The GRE quant section measures a student's ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts and is a critical component of the exam.
To do well on the GRE quant section, students need to have a good understanding of the syllabus and the topics covered in the exam.
In this guide, we will provide an overview of the syllabus, topics covered, and the skills required to perform well on this section of the exam.
Table of Contents
- Overview of GRE quant section
- Types of questions
- GRE quant syllabus
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
Overview of GRE quant section
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section is one of the three sections of the GRE. It measures your ability to understand and interpret quantitative information, solve mathematical problems, and apply mathematical concepts to real-world situations.
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section consists of 40 questions, which must be completed in 70 minutes. The section is scored on a scale of 130 to 170 in one-point increments. It is computer-adaptive, which means that the difficulty of the questions is determined based on your performance on previous questions.
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Types of questions
The GRE quant section consists of two types of questions:
- Quantitative comparison
- Problem-solving
The quantitative comparison questions require you to compare two quantities and determine whether one is greater than the other, whether they are equal, or whether the relationship cannot be determined. These questions are designed to test your ability to reason mathematically and think logically.
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The problem-solving questions require you to solve mathematical problems using arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. These questions are designed to test your ability to apply mathematical concepts to real-world situations and to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve problems.
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GRE quant syllabus
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section syllabus covers a wide range of topics in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis, number properties, and word problems.
Arithmetic
Arithmetic is a major topic covered in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section, and it includes a wide range of concepts related to numerical operations and mathematical reasoning. Here are some of the key Arithmetic topics covered in the GRE:
Fractions
Fractions include topics like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. You should be familiar with converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions, reducing fractions to their simplest form, and finding the common denominator.
Decimals
Decimals include topics like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing decimals. You should be familiar with rounding decimals to a specified number of places, converting decimals to fractions, and performing calculations with decimals.
Percentages
Percentages include topics like finding percentages, calculating percent change, and solving problems involving percentage increase or decrease. You should be familiar with converting percentages to decimals and fractions and finding the percentage of a number.
Integers
Integers include topics like adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing integers. You should be familiar with the properties of integers, such as even and odd numbers, prime and composite numbers, and divisibility rules.
Exponents and Roots
Exponents and roots include topics like simplifying expressions with exponents, calculating values with negative exponents, and finding roots of numbers. You should be familiar with the laws of exponents and the properties of square roots.
Estimation and Rounding
Estimation and Rounding include topics like estimating calculations and rounding numbers to a specified number of digits. You should be familiar with using estimation to check the reasonableness of an answer, and with rounding up or down based on the specified number of digits.
Divisibility, Factors, and Multiples
Divisibility, Factors, and Multiples include topics like finding factors and multiples of numbers and determining whether a number is divisible by another number. You should be familiar with finding the prime factorization of a number and using this to find the greatest common factor and least common multiple.
Algebra
Algebra involves the use of symbols and letters to represent numbers and quantities. Here are some of the key Algebra topics covered in the GRE:
Algebraic Expressions
Algebraic Expressions include topics like combining like terms, simplifying expressions, and evaluating expressions. You should be familiar with the rules of algebra, including the order of operations, and should be able to apply these rules to simplify algebraic expressions.
Equations and Inequalities
Equations and Inequalities include topics like solving linear and quadratic equations and solving inequalities.
Functions
Functions include topics like finding the domain and range of a function, evaluating functions, and graphing functions.
Quadratic Equations
Quadratic Equations include topics like factoring quadratic equations, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula to solve quadratic equations.
Sequences
Sequences include topics like finding the nth term of a sequence and finding the sum of a sequence.
Linear Equations and Graphs
Linear Equations and Graphs include topics like finding the slope and intercept of a line, graphing linear equations, and solving problems involving linear equations.
Absolute Value
Absolute Value includes topics like solving equations and inequalities involving absolute value, and graphing absolute value functions.
Polynomials
Polynomials include topics like factoring polynomials, simplifying polynomial expressions, and using polynomial identities to solve problems.
Word Problems
Word Problems include topics like solving real-world problems involving algebraic concepts, such as rates, ratios, proportions, and work problems.
Geometry
Geometry topics that are typically covered in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section include:
Lines and angles
Lines and angles cover the properties of lines, angles, and their relationships.
Circles
Circles include measuring angles in circles, identifying the properties of chords, arcs, and tangents, and using circle theorems to solve problems.
Triangles
Triangles cover the properties of triangles, including the angle sum property, Pythagoras theorem, and the properties of isosceles and equilateral triangles.
Quadrilaterals
Quadrilaterals cover the properties of quadrilaterals, including parallelograms, rectangles, squares, and rhombuses, and use the properties of diagonals, angles, and sides to solve problems.
Polygons
Polygon covers the properties of polygons, including regular and irregular polygons, and their angles, sides, and diagonals.
Coordinate geometry
Coordinate geometry includes identifying the properties of lines, circles, and other geometric shapes in the coordinate plane, and using the distance and midpoint formulas to solve problems.
Three-dimensional geometry
Three-dimensional geometry covers the properties of 3D shapes, including spheres, cylinders, cones, and prisms, and their surface area, volume, and cross-sections.
Data analysis
Data analysis topics that are typically covered in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section include:
Descriptive statistics
Descriptive statistics covers the measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode), measures of dispersion (range, standard deviation), and graphical representations of data (histograms, box plots, scatter plots).
Probability
Probability covers the basic concepts of probability, including sample spaces, events, probability distributions, and the rules of probability (addition rule, multiplication rule, conditional probability).
Counting methods
Counting methods cover the counting principles, including permutations, combinations, and multiplication principles, which are used to determine the number of ways a set of objects can be arranged or selected.
Data interpretation
You will be required to interpret data presented in tables, graphs, and charts and use this information to answer questions. This may include identifying trends, making inferences, and drawing conclusions.
Hypothesis testing
Hypothesis testing covers the basic concepts of hypothesis testing, including null and alternative hypotheses, type I and type II errors, and significance levels.
Number properties
Number properties topics that are typically covered in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section include:
Integers
This topic covers the properties of integers, including even and odd integers, prime and composite numbers, divisibility rules, and the properties of factors and multiples.
Fractions and decimals
You will be required to work with fractions and decimals, including converting between fractions and decimals, adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions, and using decimals in calculations.
Exponents and roots
This topic covers the rules of exponents, including the product rule, quotient rule, power rule, and negative exponents, and the properties of roots, including square roots and cube roots.
Rational and irrational numbers
You will be required to identify rational and irrational numbers, use estimation techniques to approximate the values of irrational numbers, and compare the magnitudes of numbers.
Absolute values
This topic covers the properties of absolute values, including the definition of absolute value, the distance formula, and the inequalities involving absolute values.
Sequences and series
You will be required to work with arithmetic and geometric sequences and series, including finding the sum of the terms, the nth term, and the common difference or ratio.
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Word problems
Word problems topics that are typically covered in the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section include:
Percentages
You will be required to solve problems involving percentage increases or decreases, percentiles, and percent of a whole.
Rates and ratios
This topic covers the relationship between two quantities, including problems involving rates, ratios, and proportions.
Time and distance
You will be required to solve problems involving time, speed, and distance, including problems involving relative speed, average speed, and time elapsed.
Work and rate
This topic covers the relationship between time, work, and rate, including problems involving work done by multiple workers and problems involving work done at different rates.
Investments and profits
You will be required to solve problems involving investments and profits, including problems involving simple and compound interest, investments at different rates, and profit and loss calculations.
Mixture problems
This topic covers problems involving mixing two or more substances, including problems involving percentages of different substances and problems involving the removal of a substance from a mixture.
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Conclusion
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section covers a wide range of topics that test your ability to analyze and solve complex mathematical problems. The syllabus includes algebra, arithmetic, geometry, probability and statistics, number theory, and rates and ratios. It is important to have a solid understanding of these concepts, as well as strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, in order to succeed on the exam.
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Frequently asked questions
What does the GRE quant section measure?
The GRE quant section measures your ability to understand and interpret quantitative information, solve mathematical problems, and apply mathematical concepts to real-world situations.
What are the different types of questions in the GRE quant section?
The GRE quant section consists of two types of questions: Quantitative Comparison, and Problem-Solving. The Quantitative Comparison questions test your ability to reason mathematically and think logically. Problem-Solving questions test your ability to apply mathematical concepts to real-world situations and to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to solve problems.
What topics does the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section syllabus covers?
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section syllabus covers a wide range of topics in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, data analysis, number properties, and word problems.
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