GRE Quantitative Reasoning Data Interpretation Sets

There are two Quantitative Reasoning sections on the GRE, and according to Educational Testing Service (ETS), the owner and administrator of the test, these sections assess:

Basic mathematical skills
Understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
The ability to reason quantitatively
The ability to model and solve problems using quantitative methods

There are a total of 27 Quantitative Reasoning questions on the GRE. Some of these questions will be presented in “real-life” settings while others will be presented in purely mathematical scenarios. And some questions will be “word problems” that test-takers must translate and model mathematically. Questions cover four content areas: 1) Arithmetic; 2) Algebra; 3) Geometry; and 4) Data Analysis (e.g., statistics and probabilities). There are several types of questions you can expect to encounter on the Quantitative Reasoning sections:

Discrete questions
Data Interpretation Set questions
Quantitative Comparison questions
Multiple-choice questions (one correct answer)
Multiple-choice questions (one or more correct answers)
Numeric Entry questions

Below we will examine Data Interpretation Set questions in greater detail so that you will be able to instantly recognize them on the GRE. Once you know the type of question you are being asked, you can apply the most effective strategy to accurately and efficiently arrive at the correct answer.

GRE Data Interpretation Sets

In the Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE, some questions are grouped together and refer to a common table, graph, or other data presentation, with questions involving interpretation or analysis of the provided data. These are known as Data Interpretation Sets. These questions may be Numeric Entry, Multiple Choice (one answer), or Multiple Choice (one or more answers). All of the questions in a Data Interpretation Set are based on the same data.

Data Interpretation Sets mimic a format that will likely be common in graduate or business school, requiring students to analyze and utilize presented information to answer questions. One example of problems like this would be a business reviewing its performance data to evaluate the percentage change from one time period to another in order to revise its strategy and reallocate its resources. While the GRE does not include trigonometry, calculus, or advanced-level mathematics, students preparing to solve Data Interpretation Sets will learn and practice skills that will benefit them throughout their careers, regardless of if you plan to attend a graduate, law, or business program.

Problem Solving

When solving a Data Interpretation Set, your first priority should be to review the entire presentation and get a sense of what the data relates to. There is no need to dig into the details at first; you merely want to know whether, for example, this is a retailor reviewing its sales information or a graph describing larger economic trends. You should focus on the organizational features of the data presentation itself. Look for any information that clarifies the data, such as units of measurement or magnitude, graph axes and scales, or any explanatory notes. Any graphical information presented on the GRE will be drawn to scale.

Once you have a basic understanding of the presented data, then it is time to begin solving the problems. Each question in a Data Interpretation Set must be answered using only common facts, mathematical knowledge, and the data that has been presented. Even if you know more about a given topic or have personal experience with it, you should restrict yourself to the data that is presented in order to select the correct answer.

Question Types

Data Interpretation Sets will pose problems that are either Multiple- Choice, Numeric Entry, or Quantitative Comparison. Quantitative Comparison questions require students to assess which of two quantities is larger, whether they are equal, or whether their relationship cannot be determined from the available information. Multiple-choice questions require students to select one or more answers from a list of multiple choices, and Numeric Entry questions require students to write the correct answer in a text box.

GRE vs. GMAT

Generally, the GMAT is considered to have more difficult Quantitative Reasoning sections than the GRE, while the GRE is considered more challenging in its verbal sections. The GMAT is intended to assess a test-taker’s ability to perform complex analysis in a business context, whereas the GRE is a more general assessment designed to reflect accomplishment over a wide variety of undergraduate coursework. Performing well on the GMAT requires a specific skillset; performing well on the GRE requires a broad skillset combined with specific understanding of how to approach the test.

The Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE are organized very differently from comparable sections of the GMAT. On the GRE, Data Interpretation Sets require students to use the same data to solve multiple problems. On the GMAT, all questions are individually timed and do not relate to each other. This distinction also affects the composition of the exam itself.

Both the GMAT and the GRE use computer adaptation to customize each test according to the individual student’s performance. The GRE performs this adaptation between test sections—after you complete your first Quantitative Reasoning section, the computer testing program will use your score on the first section to determine the difficulty level of the problems on the second section, assembling a unique problem set from a large pool of possible test questions. The GMAT, on the other hand, adapts after every single question, becoming progressively more difficult if you get answers correct and progressively easier if you answer questions incorrectly.

Some students purposefully perform poorly on the first Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE in order to receive easier questions in the second question, but this is a mistake. With computer adaptive scoring, the difficulty of the questions being asked is factored into your final score, meaning that you may earn a higher score from answering more challenging questions. There is no penalty for a wrong answer on the GRE, so it behooves students to take their best guess. Test prep experts recommend that students perform to the best of their abilities on every section of the GRE, especially the first Quantitative Reasoning section.

The best way to become comfortable solving Data Interpretation Set questions is to take several practice GRE exams as part of your overall test preparation. Given the short amount of time you have on each Quantitative Reasoning section, it is necessary to have strong time management skills, and one of the best ways to manage your time is to be able to quickly identify the type of question you are being asked. Once you know what you are being asked to do, you can utilize the most efficient strategy to answer the specific question, allowing you to work with accuracy and confidence on the day of your exam.