✅ Know your starting point: Take a diagnostic test to understand your current Verbal level and set your target score.
✅ Plan your study routine: Break your preparation into steady daily or weekly sessions for better consistency.
✅ Strengthen core skills: Practice RC, CR, and SC in a balanced way to build overall Verbal accuracy.
✅ Use official materials: Work with real GMAT questions and maintain an error log to spot and fix weak areas quickly.
✅ Choose a realistic timeline: Pick a 1–3 month study schedule that fits your routine and follow it with discipline.
Getting a good Verbal score on the GMAT feels tough for many students, but the right GMAT Verbal study plan can make the whole process much easier. The Verbal section checks how well you read, understand, and think through ideas, skills that matter every day in a business program. With a proper plan, you don’t have to guess what to study or feel lost about where to start. This guide will walk you through simple steps, proven strategies, and practical study schedules that help you improve faster and stay confident throughout your prep.
Overview of the GMAT Verbal Section
The GMAT Verbal section checks how well you understand written ideas and how clearly you can think through arguments. In the current GMAT format, you get 23 questions to solve in 45 minutes, mainly from Reading Comprehension (RC) and Critical Reasoning (CR). These two areas help business schools understand if you can read long passages, analyse complex points, and make logical decisions—skills that matter a lot in real business roles, from consulting to management.
For Indian students planning a master’s abroad, a strong Verbal score is a big advantage. It shows schools that you can communicate well, follow classroom discussions, and handle case studies confidently. Below is a simple breakdown of what you will face in this section:
Question Type
Approx. Questions
What It Tests
Reading Comprehension (RC)
~12–14
Your ability to understand passages, find the main idea, read between the lines, and identify key details
Critical Reasoning (CR)
~9–11
How well you break down arguments, spot assumptions, and judge whether a conclusion makes sense
Sentence Correction (SC) (older format only)
0
Grammar, clarity, and correctness of written English
Creating a GMAT Verbal Study Plan: Step-by-Step Guide
A strong GMAT verbal study plan helps you improve faster and focus on the exact skills tested in the latest GMAT format. Since the current GMAT Verbal section includes 23 questions in 45 minutes, primarily Reading Comprehension (RC) and Critical Reasoning (CR), your plan must be structured around these two core areas. Here’s how to build an effective and practical plan:
Start with a Diagnostic Test
Begin by taking an official GMAT practice test from mba.com, as it follows the exact question style used in the exam. This helps you understand your starting level, spot weak areas, and see whether RC or CR needs more attention. A diagnostic test also shows your pacing, which is extremely important in a 45-minute verbal section.
Set Clear and Realistic Goals
Break down your GMAT verbal study plan into small weekly targets, such as:
Setting focused goals helps you build skills step by step instead of feeling overwhelmed.
Allocate Study Time Smartly
Give more time to the areas you struggle with. If RC feels slow, spend extra time practicing passage mapping and inference questions. If CR feels tricky, work on identifying argument structure and spotting assumptions. You can follow a simple daily cycle:
20 minutes on Reading Comprehension
20 minutes on Critical Reasoning
10 minutes reviewing mistakes
This keeps your preparation balanced and steady.
Use Official and High-Quality Resources
Rely mainly on GMAC’s official guides, question packs, and practice exams because they match the latest exam style. You can also use trusted resources like GMAT Club explanations or expert RC and CR videos to learn faster. High-quality materials ensure you follow the logic required by the GMAT.
Review, Reflect, and Adjust Weekly
Improvement happens when you track your mistakes regularly. After every practice test or timed session:
Write down the questions you got wrong
Identify why you made the mistake
Update next week’s study plan based on these mistakes
When you start working on your GMAT verbal study plan, it helps to follow the right strategies so you don’t feel lost or overwhelmed. The GMAT Verbal section mainly tests how well you understand long passages and how clearly you can judge arguments. Here are some simple and effective strategies that will help you improve:
Take your time to understand the passage or argument first: Don’t jump to the answer choices. Read slowly and ask yourself, “What is the main idea here?” or “What is the author trying to say?” When you understand the message clearly, the questions become much easier.
Answer only based on what the passage tells you: The GMAT does not expect you to use outside knowledge. Everything you need is already in the passage or argument. Train yourself to focus only on the information in front of you and avoid guessing based on personal thoughts.
Know exactly what the question is asking: In Critical Reasoning, a big part of solving quickly is understanding the question type. Is it asking you to strengthen, weaken, or find an assumption? Once you identify this, choosing the right answer becomes much simpler.
Remove wrong options logically: Many choices look tempting, but the GMAT hides small traps. Go option by option and ask, “Does this match the passage?” If not, remove it. Even if you’re unsure, eliminating wrong choices improves your chances of picking the right one.
Think of verbal as a logic test, not an English test: The GMAT is more about reasoning than vocabulary. Try to look at every question like a small puzzle—what supports the idea, what weakens it, and what conclusion is being made. This makes tough questions easier to understand.
Review your mistakes often and update your study plan: Real progress happens when you learn from your errors. After practice sessions, look at why you got something wrong. Then adjust your GMAT verbal study plan to focus more on those weak areas.
Recommended Resources for GMAT Verbal Preparation
To excel in the GMAT Verbal section, it's crucial to use high-quality resources that cover all aspects of the test. Here are some of the best tools and materials to include in your GMAT verbal study plan:
1. Books:
"The Official Guide for GMAT Review": This is the most reliable resource since it provides real GMAT questions and detailed explanations. The 2022 edition includes over 350 verbal questions, helping you familiarize yourself with the test format and difficulty.
"Manhattan Prep GMAT Verbal Strategy Guide Set": This set of books dives deep into each verbal question type—Reading Comprehension, Critical Reasoning, and Sentence Correction. It provides detailed strategies and practice questions designed to enhance your understanding and performance
2. Online Tools:
GMAT Club: An invaluable online community where you can find discussions, study plans, and a vast question bank. Engaging with this community can help you gain insights from other test-takers and experts.
Magoosh GMAT Prep: Magoosh offers an extensive library of video lessons covering verbal concepts, practice questions, and performance tracking tools. It’s particularly useful for those who prefer video-based learning.
3. Practice Tests:
GMATPrep Software by GMAC: This official software offers free practice tests that simulate the actual GMAT experience, making it an essential tool for tracking your progress and adjusting your GMAT verbal study plan.
Mentr-Me GMAT Practice Tests: Mentr-Me offers comprehensive GMAT practice tests that closely simulate the real exam, providing detailed answer explanations to help you identify and improve on weaker areas. Incorporating these practice tests into your GMAT verbal study plan can significantly enhance your preparation, ensuring you're well-equipped for test day. For more details, you can explore their GMAT resources.
Kaplan GMAT Practice Tests: Known for their realistic approach, Kaplan's practice exams are well-regarded for their accuracy and include detailed explanations and performance analysis
Time Management Tips for the GMAT Verbal Section
Managing time effectively in the GMAT Verbal section is crucial for achieving a high score. Here are some practical strategies to incorporate into your GMAT verbal study plan:
Understand Per-Question Time Ranges:
Allocate about 1.5 to 2 minutes for Critical Reasoning questions. Some tougher questions may require up to 3 or 4 minutes, but balance this by answering easier questions more quickly.
For Reading Comprehension, spend 4-5 minutes on shorter passages and 6-8 minutes on longer ones, including time to answer the questions.
Sentence Correction questions should take about 1 minute each. If you find an answer quickly, move on to save time for tougher questions later.
Use a Strategic Approach:
Start Strong: The GMAT is adaptive, meaning early questions can have a more significant impact on your score. Aim to answer the first 10 questions carefully but within a reasonable time frame (e.g., 25 minutes), so you don’t run out of time later.
Implement the Three-Minute Rule: Never spend more than 3 minutes on a single question. If you're stuck, make an educated guess and move on. This strategy ensures you have time to attempt every question.
Practice with Timed Sets:
Regularly practicing under timed conditions as part of your GMAT verbal study plan will help you build an internal clock. This practice will develop your sense of timing during the actual test, helping you manage your pace effectively.
To avoid common mistakes and tips to overcome them, click here: GMAT Verbal Mistakes
Tips to Improve GMAT Verbal Score Quickly (High-Yield Tricks)
Improving your GMAT Verbal score becomes much easier when you follow a clear and simple GMAT Verbal study plan. The GMAT Verbal section mainly checks how well you read, understand ideas, and think logically. With the right habits, you can make fast progress even if verbal skills have been tough for you before. Here are some easy and effective tricks that help you score higher:
Slow down and understand the main idea first: Take a moment to understand what the passage or argument is really saying. Knowing the main point and the author’s purpose makes every question simpler and helps you avoid confusion.
Answer only using the information given: The GMAT expects you to stay inside the passage. Do not use outside knowledge or personal opinions. Everything you need is already in the text, so train yourself to rely only on that.
Identify the question type clearly: For Critical Reasoning, first check whether the question wants you to strengthen, weaken, or find an assumption. Once you know the question type, solving becomes faster and more accurate.
Remove wrong answers one by one: Many options look correct at first. Go step by step and eliminate choices that don’t match the passage or don’t make logical sense. Even if you’re unsure, removing bad options improves your chances of choosing the right one.
Treat verbal as a reasoning test, not an English test: The GMAT is not about fancy vocabulary. Focus more on logic, structure, and clear thinking. Look at each question like a small puzzle and ask yourself what supports or weakens the argument.
Review mistakes weekly and update your study plan: Real improvement comes from understanding why you got questions wrong. Keep an error log and change your GMAT verbal study plan based on the patterns you notice, such as rushing, misreading, or skipping key details.
These simple strategies build the exact skills GMAC tests in the Verbal section, helping you improve quickly and confidently.
A well-crafted GMAT verbal study plan is essential for excelling in the verbal section. By combining strategic time management, high-quality resources, and regular practice, you can optimize your preparation and boost your GMAT score. With focused effort and a solid GMAT verbal study plan, you’re set to ace the verbal section and achieve your academic goals.
How many questions are there in the GMAT Verbal section now?
In the latest GMAT format, the Verbal section has 23 questions that you need to solve in 45 minutes. All these questions come from just two areas—Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning—so your study plan should focus on these skills only.
Does the new GMAT still have Sentence Correction questions?
No, Sentence Correction is not part of the current GMAT. The test now focuses mainly on understanding passages and evaluating arguments, which is why RC and CR are the only two areas you need to prepare for.
How long does it usually take to improve my GMAT Verbal score?
Most students see a good improvement within 4 to 8 weeks if they follow a consistent and structured verbal study plan. The more you practise reading and reasoning every day, the faster your accuracy improves.
What’s the best way to practise Reading Comprehension for GMAT?
Start by reading slowly and understanding the main idea of the passage. GMAC recommends analysing the passage first before jumping to the questions. Focus on the author’s tone, purpose, and key arguments—this makes RC questions much easier.
How can I improve quickly in Critical Reasoning?
CR gets easier when you learn to break an argument into three simple parts: the conclusion, the reasons supporting it, and the hidden assumption. Once you understand this structure, strengthening and weakening questions become much faster to solve.
Do I need background knowledge to answer GMAT Verbal questions?
Not at all. The GMAT provides every piece of information you need in the passage or argument itself. You don’t need to know anything about the topic, so always answer based only on what’s written.
Is GMAT Verbal more difficult than Quant?
It depends on your comfort level. Many students feel Verbal is tricky because it needs careful reading and logical thinking. But with the right plan and regular practice, Verbal improvement is very steady and predictable.
What counts as a good GMAT Verbal score for top MBA programs?
A Verbal score that helps you reach a total score of 700 or higher is generally strong for top global business schools. Good RC and CR accuracy plays a big role in achieving this.
How much should I study for GMAT Verbal every day?
Studying 45 to 60 minutes per day is enough for most students, as long as the practice is focused. Weekly timed verbal sets and reviewing your mistakes help you improve faster.
What official resources should I use for GMAT Verbal preparation?
The best materials come from GMAC itself. Use the Official Guide, Official Practice Exams, and Official Question Packs. These match the real exam style and help you understand exactly how GMAT questions are designed.
Know Your Author
Abhyank Srinet
|
Study Abroad Expert
Abhyank Srinet, the founder of MiM-Essay, is a globally recognized expert in study abroad and admission consulting. His passion is helping students navigate the complex world of admissions and achieve their academic dreams. Abhyank earned a Master's degree in Management from ESCP Europe, where he developed his skills in data-driven marketing strategies, driving growth in some of the most competitive industries.
Abhyank has helped over 10,000+ students get into top business schools with a 98% success rate over the last seven years. He and his team offer thorough research, careful shortlisting, and efficient application management from a single platform.
His dedication to education also led him to create MentR-Me, an AI-powered platform that offers personalized guidance and resources, including profile evaluation, application assistance, and mentoring from alumni of top global institutions.
Continuously adopting the latest strategies, Abhyank is committed to ensuring that his clients receive the most effective guidance. His profound insights, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication have helped his clients securing of over 100 crores in scholarships, making him an invaluable asset for individuals aiming to advance their education and careers and leading both his ventures to seven-figure revenues.
