Reading comprehension summary

Last updated: 13 Oct 2008

In this tutorial we have given some general strategies for tackling reading comprehension questions in the GMAT.

1. Read the whole text of the passage once.
2. Make brief notes about the text on your noteboard.
3. Remember that the tone or attitude of the passage is usually respectful and moderate, never going to extremes of praise nor criticism.
4. Look out for structural words that tell you the important ideas or transitions in a passage.
5. Go back to the text of the passage for the answers to specific questions.

We have also covered more specific strategies for the 6 main types of reading comprehension question.

1. Main idea/primary purpose
2. Title
3. Specific detail/target
4. Inference
5. Tone/attitude
6. Structure/organization
   

Next steps

Get practicing

• The Official Guide for GMAT Review (11th Edition) available from Amazon or MBA.com, section 7.4 "Reading comprehension Example Questions" questions 1-141.
• GMAT mini reading comprehension test (10 questions) from Mark Stewart.
• Reading comprehension drill (20 questions) from Master the GMAT.
• GMAT reading comprehension (3 questions) from Kaplan.

Further reading

• How to read GMAT science passages by Jeff Sackmann
• Book reviews for reading comprehension by Jeff Sackmann