GRE Verbal Timing: How to Read Faster and Stop Running Out of Time

The shorter GRE compresses Verbal into two fast sections: Section 1 has 12 questions in 18 minutes, and Section 2 has 15 questions in 23 minutes. You can skip, return, and change answers within each section, but there are no scheduled breaks. Verbal remains section-level adaptive, so the difficulty of your second Verbal section depends on how you perform in the first. That combination of tight clocks and adaptation means pacing isn’t optional — it’s a skill you build and execute.

Reading speed alone isn’t the problem. On GRE Verbal, time drains come from indecision about which questions to do first, rereading passages without a purpose, over-solving tough Text Completions, and getting stuck on multi-answer Reading Comprehension. You don’t need to read like a speed demon; you need a plan that protects accuracy while turning minutes into points.

Memorize these averages: Section 1 is roughly 90 seconds per question; Section 2 is roughly 92 seconds per question. Because Reading Comprehension requires upfront reading, you’ll reclaim time on discrete items (Sentence Equivalence and short Text Completion) and spend more on passage sets. Good pacing means redistributing seconds intentionally, not spending the same amount everywhere.

Use time gates rather than raw speed. Section 1 (18 minutes/12 questions): aim for 4 questions every 6 minutes. Section 2 (23 minutes/15 questions): aim for 5 questions every 7–8 minutes. If you’re off by more than one question at a gate, make your next two items fast ones or take an intentional guess on a time sink and move.

When a Reading Comprehension screen opens, glance at passage length and the number of linked questions. Short, single-paragraph passages with one question are quick wins; do them now. Medium passages with 2–3 questions are solid value; do them in your first pass if the topic feels approachable. A long, multi-paragraph passage with 3–5 questions is worthwhile but costly; if you’re a slow reader, mark it and return after banking points elsewhere.

After an efficient read, answer low-hanging fruit first. Details with explicit line references, definition-in-context, and straightforward function-of-a-paragraph items are fastest. Global questions (primary purpose, main idea, author’s perspective) should be answered right after your initial read while the structure is fresh. Save multi-select inference items for last if they require re-scanning multiple parts of the passage.

Sentence Equivalence: 45–60 seconds. Text Completion, 1 blank: 60–75 seconds; 2–3 blanks: 90–120 seconds. Short RC (1–2 questions): 60–90 seconds to read, then 45–60 seconds per question. Long RC sets: 2–3 minutes to read, then ~45–75 seconds per question. If you exceed a micro-budget without clear progress, guess strategically, mark, and move.

Use a structure-first read on passages. In paragraph 1, identify topic and scope (what slice of the topic?) and the author’s task (describe, argue, evaluate). In later paragraphs, track how each part advances or challenges what came before. Circle mentally the signposts — contrast (however, although), cause/effect (therefore, because), and emphasis (indeed, crucially). Aim to leave the passage with a 1–2 sentence paraphrase of the whole and a skeleton of where key ideas live. This reduces back-and-forth scanning and speeds every question type.

For detail and inference questions, answer with evidence, not memory. Locate the line anchor, read a small window around it, and test each option against the text. If an answer would be true in the real world but isn’t proven by the passage, it’s wrong. This proof-first habit increases accuracy and curbs time-wasting second reads.

Lock in meaning before looking at choices. Recast the sentence with simple placeholders (“because X, therefore Y”) to predict a word or a polarity (positive/negative). In Text Completion, fill the easiest blank first and re-check coherence. In Sentence Equivalence, ensure your two picks produce similar meanings, not just synonyms in isolation. If choices feel close, eliminate extremes and out-of-scope tones first; then commit and move.

Pass 1 (bank points): clear all SE, easy 1-blank TC, short RC, and any medium RC that feels approachable. Use mark-and-review on anything that crosses your time cap. Pass 2 (harvest remaining value): tackle a long RC set or the toughest TC/SE you marked. Last 60–90 seconds: ensure every question has an answer selected; there’s no benefit to leaving anything blank.

Section 1 example: spend your first 12 minutes banking 8 questions (mix of SE/TC and short RC), leaving 6 minutes for 4 tougher items or a marked medium passage. Section 2 example: aim for 10–11 questions in the first 15 minutes and finish with 8 minutes for the remaining 4–5 items, including one long passage if needed. Adjust based on your strengths — if RC is stronger, swap in one long passage earlier; if TC/SE are stronger, save the long passage for the end.

If you’ve read 8–10 lines of a passage and still can’t articulate the author’s purpose, mark it and return. If a TC/SE hasn’t narrowed after 60–75 seconds, eliminate two obviously wrong choices, make your best selection, mark, and move. If a multi-select RC answer requires you to justify more than two statements from widely separated parts of the passage, mark it for Pass 2.

Signpost sprints: take short passages and underline contrast, cause/effect, and concession words, then summarize the passage in 12 words or fewer. Windowed proof drills: for detail questions, practice answering using only a 5–7 line window around the reference. Polarity drills for TC/SE: strip choices, decide positive/negative/neutral first, then restore choices and select. 18- and 23-minute section reps: practice mixed Verbal sets under exact section clocks to train checkpoints and bail-outs.

Days 1–3: fundamentals. Learn signposts, practice one-paragraph RC and SE at target times. Days 4–6: add 2–3 blank Text Completion and medium RC; apply micro-budgets. Day 7: Section 1 simulation (12 questions/18 minutes). Days 8–10: long RC sets and multi-select inference; rehearse passage triage. Day 11: Section 2 simulation (15 questions/23 minutes). Day 12: full Verbal (Sections 1 + 2 back-to-back) with checkpoints. Day 13: targeted review — rework only the questions that broke time caps. Day 14: mixed set focusing on bail-out triggers and last-minute answer checks.

Start with Exambank’s diagnostic to pinpoint whether time loss comes from RC rereads, TC/SE indecision, or both. In the Learn step, take the concise lessons on passage structure and TC/SE logic. In Solve Together, walk through guided RC explanations to see proof-first reasoning in action. Then, in Test Yourself, have your AI tutor serve timed Verbal sets that mirror the 18- and 23-minute sections. Ask it for short “signpost sprints,” TC polarity drills, or mixed mini-sets that target your weak spots. As you practice, Exambank’s analytics show accuracy by question type and topic and track your score trajectory so you can see whether your pacing changes are actually raising your Verbal score. Use the large banks, mocks, and flashcards for daily consistency and keep your streak alive so timing habits stick.

Know the clocks: 18 minutes then 23 minutes. Use the Mark and Review features. Stick to checkpoints. Read for structure, not detail; then prove every answer. Apply bail-out triggers without guilt. Never leave an item blank. If you’re testing at a center and must take an unscheduled break, remember the timer keeps running; plan accordingly.

You don’t need to read twice as fast to finish GRE Verbal on time — you need a system that channels your attention to the highest-yield questions first and prevents over-investing in the rest. Build that system in practice, and the minutes will stop slipping away.