GRE Discrete Questions

The GRE is a standardized test that assesses a test-taker’s readiness to complete graduate level work by evaluating their verbal and quantitative reasoning abilities. The GRE is comprised of five sections: one Analytical Writing section, two Verbal Reasoning Sections, and two Quantitative Reasoning sections. The GRE is owned and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is accepted at thousands of graduate, law, and business programs in the United States and around the world.

Quantitative Reasoning questions assess basic mathematical skills, a person’s understanding of elementary mathematical concepts, the ability to reason quantitatively, and the ability to model and solve problems using quantitative methods. These test sections cover four content areas: 1) Arithmetic; 2) Algebra; 3) Geometry; and 4) Data Analysis topics (e.g., statistics and probability). There are no trigonometry, calculus, or higher-level mathematics questions, and all topics covered are taught in high school mathematics classes or introductory statistics courses. GRE test-takers are provided with an on-screen caluculator when completing Quantitative Reasoning sections.

There are several different types of questions test-takers will encounter on the Quantitative Reasoning sections, and since time is of the essence, it is important to quickly recognize the type of question you are being asked in order to apply the best problem-solving strategy to arrive at the correct answer. Question types include:

Discrete questions
Data Interpretation Set questions
Multiple-choice questions (select one answer)
Multiple-choice questions (selct one of more answer)
Numeric Entry questions

Discrete questions are individual questions in the Quantitative Reasoning sections that are not part of a larger set of questions tied to a specific passage or data set. They are individual, stand-alone questions that may be multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank format. They are intended to assess a wide range of concepts and mathematical principles.

The discrete questions you encounter on the GRE will focus on content areas including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability. You may be asked:

To calculate the area of a triangle, given its base and height;
To find the median in a group of numbers;
To solve a word problem using percentages;
To perform operations using exponents;
To factor or simplify an algebraic expression;
To solve a linear equation;
To utilize estimation in solving a problem.

Some discrete questions may be presented in “real-life” scenarios while others may be posed in strictly mathematical settings. And still other problems will be word problems which must be translated and modeled in mathematical terms.

On the ETS website, test-takers can find extensive information on exactly what content they can expect to see covered on the Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE, as well as techniques for solving various sample problems. To be as prepared as possible for the discrete questions on this challenging exam, students would do well to have a strong foundation in the following content areas:

Quantitative Reasoning Content Area	Specific Knowledge Assesssed
Arithmetic	Integers, arithmetic opertions, exponents, roots, estimation, percent, ratio, rate, absolute value, the number line, decimal representation, sequences of numbers
Algebra	Operations with exponents, factoring, simplifying algebraic expressions, relations, functions, equations, inequalities, linear equations, quadratic equations, simultaneous equations, setting up equations to solve word problems, coordinate geometry (graphs of functions, equations and inequalities, intercepts and slopes of lines)
Geometry	Parallel lines, perpendicular lines, circles, triangles (isosceles, equilateral, 30-degrees, 60-degrees, and 90-degrees), quadrilaterals, various polygons, congruent figures, 3-dimensional figures, area, perimeter, volume, the Pythagorean theorem, angle measurement in degrees
Data Analysis	Basic descriptive statistics (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, interquartile range, quartiles, percentiles), interpretation of data in tables or graphs (line graph, bar graph, circle graph, boxplot, scatterplot, frequency distribution), elementary probability, conditional probability, random variables and probability distribution, counting methods (combinations, permutations, Venn diagrams)

The best way to become familiar with discrete questions on the Quantitative Reasoning sections is to take multiple practice GRE tests so you can become quick at spotting them. Once you recognize the type of question you are being asked, you can apply the most effective strategy to accurately and efficiently reach the correct answer.