GRE · Verbal: Text Completion · China

Verbal: Text Completion for the GRE Exam — Chinese candidates

10% of the GRE test plan. Text Completion items present passages with one to three blanks and require selecting the best word or phrase for each blank using context clues and vocabulary precision. Calibrated for Chinese candidates.

Behind every published pass rate is a distribution of which topics caused most of the failures. This is one of those topics. Verbal: Text Completion sits at roughly 10% of the Graduate Record Examinations content distribution — Text Completion questions make up roughly one-third of the Verbal Reasoning section. They test your ability to infer meaning from context, recognize logical and rhetorical relationships within a sentence or short paragraph, and choose vocabulary with precision. Unlike vocabulary tests that reward raw memorization, GRE Text Completion rewards the ability to reason toward a word — reading the logic cues (contrast words like "despite," "however," "although"; support words like "because," "since," "and") to predict what kind of word fits before you read the choices. Pass rates for the GRE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Chinese candidates preparing for GRE, the calibration of study to local context matters: Gaokao is China's domestic entrance exam. IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT dominate study-abroad tracks. HSK is the proficiency standard for non-native Mandarin speakers.

Pass rates for GRE (China) are published periodically by the awarding body.

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

!Jumping to answer choices before predicting what kind of word belongs in the blank — this leads to being seduced by plausible-sounding distractors
!Ignoring transition and logic words that signal contrast or continuation — these are the primary structural clues
!Choosing a word because it sounds sophisticated, rather than because it precisely fits the sentence logic
!On three-blank questions, not confirming that all three selected words work together cohesively
!Underinvesting in vocabulary study — GRE uses rare but precise academic words that reward systematic study

Study tips

1Before looking at answer choices, cover them and predict the meaning (or category) of word that belongs in the blank. This prediction step is the single highest-ROI technique for Text Completion.
2Study vocabulary through word families and roots rather than flashcard-only memorisation. GRE word lists (Magoosh, Manhattan Prep) organized by root reduce the volume of new words to learn.
3For multi-blank questions, fill in the easiest blank first to constrain the logic of the remaining blanks.
4Keep a running vocabulary log: every new word you encounter in practice, write it with a sentence example. Reviewing this log daily is more effective than mass flashcard drilling.
5Pay close attention to intensifiers and hedges ("barely," "somewhat," "entirely") — they change whether you need a strong or mild version of your predicted word.
6中国考生备考 GRE 时，建议优先攻克英语听力与写作两个最易失分的板块 — 每日固定时段做真题模拟。

Sample GRE Verbal: Text Completion questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real GRE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1
Despite the senator's reputation for _______ rhetoric, her latest speech was notably measured and restrained, surprising those who expected inflammatory remarks.
- Atemperate
- BincendiaryCorrect
- Cprolix
- Danodyne
- Eequivocal
Why this answer?
"Despite" signals a contrast: the speech was "measured and restrained," so the senator's reputation must be for the opposite — heated, aggressive speech. "Incendiary" (inflaming passions, deliberately provocative) fits precisely. "Temperate" and "anodyne" (inoffensive) would remove the contrast. "Prolix" (wordy) and "equivocal" (ambiguous) are off-topic. (Illustrative — ETS does not publish operational items.)
2
The researcher's conclusions, though initially regarded as (i) _______, have since been (ii) _______ by subsequent experimental replications, lending them a credibility they once lacked.
- A(i) prescient / (ii) undermined
- B(i) speculative / (ii) corroboratedCorrect
- C(i) definitive / (ii) qualified
- D(i) speculative / (ii) repudiated
- E(i) prescient / (ii) corroborated
Why this answer?
The structure is: initially [negative/uncertain] → later [positive confirmation] → gained credibility. Blank (i) should mean uncertain/unproven: "speculative" fits. Blank (ii) should mean confirmed/supported: "corroborated" fits. Pairing "speculative" with "corroborated" creates the logical arc of the sentence. "Repudiated" (rejected) in option D contradicts "credibility they once lacked." (Illustrative.)

Frequently asked questions

How many Text Completion questions are on the GRE?

Each Verbal Reasoning section contains approximately 6 Text Completion questions (mix of one-, two-, and three-blank). With two scored Verbal sections (20 questions each), you can expect roughly 12 Text Completion items total.

Is GRE vocabulary different from SAT vocabulary?

GRE vocabulary tends toward sophisticated academic and literary words (e.g., tendentious, pellucid, recondite, laconic) that are rarer than SAT words. GRE rewards knowing precise nuance and connotation, not just general meaning. Systematic study of 500–1,000 high-frequency GRE words is recommended.

What is the GRE pass rate for Chinese candidates?

Pass rates for GRE candidates in China are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.

How long should Chinese candidates study Verbal: Text Completion for the GRE?

For most candidates, focused mastery of Verbal: Text Completion requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. Gaokao is China's domestic entrance exam. IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, and GMAT dominate study-abroad tracks. HSK is the proficiency standard for non-native Mandarin speakers. Combine Verbal: Text Completion study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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Related study guides

Regulatory citation: ETS GRE General Test Preparation — Verbal Reasoning question types and conventions.