What does GRE Quantitative Reasoning test?
According to ETS, the section tests three skills: basic math skills, understanding elementary mathematical concepts, and reasoning about quantities—modeling and solving problems with quantitative methods.
Four areas: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis at a high school level, generally no more advanced than a second-year algebra course. No trigonometry or calculus, no proofs to construct, and no inferential statistics. Many questions are word problems that you must translate into mathematical terms before solving. Quantitative Reasoning and the calculator (opens in a new tab)
The first section is medium difficulty; the second section’s difficulty depends on your performance on the first. Your score reflects correct answers across both sections and their difficulty. Test structure (opens in a new tab)
In the score
Scored from 130 to 170 in one-point increments, separately from Verbal Reasoning. If you do not answer any questions in the section, an NS (No Score) is reported for it. Receive and send your scores (opens in a new tab)
The score calculation, in the GRE guideWhat are the four question types?
Four question types, as described by ETS.
This page’s example
Quantitative Comparison
Compare two quantities, A and B: which is greater, are they equal, or cannot the relationship be determined? The four answer choices are always the same.
Type 2
Multiple-choice — Select One Answer Choice
Five choices, select one answer.
Type 3
Multiple-choice — Select One or More Answer Choices
A list of choices: select every choice that fits, and only those. The question sometimes says how many, sometimes not; there may be just one.
Type 4
Numeric Entry
No choices: enter your answer using the keyboard, as an integer or decimal in one box, or a fraction in two boxes, numerator and denominator.
Each question stands alone or appears in a Data Interpretation set: multiple questions based on the same table or chart, in multiple-choice or numeric-entry format. Quantitative Reasoning and the calculator (opens in a new tab)
Within a section, you can skip and mark a question, return to it, and change your answer using the Mark and Review features. Test structure (opens in a new tab)
The calculator
An on-screen basic calculator is provided. ETS recommends saving it for lengthy calculations—long division, square roots, or multi-digit numbers—and notes that most questions do not require difficult calculations. Quantitative Reasoning and the calculator (opens in a new tab)
A worked Quantitative Comparison example
An Upsilar-written Quantitative Comparison in ETS format, with the same four answer choices used for every question. Choose one, then check your work: the explanation follows the strategy below.
The prompt
x and y are positive integers, and x + y = 9.
Quantity A: xy
Quantity B: 20
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: D — the relationship cannot be determined.
The method in action
- Understand the question before calculating. We do not need to find the value of xy, only compare it with 20. The prompt leaves few possibilities: x and y are positive integers that sum to 9, so there are only four pairs, ignoring order—1 and 8, 2 and 7, 3 and 6, or 4 and 5.
- Choose the shortest path. No calculator needed: test the cases, including the boundary case. 1 × 8 = 8, less than 20; 4 × 5 = 20, equal to 20. Two cases allowed by the prompt produce two different relationships.
- Check the answer before selecting it. No pair is greater than 20, ruling out A. But both B and C remain possible, and only D describes this situation. Answer: D.
The pitfall
B, “Quantity B is greater”: testing 1 and 8, 2 and 7, then 3 and 6 always gives less than 20, so you stop too soon. The pair 4 and 5 gives exactly 20. A comes from 4.5 × 4.5 = 20.25, which ignores that x and y are integers.
Key takeaways
Two allowed cases give different relationships, so the answer is D. But you need to test the boundary case, not just the first numbers that come to mind.
What strategy should you use for Quantitative Reasoning?
Upsilar’s strategy adapts the three steps ETS describes for solving a math problem, along with its advice for comparisons.
Understand the question before calculating.
What is given, what is being asked, and in what form: ETS says this is the first step. In Quantitative Comparison, find a relationship, not a value; in Numeric Entry, units and rounding matter.
Choose the shortest path.
Simplify, estimate, and test varied values allowed by the prompt—zero, negatives, fractions, large and small numbers—when permitted, as ETS recommends for comparisons. Use the calculator for lengthy calculations, not mental math.
Check the answer before selecting it.
Does your answer address the question? Is it reasonable? In Quantitative Comparison, do not reverse A and B, and choose D only if two allowed cases produce different relationships.
The pitfall to avoid
Relying on the calculator. ETS notes that most questions do not require difficult calculations: use it for long division and square roots, not for reasoning. A displayed result without a prior estimate can also hide a typo.
What topic should you revisit after a mini-diagnostic?
These four Upsilar practice questions identify starting points; they do not measure or predict your GRE score. Answer before reading the explanations, then classify each error: forgotten concept, incorrect setup, calculation, or prompt. A correct answer without justification also needs review.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: A.
The method in action
- List without double-counting. The positive divisors are 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, and 28: six in all. They can be grouped into three pairs whose product is 28.
- Check that the list is complete. 28 = 2² × 7: the exponent of 2 can be 0, 1, or 2, and the exponent of 7 can be 0 or 1. That gives 3 × 2 = 6 possibilities.
The pitfall
C may result from omitting 1 and 28; B from omitting one divisor. D and E overcount: either a listed value does not divide 28 or a divisor is counted more than once.
Key takeaways
An organized list or prime factorization helps you avoid missing the endpoints.
An error here points to divisibility and factorization; recognizing prime numbers alone does not cover all integer properties. GRE arithmetic: integers, factors, powers, and roots
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: C.
The method in action
- Solve the equation. 3x = 18, so x = 6.
- Answer the final question. We need 2x − 1, so 12 − 1 = 11, not x itself.
The pitfall
B gives only the intermediate value of x. D and E change the final operation; A may come from subtracting too early.
Key takeaways
Rereading the requested expression protects you from a mistake after a correct start.
If x was correct but the answer was wrong, focus on the final check. If the equation was the obstacle, revisit algebraic transformations. GRE algebra: equations, inequalities, and functions
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: B.
The method in action
- Distinguish perimeter from length. 2(L + 6) = 30, so L + 6 = 15 and L = 9.
- Calculate the area. 9 × 6 = 54 square units. The value 30 measured a perimeter, not an area.
The pitfall
D multiplies 15 by 6 and confuses the semiperimeter with the length. E comes from (30 − 6) × 6. A assumes the shape is a square, which the prompt does not say.
Key takeaways
A quantity and its units determine which formula to use.
A formula error calls for geometry review; adding information not in the prompt calls for closer reading. GRE geometry: distinguish given information from a figure’s appearance
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: E.
The method in action
- Find the total weights. The first four weigh 4 × 12 = 48 kg; the other six weigh 6 × 17 = 102 kg.
- Divide by the total count. A total of 150 kg across ten packages gives an average of 15 kg.
The pitfall
14.5 is the simple average of 12 and 17. It gives both groups equal weight despite their different sizes. The other values do not follow from the given weights and group sizes.
Key takeaways
A combined average must be weighted by group size.
If you chose 14.5, practice the relationship between an average and a sum before doing more calculations. The numbers in this practice set identify a skill; they never convert correct answers into a score. GRE statistics and probability: interpret before calculating
How much time do you have per Quantitative Reasoning question?
Average per question
1 min 44 sec
47 minutes ÷ 27 questions, according to ETS figures
By section: 21 minutes for 12 questions, or 1 minute 45 seconds each, then 26 minutes for 15 questions, or 1 minute 44 seconds each. That is slightly more than Verbal Reasoning’s 1 minute 31 seconds, and for good reason: word problems must be translated into equations before solving. ETS also notes that questions within a section are weighted equally, so there is no need to dwell on a difficult one. Test-taking tips (opens in a new tab)
Errors
There is no penalty for a wrong answer. Your raw score depends on the number of correct answers; the final score also reflects section difficulty. ETS therefore recommends answering every question. Test-taking tips (opens in a new tab)
The score calculation, in the GRE guideCan you avoid these two traps about averages and comparisons?
Two Upsilar practice questions in ETS format: a Problem Solving question about an average, then a Quantitative Comparison. These are not official questions.
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: D — the sixth number is 18.
The method in action
- Move from averages to sums. Five numbers with an average of 12 have a sum of 5 × 12 = 60. Six numbers with an average of 13 have a sum of 6 × 13 = 78.
- Find the difference. The sixth number is the added value: 78 − 60 = 18.
- Check your answer. (60 + 18) / 6 = 78 / 6 = 13: the new average is indeed 13.
The pitfall
B, 13, is the new average, not the added number. To raise the average by one point across six numbers, the new value must be six points above the old average: 12 + 6 = 18.
Key takeaways
Work with sums when solving average problems: average × count, then compare the sums.
The prompt
0 < x < 1
Quantity A: x²
Quantity B: √x
Choose an answer.
The solution, step by step
Correct answer: B — the square root is greater than the square.
The method in action
- Read the condition. The value of x is between 0 and 1, exclusive: this condition determines the comparison.
- Try a simple value. With x = 0.25: the square is 0.0625, and the square root is 0.5. B is greater.
- Check that it is always true. Between 0 and 1, squaring makes a number smaller and taking its square root makes it larger: x² < x < √x, regardless of the value. The relationship is fixed: B.
The pitfall
A, “Quantity A is greater”: the instinct that a square is larger than the number. That is true above 1, not between 0 and 1, where squaring makes it smaller.
Key takeaways
In Quantitative Comparison, test values allowed by the condition, especially those between 0 and 1: squaring makes the value smaller, while taking its square root makes it larger.
Quantitative Reasoning FAQs
Can you use a calculator?
Yes. An on-screen basic calculator is provided. ETS recommends saving it for lengthy calculations—long division, square roots, or multi-digit numbers—and estimating the result first to catch typos.
What level of math do you need?
High school level, according to ETS: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, generally no more advanced than a second-year algebra course. No trigonometry, calculus, proofs to construct, or inferential statistics.
Are figures drawn to scale?
Not necessarily. ETS warns that geometric figures may not be drawn to scale and advises reasoning instead of estimating lengths and angles by sight. Coordinate systems, number lines, and data graphs are drawn to scale.
How do you answer when there are no choices?
For Numeric Entry, type your answer: an integer or decimal in one box, or a fraction in two boxes for the numerator and denominator. Round only if the question asks you to, and to the requested precision; otherwise, enter the exact answer.