Final Exam contents:
From Kaplan:
50 questions + 1
Argument Essay
Essay 1 question 25% of grade
Reading
Comprehension 20 questions |
Text Completion 12 questions | -
All three count together as 50% of grade
Sentence Equivalence 8 questions |
Vocabulary 10 questions 25% of grade
These will be summed
together and total count as 50 % of the final exam grade.
From ETS:
25 questions from
the real GRE
Reading Comprehension 13 questions
Text Completion 8 questions
Sentence Equivalence 4 questions
These will be summed
together and total count as 50 % of the final exam grade.
Total Exam: 75
questions + an essay
The GMAT Verbal II
Final Exam:
From Kaplan
Essay 1 question 25% of grade |
Integrated Reasoning 14 questions 25% of grade | - All three count as 50%
Verbal Components 22 questions 50% of grade |
From GMAC
25 questions from
the real GMAT summed for
the other 50% of the grade
Total exam: 61
questions + an essay
Strategy review:
·
For all parts of the Verbal Exam:
o
Memorization (flash cards)
o
Use the scratch paper
o
Take the “easy” test first
o
Read ALL answer choices
o
Double-check your answer
o
Leave NOTHING blank! Always at least guess!
o
Pace yourself – no more than about 1 minute per
text completion/sentence equivalence, and no more than 2 minutes per reading
comprehension question
·
For Text Completion/Sentence Equivalence:
o
Read the sentence with the word(s) inserted
o
Double-check for logic, grammar and style
o
Look for clues:
§
Read the whole sentence!
§
Who or what does the blank describe?
§
What else provides insight into that
description?
§
What part of speech is needed?
§
Same/opposite direction
§
Positive/negative tone
§
Word roots
o
Predict an answer to fill blanks
o
Do the easiest blank first
o
Paraphrase long, complex sentences
·
For Reading Comprehension:
o
Check the passage to see where there is evidence
for your answer
o
Take notes on reading:
§
Topic (broad)
§
Scope (narrow)
§
Purpose
·
Argue/persuade
·
Describe
·
Explain
·
Entertain
·
Etc.
§
Argument
·
Conclusion
·
Premises
·
UNSTATED assumptions
o
DO NOT try to memorize the passage
·
Process of Elimination for all types:
o
Triage on vocabulary (? – X – √)
o
Choose the unknown word when all else fails
o
Beware of just choosing the first pair of
synonyms you see
o
Reading comprehension question-specific PoE:
§
Global
·
Eliminate partial answers
·
Half-right = all wrong
·
Eliminate outside of the scope
·
Eliminate extreme language
·
Eliminate distorted quotes
·
Eliminate 180s (contradictions)
§
Detail
·
USE paraphrases
·
Find proof – five lines up and down from the
mentioned detail
·
Eliminate distorted quotes
·
Eliminate bad comparisons/things not compared in
passage
·
Eliminate details about other things
·
Eliminate extreme language
·
Half-right = all wrong
·
Eliminate 180s (contradictions)
§
Inference/Logic
·
Check for clues and immediate implications
·
Eliminate extreme language
·
Eliminate outside of scope
·
Eliminate differences from purpose
§
Vocabulary in Context
·
Read at least three lines before and after the
word
·
Choose the best synonym
·
Usually not the most common meaning
§
Reasoning
·
Identify conclusion, premises
·
Figure out the unstated assumptions
o
Strengthen:
§
Good answers will support assumptions
§
May use extreme language, keep strong tone
§
Eliminate half-right
§
Eliminate answers that weaken
§
Eliminate answers that do nothing
o
Weaken:
§
Good answers will undermine assumptions
§
Often use extreme language, keep strong tone
§
Eliminate answers that strengthen
§
Eliminate half-right
§
Eliminate answers that do nothing
§
KEEP new information
o
Assumption:
§
Eliminate answers giving new information
§
Eliminate wrong tone
§
Eliminate answers weakening the argument
o
Inference:
§
Eliminate answers that go beyond given
information/scope
§
Eliminate answers that are only possibly true
§
Good answers MUST be true
§
Eliminate extreme language
o
Resolve/explain
§
Eliminate answers that do nothing
§
Eliminate half-right
§
Eliminate answers that make the contradiction
worse
·
Essays
o
Use of time:
§
Deconstruct the argument/Analyze the prompt (2
minutes)
§
Brainstorm the points you want to make (5
minutes)
·
Issue: examples for both sides
·
Argument: problems with the argument and
possible solutions
§
Select a template (1 minute)
§
Write (20 minutes)
§
Proofread (2 minutes)
o
Issue Essay:
§
Template #1
·
Introduction
o
Restatement of Topic
o
Statement about other side
o
Thesis statement: I will argue that X is true
because of A and B.
·
Body
o
Supporting Paragraph 1
§
State reason
§
Provide examples
§
State how reason proves your position
o
Supporting Paragraph 2 - Same
o
Other Side Paragraph
§
State how “on the other hand” people take the
opposite side
§
Provide examples
§
Explain how the other side is wrong
§
Reinforce why your side is right
o
Conclusion
§
Restate your thesis
§
Summarize your reasons & examples
§
Consider the other side
§
Call to action [write to your senator, vote for
me, boycott Shopmart, etc.]
§
Template #2
·
Introduction - Same
·
Body – Include a third supporting paragraph before
the other side paragraph
·
Conclusion – Same
o
Argument Essay:
§
My preferred Template:
·
Introduction paragraph
o
Restate prompt – paraphrase in your own words!
o
Summarize your goal according to the
instructions
o
State your thesis: “The argument is
weak/unconvincing because…(list three reasons).”
·
Body Paragraph 1
o
State one flaw: assumption, question, or
alternative explanation
o
Evaluate statement - explain how & why this
is a weakness/problem/flaw in the argument
o
Propose a possible solution
o
Explain how this would fix the problem/solve the
flaw/strengthen the argument
·
Body Paragraph 2 (ditto)
·
Body Paragraph 3 (ditto)
·
Additional Paragraph if time permits (ditto)
·
Conclusion
o
Summarize your main points
o
Address the instructions again
o
State that the argument is weak/unconvincing/not
persuasive unless additional evidence is provided.
§
The Kaplan Template:
·
Introduction
o
Restate prompt
o
Summarize your goal according to the
instructions
o
State your thesis
·
Body Paragraph 1
o
State an important assumption, question, or
alternative explanation
o
Evaluate that statement
·
Body Paragraph 2 (ditto)
·
Body Paragraph 3 (ditto)
·
Additional Paragraph, time permitting (ditto)
·
Penultimate Paragraph
o
State what, if true, could improve the argument
or make it stronger
o
Do this for each paragraph above: offer a
solution to each problem you described
·
Conclusion
o
Summarize
o
Address the instructions
o
State that the argument is weak, etc.
