How can I improve my performance on GRE Text Completion questions?

Practice regularly using official practice tests and sample questions. Familiarize yourself with common word types and phrases in these questions, and develop strategies for understanding sentence structure and context. Additionally, expand your vocabulary and logical reasoning skills.

How many Text Completion questions are there on the GRE?

There are approximately 6 Text Completion questions in each 20-question Verbal Reasoning subsection. Hence, there are 12 Text Completion questions overall.

What is the difference between Sentence Equivalence and Text Completion in the GRE?

In the Sentence Equivalence questions, you get one sentence with a blank and you need to select two words that create equivalent, meaningful sentences. Whereas, the Text Completion questions have one to five sentences with one to three blanks, and you must choose appropriate words to fill in the blanks, ensuring the passage is coherent and meaningful.

Top Tips for GRE Text Completion

GRE Sentence Equivalence Sample Questions

The GRE Text Completion section is one of the most important parts of the GRE Verbal Reasoning exam. GRE Text Completion questions consist of a short passage (one to five sentences) with one to three missing words. In this section, you are given a list of options for each blank. You have to choose the correct words to complete the passage logically and coherently. For multiple blanks, you must correctly fill in all the blanks to receive credit. In this article, we will discuss how to master this section.

Yocket Prep is an online platform that provides everything you need to know about the GRE, from understanding when you should take the exam to how to prepare and ace it. With our comprehensive resources and expert guidance, you'll be well-equipped to take on the GRE with confidence.

Here's what you can expect from Yocket Prep:

Expert Guidance
Personalized preparation plans
52 hours of 1-on-1 classes
Doubt clearing sessions
Mock tests and focused practice questions
A better understanding of the GRE

What is GRE Text Completion?

The GRE Text Completion section consists of incomplete sentences, with one or two blanks in each sentence. Your task is to choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence, based on the context provided. It must be grammatically correct and logically coherent.

This section evaluates your GRE vocabulary, sentence structure, and logical reasoning skills. You must have a good command of English and make informed choices. Let us discuss how you can approach the GRE text completion questions for acing your GRE exam.

How to Approach GRE Text Completion Questions

Read the sentence carefully. Pay attention to the context and the overall meaning of the sentence.
Identify the missing word or phrase. What type of word or phrase is needed to complete the sentence grammatically and semantically?
Consider the options. Read each option carefully and evaluate how well it fits into the sentence.
Choose the best answer. Select the option that best completes the sentence, ensuring it is consistent with the context and the overall meaning.

Watch the GRE Verbal Guide here!

Read also: GRE Sample Paper

Sample GRE Text Completion Questions

Let’s start with a simpler one-blank ETS sample question:

1. “Dramatic literature often _____ the history of a culture in that it takes as its subject matter the important events that have shaped and guided the culture.”

Options:

confounds
repudiates
recapitulates
anticipates
polarizes

Solution & Explanation:

First, read the whole sentence; note the construction “in that it takes.” This is a signpost indicating to the reader that the second part of the sentence is an explanation of the first part. That means we want a word to make the first and second parts similar. The choices are -“confounds,” “repudiates,” and “polarizes.” But these do not fit the basic sense of the passage. So let’s focus on “recapitulates” and “anticipates.”

Both of these seem plausible. This is an example of how the test focuses more on contexts. Does “anticipates” work? This would require literature to anticipate the history of the culture, in a sense predicting it or happening before the events themselves. However, the tense of the passage does not match, as the subject matter is the events that “have shaped” the culture. Hence the answer is 3) recapitulates.

Let’s look at another example below:

2. “Since she believed him to be both candid and trustworthy, she refused to consider the possibility that his statement had been ______.”

Options:

Irrelevant
facetious
mistaken
critical
insincere

Solution & Explanation:

“Insincere,” “facetious” and “mistaken” fit the general sense of falseness but “insincere” most directly addresses the idea of trust indicated by her belief in him. “Facetious” has a connotation more of unserious, while “mistaken” misses the issue of intent. So the answer is 5) insincere.

Tips for Answering GRE Text Completion Questions

Use context clues. The surrounding words and sentences can provide valuable clues about the missing word or phrase.
Pay attention to grammar. The word or phrase you choose must be grammatically correct in the context of the sentence.
Consider the tone and style of the passage. The tone and style of the passage can help you determine the appropriate word or phrase to complete the sentence.
Practice. The more practice you have with GRE Text Completion questions, the easier it will get to crack the text completion questions.

Read also: GRE Preparation Books

From the Desk of Yocket

Preparing for the GRE can be daunting, but with Yocket's comprehensive prep resources, the GRE Verbal Reasoning is easy! Our expert-curated content, personalized guidance, GRE practice questions, GRE practice test and detailed explanations are designed to help you master the Text Completion questions. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this blog, you can improve your chances of success in this section. Let Yocket be your guide on the path to achieving your GRE goals.