GRE Math Questions: Common Topics, Practice Sets, and Expert Tips

The GRE quantitative reasoning measure assesses your ability to understand and analyze quantitative information. This section tests your knowledge in basic arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. As you prepare for test day, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the types of GRE math questions you’ll face and the best ways to approach them. The GRE quantitative section consists of two parts, each with a set of questions designed to test your skills. To do well, you need to understand each question type, practice regularly, and apply strategies to solve problems efficiently.

Preparing for the GRE math section can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can break down complex concepts and improve your score. Whether you’re new to GRE prep or need to refine your existing skills, this guide will walk you through common math topics, key question types, and strategies for success.

I’ve professionally tutored for the GRE for over 10 years, both as an instructor at UCLA where I led curriculum development, and as the founder of a test tutoring firm. I have helped hundreds of students reach their target schools and know what works (and what doesn’t). None of the math on the quant section is above high school-level. But the test purposefully takes those foundational concepts and contorts them with tricky language, logic gaps, and multi-part questions. Anyone can master the GRE quant, but it takes knowing what you need to know, what to expect, and how to approach studying. If you’re having trouble hitting your target score or just want personalized support on getting there, reach out to me. I’d love to help you succeed.

The One Quant Strategy Guaranteed to Dramatically Raise Your Score

How do you take apart these really confusing quant questions? And how do you do it consistently? And how do you answer them in under 2 minutes?

Glad you asked! There is a system that works astonishingly well. Every time you do a quant question, I want you to follow these 7 steps. I know. But don’t worry – it’s going to make you faster (MUCH faster), I promise. It’s also going to make you MUCH more accurate.

7 Steps for Quant Success

Step 1: Read the question. Just read. Don’t pick up a pencil. Don’t assign variables. Just read.

Step 2: Panic (kidding/not kidding). Sometimes you have no idea what you’re being asked to do. That’s okay. You’re allowed to panic once in the process. So go ahead and get it out of your system.

Step 3: Pick out EXACTLY what you’re being asked for and WRITE IT DOWN. If you can write it down in math, that’s the best (x-y/y = ?). But writing it down in English is fine too (how many black socks?)

Step 4: Make it simple. If it’s the GRE’s job to give you information in the most confusing ways possible (and it is). It’s your job to take all of that confusing information and turn it into easy-to-solve math equations or easily tested concepts.

The way you do that is through frameworks. It’s knowing that when you’ve been given one ratio, you’ve actually been given three ratios. It’s knowing that ‘at least’ in probability questions means: 1 - not happen = happen. It’s knowing that if you’re asked: Iis a/b > 0; you’ve really been asked if a and b have the same sign.

There are two ways to learn frameworks. The first is to study how the questions are put together and practice (A LOT). But, frankly, this is really where a first-rate tutor can really help – he or she (or me) will just show you what the frameworks are and how to use them.

Step 5: Solve for X. After you’ve gone through the trouble of wrestling their confusing question into an equation – just solve it. That’s the easy part.

Step 6: Compare. After you’ve solved for X, compare that with what you were asked for (and what you wrote down) in step 3.

Step 7: Adjust. If what you solved for isn’t, in fact, what they asked you for, adjust your answer so you are, in fact, answering the questions you’ve been asked.

As the questions get harder the game is won and lost in steps 3 and 4. This means, as the questions get harder, you need to spend more time setting up the questions.

I know that feels just awful and non-intuitive. You have that 2 minute clock in your head telling you to dive into the algebra and start solving this immediately! Resist that urge with everything you’ve got. It will lead to ruin on harder questions. Take the time to set the questions up first – then solve. I promise you’ll go faster, you’ll go more accurately, and your score will go up.

Common Topics in the GRE Quantitative Section

Arithmetic and Number Properties

This section tests your ability to understand and manipulate basic numbers and perform fundamental operations. You need to be familiar with various properties of numbers to tackle these quantitative reasoning questions efficiently. Here are the topics:

• Prime Numbers: Prime numbers are numbers greater than 1 that have no divisors other than 1 and themselves. Understanding prime numbers is crucial for solving divisibility questions, simplifying fractions, and solving algebraic expressions. Common prime numbers include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 13.
• Negative Numbers: Negative numbers often appear in both arithmetic and algebra questions. You will need to understand operations involving negative numbers (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and their behavior, especially when working with inequalities or solving equations.
• Absolute Value: The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, without regard to direction. Understanding absolute value is essential for solving equations and inequalities, especially when interpreting problems that involve distance or magnitude, like real-world measurement questions.
• Divisibility: Divisibility questions ask you to determine whether one number can be divided evenly by another. You should know key divisibility rules (e.g., a number is divisible by 2 if its last digit is even, divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3). This topic also includes finding factors and multiples, including the least common multiple (LCM) and greatest common divisor (GCD).

Algebra

Algebra questions assess your ability to manipulate equations and solve for unknowns. You’ll encounter both basic algebra and more complex math problems. Here are the topics:

• Linear Equations: Linear equations involve one variable and can typically be solved using basic operations. You'll need to be comfortable with isolating the variable and simplifying expressions. Example: Solve for x: 2x + 5 = 15.
• Quadratic Equations: These involve equations where the variable is squared (e.g., x² + 5x + 6 = 0). Solving quadratics can be done using factoring, the quadratic formula, or completing the square. Quadratics are a significant portion of the GRE, so practicing multiple methods for solving them is important.
• Algebraic Expressions: This includes simplifying, factoring, expanding, and solving equations that involve one or more variables. You might also encounter questions that involve word problems where algebraic expressions need to be translated from the problem description. Familiarity with techniques like factoring and solving inequalities is essential for success here.

Data Analysis

Data analysis is an important part of the GRE, requiring you to interpret and analyze data presented in various formats. This section tests your ability to handle and analyze quantitative information, including elementary probability. Here are the topics:

• Basic Descriptive Statistics: This includes calculating and interpreting measures such as mean, median, mode, range, and standard deviation. You should be able to quickly interpret and compare different data sets and identify trends or outliers. For example, you may be asked to calculate the average salary of a group of people or analyze a set of test scores.
• Probability Distributions: Questions related to probability often involve determining the likelihood of certain outcomes, especially when dealing with independent and compound events. You may encounter problems requiring you to calculate probabilities based on a given sample space or event scenario. Understanding the concept of independent events and how to calculate combined probabilities is critical.
• Data Interpretation: Data interpretation questions test your ability to analyze and extract relevant information from various visual representations, such as line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, and Venn diagrams. You will be asked to analyze trends, compare data points, or solve for missing information based on the graphical data presented in the question.

Geometry

Geometry questions test your understanding of shapes, their properties, and how to solve related problems. You'll need to apply formulas and concepts, such as square root calculations, to solve problems related to shapes, angles, and geometric figures. Here are the topics:

• Area and Perimeter: These topics cover the calculation of areas and perimeters of common geometric shapes, such as squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles. For example, you should be comfortable calculating the area of a circle (A = πr²) or the perimeter of a rectangle (P = 2l + 2w).
• Coordinate Geometry: This involves solving problems related to points and lines on the coordinate plane. You should be able to calculate distances between two points using the distance formula (d = √[(x₂ - x₁)² + (y₂ - y₁)²]) and understand the slope of a line (m = (y₂ - y₁) / (x₂ - x₁)).
• Angles and Triangles: Geometry problems often involve understanding the relationships between angles in various types of triangles. For example, you should be able to apply the Pythagorean theorem to right triangles (a² + b² = c²) or solve for unknown angles using properties of parallel lines or angle relationships.

Word Problems

Word problems often integrate multiple math topics, requiring careful reading and analysis to extract the necessary information. These problems test your ability to translate real gre scenarios into mathematical equations and solve them. Here are the topics:

• Rates and Work: Problems involving rates, such as speed, distance, and time, or work problems involving multiple workers completing tasks at different rates. For example, if two trains travel toward each other at different speeds, you may need to calculate when they will meet.
• Percentages: Many GRE word problems involve percentages, including calculating discounts, tax rates, and interest rates. You may need to solve problems involving percentage increase or decrease, or determine the percentage of a total given specific conditions.
• Simultaneous Equations: These word problems require solving systems of equations. For instance, you might encounter problems where two or more equations need to be solved together to find the values of multiple variables. These can be solved using substitution or elimination methods.

Advanced Topics

In addition to the core topics above, the GRE also tests more advanced mathematical concepts, such as:

• Simultaneous Equations: Solving systems of equations with two or more variables.
• Probability: Advanced problems involving compound events and probability distributions.
• Quadratic and Rational Functions: These include solving problems involving functions and graphing, requiring a deeper understanding of algebraic expressions

Common GRE Math Question Types

The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section includes various question types that test different aspects of your math knowledge. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the main question types you’ll encounter on the GRE revised general test, with key tips to help you approach each one effectively.

Quantitative Comparison Questions

In Quantitative Comparison questions, you are asked to compare two quantities, Quantity A and Quantity B, and determine the relationship between them. These questions assess your ability to understand how two quantities relate to each other and whether one is greater, smaller, or equal to the other. The potential answers include: A is bigger, B is bigger, A and B are equal, or the answer cannot be determined with the information given.

As a very simple illustrated example, take the following values:

• Column A: The revenue generated by Company X is $15,700.
• Column B: Moira’s share is $7,900.

The answer would be A, because the quantity in Column A ($15,700) is greater than in Column B ($7,900). Unfortunately, the GRE will not make it this easy on you. But at its foundational level, every quantitative comparison comes back to this.

Multiple-Choice Questions (Single Answer)

In these questions, you are given a problem and must solve it, selecting the correct answer from five provided answer choices. These questions test your ability to work through a problem and choose the best solution.

Example: The price of a pair of sneakers increased by 20%. After applying a 10% discount, what is the price?

• A. $70.40
• B. $82.00
• C. $83.33
• D. $86.40
• E. $88.00

The answer is D, $86.40. The initial price is $80. After a 20% increase: $80 + ($80 × 0.20), you get to $96. After a 10% discount: $96 - ($96 × 0.10), you get $86.40.

In this case, understanding the problem structure and the sequence of operations (percent increase, then discount) is key to solving it quickly.

Expert Tip: Carefully read the question. The first thing you should do for every single question is identify what you’ve been asked to solve for. If you understand that, you’ll usually be able to disregard irrelevant information and/or eliminate some answer options.

Numeric Entry Questions

For Numeric Entry questions, you are required to solve a problem and then input the final answer directly into an answer box. Unlike GRE numeric entry questions, which provide no answer choices, there are no answer choices, which means you need to ensure your calculation is precise.

Example: If Dharik’s house has 16 houses to the right and 17 houses to the left, and 5 more houses are built on the left, how many houses are on the street?

The answer is 39 and you would need to write/type this in. Houses to the right = 16; houses to the left = 17 + 5 = 22. So total houses = 16 + 22 = 39. In this example, you’re simply performing a straightforward calculation, but you must ensure you input the correct result in the given answer box.

Expert Tip: Double-check your math before entering the final answer. These questions leave no room for mistakes, as there are no answer choices to choose from. Pay attention to the format of your answer (whether it’s an integer or decimal) and input it correctly.

4. Multiple-Choice Questions (Multiple Answers)

These questions are similar to standard multiple-choice questions, except that you may be required to select more than one correct answer. The prompt will tell you how many correct answers there are in the quant sections, so make sure to read it carefully.

Example:

Which of the following values are within 1.5 standard deviations of the mean?

• 4.4
• 4.6
• 5.1
• 5.2
• 6.9
• 7.6
• 7.7
• 8.2

Answer: Multiple answers may be correct, such as 5.2, 6.9, and 7.6.

This question is a bit more complex because it involves analyzing the spread of data, and you’ll need to apply your knowledge of basic statistics to determine which values fall within the given range.

Expert Tip: Look closely at the question prompt to determine how many answers are correct. Ensure that you understand the problem fully before selecting multiple answers, and only choose the correct answers based on your understanding of the question.

5. Data Interpretation Questions

These questions assess your ability to interpret data presented in various formats such as tables, graphs, and charts. You’ll be required to analyze the data carefully and answer questions based on the trends, values, or relationships displayed.

Example:

If a zoo has 44 leopards and leopards represent 16% of the total animal population, how many animals are at the zoo?

Solution:

• 44 leopards represent 16% of the total population.
• Total population = 44 ÷ 0.16 = 275

Correct Answer: 275 animals

In this case, understanding how percentages work and translating that into a total population is key. Be sure to analyze the data presented (the percentage and the specific animal count) to find the correct solution.

Expert Tip: Take time to thoroughly understand the data presented. Read the question carefully to ensure you know exactly what the data represents before making a judgment. Sometimes, it’s easy to overlook details in the graph or table, so focus on the exact information needed for the question.

Expert Tips for Success in GRE Math

1. Start with Easy Questions

Begin with easy GRE math questions to build confidence and reinforce core concepts. Mastering the basics, along with a thorough math review, first helps prevent simple errors later on. Don’t rush through them; make sure you fully understand why the correct answer works.

2. Level Up Gradually

Once you're comfortable with the basics, move to medium, then hard questions. This helps build problem-solving endurance and exposes you to advanced question formats. Don’t jump to the hardest problems too early; focus on consistency.

3. Practice With a Timer

Time management matters. Set a timer during practice sessions to simulate test conditions and stay on pace. Aim to spend about 1.5 to 2 minutes per question on average.

4. Review Every Mistake

Go over all your incorrect answers and the correct ones you guessed. Find the cause of each error so you don’t repeat it. Keep a mistake log by topic to track patterns and focus future review sessions.

5. Memorize Key Formulas

Know the formulas for area, perimeter, averages, rates, and the quadratic equation. These appear frequently on the GRE. Practice using them in different types of GRE math questions, not just flashcard drills.

6. Use Elimination Tactics

On multiple-choice questions, cross out clearly wrong answers to improve your odds. Even partial logic can lead you to the right choice. If you can rule out two answers, your chances of picking the correct one jump from 20% to 33%.

The Bottom Line

The GRE quantitative section is challenging, but with the right preparation, you can succeed. By practicing GRE math practice questions, understanding the question types, and applying expert strategies, you’ll be well-prepared for test day. Focus on mastering the key topics, review your mistakes, and practice regularly to ensure you're ready to tackle the quantitative reasoning measure and earn a competitive score.

If you want help acing the quantitative portion of the GRE, I’d love to work with you. Whatever your level of experience, we can build a personalized prep plan catered to your strengths and needs so that you can reach your target score. Book a free intro call on my profile and let’s get started!

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FAQs – GRE Math Practice

Is GRE math difficult?

• The GRE math section can feel difficult, especially if you haven’t studied math in a while. It doesn’t include advanced college math, but it does require you to work quickly and understand how to solve problems efficiently. Many questions are designed to test reasoning more than just calculation. With regular GRE math practice and review of core topics, most test takers see improvement.

What type of math questions are on the GRE?

• The GRE quantitative section includes quantitative comparison questions, multiple-choice questions with one or more correct answers, numeric entry questions, and data interpretation sets. These questions focus on topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. Understanding how each question type works is key to improving your speed and accuracy.

What is a 90% GRE score?

• A 90th percentile score in the GRE quantitative section usually corresponds to a scaled score of around 166 out of 170. This means you scored better than 90 percent of test takers. Percentile rankings can vary slightly depending on the year, but scoring in the high 160s is considered very competitive for most graduate programs.

What level of math is on the GRE?

• The GRE tests high school-level math. You can expect questions on basic arithmetic, linear and quadratic equations, absolute value, exponents, geometry concepts like area and perimeter, and data analysis topics such as probability, averages, and standard deviation. You won’t see calculus or trigonometry, but you will need to know how to solve problems efficiently using logic and core formulas.