The short answer: the GRE Verbal Reasoning section contains 40 scored questions total. Those questions are split into two 30-minute sections, with 20 questions in each section.
Quick overview of how the Verbal section is structured
Key facts at a glance:
- Total scored Verbal questions: 40 (20 per section).
- Sections: Two Verbal Reasoning sections, each timed for 30 minutes.
- Question types: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.
- Score range: 130 to 170, reported in 1-point increments. Your Verbal score is based on your combined performance across both sections.
- Additional sections: The test may include an unscored experimental section or a separately identified research section. Either of these could be Verbal or Quantitative and will not count toward your official score.
What the 40 questions look like
The 40 scored Verbal questions are a mix of three question types:
- Reading Comprehension. Passages followed by several questions that test understanding, inference, and evaluation of the passage. Passages can be single-paragraph or multi-paragraph and vary in topic and complexity.
- Text Completion. Short to medium sentences with one to three blanks. You select the best answer choice for each blank to produce a coherent sentence.
- Sentence Equivalence. Single-sentence questions where you select two answer choices that produce equivalent sentence meaning and complete the sentence logically.
ETS does not publish a fixed per-type count for every Verbal section. That means you will see different mixes of these question types from one test to another. Prepare for all three types, and practice transitioning among them under timed conditions.
Timing and pacing
Each Verbal section is 30 minutes long, so you should budget your time accordingly:
- Average time per question: 30 minutes for 20 questions equals 1.5 minutes per question on average.
- Realistic adjustments: Reading Comprehension passages take longer, so you may spend around 3 to 5 minutes on some passage sets and use the saved time on faster items such as simple Text Completion or Sentence Equivalence questions.
- Pacing strategy: Skim the passage to locate main ideas and structure, then answer easier questions first when appropriate. Mark tougher items and return to them if time allows.
How the computer-adaptive scoring works for Verbal
The GRE General Test uses section-level adaptation for computer-based testing. That means:
- Your performance on the first Verbal section helps determine the difficulty level of the second Verbal section. Strong performance early typically leads to a harder second section, which allows for higher scaled scores if you answer correctly.
- Each section is scored, and your final Verbal score is based on your combined results across the two sections, not on every individual question in isolation.
Because adaptation happens by section rather than by question, it is important to do your best on every item, especially in the first Verbal section.
Unscored and research sections
ETS may include an additional section that does not count toward your score. There are two possibilities:
- Unscored experimental section. This section can appear anywhere during the test and is not identified; its purpose is for test development. You will not be told which section is experimental.
- Research section. If included, the research section appears at the end of the test and is clearly identified. It is also not scored.
Either of these sections could be Verbal or Quantitative. Because you may not always know which section is unscored, treat every section as if it counts.
Practical study and practice recommendations
To prepare efficiently for the 40 Verbal questions, focus on these areas:
- Regular timed practice. Do full Verbal sections under realistic timing to build pacing skill and endurance.
- Reading comprehension practice. Read diverse academic and nonfiction passages. Practice identifying main ideas, author tone, structure, and inference questions.
- Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence. Work on contextual vocabulary and process-of-elimination techniques. For Text Completion with multiple blanks, practice filling blanks in a logical order and checking overall coherence.
- Official practice tests. Use ETS PowerPrep and Official Guide materials when possible. They best reflect real GRE question style and timing.
- Review mistakes deeply. For every missed question, note whether the error was vocabulary, misreading, timing, or a reasoning mistake, then correct the underlying habit.
Common misunderstandings
- Myth: The Verbal section has a fixed number of each question type. Reality: ETS varies the mix. Each section has 20 questions, but the distribution of Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence can change.
- Myth: Only the second Verbal section matters because of adaptation. Reality: Both sections matter. Performance on the first section influences the second section’s difficulty, but your final Verbal score is determined by combined performance on both sections.
- Myth: Unscored sections are always easy. Reality: Unscored sections are used for research and development and can vary in difficulty. Because they may be unidentified, assume every section counts toward your score.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How many Verbal questions do I have to answer correctly to get a particular score?
A: There is no fixed number of correct answers that guarantees a specific scaled score because scaled scores depend on question difficulty and the adaptive process. Generally, higher raw accuracy on more difficult questions yields higher scaled scores. Use official practice tests to estimate how raw scores translate to scaled Verbal scores.
Q: Can the Verbal section include more than two sections?
A: The scored Verbal content consists of two 20-question sections. The test may include an additional unscored or research section that could contain Verbal material, so you might see more than two Verbal sections during a test session. The unscored items do not affect your official Verbal score.
Q: How long should I spend on a reading passage?
A: Passage length and question count vary. For most passages, aim to spend 3 to 5 minutes reading and answering its question set, but adjust based on difficulty. Practice will help you find a pacing rhythm that fits your reading speed and accuracy level.
Q: Does the GRE Verbal test only vocabulary?
A: No. Vocabulary matters for Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence, but Reading Comprehension emphasizes comprehension, reasoning, and analytical skills. Modern GRE Verbal focuses on understanding meaning in context and evaluating arguments, not just memorizing lists of words.
Final takeaways
The Verbal Reasoning score is based on 40 scored questions: two 30-minute sections of 20 questions each. The question mix includes Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence. Because the test uses section-level adaptation and may include unscored material, treat every section seriously and practice under realistic timing. Use official ETS practice resources, focus on reading and contextual vocabulary, and review mistakes carefully to improve accuracy across all three question types.
