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GRE Sentence Completion Questions — Format, Directions, and Sample

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The Sentence Completion format is one of four basic ones used for GRE Verbal questions. This page lists key features of GRE Sentence Completion questions. It also provides the test directions for this question format, a sample question (along with a tip for answering it), and a detailed analysis of the sample.

GRE Sentence Completion — Format, Skills Tested, and Test Directions

Here are the key "specs" for GRE Sentence Completion questions:

HOW MANY: 6 questions
WHERE: In the 30-minute Verbal section, mixed with Analogies, Antonyms and Reading Comprehension sets
FORMAT: Multiple-choice (you select one of 5 choices by clicking on an oval)
SKILLS TESTED: your ability to understand the intended meaning of sentences, to recognize sentences that lack sense as a whole, and to distinguish proper from impoper word usage and written expression.
DIRECTIONS: The following directions will appear on your screen just before your first Sentence Completion question (and you can access them while tackling any Sentence Completion question by clicking on the HELP button).

Directions: This sentence contains either one or two blanks. A blank indicates that a word or brief phrase has been omitted. Select among the five choices the word or phrase for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
To review these directions for subsequent questions of this type, click on HELP.

Sample GRE Sentence Completion Question

The following question is typical of GRE Sentence Completion questions. This question is somewhat easier than average; about 80% of GRE test testers would select the best answer choice. (You can select an answer choice by clicking on it.)

Scientists generally assume that animals confronted by a complex choice of actions do not calculate the consequences of each choice, and that their behavior is largely a matter of ------- responses to environmental stimuli or cues.

internal
choice among
preprogrammed
conscious
unpredictable

Quick Tip for Sample Question

Look for clues in the first part of the sentence as to the intended meaning of the second part.

Analysis of Sample Question

The first clause provides that animals "do not calculate the consequences" of alternative actions. Ideally, the second clause should characterize their behavior as a result of something contrary to a conscious calculation. The third answer choice provides just this sort of characterization; a "preprogrammed" response is instinctive and merely reactive rather than calculated. Thus the third answer choice is the best one.

Here's an analysis of the other answer choices:

The first answer choice is the second-best one.

The second and fourth answer choices both suggest calculation — just the opposite of the sort of sentence completion that would make sense.

The fifth answer choice is not a good completion because an unpredictable response might nevertheless be calculated.

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