To prepare for the Verbal Section effectively, it is essential for candidates to have a good understanding of English language usage rules such as grammar rules, syntax rules etc., along with strong analytical thinking skills.
One valuable resource that can help you prepare for the Verbal section of the GMAT exam is the GMAT Focus Edition syllabus. This edition provides additional practice questions and materials for the verbal section of the exam, helping you to hone your analytical skills and improve your performance.
Changes to the GMAT Verbal Syllabus for 2023
Every year the GMAT syllabus undergoes some major changes that also lead to a change in the strategy to prepare for the updated syllabus. This year there have been the following two major changes in GMAT verbal syllabus;
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Emphasis on Critical Reasoning and Analytical Writing: The new syllabus will include more emphasis on critical reasoning and analytical writing. This change is based on feedback from business schools and test takers who believe that these skills are essential for success in graduate-level business programs. The updated syllabus will require candidates to demonstrate their ability to analyze arguments critically, identify assumptions, draw conclusions, and evaluate evidence.
- Emphasis on Analytical Writing Skills: The new syllabus will place greater emphasis on analytical writing skills. Candidates will be required to write an analysis of an argument rather than merely correcting it as in the previous version of the exam. This change aims to assess how well candidates can communicate their ideas effectively while providing evidence-based support for their claims.
The changes to the GMAT Verbal syllabus aim to provide a more comprehensive assessment of candidates' communication skills. These changes were implemented in response to feedback from business schools that have identified communication as an essential skill for graduates entering today's job market.
The new GMAT verbal syllabus has been designed with input from experts in the field of education, testing professionals, and business school faculty members. The goal is to ensure that each question accurately measures what it intends while being fair across all demographics.
Preparing for the Updated GMAT Verbal Syllabus
As mentioned above, the change in the GMAT updated syllabus also leads to an amendment in the strategy needed to prepare for the updated syllabus. Not to mention the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) You can craft your plan through these pointers for this year:
- Choose an Online GMAT Prep Company That Offers Study Material for the Updated Verbal Syllabus: Preparing for the GMAT can be a daunting task, especially with the recent changes in the Verbal syllabus. One way to ease your preparation is to choose an online GMAT prep company that offers study material specifically tailored to the updated GMAT Verbal syllabus. These companies provide comprehensive study plans, practice questions, and mock tests that will help you prepare effectively.
- Take Advantage of Free GMAT Mock Tests to Get a Feel for the Computer Adaptive Test Format: To get a feel for the computer adaptive test format of the GMAT, it is important to take advantage of the free mock tests available online. These tests simulate real testing conditions and provide a good indication of your strengths and weaknesses. Taking these tests will also help you understand how much time you need to allocate per question and how best to manage your time during the actual test.
- Understand the Differences Between the Current Version and Updated GMAT Verbal Syllabus: The updated GMAT VerbaL syllabus includes some significant changes from its predecessor. It now includes more emphasis on critical reasoning skills while reducing the focus on sentence correction and reading comprehension. To prepare effectively, it is important to understand these differences and adjust your study plan accordingly.
- Consider Taking Additional Mock Tests to Prepare for Adaptive Test Format: It's essential to take additional mock tests as part of your preparation process since they give you an accurate representation of what you should expect during an actual exam. The adaptive nature of these exams means that each question's difficulty level depends on your previous answer's accuracy level; therefore, it is vital that you familiarize yourself with this format before taking the real test.
Be Aware That Rescoring Is Not an Option for the GMAT Verbal syllabus. It's crucial to note that rescoring isn't possible once you've completed any section of the GMAT. Therefore, it's essential to ensure that you prepare adequately for each section of the exam to avoid any surprises on test day. GMAT Exam is organised by mba.com, you can read it here.
Tips for Preparing for GMAT Verbal Syllabus
Here are some GMAT tips that will help you to have an excellent score and also help you in the preparation for the verbal syllabus:
- Practice Reading Comprehension Regularly: One of the most important aspects of scoring well on the GMAT Verbal syllabus is being able to comprehend complex passages quickly and accurately. The best way to improve your reading comprehension skills is by practising regularly. Start by reading articles from reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Economist, or Scientific American. Make sure to read actively, taking notes on the main ideas and supporting details. This will help you retain information and improve your ability to answer questions about the passage.
- Improve Vocabulary by Learning New Words Every Day: Another important aspect of the GMAT Verbal syllabus has a strong vocabulary. To improve your vocabulary, make it a habit to learn new words every day. You can use flashcards or apps like Quizlet or Memrise to memorize new words and their definitions. Try using these words in context by writing sentences or paragraphs that incorporate them.
- Familiarize Yourself with Different Types of Sentence Correction Questions: The Sentence Correction questions in the GMAT Verbal syllabus test your ability to identify errors in sentence structure, grammar, and usage. To prepare for these types of questions, familiarize yourself with different rules of grammar and punctuation. You can also practice identifying errors in sample sentences from GMAT prep books or online resources.
- Develop Critical Thinking Skills to Solve Logical Reasoning Questions: The Logical Reasoning questions in the GMAT Verbal syllabus require you to analyze arguments and draw conclusions based on the evidence presented in a passage. To prepare for these types of questions, develop critical thinking skills by practising analyzing arguments and identifying flaws in reasoning. You can also practice drawing conclusions based on the evidence presented in sample passages from GMAT prep books or online GMAT free resources.
Conclusion
In conclusion, mastering the GMAT Verbal Syllabus is crucial for test-takers who want to excel in this section of the exam. Whether you're a native English speaker or not, preparing for the updated syllabus requires time and effort. It's important to understand the key topics that will be covered, such as critical reasoning, reading comprehension, and sentence correction.
To prepare effectively, it's recommended to use a variety of resources such as official GMAT study materials, practice tests, and online courses. Developing strong reading skills by regularly reading challenging texts can also be beneficial.
Looking to conquer the GMAT Verbal Syllabus and secure your spot in a prestigious business program? Look no further. At MiM-Essay, we're here to guide you through the intricacies of the GMAT Verbal Syllabus with expert insights and proven strategies.
