GRE Numeric Entry Questions

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

  • Basic mathematical abilities
  • An understanding of elementary mathematical concepts
  • The ability to reason quantitatively
  • The ability to model and solve problems utilizing quantitative methods

There are 12 questions in the first Quantitative Reasoning section and 15 questions in the second Quantitative Reasoning section. This makes for a total of 27 Quantitative Reasoning questions. Test-takers have 21 minutes to complete the first Quantitative Reasoning section and 26 minutes to complete the second section, which works out to less than two minutes per problem. Given these time constraints, it is imperative that test-takers be able to work both quickly and accurately.

Questions in the Quantitative Reasoning sections will be presented in one of three ways:

  • In “real-life” situations
  • In purely mathematical scenarios
  • As “word problems” that test-takers must model and solve through mathematical approaches

Quantitative Reasoning questions test a student’s knowledge across four specific content areas: 1) Arithmetic; 2) Algebra; 3) Geometry; and 4) Data Analysis. The level of mathematical knowledge needed to do well on the Quantitative Reasoning sections of the GRE is generally taught in high school algebra courses or introductory statistics classes. The ability to construct proofs is not tested, nor is trigonometry, inferential statistics, calculus, or advanced-level math. An on-screen calculator is provided for use during Quantitative Reasoning sections.

Each Quantitative Reasoning section consists of several types of questions. While the question types may be referred to by slightly different names among different test prep companies or professionals, what a question is called does not matter. What matters is your ability to recognize the type of question you are being asked and apply an effective problem-solving strategy to quickly arrive at the correct answer. Below are the types of questions found within the GRE Quantitative Reasoning sections:

1) Discrete questions

2) Data Interpretation Set questions

3) Quantitative Comparison questions

4) Multiple-Choice questions (one correct answer)

5) Multiple-Choice questions (one or more correct answers)

6) Numeric Entry questions

We will examine Numeric Entry questions in detail, as well as demonstrate problem-solving techniques in order to solve these questions in a fast and efficient manner.

GRE Quantitative Reasoning Numeric Entry

Numeric Entry questions ask students to enter their answer in one of two ways:

  • as an integer or decimal in a single answer box
  • as a fraction in two separate boxes, one for the numerator and one for the denominator.

Unlike other questions on the GRE, Numeric Entry questions do not provide multiple answer options to choose from, which means you cannot try different answer options to see which one works through trial and error. You must pay close attention to the question being asked and conduct the proper calculations in order to provide the right type of answer.

Sometimes there will be labels around the answer box to indicate what type of answer is appropriate, making it clear what units or order of magnitude should be used. Pay special attention to whether the answer is a percent or a decimal. If you are asked to round your answer, ensure that you round it to the required degree of accuracy. Follow the rounding instructions provided and round your answer at the end of your computation; if no instructions are provided, then enter the exact answer.

After you have entered your answer, it might be tempting to move on to the next problem, but it is a mistake not to check your work to establish whether or not the strategy you used resulted in a reasonable solution to the given problem. Ask yourself if the answer you arrived at makes sense or is even plausible. If possible, use estimates or an alternate solution path as a way to check your work.

When working with fractions, pay close attention to which number in your answer is the numerator and which is the denominator, as it is easy to mistakenly enter one in place of the other. While test-takers should strive to work quickly on the GRE, it is also important to provide correct answers, as there is no partial credit for a fraction that has a correct numerator but incorrect denominator or vice versa.

When solving Numeric Entry problems, ETS recommends that test-takers utilize the following approach:

  1. Understand the problem: this can be done by reading the problem carefully. Read the problem a second time if you do not understand it after your first reading. Determine what the problem is asking you to do. The more practice tests you take, the quicker you will become at recognizing different types of problems and knowing what is expected of you.
  2. Carry out a strategy to solve the problem: ETS lists the following 14 strategies on their website that can be useful for solving Quantitative Reasoning problems:
    1. Translate from words to an arithmetic or algebraic representation;
    2. Translate from words to a figure or diagram;
    3. Translate from a figure to an arithmetic or algebraic representation;
    4. Simplify an arithmetic or algebraic representation;
    5. Add information to a geometric figure;
    6. Find a pattern;
    7. Search for a mathematical relationship;
    8. Estimate;
    9. Trial and error;
    10. Divide in cases;
    11. Adapt solutions to related problems;
    12. Determine whether a conclusion follows from the information given;
    13. Determine what additional information is sufficient to solve the problem
  3. Check the answer: Work backwards to double-check yourself or apply a different problem-solving strategy to see if you arrive at the same answer.

Many Quantitative Reasoning problems can be solved using more than one solution, so trying multiple strategies can also be an effective way to check your work.

Conclusion

There are many different types of questions on the GRE Quantitative Reasoning sections, and the ability to quickly identify the type of question you are being asked is critical to moving through sections accurately and efficiently. Once you know what you are being asked to do, you can apply the most effective strategy to solve the problem, ensuring you maintain a good pace rather than becoming stuck on a particular question. Numeric Entry questions can be challenging because it is up to the test-taker to provide the answer, rather than selecting an answer from listed multiple-choice options, but these questions can be mastered through regular practice as part of your overall GRE study program.

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