GRE Quantitative Reasoning

Exam Format

Study Strategies

• 1Rebuild arithmetic and algebra first: integer properties, fractions, percents, ratios, exponents, equations and inequalities sit inside nearly every question, the geometry and data ones included.
• 2Master Quantitative Comparison: simplify both quantities the same way, never multiply by something that might be negative, and test 0, 1, a negative number and a fraction. If two values give different results, the answer is that the relationship cannot be determined.
• 3Read the answer format before you solve: a square box means select one or more answers with no partial credit, and numeric entry wants the exact answer, or a fraction in two boxes, unless the question asks you to round.
• 4Keep the calculator for long decimal arithmetic in data interpretation sets. Mental math and estimation are faster for most questions, and the calculator cannot help with algebra.
• 5Train at the real pace of about 1 minute 45 seconds per question, use Mark and Review to skip and return within a section, and answer every question, since a blank earns nothing.

How Math Zen Helps

Math Zen's GRE Quantitative path has 47 subtopics across arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis, including a Quantitative Comparison generator in the GRE's four-answer form, rate, work and mixture word problems, special right triangles, arcs and sectors in degrees, data displays, counting and probability, most of them with typed numeric answers. It does not have the select-one-or-more-answers format, and its problems are mostly one or two steps, so pair it with ETS's official practice tests for timing and for multi-step questions.