Easy GRE Multi-Step Data Questions Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

Easy GRE multi-step data questions are quantitative reasoning problems that require extracting information from a graph or table and performing two or more sequential calculations to reach the final answer. These questions test your ability to synthesize data points rather than just reading a single value from a chart. Often, you will need to find a total or a difference first, and then apply a percentage or a ratio to that intermediate result. Success on these problems depends on your attention to detail and your ability to follow a logical sequence of operations. For more foundational work, you can explore free GRE practice questions to build your confidence.

On the GRE, data interpretation usually involves bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, or complex tables. While the individual math operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) are straightforward, the "multi-step" nature means you must keep track of your units and intermediate values. For example, a question might ask for the percent increase in revenue between two years, requiring you to first subtract the values and then divide by the original amount. To organize your study plan for these types of quantitative hurdles, consider using the AI MasterPlan tool for a personalized schedule.

Solved Examples

Review these worked examples to understand how to break down multi-step data problems into manageable parts.

1. Example 1: A table shows that a company spent $5,000 on marketing in 2020 and $8,000 in 2021. If the marketing budget is projected to increase in 2022 by the same dollar amount as the increase from 2020 to 2021, what will the 2022 budget be?
   1. Step 1: Calculate the increase from 2020 to 2021. $$8,000 - 5,000 = 3,000$$
   2. Step 2: Add this increase to the 2021 budget to find the 2022 projection. $$8,000 + 3,000 = 11,000$$
   3. The answer is $11,000.
2. Example 2: A pie chart showing household expenses indicates that 20% of a $4,000 monthly income is spent on groceries. If the family decides to reduce grocery spending by 10%, how much will they spend on groceries per month?
   1. Step 1: Find the initial grocery spending. $$0.20 \times 4,000 = 800$$
   2. Step 2: Calculate 10% of that grocery spending. $$0.10 \times 800 = 80$$
   3. Step 3: Subtract the reduction from the initial amount. $$800 - 80 = 720$$
   4. The answer is $720.
3. Example 3: A bar graph shows that Class A has 30 students and Class B has 20 students. If 60% of Class A and 40% of Class B passed a test, what is the total number of students who passed?
   1. Step 1: Calculate passing students in Class A. $$0.60 \times 30 = 18$$
   2. Step 2: Calculate passing students in Class B. $$0.40 \times 20 = 8$$
   3. Step 3: Sum the two results. $$18 + 8 = 26$$
   4. The answer is 26.

Practice Questions

Test your skills with these easy GRE multi-step data questions. Refer to the Khan Academy guide on data display if you need a refresher on reading charts.

1. A store sells shirts for $20 each. During a sale, if you buy two shirts, you get the third one at a 50% discount. What is the total cost for three shirts?
2. In a small town, 40% of the 1,200 residents are registered voters. If 75% of the registered voters actually voted in the last election, how many residents voted?
3. A data table shows a company's quarterly profits: Q1: $12,000, Q2: $15,000, Q3: $10,000, and Q4: $18,000. What is the difference between the average quarterly profit and the profit in Q3?

4. A library has 5,000 books. 60% are fiction and the rest are non-fiction. If 10% of the non-fiction books are biographies, how many biographies are in the library?
5. A car travels 150 miles on 5 gallons of gas. If gas costs $4.00 per gallon, what is the fuel cost for a 450-mile trip at the same efficiency?
6. A student scored 80, 85, and 90 on three exams. What score does the student need on the fourth exam to have an overall average of 88?
7. A factory produces 200 widgets per hour. The factory operates 8 hours a day. If 5% of the widgets are defective, how many non-defective widgets are produced in one day?
8. A rectangle has a length of 10 cm and a width of 5 cm. If the length is increased by 20% and the width is decreased by 20%, what is the new area?
9. A savings account starts with $1,000. It earns 5% simple interest annually. How much total interest is earned after 3 years?
10. At a fruit stand, apples are $0.50 each and bananas are $0.30 each. If a customer buys 10 apples and 15 bananas and pays with a $20 bill, how much change should they receive?

Answers & Explanations

1. $50.00: Two shirts cost $40 ($20 + $20). The third shirt is 50% off ($10). Total: $$40 + 10 = 50$$.
2. 360: First, find registered voters: $$0.40 \times 1,200 = 480$$. Then, find those who voted: $$0.75 \times 480 = 360$$.
3. $3,750: Total profit is $$12,000 + 15,000 + 10,000 + 18,000 = 55,000$$. Average is $$55,000 / 4 = 13,750$$. Difference: $$13,750 - 10,000 = 3,750$$.
4. 200: Non-fiction is 40% of 5,000, which is 2,000. Biographies are 10% of 2,000, which is 200.
5. $60.00: The trip is 3 times longer than 150 miles (450/150 = 3). Thus, it needs $$5 \times 3 = 15$$ gallons. Total cost: $$15 \times 4 = 60$$.
6. 97: Total points needed for an 88 average over 4 exams is $$88 \times 4 = 352$$. Current points: $$80 + 85 + 90 = 255$$. Needed: $$352 - 255 = 97$$.
7. 1,520: Total widgets per day: $$200 \times 8 = 1,600$$. Defective: $$0.05 \times 1,600 = 80$$. Non-defective: $$1,600 - 80 = 1,520$$.
8. 48 cm²: New length is $$10 \times 1.2 = 12$$. New width is $$5 \times 0.8 = 4$$. New area: $$12 \times 4 = 48$$.
9. $150.00: Yearly interest is $$0.05 \times 1,000 = 50$$. Over 3 years: $$50 \times 3 = 150$$.
10. $10.50: Apples cost $$10 \times 0.50 = 5.00$$. Bananas cost $$15 \times 0.30 = 4.50$$. Total cost: $9.50. Change: $$20.00 - 9.50 = 10.50$$.

1. A chart shows a company's revenue was $200,000 in Year 1 and increased by 10% in Year 2. If expenses were a flat $150,000 both years, what was the profit in Year 2?

• A$50,000
• B$70,000
• C$220,000
• D$20,000

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a GRE data question "multi-step"?

A multi-step question requires you to use an answer from one calculation as the input for a second calculation. You cannot arrive at the solution by simply reading a single number from the provided visual aid.

How can I avoid silly mistakes on multi-step problems?

Write down every intermediate step and label your numbers with units. Many errors occur when students confuse a "percent of" with a "percent increase" or lose track of which year's data they are using.

Are calculators allowed for these data questions?

Yes, the GRE provides an on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning section. You should use it to ensure accuracy in arithmetic, especially when dealing with percentages and large sums. For more tips on calculator usage, check out GRE practice questions with explanations.

What is the most common type of data display on the GRE?

Bar graphs and tables are the most frequent, but you will also encounter line graphs and pie charts. Occasionally, the GRE uses scatterplots, which you can learn more about through Wikipedia's scatter plot overview.

How much time should I spend on an easy multi-step question?

Ideally, you should aim to solve easy-level questions in under 90 seconds. This allows you to bank time for the more complex "Hard" level questions later in the section.