English Language and Verbal Reasoning
What this domain tests
The English Language and Verbal Reasoning paper checks whether you can read precisely, choose words by function rather than sound, and separate what a passage states from what it merely suggests. Expect vocabulary in context, synonyms and antonyms, sentence completion, grammar and usage, analogies, sentence ordering, and comprehension.
Core rules
- For analogies, state the relationship in a full sentence before looking at the options.
- In grammar, find the subject before checking the verb; ignore parenthetical phrases.
- In comprehension, read the question stem first, then locate the exact lines. Valid answers are supported by the text, not by general knowledge.
- For sentence completion, use contrast or cause signals such as 'although', 'because' and 'therefore' to predict the missing word's charge.
Worked example
Passage: 'The bridge was closed after engineers found hairline cracks in two support beams. Traffic was diverted for three days while repairs were completed.' Question: Which statement is best supported? A The bridge collapsed. B The cracks were found during a routine inspection. C Repairs took three days. D All bridges were closed. Answer C. The passage says traffic was diverted 'for three days while repairs were completed'; A and D are extreme and unsupported, and B adds a detail not given.
Traps
Extreme words such as 'all', 'never' and 'proves'; choosing a true statement that does not answer the question; confusing correlation with cause; and letting outside knowledge override the passage. In grammar, watch subject-verb agreement across inserted phrases and dangling modifiers.
Method
Predict the answer before reading options, then eliminate on the exact word that makes an option wrong.