Easy GRE Data Analysis Questions Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

GRE data analysis questions measure your ability to interpret, analyze, and draw conclusions from data presented in tables, graphs, and other visual formats.

These questions are a core component of the GRE Prep curriculum, focusing on descriptive statistics such as mean, median, mode, and range, as well as probability and data interpretation. At the "easy" level, the primary challenge is not complex calculus but rather the accurate extraction of information from a visual source. You will frequently encounter bar graphs, line graphs, circle graphs (pie charts), and frequency distributions. Success requires a three-step approach: first, carefully read the titles and axis labels to understand what is being measured; second, identify the specific data points required by the question; and third, perform basic arithmetic or percentage calculations to find the final answer. Understanding how to calculate a percentage change using the formula $\ \text{percentage change} = \ \frac{\ \text{new} - \ \text{old}}{\ \text{old}} \ \times 100$ is particularly vital for these GRE practice questions with answers. High-authority resources like Khan Academy's statistics modules provide excellent foundational reviews for these concepts.

Solved Examples

Review these step-by-step solutions to understand the logic behind common easy-level data analysis problems.

1. Example 1: Mean and Median
   A set of five test scores is {82, 85, 90, 90, 93}. What is the positive difference between the mean and the median of these scores?
   1. Find the median: Arrange the scores in order (already done). The middle value is 90.
   2. Find the mean: Sum the scores $82 + 85 + 90 + 90 + 93 = 440$. Divide by the number of scores: $\ \frac{440}{5} = 88$.
   3. Calculate the difference: $90 - 88 = 2$.
2. Example 2: Pie Chart Interpretation
   A budget of $4,000 is divided into four categories. If "Rent" accounts for 35% of the budget, how much money is allocated to Rent?
   1. Identify the total amount: $4,000.
   2. Identify the percentage: 35% or 0.35.
   3. Multiply: $4,000 \ \times 0.35 = 1,400$. The answer is $1,400.
3. Example 3: Range and Mode
   In a survey of shoe sizes, the data collected is {7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12}. What is the sum of the range and the mode?
   1. Find the range: Subtract the smallest value from the largest: $12 - 7 = 5$.
   2. Find the mode: The value that appears most frequently is 8.
   3. Sum the results: $5 + 8 = 13$.

Practice Questions

Test your skills with these easy GRE data analysis questions. Use a scratchpad to track your calculations.

1. A list of numbers consists of {4, 10, 10, 12, 14, 22}. What is the median of this list?
2. If a bag contains 4 red marbles, 6 blue marbles, and 10 green marbles, what is the probability of randomly selecting a marble that is NOT green?
3. A company's revenue increased from $150,000 in 2022 to $180,000 in 2023. What was the percentage increase in revenue?

4. The average (arithmetic mean) of three numbers is 20. If two of the numbers are 15 and 22, what is the third number?
5. A bar graph shows that a library has 300 fiction books, 150 non-fiction books, and 50 reference books. What fraction of the total books are non-fiction?
6. In a set of data {x, 12, 15, 18}, the range is 10. If x is the smallest value, what is the value of x?
7. If the standard deviation of a set of numbers is 0, what must be true about the numbers in that set?
8. A student's grades on four exams are 80, 85, 90, and 75. What grade must the student earn on a fifth exam to have an average of exactly 84?

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: 11
   For an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. The middle numbers are 10 and 12. $\ \frac{10 + 12}{2} = 11$.
2. Answer: 1/2 (or 0.5)
   Total marbles = $4 + 6 + 10 = 20$. Marbles that are NOT green = $4 + 6 = 10$. Probability = $\ \frac{10}{20} = \ \frac{1}{2}$.
3. Answer: 20%
   Using the percentage change formula: $\ \frac{180,000 - 150,000}{150,000} = \ \frac{30,000}{150,000} = \ \frac{1}{5} = 0.20$, or 20%.
4. Answer: 23
   If the mean of 3 numbers is 20, their sum is $3 \ \times 20 = 60$. The sum of the known numbers is $15 + 22 = 37$. The third number is $60 - 37 = 23$.
5. Answer: 3/10
   Total books = $300 + 150 + 50 = 500$. Non-fiction = 150. Fraction = $\ \frac{150}{500} = \ \frac{15}{50} = \ \frac{3}{10}$.
6. Answer: 8
   Range is the difference between the max and min. Max is 18. If $18 - x = 10$, then $x = 8$.
7. Answer: They are all identical
   Standard deviation measures spread. If the deviation is 0, there is no spread, meaning every value in the set is exactly the same.
8. Answer: 90
   To have an average of 84 over 5 exams, the total sum must be $84 \ \times 5 = 420$. Current sum = $80 + 85 + 90 + 75 = 330$. Required score = $420 - 330 = 90$.

1. What is the arithmetic mean of the set {10, 20, 30, 40, 50}?

• A25
• B30
• C35
• D40

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between mean and median on the GRE?

The mean is the calculated average of all numbers in a set, while the median is the middle value when the numbers are ordered from least to greatest. The median is often more robust against outliers than the mean.

How are data analysis questions weighted on the GRE?

Data analysis makes up approximately 25-30% of the Quantitative Reasoning section. While some questions are standalone, many are grouped in "Data Interpretation" sets based on a shared graphic.

Are calculators allowed for GRE data analysis?

Yes, an on-screen calculator is provided during the GRE Quantitative sections. However, for easy questions, mental math or quick sketching is often faster than clicking the calculator buttons.

What types of graphs are most common in easy questions?

Easy questions typically utilize simple bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts. They usually require you to read a single value or compare two values directly without complex multi-step integration.

How do I improve my speed on data interpretation?

Focus on reading the labels and units first to avoid common traps. Using tools like an adaptive GRE practice test can help you get used to the pacing and visual layout of the exam.