GRE Quantitative Reasoning Section

Section Overview

Quantitative Reasoning has 27 questions across two timed sections. An on-screen calculator (basic operations and square root) is available for all questions. The calculator handles addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square roots — nothing fancier. If you find yourself wishing for trig functions or logarithms, you're overcomplicating the problem.

This measure adapts between sections: your first-section performance determines whether the second section is harder or easier. Your combined results produce a score on the 130–170 scale in 1-point increments.

Important Assumptions

These rules appear in the section directions and apply to every question. They exist because the GRE is testing reasoning — not your ability to be tricked by a misleadingly drawn figure:

The Five Question Types

Within each section, questions follow a predictable order: Quantitative Comparison questions appear first, followed by Problem Solving questions (both multiple-choice types and numeric entry), with Data Interpretation sets near the end.

Quantitative Comparison

What It Is

This question type is unique to the GRE — you won't find it on other standardized tests. You're shown two quantities (Quantity A and Quantity B), sometimes with additional conditions or context displayed above them. Your job is to determine the relationship between them. The four answer choices never change:

What It Tests

These questions measure your ability to compare mathematical quantities using reasoning, estimation, and strategic computation. They reward efficiency: the GRE wants to see if you can determine a relationship without grinding through full calculations. They also test whether you understand when information is sufficient versus when it's genuinely ambiguous.

Key Strategies

1. Plug in strategically — don't guess randomly

When quantities contain variables, testing values is often the fastest approach — but testing the wrong values wastes time. Use a systematic list of value types: positive integers, zero, negative numbers, fractions between 0 and 1, and large numbers. If any two test cases produce different relationships (e.g., one makes A larger and another makes B larger), the answer is immediately D.

2. Simplify the comparison directly

You can add, subtract, multiply, or divide both quantities by the same positive number without changing the comparison. This lets you strip away complexity. For example, comparing 3x² + 6x with 3x² + 9: subtract 3x² from both and you're just comparing 6x with 9. But be careful — never multiply or divide by a variable unless you know its sign, because multiplying by a negative number reverses the inequality.

3. Cancel common factors

When both quantities share terms, cross them out. Comparing 31 × 32 × 33 × 34 × 35 with 32 × 33 × 34 × 35 × 36? Cancel the four shared terms and you're left with 31 vs. 36. Done in seconds, no calculator needed.

4. Know when D is (and isn't) the answer

If both quantities can be computed to specific, fixed values, D is never correct — just compute and compare. D only applies when variables or unspecified conditions make the relationship genuinely ambiguous. A common mistake is choosing D out of uncertainty; another is choosing C after testing only one set of values. Always test at least two different cases before concluding C.

5. Redraw geometric figures

Since geometric figures aren't drawn to scale, a figure that looks like a specific shape may not be. If the figure isn't fully determined by the given information, try mentally redrawing it in different valid configurations. If the relationship changes, the answer is D.

Try It: Quantitative Comparison

Multiple-Choice — Select One

What It Is

Standard five-choice questions (labeled A through E) with circular answer bubbles. You pick exactly one answer. These cover the full range of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis — essentially any math problem the GRE can throw at you in multiple-choice format.

What It Tests

Mathematical problem-solving across all four content areas. Many questions are word problems that require translating a scenario into equations. They also test computational accuracy — but the GRE often designs them so that working backward from the choices or using estimation is faster than solving from scratch.

Key Strategies

1. Use the fact that the answer is right there

Unlike Numeric Entry, you know the answer is one of five choices. If your computed answer isn't among them, that's a signal to recheck your work, reread the question, or reconsider your approach. This is a safety net — use it.

2. Work backward from the choices

For many problems, especially those asking "what value of x satisfies...," it's faster to substitute each choice into the equation and see which one works. Start with choice C (the middle value if they're in order) — this tells you whether to try larger or smaller values next, cutting your work in half.

3. Scan the choices to calibrate your precision

If the five choices are $10, $20, $30, $40, $50, you only need a rough estimate. If they're $29.10, $29.50, $30.00, $30.50, $31.20, you need to be precise. The spread of the choices tells you how carefully you need to compute.

4. Approximate when choices are far apart

The GRE often tests whether you can estimate efficiently. A car gets 33 mpg and gas costs $2.95/gallon — approximately how much for 350 miles? You don't need exact math: 350 ÷ 33 ≈ 10 gallons, and 10 × $3 ≈ $30. If $31.06 and $30.00 are both choices, then you'd need more precision — but often they aren't.

Try It: Select One

Multiple-Choice — Select One or More

What It Is

These questions show square checkboxes (not circles) — your visual cue that multiple answers may be correct. You must select all correct answers and only those. The number of choices varies (often more than five), and the question may or may not tell you how many to pick. If it says "indicate all that apply," you're on your own to figure out the count.

The Scoring Catch

There is absolutely no partial credit. If three answers are correct and you select two of them, you get zero. If you get all three right but accidentally include a wrong fourth choice, you also get zero. This is the most punishing scoring rule on the Quantitative section, so thoroughness is essential.

What It Tests

The same math skills as Select One questions, but with the additional demand of systematically evaluating every option. These questions test whether you can determine boundary conditions (least and greatest possible values), recognize numerical patterns, and think about a problem from multiple angles rather than stopping after finding one answer.

Key Strategies

1. Evaluate every single choice

Don't stop after finding one answer that works. The GRE designs these questions so that students who check only a few options will miss correct answers or include wrong ones. Treat each choice as an independent true/false question.

2. Find boundary values first

If the question asks which values a variable could take, determine the minimum and maximum first. Any choice outside that range is immediately eliminated. Any choice inside the range needs individual verification.

3. Look for repeating patterns

Questions about units digits, remainders, or cyclical behavior reward pattern recognition. For example, "which could be the units digit of 57ⁿ?" The units digits of powers of 7 cycle: 7, 9, 3, 1, 7, 9, 3, 1... So the answers are 1, 3, 7, and 9 — and you can determine this without computing a single large power.

Try It: Select One or More

Numeric Entry

What It Is

The most demanding format: no answer choices at all. You compute your answer and type it into a box. For integers and decimals, there's a single answer box. For fractions, there are two boxes — one for the numerator and one for the denominator. Equivalent forms are always accepted: 2.5 and 2.50 are both correct, and fractions don't need to be reduced to lowest terms (so 4/6 is as good as 2/3).

What It Tests

Full computational accuracy without any choices to sanity-check against. These questions demand careful attention to what form the answer should take, what units apply, and whether rounding is specified. They also test your ability to self-verify — since you can't work backward from choices, estimation becomes your only independent check.

Key Strategies

1. Read labels and units obsessively

If the question asks for an answer "in thousands," then 50,000 should be entered as 50. If it asks for a percent, enter the number (33, not 0.33). If it asks for dollars, don't include a dollar sign. Labels before or after the answer box indicate the required format — read them.

2. Round only at the very end

If the question says "to the nearest whole percent," carry full precision through every intermediate step and round only your final answer. Rounding early can compound small errors into a wrong answer. For example, a profit of $5 on a cost of $15: (5/15) × 100 = 33.333...%, which rounds to 33%.

3. Estimate independently as a check

Without answer choices, you have no external reality check. After computing your answer, do a quick mental estimate to see if your result is in the right ballpark. If you calculated that 6 machines working together take 45 minutes to produce something, but a quick estimate suggests it should be around 6 minutes, you know something went wrong.

4. Watch the Transfer Display button

The on-screen calculator has a Transfer Display feature that copies the calculator result to the answer box. If you use it, double-check that the transferred number has the right precision and matches what the question asked for. An extra decimal or a rounding difference can cost you the point.

5. For fractions, don't overthink reduction

If the answer is 5/14, you can enter 5/14, 10/28, or any equivalent fraction. Spend your time getting the math right, not reducing.

Try It: Numeric Entry

Data Interpretation

What It Is

Data Interpretation questions share a common data display — a table, graph, chart, or combination — with 2–5 questions attached. The questions themselves can be any of the four types above (Quantitative Comparison, Select One, Select One or More, or Numeric Entry). You'll typically see about 6 DI questions total across the two Quantitative sections, grouped into sets near the end of each section.

Data displays include tables, bar graphs, line graphs, circle (pie) charts, boxplots, scatterplots, time series, and frequency distributions. The GRE may combine multiple display types — for example, a table alongside a bar chart, each showing different aspects of the same data.

What It Tests

Your ability to extract the right numbers from complex visual displays, perform calculations on those numbers, and avoid misreading scales, units, or labels. These questions mimic real graduate-school scenarios: analyzing business data, interpreting research results, or evaluating statistical information presented in reports.

Key Strategies

1. Scan first, then focus

When the data display appears, take 15–20 seconds to understand the big picture: what variables are shown, what the units are, what time range is covered. Don't try to memorize values — let each question direct your attention to the specific numbers you need.

2. Read axes, scales, and labels carefully

This is where most DI errors happen. Check whether the y-axis says "millions" or "billions." Look for labels like "in thousands" — a bar that reads 50 might represent 50,000. Check if a scale starts at zero or is broken. Check the legend if there are multiple data series.

3. Use visual estimation — the data is drawn to scale

Unlike geometric figures, data displays on the GRE are accurately drawn. You can compare bar heights by eye, estimate line graph values from the grid, and gauge pie chart proportions visually. When a question asks for an approximate answer, estimation can save significant time.

4. Watch for percent change traps

This is the single most common DI trap. A 10% increase followed by a 10% decrease does not return to the original value. If sales were $800,000, a 10% increase gives $880,000, then a 10% decrease gives $792,000 — not $800,000. The base changes between the two calculations.

5. Use only the data given

Answer based on the presented data and basic math, not outside knowledge. Even if you know additional facts about the topic shown, restrict yourself to the information provided. The GRE is testing data interpretation skills, not domain expertise.

6. Write down your intermediate values

DI questions often require reading multiple values from the display and combining them in a multi-step calculation. Write down each extracted number before computing — this prevents the common error of misremembering a value you read 30 seconds ago.

Try It: Data Interpretation

Four Content Areas

Every question draws from one of four math domains. Each section includes questions from all four. Here's what's covered:

14 Problem-Solving Strategies

These strategies form a complete toolkit for approaching any Quantitative question. The more fluently you can shift between them, the more efficiently you'll solve problems under time pressure:

Strategies for Success

The 3-Step Framework

For every question: (1) Understand — read carefully, identify what's being asked, note constraints. (2) Execute — pick a strategy and work through it. (3) Verify — check that your answer makes sense and that you answered what was asked (not a related but different quantity).

Time Management

At ~1.75 minutes per question, don't spend more than 3 minutes on any one problem. Flag it and move on — you can return to flagged questions before submitting the section. Easy and hard questions are worth the same, so getting to every question matters more than perfecting any single one.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Answering the wrong thing: The question asks for 2x, you solve for x. Or it asks for perimeter, you compute area. Always reread the final sentence before submitting.

Trusting geometric diagrams: A triangle that looks equilateral might not be. Work from given measurements, never from visual appearance.

Ignoring edge cases: For Quantitative Comparison, always test 0, negatives, and fractions. These are where the answer switches to D.

Percent change on the wrong base: A 30% increase then 30% decrease leaves you below where you started. The decrease applies to the larger post-increase value.

Reversing A and B in QC: After determining which quantity is greater, make sure you select the right letter. Under time pressure, students sometimes click A when they mean B.

Calculator Usage

The on-screen calculator handles basic operations and square roots. Use it for tedious arithmetic (long division, multi-digit multiplication), but don't reach for it on every question — mental math and estimation are often faster. Many Quantitative Comparison questions are specifically designed to be solved through reasoning, not computation. The calculator can actually slow you down if you type in every sub-step instead of thinking through the problem.

Quick Reference