A common but largely ineffective approach to GMAT Verbal preparation is this: a student answers a couple dozen Official Guide Verbal questions under a timer and then reviews only the solutions to the questions they got wrong. Some students do this hundreds of times and see little to no improvement in their Verbal scores.
The issue is that many test-takers, including native English speakers, underestimate the difficulty of the GMAT Verbal section. They assume that simply completing large numbers of practice questions is sufficient preparation. In reality, raising a Verbal score by even a few points can require deliberate study of concepts, strategies, and reasoning skills that are not automatically gained by answering questions.
Without a solid foundation in Verbal strategies, this practice-question approach is inefficient at best. It is similar to hitting golf balls at the driving range without first learning how to hold the club correctly. You might be putting in time, but you are unlikely to see meaningful improvement and may even reinforce ineffective habits.
Reading an explanation for a missed question is not the same as understanding how to apply that strategy independently. Often, students will move on to the next question, requiring different skills, before they have had the chance to actively apply what they just learned. By the time they encounter a question where the prior strategy is relevant, the insight may no longer be top of mind. This prevents the development of consistent problem-solving habits and limits score improvement.
The takeaway is clear: mastering GMAT Verbal requires learning and practicing underlying concepts and strategies before attempting large volumes of questions. Use practice questions to reinforce skills, not as the primary method of learning them. Build a strong foundation, then apply it repeatedly in a structured and deliberate way. That is how real, measurable improvement happens.
Feel free to reach out with any questions about your GMAT prep. Happy studying!
Warmest regards,
Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder & CEO, Target Test Prep
