GRE RC: Useful General Tips

Over the last few lessons, we learned the Mind Map Approach from the Experts’ Global GRE prep course for solving all Reading Comprehension questions and saw its application across the three broad types: structure-based, fact-based, and inference-based questions. The next step is to examine frequently asked GRE Reading Comprehension question types and develop a clear strategy for each. Before doing that, it is important to pause and absorb a set of general and highly useful tips and principles for solving Reading Comprehension questions effectively.

These principles include thinking from the author’s point of view while answering questions and relying only on the information provided in the passage, since that information is sufficient on its own. They also include being cautious with answer choices that express very strong emotions, as correct options on GRE Reading Comprehension questions are usually moderate in tone, and recognizing that politically incorrect or socially insensitive answer choices are rarely correct. Another key principle is to solve questions through elimination, since success depends on removing incorrect choices rather than searching directly for a perfect one, which makes using a grid especially effective.

The video below and the theory that follows explain these practical and useful GRE Reading Comprehension tips and apply them to GRE-style Reading Comprehension questions so you understand their first-hand application. Apply these ideas consistently in your GRE preparation and practice, including your Reading Comprehension drills, sectional GRE tests, and full-length GRE tests.

Practical, Useful Tips for Solving GRE RC Questions

• Think from the author’s point of view to stay aligned with the passage’s intent.
• Rely only on the information in the passage, as it is sufficient to answer the questions.
• Be cautious when evaluating choices with strong emotions. Understand that extreme positive or negative choices are rarely correct.
• Approach politically incorrect or socially insensitive choices with extra caution. They are rarely correct.
• Use the Mind Map Approach to maintain structure and clarity while reading and answering.
• Go by elimination and not selection of answer choices.
• Use a grid to track and eliminate answer choices with precision.
• Manage your time wisely by avoiding spending too much time on any single question or tough RC set.
  • Remember, a strong overall score is achievable even with a few incorrect answers, so make confident and efficient decisions.

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