GRE Quantitative Reasoning Mastery Guide (2026)

Section Overview

The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section consists of two sections of approximately 20 questions each, with 21–23 minutes per section. Scores range from 130 to 170 in 1-point increments.

A basic on-screen calculator is available throughout both sections. Unlike the SAT, there is no graphing calculator — just a standard four-function calculator with a square root button. You cannot bring your own calculator.

The 3 Question Types

Quantitative Comparison Deep Dive

QC questions present two quantities and ask you to compare them. The four answer choices are always the same:

When to choose D (Cannot Determine)

Choose D when the answer depends on the value of a variable or unknown that is not fixed — meaning sometimes A > B and sometimes B > A, depending on the value chosen. To confirm D is correct, find two different values of the variable that give different comparison outcomes.

Important: D is never correct when the quantities are purely numerical (no variables). Two numbers always have a definite relationship.

Strategy for QC questions

QC Traps to Avoid

Numeric Entry Strategy

Numeric Entry questions require you to type your answer with no multiple choice guidance. This removes the ability to back-solve from choices and requires precise calculation.

Tips for Numeric Entry

• Read the units carefully: If the answer needs to be in dollars, make sure you have not left your answer in cents. If the answer needs to be in hundreds, divide accordingly.
• Fractions: Some Numeric Entry boxes accept fractions (there are two boxes — numerator and denominator). Enter fractions in lowest terms when possible, but ETS accepts equivalent fractions.
• Decimals: ETS specifies how many decimal places to use (e.g., "round to the nearest tenth"). Follow the instructions exactly.
• Double-check your arithmetic: With no answer choices to verify against, one calculation error costs the full question. Use the on-screen calculator and check your work.
• Estimation first: Before calculating precisely, estimate the expected magnitude of the answer. If your calculation gives you 47,000 but your estimate was around 100, you made an error.

Data Interpretation

Data Interpretation (DI) questions always appear at the end of each Quant section — typically the last 3–4 questions. They are based on a shared data set (one or two graphs or tables) and are usually the most time-consuming questions in the section.

What DI questions look like

You will see 1–2 figures (bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, or tables) with 3–4 questions about the data. Questions ask you to read values, calculate changes, compute percentages, make comparisons, and draw inferences. Some are MCQ; some are Numeric Entry.

DI strategy

• Spend 30 seconds orienting to the figures before reading questions: Check axis labels, units, title, and legend.
• Read each question carefully: DI questions frequently involve multiple calculation steps — percent of a percent, comparison of two ratios, etc. Write out the steps before calculating.
• Watch for implied units: A graph showing revenue in millions means you need to multiply or adjust final answers accordingly.
• Budget 2–3 minutes per DI question: These are intentionally harder and slower. Do not skip them — they are worth full points — but do not let one spiral into 5 minutes.

Common DI calculations

• Percent change: (new – old) / old × 100
• Percent of total: (part / whole) × 100
• Ratio comparison: a/b vs. c/d — cross-multiply or convert to decimals
• Weighted average from a table: sum of (value × frequency) ÷ total frequency

Math Topics Covered

GRE Quant tests math up to and including the level of US high school algebra and geometry — no calculus, no advanced topics. However, some specific topics appear repeatedly and deserve focused attention.

Must-Know Formulas

Arithmetic

• Percent change: (new – old) / old × 100
• Percent of: part = percent × whole
• Weighted average: sum(value × weight) / sum(weights)
• Simple interest: I = Prt; Compound interest: A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)

Combinatorics and Probability

• Combinations (order does not matter): C(n,r) = n! / (r!(n–r)!)
• Permutations (order matters): P(n,r) = n! / (n–r)!
• Probability of A and B (independent): P(A) × P(B)
• Probability of A or B: P(A) + P(B) – P(A and B)
• Complementary probability: P(event) = 1 – P(not event)

Statistics

• Mean = sum ÷ count
• Median = middle value in sorted data
• Standard deviation measures spread — the GRE does not ask you to calculate it from scratch but tests your ability to compare standard deviations

Geometry

• Triangle area: ½bh; Circle area: πr²; Circumference: 2πr
• Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c²
• Coordinate distance: √((x₂–x₁)² + (y₂–y₁)²)
• Volume of cylinder: πr²h; cone: ⅓πr²h; sphere: (4/3)πr³

On-Screen Calculator

The GRE on-screen calculator is basic: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root. There is no graphing, no trig, and no memory function. Use it for:

• Arithmetic with large numbers that would be slow by hand
• Verifying calculations you did mentally
• Computing square roots for Pythagorean theorem problems

Do not over-rely on the calculator. Setting up the equation and understanding the concept is the hard part — the calculator only handles the arithmetic. If you are spending more than 20 seconds entering a calculation, you may be working on a problem that requires a conceptual shortcut, not brute-force arithmetic.

GRE Quant Study Plan