GRE Text Completion strategies
Text Completion questions give you a sentence or short paragraph with one, two, or three blanks. You must choose the word for each blank that produces a coherent sentence. These strategies cover finding the clue that signals the answer, filling blanks in the right order, the trap of filling the first blank before reading to the end, and a worked example you can follow step by step.
The core principle: find the clue
Every blank in a Text Completion sentence has a clue somewhere in the sentence. The clue is the word or phrase that signals what the blank must mean. It might be a contrast word like 'although' or 'however', a continuation word like 'therefore' or 'indeed', or a direct description of the concept the blank represents. Find the clue before you look at the answer choices, predict the blank's meaning in your own words, then match. The clue is always there. If you cannot find it, read the sentence again before you guess.
Fill blanks in the right order
In two-blank and three-blank questions, the blanks are not independent. The second blank often depends on the meaning established by the first. Read the entire sentence first. Identify which blank has the clearest clue, and fill that one first. Then use the meaning you just established to fill the remaining blanks. Starting with the blank that has the most explicit clue prevents you from committing to a word that makes the rest of the sentence impossible.
The most common trap
Filling the first blank without reading to the end
The sentence starts with a word that signals a direction. You fill the first blank based on the opening clause, but the second half of the sentence reverses the meaning with 'although' or 'despite.' Your first-blank word now contradicts the rest of the sentence. The answer choices are designed so that a plausible first-blank word pairs with the wrong second-blank word. Always read the full sentence before you commit to any blank, especially the first one.
Step-by-step strategy
When to use: every Text Completion question, including one-blank, two-blank, and three-blank formats.
- 1Read the entire sentence. Identify the clue for each blank before looking at the choices.
- 2Start with the blank that has the clearest clue. Predict its meaning in your own words.
- 3Match the prediction to the answer choices. Use the established meaning to fill the remaining blanks.
- 4Read the full completed sentence. Confirm it is coherent and every blank fits the overall meaning.
When not to use: never fill a blank from the answer choices alone. The choices are designed to trap you without the clue.
Worked example
Although the critic's review was _______ in its praise, it also contained a _______ undercurrent of dissatisfaction that tempered the overall enthusiasm. Step 1: Read the full sentence. 'Although' signals a contrast: the review praised, but there was also dissatisfaction. Two blanks, and the first has a clear clue. Step 2: First blank. The review was something in its praise, but 'although' signals the praise was qualified. The first blank means 'extensive' or 'lavish' or 'copious.' Step 3: Second blank. The dissatisfaction 'tempered the overall enthusiasm,' so it was a real, noticeable undercurrent. The second blank means 'subtle' or 'marked' or 'clear.' Step 4: Read the full sentence with both words. It is coherent: despite lavish praise, a subtle undercurrent of dissatisfaction tempered the enthusiasm. Both blanks fit the overall meaning.
Related pages
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