GMAT Reading Comprehension Tips: Top 8 DOs and DON’Ts

Last Updated on September 10, 2024

Reading Comprehension (RC) questions make up roughly 60% of the questions in the Verbal section of the GMAT. So, knowing how to do well on GMAT Reading Comprehension is a critical aspect of earning a good Verbal score.

Furthermore, although RC questions make up about 60% of the Verbal section, you’ll likely spend more than 60% of your total time in the Verbal section answering RC questions. After all, RC passages take longer to read than Critical Reasoning passages, and RC questions take longer, on average, to answer than CR questions.

Thus, without a solid GMAT RC strategy, you can not only impair your performance in Reading Comprehension but also seriously disrupt your pacing overall in the section.

KEY FACT:

Reading Comprehension questions make up roughly 60% of the questions in the Verbal section of the GMAT.

Here are the topics we’ll cover:

• The ABCs of GMAT Reading Comprehension

• How Many Reading Comprehension Questions Are on the GMAT?
• How Are GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions Presented?
• How Long Are GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions?
• What Are GMAT Reading Comprehension Passages About?
• GMAT Reading Comprehension Question Types
  1. Primary Purpose
  2. Specific Purpose
  3. Detail
  4. Inference
  5. Application
  6. Structure
  7. Author’s Opinion and Tone
• Tip #1: Read the Passage First
• Tip #2: Read for General Understanding
• Tip #3: Always Identify a Passage’s Main Point or Purpose
• Tip #4: Identify Structural Keywords
• Tip #5: Notice Where Key Info is Mentioned
• Tip #6: Always Refer Back to the Passage
• Tip #7: Don’t Match Words to Find Correct Answers
• Tip #8: Read Quality Publications for Practice
• GMAT Reading Comprehension Pacing Strategy
• A Note About Note-Taking
• What’s Next

The ABCs of GMAT Reading Comprehension

In the broadest sense, GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed to test the following 3 things:

• how carefully you’ve read a passage
• whether you understand what you’ve read and can accurately interpret the information given
• whether you can identify relationships between the ideas that are presented in the passage.

You can view a sample Reading Comprehension passage and question here, at the bottom of that page.

So, how many RC questions will you face on the GMAT? Let’s take a look.

How Many Reading Comprehension Questions Are on the GMAT?

As you may know, the GMAT Verbal section consists of a total of 23 multiple-choice questions that you have 45 minutes to complete. Of the 23 Verbal questions, around 13 or 14 will be Reading Comprehension. Those questions will be spread across approximately 3 or 4 passages, with each passage accompanied by roughly 3 or 4 questions. The other 9 or 10 in the section will be Critical Reasoning. GMAT Verbal questions can appear in any order. So, expect to switch between RC and CR as you move through the section.

KEY FACT:

In GMAT Verbal, you’ll see around 3 or 4 Reading Comprehension passages, each accompanied by roughly 3 or 4 questions, for a total of approximately 13 or 14 RC questions.

Of course, there is no way to predict exactly how many RC questions you’ll see on a given GMAT. So, keep in mind that the numbers above are ballparks, not guarantees.

Now, let’s discuss how GMAT RC questions are presented in the exam.

How Are GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions Presented?

The GMAT presents Reading Comprehension questions in a split-screen format. The passage is presented in its entirety on the left side of the screen. The questions about the passage are presented one at a time on the right side.

So, you will be able to see the passage at all times as you answer the associated questions. However, you will not be able to see all of the questions associated with a passage before you start answering them. You cannot view the next question until you’ve submitted an answer to the question in front of you.

Additionally, you cannot go back to a previous question, even if it’s associated with a passage you’re still working on, until you reach the review screen at the end of the section (provided, of course, that you don’t run out of time).

To read more about returning to previously answered questions, check out our article about skipping questions on the GMAT.

KEY FACT:

Although a single RC passage has multiple questions associated with it, you see only one question at a time, and you must submit an answer to that question in order to see the next question.

Now, let’s talk about how long GMAT RC questions are.

How Long Are GMAT Reading Comprehension Questions?

RC passages are classified as either “short” or “long.”

Short passages are generally made up of 2 to 3 paragraphs and fewer than 50 lines, for a total of about 200 to 250 words. Occasionally, a short passage may be just 1 paragraph. Typically, short passages are accompanied by 3 questions.

Long passages are generally made up of 3 to 4 paragraphs and more than 50 lines, for a total of more than 300 words. Occasionally, a long passage may be 2 paragraphs. Typically, long passages are accompanied by 4 questions.

Let’s discuss what types of subjects these passages cover.

What Are GMAT Reading Comprehension Passages About?

The subject matter of RC passages encompasses the humanities, social sciences, business, and the physical and biological sciences. So, you may see passages discussing any of the following topics:

• visual arts such as painting and film
• music
• literature
• history
• politics
• human rights
• international law
• economics
• sociology
• medicine and health care
• technology
• philosophy
• physics
• biology
• chemistry
• astronomy

to name just a few topics.

KEY FACT:

RC passages cover a range of topics in the humanities, social sciences, business, and the physical and biological sciences.

Fortunately, you do not need to have any specialized subject knowledge in order to understand RC passages or answer RC questions. So, you don’t need to be Socrates to interpret an RC passage discussing philosophy. More to the point, you don’t need to have taken an astronomy course in college to be able to answer questions on a passage about astronomy just as accurately as you could answer questions on a passage about the subject that was your college major.

All of the information you need to answer RC questions is contained within the passage that is presented to you. No outside facts or figures, unprovided dates, or expertise in a particular area is required. RC passages are not subject tests; they’re tests of your ability to understand and interpret what you read.

KEY FACT:

You do not need to have any specialized subject knowledge in order to answer RC questions.

Now that we’ve covered the “ABCs” of GMAT Reading Comprehension, let’s learn how to identify the 7 main types of RC questions on the GMAT and discuss what each question type asks us to do.

GMAT Reading Comprehension Question Types

The GMAT features 7 main types of RC questions (in no particular order):

1. Primary Purpose
2. Specific Purpose
3. Detail
4. Inference
5. Application
6. Structure
7. Author’s Tone

Of course, you won’t be told which type of question you’re being presented with when you see one. That said, each question type tends to use particular words or phrases that will alert you to what it’s asking for. Knowing the 6 main RC question types will help you learn what to look out for when reading RC passages, a key skill for efficiently finding correct answers to RC questions.

So, let’s look at what each question type tests.

1. Primary Purpose

Primary Purpose questions are the most common type of Reading Comprehension question on the GMAT. In fact, you may even see a Primary Purpose question for each RC passage you encounter on your exam.

Primary Purpose questions test your ability to identify the primary purpose or main point of a passage. In other words, a Primary Purpose question is concerned with the “macro” of the passage, not the “micro” or details.

Some common ways a Primary Purpose question might be phrased are:

The passage is primarily concerned with

The main point of the passage is

The primary purpose of the passage is to

In the passage, the author is primarily interested in

The author’s central thesis in the passage is

The passage can be described as which of the following?

Which of the following statements most accurately captures the central idea of the passage?

Which of the following most accurately summarizes the main idea of the passage?

Since Primary Purpose questions are so common in GMAT RC, being able to identify the main point or purpose of a passage is a critical aspect of performing well in RC.

KEY FACT:

Primary Purpose questions test your ability to identify the primary purpose or main point of a passage.

2. Specific Purpose

Specific Purpose questions ask us to identify the purpose or function of part of a passage, such as a sentence, word, phrase, quotation, or something mentioned by the author. In other words, our job is to find the answer choice that describes the role that piece of the passage plays in the overall scheme of the passage. Does the element in question provide an example? Refute an idea? Define a concept? Offer a solution to a problem?

Some examples of how these questions are asked are as follows:

Which of the following best describes the function of the first sentence of the second paragraph?

The last sentence of the passage serves primarily to

The highlighted sentence serves primarily to

Which of the following best describes the function of the highlighted sentence?

The author mentions herds of bison most probably in order to

The author of the passage refers to the shipowners in the highlighted text most probably in order to

It can be inferred that the author of the passage discusses Jung’s theory primarily in order to 

KEY FACT:

Specific Purpose questions ask you to identify the purpose or function of a piece of a passage, such as a sentence, word, phrase, quotation, or something mentioned by the author.

3. Detail

Detail questions ask you about key details mentioned or facts stated in a passage. These questions may come in the form of “except” questions. For instance, an “except” Detail question on a passage about providing clean drinking water to people might present 5 ways of providing the water and ask you which one was not mentioned in the passage (the other 4 will be mentioned in the passage). Whether all 5 are possible ways of providing clean water in real life does not matter. What matters is what is actually stated in the passage.

Some common ways that Detail questions may start off are as follows:

The passage asserts which of the following about …

“According to the passage, which of the following is true of …

According to the passage, each of the following is true of … EXCEPT:”

All of the following are mentioned as … EXCEPT:

The author mentions all of the following as … EXCEPT:

KEY FACT:

Detail questions ask you about key details mentioned or facts stated in a passage.

4. Inference

Inference questions ask you what conclusions can be logically drawn based on information given in a passage. So, when an RC question asks about an inference, it is not asking about something that is explicitly stated in the passage. Rather, it is asking about something implied. When presented with an inference question, your job is to find the answer that conveys something that must be true, given what the passage says, yet is unwritten by the author.

Some of the ways an Inference question may appear are as follows:

It can be inferred from the passage that …

It can be inferred that which of the following is true …

It can be inferred that the author of the passage believes that …

From the passage, it can be inferred that the author would agree with …

The author implies that …

The passage suggests that which of the following …

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage regarding …

Since inferences are not explicitly stated, you can’t specifically look for them in a passage. So, your understanding of the implications of what the author says are key in answering Inference questions.

TTP PRO TIP:

Since inferences are not explicitly stated, your understanding of the implications of what the author says are key in answering Inference questions.

5. Application

Application questions ask you to apply information from the passage to a context that is outside of the passage. Often, your job will be do one of the following:

• identify an example or situation that is analogous to something described in the passage

• determine whether the author would agree or disagree with a statement, recommendation, or belief not stated in the passage

• recognize the similarity between a relationship or idea discussed in the passage and one not discussed in the passage.

For example, let’s say a passage describes a symbiotic relationship between two organisms. An Application question might ask you to identify the answer choice that presents some other mutually beneficial relationship that has nothing to do with organisms, maybe a relationship within an economic system or between parts of a machine.

So, your ability to grasp relationships, make connections, and understand the author’s opinions, sentiments, and motivations will help you answer Application questions.

Some common ways that Application questions may appear are as follows:

The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements about …

The author of the passage would be most likely to disagree with which of the following statements about …

The author of the passage would be most likely to make which of the following recommendations to …

The passage suggests that the author of the passage believes which of the following?

The relationship between … is most similar to which of the following?

KEY FACT:

Application questions ask you to apply information from the passage to an analogous context outside of the passage.

6. Structure

Structure questions ask about the structure, or organization, of a passage or paragraph within a passage. Structure questions may also ask how two paragraphs in a passage logically relate to each other.

Some common ways that Structure questions are asked include the following:

Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage?

Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of the passage?

The second paragraph of the passage proceeds in which of the following ways?

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the second and third paragraphs of the passage? 

KEY FACT:

Structure questions ask about the structure, or organization, of a passage or paragraph within a passage, or about how two paragraphs logically relate to each other.

7. Author’s Opinion and Tone

Author’s Opinion and Tone questions ask us to identify the answer choice that best captures an opinion, belief, or attitude of the author. For example, is the author skeptical about the merits of research that the passage discusses? Is she approaching an argument from an objective point of view? Is she resolute in her defense of a certain position?

In answering Author’s Opinion and Tone questions, our ability to “decode” the author’s word choices in order to assess how the author feels is key. After all, the author of a GMAT RC passage is highly unlikely to explicitly state, “I’m happy about X” or “my opinion about XYZ could be easily swayed.”

As expected, Author’s Opinion and Tone questions utilize predictable language, including:

The author’s attitude toward Morrison’s work could be best characterized as which of the following?

The author’s attitude toward the view that education is the solution to all world problems could be best described as

The author’s attitude toward monetarism could be best described in which of the following ways?

The author’s attitude toward the practice of Reiki could be most accurately described as

TTP PRO TIP:

In answering Author’s Opinion and Tone questions, your ability to “decode” the author’s word choices in order to assess how the author feels is key.

Now that we know how to recognize the main GMAT RC question types, let’s explore my top 8 tips, including key dos and don’ts, for performing well on Reading Comprehension.

Tip #1: Read the Passage First

Some test-takers like to read the first question that appears alongside a passage before reading the passage itself. I don’t recommend that strategy because what tends to happen is that instead of reading the passage holistically and being prepared for whatever questions come their way, these test-takers read the passage with the goal of finding the answer to the first question.

Thus, their overall understanding of the passage suffers. In the end, they often spend more time going back to the passage and rereading than they would have if they had simply read the passage first, without the “tunnel vision.”

So, don’t allow the first question to narrow your view, either consciously or subconsciously, of what is important information in a passage. As subsequent questions are presented, you will find that you lack the necessary comprehension to answer them.

Another pitfall of reading the first question before you read the passage is that you may be more tempted to simply skim the passage instead of reading it in its entirety. After all, you already “know” what the first question asks you to find.

The thing is, you’re likely to miss many nuances, connections between ideas, and relationships between different parts of a passage if you merely skim. You will probably find it harder to interpret the meaning or function of sentences and be more likely to choose trap answers.

So, to maximize your understanding of an RC passage and your ability to work through RC questions efficiently, read the passage carefully, in its entirety, before you read the first question.

Tip #2: Read for General Understanding

GMAT students sometimes make the mistake of trying to remember or understand every detail in GMAT Verbal passages. This strategy is unproductive because you cannot predict which details the questions about the passage will focus on and which details will prove irrelevant.

Furthermore, while RC questions may ask about specific details mentioned in the passage, your overall understanding of what is being discussed, and why, and how, is the essential foundation on which your knowledge of the passage rests.

So, when you first read an RC passage, you’re far better off reading to gain a basic understanding of what the author says. After all, you can always refer back to the passage to locate a particular fact, idea, or detail. However, your understanding of how those relate to other facts, ideas, and details in the passage, or relate to the author’s overall argument or motivation, won’t be sitting there on line 6 of paragraph two.

Remember, GMAT Reading Comprehension is not testing whether you have a photographic memory for detail. If it were, then a passage wouldn’t remain on the screen when it came time to answer the questions. What GMAT RC really tests is whether you understand what you read and can recognize how different aspects of what you read relate to each other.

Note also that GMAT RC passages sometimes attempt to distract you with jargon or dense, complicated detail. Do you need to precisely comprehend every bit of jargon the author uses to explain a particular theory, or be able to repeat each step in a process? No. Your job is to understand why and how the author presents that information.

Tip #3: Always Identify a Passage’s Main Point or Purpose

Since you can just about count on seeing 1 Primary Purpose question for each RC passage, always identifying the main point or primary purpose of a passage upon your initial reading is a wise strategy. How would you summarize what the passage says? What is the author’s overall message?

Note that many test-takers fall into the trap of assuming that the central idea of an RC passage will be stated in either the first or last paragraph. While that scenario is certainly possible, there is no rule that the author’s main point has to be in the first or the last paragraph. In fact, some trap answers in Primary Purpose questions are directly related to what is said in the first and/or last paragraph but don’t actually articulate the passage’s main point or purpose.

Thus, it’s smart to identify for yourself what the overall point of a passage is rather than assume what is said in a certain part of the passage must always be the main point. Of course, your initial impression need not be set in stone. As you’re deciding between answer choices, you can always refer back to the passage to make sure you’ve properly understood what you’ve read.

Tip #4: Identify Structural Keywords

Structural keywords can help you understand key aspects of a passage, such as:

• the logic of a passage
• the function of different elements of a passage
• the relationships between ideas and facts in a passage
• the intention or viewpoint of the passage’s author

These words are like little flags marking key points throughout a passage.

Let’s look at some common examples of structural keywords and phrases, and the purposes they may serve:

Shows a Cause-and-Effect Relationship

because

due to

consequently

as a result

hence

Indicates a Contrast or Disagreement

however

although

yet

conversely

regardless

in spite of

despite

on the other hand

on the contrary

then again

nevertheless

instead

Indicates Similarity or Agreement

similarly

likewise

furthermore

moreover

not only, but also

also

Introduces Examples or Evidence

for example

for instance

in particular

in fact

given that

Introduces a Conclusion

therefore

thus

in summary

in essence

in any event

all in all

all things considered

By noticing structural keywords and understanding their functions, you can more easily navigate a passage and understand its logical progression. Of course, you don’t have to memorize where these keywords are in a passage. Simply notice them as you read and understand what they’re signaling. function they’re performing.

Also, make sure to always consider keywords in the broader context of the passage because some keywords can be used in multiple ways. For instance, “thus” may introduce the author’s conclusion or indicate a cause-and-effect relationship.

Tip #5: Notice Where Key Info is Mentioned

We’ve already discussed why attempting to memorize the details of a passage is a waste of time. That said, noticing where key information is located in the passage is a highly useful skill in GMAT RC. Why? Because RC passages may contain a lot of information and touch on numerous aspects of a subject. So, to answer RC questions in the time allotted, you need to be skilled in finding the right information quickly.

Fortunately, noticing where key discussions take place in a passage does not have to be an exact science. Simply knowing, for instance, that in a passage is about the history of natural disasters on a certain island, the author discusses volcanoes toward the beginning of the passage and earthquakes in the middle paragraphs is enough to get you in the general area of where you need to be when a question asks about those discussions.

So, when you read an RC passage, in addition to gaining a general understanding of the what, why, and how of the author’s writing, keep in mind the where.

Tip #6: Always Refer Back to the Passage

I’ve alluded to this already, and it’s certainly relevant with regard to the previous tip, but unless for some wild reason you clearly and unequivocally remember something you read in the passage, you should refer back to the passage EVERY TIME you answer an RC question. Remember, all of the answers you need are within the passage — why not take full advantage of that incredible resource at your disposal? Yes, you’re under a time constraint, so you don’t have an infinite number of minutes to read and reread and pore over every word and detail to make sure you’re not missing anything. However, if you’ve followed my previous tips, you shouldn’t have to do any of that anyway.

Referring back to the passage allows you to confirm or disprove your suspicion about whether an answer choice is correct, refresh your memory about a specific fact or detail, re-examine a relationship to make sure that your understanding of it is accurate,or look more closely at the author’s conclusion to properly apply it to a different context.

If you already have a general understanding of what the passage is saying, how it’s organized, and the author’s tone, then grabbing the additional information you need to decide between answer choices (that are carefully worded in order to trick you) shouldn’t take much time. As I’ll discuss next, RC questions are designed to fool you into choosing trap answers, so relying on memory alone — or your hastily written notes from your initial reading of the passage — is not a foolproof strategy.

Tip #7: Don’t Match Words to Find Correct Answers

RC questions are a veritable minefield of trap answers. And a major way that GMAT question-writers lay their traps is by using words and phrasing that make correct answers look wrong and wrong answers look right. In fact, incorrect RC answer choices often seem to exactly match what the passage says. Conversely, correct answers will switch up the wording, so that the answer seems less related to what is in the passage.

For example, say a passage discusses “an atomic clock.” A very tempting incorrect answer choice might repeat that exact phrasing, “an atomic clock.” The correct answer, on the other hand, might say something about “an advanced timepiece.”

Nowhere in the passage is the expression “an advanced timepiece” ever used. However, given the context of the passage, the atomic clock could rightly be described as “an advanced timepiece.” The question-writers matched the wording of the passage in their trap answer and changed the wording in the correct answer because they know that doing so will make test-takers second-guess whether to choose the correct answer.

It’s only natural to be thrown by something that “sounds wrong” and tempted by something that “sounds right.” So, you have to be very careful not to eliminate answer choices simply because their wording doesn’t “match” the passage’s and not to select answers simply because the wording does match. You must be sophisticated in your thinking and identify the answer choice that really makes sense given what the passage says.

Tip #8: Read Quality Publications for Practice

In addition to honing your skills with realistic GMAT practice Reading Comprehension questions, a good way to accustom yourself to the style and subject matter of RC passages is to regularly read RC-like writing. High-quality newspapers and magazines such as The Economist, Smithsonian magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Scientific American feature writing on many of the same topics in GMAT RC passages and in a similar sophisticated style. Typically, you can access some articles in those types of publications for free online.

Think of the time you spend reading those articles as “bonus” GMAT study time — you could even make it a daily habit.

And if you want to add another level of practice to your “bonus” RC prep, when you’re reading an, practice doing the following:

• identifying the writer’s main point or primary purpose
• identifying the writer’s opinions and tone
• identifying any opposing viewpoints expressed or conflicting evidence discussed
• noticing whether there are any cause-and-effect claims made
• noticing whether there are any problems introduced and solutions offered

You may end up finding that you come away with a much deeper understanding of what you’ve read than you typically would. Just don’t convince yourself that reading newspapers and magazines can replace practice with realistic GMAT questions.

Now that you have 8 effective strategies for tackling GMAT RC, let’s discuss how to properly pace yourself when working through RC questions in later practice during your GMAT prep and on test day.

GMAT Reading Comprehension Pacing Strategy

As we’ve already discussed, the word count of RC passages can vary pretty widely. Moreover, some passages are denser and more difficult to read than others. So, there is no single, set amount of time that you should spend on each RC passage you see.

That said, there are some general rules of thumb for how long you should spend reading through RC passages. Generally speaking, those benchmarks are as follows:

short passage: about 1 to 1.5 minutes

medium-length passage: about 1.5 to 2 minutes

long passage: about 2 to 2.5 minutes

In general, if your reading time falls within or right around those ranges, you’ll be setting yourself up well to maintain proper pacing.

On the other hand, if you find during later RC practice or on GMAT practice tests that you routinely spend 2 minutes or more reading short passages, or you tend to need closer to 3 minutes on long passages, consider why.

Are you getting bogged down in details instead of reading for overall comprehension? Are you distracted by jargon you don’t recognize? Trying to memorize timelines of events and results of studies? Are you simply bored by what you’re reading, and thus losing focus?

Don’t just say, “I’m taking too long to read,” and then attempt to speed up. Diagnose the exact issues that are interfering with your ability to properly pace yourself, so you can adjust your GMAT RC strategy as necessary.

As for answering RC questions, aim to spend roughly 1 minute on each question. Of course, some questions will prove trickier than others, and thus require a little more time, while you’ll likely be able to answer other questions in, say, 45 seconds. So, just remember that these figures are rough guidelines, not absolutes.

A Note About Note-Taking

People have varying opinions about whether GMAT test-takers should take notes as they’re reading RC passages. The truth is, when it comes to note-taking, what works for one test-taker may not be the right strategy for another. The important thing is to find a method that is comfortable and efficient for you.

Some test-takers find that they perform better on RC questions when they don’t take notes at all, because the notes distract them or prove too time-consuming. Others find that jotting down notes helps them focus and organize their thoughts.

It may take a bit of trial and error for you to figure out your note-taking process for RC questions, but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. For one, using shorthand for RC notes is key. You have a limited number of minutes to answer each question, so you don’t want to regurgitate the entire passage on your notepad.

Furthermore, you simply won’t know which details and discussions are going to be relevant and which aren’t. So, you don’t want to get bogged down writing summaries of all the different points a passage touches on. Remember, all of the answers to RC questions are right there in the passage for you!

TTP PRO TIP:

Remember, all of the answers to GMAT RC questions are right there in the passage for you!

What’s Next?

Looking for more GMAT Verbal strategies? Check out these 8 essential tips for mastering Critical Reasoning.

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