They are equal — the average of 10, 20 and 30 is 20. In quantitative comparison, always check whether the quantities can differ before choosing.
GRE Quantitative Reasoning — Topics & Strategy
GRE Quantitative Reasoning has two sections with 27 questions in total (about 47 minutes). It covers school-level maths — arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data interpretation — but tests reasoning and accuracy under time pressure rather than advanced maths.
An on-screen calculator is provided, and the section is section-adaptive like Verbal.
Topics and question types
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Numbers, ratios, percentages, powers and roots. |
| Algebra | Equations, inequalities, functions and word problems. |
| Geometry | Lines, angles, triangles, circles, area and volume. |
| Data interpretation | Reading tables, graphs and charts to answer questions. |
The question formats
- Quantitative comparison — decide which of two quantities is greater (or if it cannot be determined).
- Multiple choice — one answer, or sometimes one-or-more answers.
- Numeric entry — type the answer rather than choose it.
- Data interpretation sets — several questions based on the same table or graph.
Strategy that works
- Relearn the fundamentals first; most mistakes come from careless slips, not hard maths.
- For quantitative comparison, test whether a value can vary before choosing — the answer is often "equal" or "cannot be determined".
- Use the on-screen calculator only when it saves time; simple steps are faster by hand.
- On data-interpretation sets, read the axes and units carefully before answering.
- Bank the easy questions, mark the hard ones, and return with your remaining time.
Refresh GRE Quant concepts visually
GRE Quant assumes school-level algebra, geometry and data analysis that many test takers last saw years ago. Rebuild the intuition quickly with these interactive simulations, each with worked examples and common traps.
- Linear equations: graphs, slope and simultaneous pairs
- Quadratic functions and their graphs
- Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences
- Mean, Median and Mode
- Probability: experimental vs theoretical probability
- Sets and Venn Diagrams
- Circle theorems
- Volume and Surface Area of Solids: Cube, Cuboid, Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
- Coordinate Geometry: Distance, Midpoint, Slope, Section Formula and Locus
- Similar Triangles: Scale Factor, AA, SSS, SAS and Shadow Heights
- Function Transformations: Shifts, Stretches and Reflections
- All science and math animations
Sample question (original, in the GRE format)
An original example in the official style — not a real test item.
x = 9. Numeric-entry questions have no options to guess from, so solve carefully and enter the exact value.
Frequently asked questions
It is school-level maths (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data interpretation) — the challenge is reasoning quickly and accurately under time pressure, not advanced topics.
Yes — an on-screen calculator is provided. Use it when it genuinely saves time; simple arithmetic is often faster by hand.
A question type where you compare two quantities and decide which is greater, whether they are equal, or whether it cannot be determined from the information given.
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