Is GMAT Verbal Arbitrary and Subjective?

Official GMAT verbal questions feel subjective, but they aren’t. The test-writers apply the internal logic of each passage with almost mechanical consistency, and one answer always stands clearly above the rest, IF you read with precision and stay inside the question. Wildly swinging verbal scores usually mean that your approach is inconsistent, and it’s not a sign that the exam is arbitrary.

We received an interesting GMAT-related email from a random test-taker, whose verbal scores fluctuated so wildly that he was convinced that the questions he encountered were “arbitrary” and “subjective”. He concluded by wondering what “magic” would allow him to understand how to succeed on GMAT verbal questions.

His frustration is understandable and, unfortunately, there are no quick or easy answers.

As a starting point, I’ll be painfully honest: you could argue that the skills tested on the GMAT certainly are arbitrary. It’s completely fair to wonder whether the GMAT measures skills that are truly meaningful, and we’re convinced that the GMAT doesn’t say much about your overall intelligence or your ability to succeed at running an actual business. 

But if you’re reading this, odds are good that you’ve already accepted reality: if you want to pursue an MBA, a great GMAT verbal score would certainly help your odds of admission.

So we’ll focus on the more practical side of the reader’s questions: are GMAT verbal questions “subjective”? What are GMAT verbal questions trying to test, and how can you actually improve on them?

Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension Feel Subjective, But They Aren’t

If you stare at enough official GMAT Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension questions, you’ll eventually notice that they’re extremely consistent, in a way. Yes, they can be difficult, but the test-writers are trying to test your ability to understand the nuance of language, your ability to notice fine details, and your ability to stick to the internal logic of a passage.

If you read and apply logic with precision, the correct answers to CR and RC questions aren’t “fuzzy” or subjective at all; one answer choice will always stand very clearly above the others.

If you think that answers to official CR and RC questions are arbitrary, it might be because you’re allowing yourself to “think outside the question.” Here’s an example of how outside knowledge can get you into trouble on GMAT Critical Reasoning questions. Once you spend enough time with official GMAT material, you’ll start to see how the test can be remarkably rigid and consistent in its application of logical principles on both CR and RC. If you grasp the GMAT’s internal logic and understand how to read the passages with precision, the correct answers are inarguable.

The Painful Reality of Improving Your GMAT Verbal Score

Here comes the rough part.

Unpleasant truth, part 1: depending on your exact weaknesses, it can take time to improve your score dramatically, particularly in Reading Comprehension. If your errors are primarily rooted in a less-than-ideal approach to questions, it might be possible to improve quickly, as long as you’re good at changing your test-taking habits. If, on the other hand, your fundamental reading skills are weak, you’ll need to be buckled in for a heroic effort to improve your reading skills.

Unpleasant truth, part 2: unless you’re using official GMAT practice questions, “knockoff“ verbal questions actually ARE painfully subjective and arbitrary, at least some of the time. We generally discourage our students from touching any verbal practice questions other than those found in the GMAT Official Verbal material, and official LSAT® books.
So if you’ve taken tests from any non-official sources, you can expect your GMAT verbal scores to be inconsistent. It’s far more difficult to write “real” GMAT verbal questions than you might imagine, and most test-prep companies would never dream of spending the money it takes to produce, test, and polish a truly test-like collection of GMAT verbal questions.
The bottom line: if you focus exclusively on official CR and RC questions for a month or two, the GMAT will start to look far less arbitrary and subjective.

So, How Much Can You Improve at GMAT Verbal?

Again, we don’t always love what the GMAT tests, or the fact that a low GMAT score can potentially be a serious barrier to your educational and career goals. But the GMAT is a remarkably consistent exam, and if you dedicate yourself to understanding how, exactly, to approach questions, the test’s creators give you a fair chance to improve your results if you’re willing to put in the time and effort.

One last thought: if you score a 75 on verbal on one day and an 85 on another, that’s a certain sign that your talent levels are fine, but that you lack a consistent, systematic approach to questions. With enough discipline and practice, you can learn to iron out those inconsistencies, and reliably achieve a great score on the GMAT verbal section.