GRE Reading Comprehension on Test Day: Essential Tips and Strategies for a High Score

GRE Reading Comprehension: High-Score Tips and Test-Day Strategies

The GRE is a major exam many Taiwanese students have to face when applying to graduate school in the US and other English-speaking countries. The Reading Comprehension section often puts test takers under a lot of pressure. This article breaks down high-scoring techniques for GRE Reading Comprehension, drawing on hands-on experience and the latest trends, to help you walk into the test with confidence, get past your reading plateau and land a high score!

GRE Reading Comprehension: Thinking Actively and Weighing the Evidence

On GRE Reading Comprehension questions, many test takers read the question and immediately scan every answer choice, hoping to spot the right one.
But this habit makes it easy to be misled by how the choices are designed, and it ends up wasting precious time. After you read the question, pause for a moment and try to come up with a possible answer in your head first.

This step has a few benefits:

• Fewer chances to fall for trap answers: you'll find it easier to spot clearly wrong choices that don't match the answer you expected.

• Faster at picking the right answer: once you have a rough answer, the choice closest to your idea is often the correct one.

Of course, if you find yourself stuck for too long or short on time, you can go straight to the choices and adjust your strategy. The point is not to let the choices lead you around. Thinking actively is how you stay in control of the question.

Use Evidence from the Passage to Judge the Choices Precisely

GRE Reading Comprehension single-answer questions are usually designed to have only one clear, indisputable correct answer. That means the correct choice must be clearly supported by evidence in the passage. It can't be too broad, too narrow or off topic.

Practical tips:

• When you think you've found the right answer, always go back to the passage for concrete evidence (even if it's just one sentence or a few keywords).

• If a choice doesn't line up with the passage (for example, the passage is more specific, or the choice mentions something the passage never states), it's very likely a trap and should be eliminated.

Example:

Say the passage mentions that "a certain policy is effective in some countries," and a choice says "the policy is effective in all countries." A choice that overreaches like that should be crossed out right away.

GRE Reading Comprehension: Time Management and High-Score Strategies

Focus on the Beginning and End to Grasp the Main Idea and Key Points

Whether you look at the questions first or read the passage first, pay special attention to the opening (introduction) and closing (conclusion) paragraphs. These two parts usually contain the author's core view and the main idea of the passage.

• Introduction: usually sets out the topic, scope and main argument.

• Conclusion: restates the topic and key points, and explains their significance, impact or outcome.

Reading strategy:

1. When reading the introduction, ask yourself: What is this passage about? What problem is the author trying to solve? What is the main argument?

2. When reading the conclusion, notice whether the topic is restated, whether there's a summary, outcome or takeaway, and what the passage's significance or impact is.

As you read, jot down the topic and main idea on your scratch paper so you can recall them quickly when answering questions later.

Spot the Tone and Key Points Quickly to Build a Reading Framework

GRE Reading Comprehension often tests questions about the "author's attitude" or the "tone of the passage." If you can identify the author's tone and main view in a short time, you'll answer much more efficiently.

• Neutral/objective: the author only states facts, with no obvious emotional coloring.

• Positive/supportive: affirming words such as "should" and "worth" appear.

• Negative/skeptical: words such as "doubt," "problem" and "insufficient" appear.

• Mixed/reserved: the author broadly agrees but has some reservations or doubts.

While reading, watch for any subjective words (such as "doubtful" or "should"). Structurally, the main idea and tone usually appear in the opening and closing paragraphs.

Practice exercise:

Read a passage of official GRE reading material and try writing down its topic, main idea and tone on scratch paper. This habit will help you settle in faster on test day.

Go Back to the Passage Flexibly to Make Sure Your Answer Is Right

Reading the whole passage word for word isn't recommended, but when you hit a detail question or aren't sure of an answer, always go back to the passage and find the relevant paragraph. GRE Reading Comprehension often tests a specific detail, figure or statement, and checking the passage is the most effective way to confirm.

• Use keywords in the question to quickly locate the relevant part of the passage.

• Even if you're confident about the answer, do a quick check to avoid losing points to carelessness.

• If the question already highlights the relevant paragraph, compare the content even more carefully.

Many test takers get answers wrong because they're overconfident and don't go back to the passage. Making a habit of checking is something high scorers have in common.

Skip Hard Questions and Budget Your Time Wisely

GRE Reading Comprehension is under heavy time pressure, so when you hit a hard question, don't get stuck on it. Budget your time and tackle the easy questions first to maximize your score.

• If you still have no clue after more than 1 minute on a question, skip it decisively and move on.

• Mark skipped questions in the testing system so you can come back and check them at the end.

• Do plenty of practice tests before the exam to get used to your own pace.

Many high scorers say that after skipping a hard question, it's actually easier to find the answer when they come back to it, because their brain has picked up more clues and had time to process.

Use Process of Elimination to Narrow Down the Choices

When you have no idea how to answer a question, process of elimination is the most practical strategy. Go through the choices one by one and strike out any that clearly don't fit the passage or the logic. What's left is often the right answer.

1. Read the choices one by one and look for evidence in the passage.

2. Cross out any choice that isn't 100% supported by the passage.

3. Compare the remaining choices in detail and pick the one closest to the passage.

GRE answer choices often contain traps that seem right but aren't. Process of elimination is an effective way to rule them out and raise your accuracy.

Answer Every Question to Avoid Losing Points

GRE Reading Comprehension (and every other question type) has no penalty for wrong answers. In other words, even if you guess, you won't lose points. So never leave anything blank. Answer every question!

• In the last few minutes, always check for unanswered questions.

• Even if you have no idea at all, pick an answer at random to give yourself a chance at the points.

GRE Reading Comprehension: Further Study and Study Plans

Set a Target Score and Plan Your Own Study Schedule

1. Look up the GRE score requirements of your target schools.

2. Take practice tests to find your weak spots.

3. Set weekly study goals and review your progress regularly.

4. Make good use of online resources and practice tests to keep refining your strategy.

Conclusion: A High GRE Reading Comprehension Score Is Within Reach!

GRE Reading Comprehension is challenging, but if you master the techniques above and combine them with your own hands-on experience, you have every chance to push past your limits and get the score you want. Remember: thinking actively, using evidence, staying flexible and budgeting your time are the keys to a high score. Best of luck to everyone preparing for the GRE. May you perform at your best on test day and make it to the international university of your dreams!