{"id":6784,"date":"2016-07-15T10:00:32","date_gmt":"2016-07-15T17:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/?p=6784"},"modified":"2020-01-15T10:47:54","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T18:47:54","slug":"gmat-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/gmat-english\/","title":{"rendered":"GMAT English"},"content":{"rendered":"

The GMAT, of course, is given in English.\u00a0 In fact, the GMAT Verbal section assesses a high level of English usage.\u00a0 This certainly presents a challenge to folks who are learning English as a second language, and it also presents challenges to American students, native speakers, who speak colloquial English and are less familiar with the sophisticated standards of GMAT English.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GMAT Verbal Resources for Non-Native Speakers<\/h2>\n

If English is not your native language, I will assume you now know it well enough to read these blog articles.\u00a0 How do you get from basic English, TOEFL-level English, to GMAT English?<\/p>\n

First of all, if you are still studying for the TOEFL,\u00a0 I highly recommend Magoosh’s TOEFL product<\/a>.\u00a0 If you are interested in both that product and the Magoosh GMAT product<\/a>, send a note to our student help team asking whether they can give you a deal on the combined product.<\/p>\n

Suppose you have done well on the TOEFL and now you want to take the GMAT.\u00a0 Here are some resources:<\/p>\n

1) free GMAT Idiom flashcards<\/a><\/p>\n

2) an Introduction to the GMAT Verbal section<\/a><\/p>\n

3) an overview on GMAT Grammar<\/a>, with links to specific grammar topics<\/p>\n

4) the three biggest areas on GMAT Sentence Correction are grammar, logic<\/a>, and rhetoric<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For students who sign up for Magoosh, we have a large library of Verbal lessons covering every aspect of GMAT Verbal.\u00a0 Here’s a sample lesson:<\/p>\n

Substantive Clauses<\/a><\/p>\n

You will notice that each lesson has a transcript, so you can read what you hear, and you have the option to play each lesson at a slower speed, in order to integrate what is being said.<\/p>\n

Every Magoosh question has its own video explanation.\u00a0 This kind of immediate feedback on verbal questions is exactly what will accelerate the performance of non-native speakers.\u00a0 Here’s a sample SC question:<\/p>\n

What the eye sees<\/a><\/p>\n

Here’s a sample CR question:<\/p>\n

Violent felonies in Dismaston<\/a><\/p>\n

Finally, the most effective advice is, as usual, something that requires a lot of effort.\u00a0 What will most help non-native speakers achieve a high level of proficiency with GMAT Verbal is developing a habit of reading<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

GMAT English vs. colloquial English<\/h2>\n

Some folks taking the GMAT have grown up as native English speakers and are very comfortable with colloquial English, but GMAT uses English at a level of sophistication well above the colloquial level.<\/p>\n

In fact, the GMAT specifically targets students who are comfortable with colloquial patterns, many of which are not rigorously correct.\u00a0 Among the areas tested are:<\/p>\n

1) less vs. fewer, number vs. amount<\/a><\/p>\n

2) lie vs. lay<\/a><\/p>\n

3) due to<\/a> vs. because of<\/a><\/p>\n

4) economic vs. economical<\/a><\/p>\n

5) listing examples: like vs. such as<\/a><\/p>\n

For folks who grew up in America speaking English, the potential traps are many, precisely because everyday American life is replete with grammar mistakes.\u00a0 For example, at almost every grocery store in America, you are likely to see the flawed sign “12 items or less<\/em>.”\u00a0 If you see nothing wrong with such a sign, the GMAT SC has a trap waiting for you!<\/p>\n

While the Magoosh lesson videos on basic grammar might be too easy for you, our lessons that cover such Diction<\/a> mistakes will benefit you tremendously.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Summary<\/h2>\n

Whether you have learned English as a second language or are looking to improve your colloquial-level English, Magoosh can help you.\u00a0 In addition to lessons, each Magoosh question has its own video explanation, and this immediate feedback accelerates learning.\u00a0\u00a0 Here’s another free practice question:<\/p>\n

The income categories<\/a><\/p>\n

In this modern business world, your written word will often precede you, and on any singular person, you can only make a first impression once—hence the value of communicating in well-spoken English. We’re here to help you master GMAT English and carry those skills to test day and beyond!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The GMAT, of course, is given in English.\u00a0 In fact, the GMAT Verbal section assesses a high level of English usage.\u00a0 This certainly presents a challenge to folks who are learning English as a second language, and it also presents challenges to American students, native speakers, who speak colloquial English and are less familiar with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[13209],"class_list":["post-6784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-verbal"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGMAT English - Magoosh Blog \u2014 GMAT\u00ae Exam<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"GMAT English vs. colloquial English can prove troublesome for both native and non-native speakers. 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He was also featured as \"member of the month\" for over two years at <a href=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/mike-mcgarrys-gmat-experience\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GMAT Club<\/a>. Mike holds an A.B. in Physics (graduating <em>magna cum laude<\/em>) and an M.T.S. in Religions of the World, both from Harvard. Beyond standardized testing, Mike has over 20 years of both private and public high school teaching experience specializing in math and physics. In his free time, Mike likes smashing foosballs into orbit, and despite having no obvious cranial deficiency, he insists on rooting for the NY Mets. Learn more about the GMAT through Mike's <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MagooshGMATChannel\/featured\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Youtube <\/a>video explanations and resources like <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/whats-a-good-gmat-score\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What is a Good GMAT Score?<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/gmat-diagnostic-test\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GMAT Diagnostic Test<\/a>."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6784\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6784"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=6784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}