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If reading long English passages or spotting grammar errors feels tricky, you’re not alone. The GMAT Verbal Reasoning section is where many test-takers lose easy marks, not because it’s hard, but because they don’t fully understand what’s being tested.
This section checks how well you can read, think, and reason in English skills you’ll use every day in business school and beyond. The GMAT verbal syllabus focuses on three parts: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. Once you know what each covers, you can prepare smarter and boost your overall GMAT score.
What Is the GMAT Verbal Syllabus 2025?
The GMAT verbal syllabus 2025 focuses on testing how well you understand and use written English in real-life situations. It measures your ability to read complex information, analyze arguments, and spot grammatical or logical errors — skills that are essential for success in business school and professional communication.
This section includes three main parts:
- Reading Comprehension, which checks how well you can understand and interpret written passages.
- Critical Reasoning, which measures how effectively you can analyze and evaluate arguments.
- Sentence Correction, which tests your grammar, sentence structure, and ability to make sentences clear and concise.
You’ll get 23 questions to solve in 45 minutes, and each question type is designed to test a different aspect of your verbal reasoning ability. Understanding this syllabus helps you focus your preparation, strengthen weak areas, and manage time effectively during the test.
| Section | Main Focus | Skills Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Understand and interpret short and long passages | Reading, summarizing, inference |
| Critical Reasoning | Analyze arguments and identify logical flaws | Reasoning, evaluation, logic |
| Sentence Correction | Identify grammar and style errors | Grammar, structure, clarity |
Mastering the GMAT Verbal Syllabus
A good knowledge of a particular section might help you improve your overall GMAT score. However, it can be utilised as the first step in GMAT preparation, and if you master each section thoroughly, you might have an edge, and your prospects of getting high will also be elevated.
You must improve your reasoning skills to perform well in the GMAT Verbal syllabus. Critical reasoning questions in this section require you to analyze arguments and identify their flaws. Therefore, strong analytical skills can help you answer these questions more efficiently.
Reading Comprehension
In this section, you will be given passages on various topics such as humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or business-related issues, 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 the author's tone.
- Drawing inferences and conclusions from the text.
- Analyzing the structure and organization of passages.
Critical reasoning
The critical reasoning questions evaluate how well you can logically analyze an argument or information. 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 |
| Critical Reasoning | Analyse and evaluate arguments | Logical Reasoning, Analysis |
| Reading Comprehension | Understand and analyze written passages | Reading Comprehension |
How Many Questions in GMAT Verbal?
The GMAT Verbal section is designed to assess your ability to read and understand written material, evaluate arguments, and correct written material to conform to standard written English. This section consists of 36 questions, and you are given 65 minutes to complete them.
Below is a breakdown of the types of questions you will encounter in the GMAT Verbal section:
| Question Type | Number of Questions | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 12-14 | Involves reading passages and answering questions that test your ability to understand, analyze, and apply information. Topics include social sciences, business, and natural sciences. |
| Critical Reasoning | 10-13 | Focuses on evaluating arguments, identifying assumptions, evaluating evidence, and determining the strengths or weaknesses of an argument. Tests logical reasoning skills. |
| Sentence Correction | 11-13 | Test your knowledge of standard English grammar and effective communication. You must choose the best version of an underlined portion of a sentence. |
The combination of these question types ensures that the GMAT Verbal section thoroughly assesses your verbal reasoning abilities, essential for success in a graduate business program. The questions are interspersed throughout the Verbal section, requiring you to stay focused and adaptable as you progress through the test.
GMAT Verbal Syllabus: Questions and Preparation
The GMAT verbal syllabus tests how well you can understand written English, think logically, and communicate your ideas clearly. It helps business schools see if you can read complex information, draw conclusions, and express thoughts effectively skills that matter in real classroom and workplace situations.
The verbal section has 36 questions to be completed in 65 minutes, and it includes three main parts:
- Reading Comprehension – Tests how well you can read, understand, and analyze short or long passages.
- Critical Reasoning – Checks your ability to evaluate arguments, spot assumptions, and judge conclusions.
- Sentence Correction – Focuses on grammar, sentence structure, and clarity of expression.
When preparing for the GMAT verbal syllabus, start by reading English articles every day to improve comprehension. Practice official GMAT questions from mba.com to get familiar with real exam patterns. Review grammar basics, learn how to find main ideas in passages, and practice reasoning through arguments. Consistent practice helps you save time and build confidence on test day.
| Question Type | What It Tests | Preparation Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Understanding and analyzing passages | Read business or news articles daily |
| Critical Reasoning | Logic and evaluation of arguments | Break arguments into claims and evidence |
| Sentence Correction | Grammar and sentence clarity | Revise grammar rules and practice official questions |
GMAT Verbal Syllabus: Latest Updates for 2025
The GMAT verbal syllabus 2025 has changed with the new GMAT Focus Edition, making the test shorter, more focused, and easier to manage. The updated version now tests how well you can understand written text and think critically, rather than how well you can memorize grammar rules. These updates are meant to reflect real-world business communication and reasoning skills.
One of the biggest changes is that Sentence Correction questions have been removed. The verbal section now includes only two types of questions Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. This makes the section simpler and more focused on testing your ability to read, analyze, and interpret information.
You’ll now get 23 questions to answer in 45 minutes, compared to 36 questions in the old version. Even though the section is shorter, it still requires quick thinking and strong understanding. The questions are designed to measure how well you can evaluate written arguments, identify assumptions, and make logical conclusions.
GMAT Verbal Syllabus: Latest Updates for 2025
The GMAT verbal syllabus 2025 has changed with the new GMAT Focus Edition, making the test shorter, more focused, and easier to manage. The updated version now tests how well you can understand written text and think critically, rather than how well you can memorize grammar rules. These updates are meant to reflect real-world business communication and reasoning skills.
One of the biggest changes is that Sentence Correction questions have been removed. The verbal section now includes only two types of questions — Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. This makes the section simpler and more focused on testing your ability to read, analyze, and interpret information.
You’ll now get 23 questions to answer in 45 minutes, compared to 36 questions in the old version. Even though the section is shorter, it still requires quick thinking and strong understanding. The questions are designed to measure how well you can evaluate written arguments, identify assumptions, and make logical conclusions.
What’s New in the 2025 GMAT Verbal Syllabus
- Shorter duration — 45 minutes instead of 65.
- Fewer questions — 23 instead of 36, with no Sentence Correction.
- Greater focus on logic and comprehension over grammar.
- Updated scoring system — new scale ranges from 60 to 90 instead of 6 to 51.
How to Prepare for the New GMAT Verbal Section
- Read regularly: Focus on business, economics, and social science articles to improve comprehension.
- Practice reasoning: Solve official GMAT questions that test logic and argument structure.
- Analyze arguments: Learn to identify assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses in written statements.
- Simulate test conditions: Take timed mock tests to build focus and manage pacing effectively.
The new GMAT verbal syllabus rewards clarity of thought, reading accuracy, and logical reasoning — the same skills that top business schools expect from successful candidates.
Reading Comprehension
The Reading Comprehension segment tests your ability to understand complex passages and analyze their content critically. The passages cover topics from business, science, social sciences, and humanities. You are required to extract key information, identify the main idea, and evaluate the author’s tone and logical structure. Questions often include tasks like identifying supporting details, making inferences, and understanding the overall purpose of the passage. A strong reading strategy, like summarizing key points as you read, can help tackle these questions effectively.
Critical Reasoning (CR)
Critical Reasoning questions evaluate your ability to analyze and evaluate arguments logically. This section requires you to identify assumptions, strengthen or weaken arguments, evaluate conclusions, and detect flaws in reasoning. Critical Reasoning questions test your ability to break arguments into premises and conclusions while determining their logical flow. A systematic approach, such as identifying the argument structure first and then eliminating incorrect options, is essential to excel in this segment.
Sentence Correction
Sentence Correction focuses on testing your knowledge of English grammar, sentence structure, and logical meaning. Questions require you to identify errors related to subject-verb agreement, parallelism, modifiers, verb tense, and sentence clarity. The goal is to select the most concise and grammatically correct version of a sentence while retaining its intended meaning. Mastering fundamental grammar rules and practicing concise sentence construction can significantly improve your accuracy in this section.
Skills Required to Ace GMAT Verbal
To excel in the GMAT Verbal section, candidates must develop strong reading comprehension skills to interpret complex texts accurately. A clear understanding of grammar rules is essential to tackle Sentence Correction effectively. Logical reasoning skills play a crucial role in evaluating arguments in Critical Reasoning questions. Practicing under timed conditions and analyzing mistakes will help build speed and accuracy, which are critical to performing well in the Verbal section.
The new GMAT verbal syllabus has been designed with input from education experts, testing professionals, and business school faculty members. The goal is to ensure that each question accurately measures its intended purpose while being fair across all demographics.
GMAT Verbal Syllabus: Improve Your Score
As mentioned above, the change in the GMAT updated syllabus also leads to an amendment in the strategy needed to prepare for the revised 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 for the Updated Verbal Syllabus: Facing the new GMAT Verbal syllabus can be daunting. Simplify your prep by choosing an online GMAT prep company with tailored study material. These platforms offer comprehensive plans, practice questions, and mock tests to boost your readiness.
- Utilise Free GMAT Mock Tests: Get accustomed to the computer adaptive test format with free online mock tests. They mimic testing conditions, helping identify strengths, weaknesses, and time management strategies.
- Understand Changes in the Verbal Syllabus: The updated syllabus prioritizes critical reasoning over sentence correction and reading comprehension. Adapt your study plan to align with these changes for adequate preparation.
- Take Additional Mock Tests for Adaptive Format: Practice more mock tests to familiarise yourself with the GMAT's adaptive nature. These tests adjust question difficulty based on your previous answers, which is crucial for test-day readiness.
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.
What is The Importance of Gmat Exam?
How to Prepare for GMAT Verbal Syllabus: Expert Tips
Preparing for the GMAT Verbal syllabus requires a strategic approach, consistent practice, and the right resources. Since this section tests your reading, logical reasoning, and grammar skills, a focused preparation plan will help you master each area effectively. Below are expert tips to guide you through a structured preparation process and improve your performance.
1. Understand the Structure
Before starting your preparation, it’s important to know how the GMAT Verbal section is structured. It consists of three main parts: Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. Each section tests a specific skill, such as analyzing written material, evaluating arguments logically, and identifying grammatical errors. Understanding these areas helps you plan your preparation effectively and focus on improving weak spots.
2. Practice Critical Reasoning
Critical Reasoning tests your ability to analyze arguments, which is a crucial skill in the GMAT Verbal section. Break down each argument into premises, assumptions, and conclusions to make it easier to evaluate. Practice questions that require you to strengthen, weaken, or evaluate arguments by eliminating choices that don’t address the question directly. The more you practice, the quicker you’ll become at identifying logical gaps and choosing the correct answer.
3. Build Strong Reading Habits
Strong reading habits are essential for Reading Comprehension. Regularly read editorials, opinion articles, and business content from trusted sources like The Economist and Harvard Business Review. Focus on understanding the main idea, identifying supporting details, and analyzing the tone and structure of the text. This practice improves your reading speed and trains you to extract key information efficiently, which is crucial for answering questions under time constraints.
4. Use Official GMAT Resources and Tools
The best way to prepare for the Verbal section is to practice with official GMAT materials. Start with the GMAT Official Guide and GMATPrep Software as they provide questions that closely reflect the actual exam format. You can also use tools like the Mentr-Me GMAT Prep Tool, which offers personalized study plans, targeted question banks, and performance tracking to help you focus on areas that need improvement. These resources ensure realistic preparation and steady progress.
5. Create a Study Plan
A structured study plan keeps you organized and focused during preparation. Divide your time equally among Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction, setting weekly targets for each area. Plan a mix of practice sessions, concept revision, and timed mock tests to build confidence. Regularly track your progress and adjust your schedule as needed to ensure consistent improvement without feeling overwhelmed.
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Conclusion
The GMAT verbal syllabus 2025 is now easier to understand and focuses on real skills you’ll need in business school. It no longer tests tricky grammar rules; instead, it checks how well you can read, understand ideas, and think logically. With only Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning questions, the section is shorter but smarter. To prepare, read a little every day, practice official GMAT questions, and learn how to find meaning and logic in what you read. With regular practice, you can easily master the new GMAT verbal syllabus and boost your overall score.
