The Quantitative Section of GRE
The Graduate Record Examination or GRE is one of the most coveted examinations for students all over the world who aspire to go for further studies in various subjects. This particular examination is mandatory for getting into the Masters or research programs conducted by the US universities and include most subjects except management, law, medicine and few others. The examination is broadly divided into 3 salient sections – Verbal, Quantitative and the AWA (essay). Of these, the AWA is written whereas the other two are objective.
As far as the Quantitative section for GRE is concerned, as per the latest format, there will be at least 2 sections of Mathematics. If the experimental section also contains Maths, then the number of sections containing quantitative questions will turn out to be 3. Each section in Maths in the GRE contains 20 questions and 35 minutes are allotted for it. The basic objective of the questions is to test the taker’s aptitude in mathematics, quantitative skills, problem solving skills and ability to grasp numerical data. The chapters can be broadly categorized into Algebra, Geometry and Arithmetic apart from the fact that there is a little bit of higher mathematics as well. Of the chapters that are important, perhaps the most important part of the quantitative section is the Arithmetic section. It covers topics like percentage, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, simple and compound interest, average and alligation, speed, time and distance etc. The chapters in Algebra include Permutation and Combination, AP and GP, probability, set theory, inequality etc. Geometry is also as per what students generally have till their secondary level. Basic statistics is also part of the section. Data Analysis is yet another very pertinent topic that deals with various kinds of charts and graphs etc.
The quantitative section of GRE is rather easy and the questions revolve around the basic concepts and their applications. So the preparation module should start with clearing the concepts and then solving questions that are application based, subjective and witty.