How to Spot and Replace Inefficient GMAT Verbal Habits

Many GMAT students do not realize that they are using inefficient methods to answer Verbal questions. Some of these time-wasting strategies come from questionable advice, while others are simply habits students have developed over time without examining whether those habits are actually effective.

A key part of GMAT preparation is regularly evaluating the strategies you use. If you read about a new approach or hear a tip from someone else, ask yourself whether it truly makes sense. Does it help you arrive at the correct answer faster or more reliably? Once you incorporate a strategy into your practice, take time to assess whether it is improving your accuracy and pacing. If not, it may be time to adjust.

Often, it is not just advice from others that causes inefficiency, but your own ingrained habits. For instance, some students always read the Critical Reasoning question stem first, thinking it will help them save time. In practice, however, they end up rereading the stem after reading the argument. This approach adds time instead of saving it. A more effective method is to read the argument first, understand its structure, and then read the question stem with that understanding in place.

In Reading Comprehension, students sometimes try to skip large parts of the passage to save time. But when they reach the questions, they find themselves confused and unsure where to look for answers. They end up rereading much of the passage anyway. A better approach is to read the passage fully the first time, aiming for general comprehension. Focus on understanding the structure and main ideas while noting where different topics are discussed. This way, when you need to revisit the passage to answer a question, you will have a good idea of where to look.

Being efficient in GMAT Verbal is not about cutting corners. It is about using strategies that help you work quickly without sacrificing accuracy. By taking the time to reflect on how you approach different question types, you can eliminate ineffective habits and replace them with methods that truly work.

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Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep