Medium GRE Practice Questions with Answers Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

Medium GRE practice questions with answers serve as the bridge between basic arithmetic or vocabulary recognition and the high-level reasoning required for a top-tier score. These questions typically involve multi-step logic, where a student must synthesize two or more concepts—such as combining geometry with algebra or identifying nuanced shifts in a complex sentence's tone. Unlike easy questions that test direct recall, medium-level items require you to apply GRE Prep strategies like process of elimination and quantitative comparison shortcuts to manage the 30-to-35-minute section time limits effectively.

To succeed at this difficulty level, you must be comfortable with the GRE General Test content, which spans arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis for the Quantitative section, alongside reading comprehension and text completion for the Verbal section. For instance, a medium math question might ask you to calculate the area of a shaded region inside a circle, requiring you to know both the area of a square and the area of a circle. On the Verbal side, medium questions often feature "distractor" answer choices that are synonyms of the correct word but do not fit the specific context of the sentence. Using an AI Exam Simulator can help you identify these patterns by mimicking the adaptive nature of the actual test.

Solved Examples

1. Quantitative Comparison: Compare the following two quantities.
   • Quantity A: The average (arithmetic mean) of $x, y, \text{ and } z$.
   • Quantity B: The average of $x+1, y-2, \text{ and } z+4$.
   Solution:
   1. Express Quantity A as $\frac{x+y+z}{3}$.
   2. Express Quantity B as $\frac{(x+1) + (y-2) + (z+4)}{3}$.
   3. Simplify Quantity B: $\frac{x+y+z+3}{3}$.
   4. Rewrite Quantity B: $\frac{x+y+z}{3} + \frac{3}{3}$, which is $\text{Quantity A} + 1$.
   5. Since Quantity B is always 1 greater than Quantity A, Quantity B is greater.
2. Text Completion: The researcher's claim was initially viewed as ------- by her peers, but subsequent experiments proved her theories to be remarkably accurate.
   • (A) substantiated
   • (B) specious
   • (C) authoritative
   Solution:
   1. Identify the pivot word "but," which indicates a contrast between the initial view and the later proof of accuracy.
   2. The second half of the sentence says the theories were "remarkably accurate."
   3. Therefore, the first half must mean the opposite of accurate or believable.
   4. "Substantiated" means proven, and "authoritative" means reliable; both are synonyms for accurate.
   5. "Specious" means superficially plausible but actually wrong. This fits the contrast perfectly. The answer is (B).
3. Geometry: A rectangular garden has a perimeter of 40 feet. If the length is 4 feet longer than the width, what is the area of the garden? Solution:
   1. Let width = $w$ and length = $w + 4$.
   2. The perimeter formula is $2(l + w) = 40$.
   3. Substitute the variables: $2(w + 4 + w) = 40$.
   4. Simplify: $2(2w + 4) = 40 \rightarrow 4w + 8 = 40$.
   5. Solve for $w$: $4w = 32 \rightarrow w = 8$.
   6. Find length: $l = 8 + 4 = 12$.
   7. Calculate area: $8 \times 12 = 96 \text{ square feet}$.

Practice Questions

1. If $3x + 12 = 7x - 8$, what is the value of $x^2$?
2. A bag contains 5 red marbles, 3 blue marbles, and 2 green marbles. If two marbles are drawn at random without replacement, what is the probability that both are red?
3. The author's prose is often described as -------; she uses ten words where one would suffice, leading to a narrative that feels unnecessarily bloated.

4. Compare Quantity A: $2^{30} + 2^{30}$ and Quantity B: $2^{31}$.
5. Select two words that best complete the sentence: Despite the CEO's efforts to appear -------, her dismissive attitude toward lower-level employees suggested a deep-seated arrogance.
   • (A) humble
   • (B) supercilious
   • (C) diffident
   • (D) unassuming
   • (E) haughty
   • (F) laconic
6. A car travels at an average speed of 60 miles per hour for 3 hours and then at 40 miles per hour for 2 hours. What is the average speed for the entire trip?
7. If $n$ is an integer and $n^2$ is odd, which of the following must be true? (I) $n$ is odd. (II) $n+1$ is even. (III) $n^2 + 1$ is even.
8. In a group of 50 people, 28 speak Spanish, 22 speak French, and 10 speak both. How many people speak neither language?

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: 25. First, solve for $x$: $12 + 8 = 7x - 3x \rightarrow 20 = 4x \rightarrow x = 5$. The question asks for $x^2$, so $5^2 = 25$.
2. Answer: 2/9. Total marbles = 10. Probability of first red = 5/10. Probability of second red = 4/9. Multiply them: $\frac{5}{10} \times \frac{4}{9} = \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{4}{9} = \frac{4}{18} = \frac{2}{9}$. For more statistics review, check out Khan Academy's probability modules.
3. Answer: prolix. The sentence explains she uses "ten words where one would suffice," which defines being wordy or verbose. "Prolix" is the precise GRE vocabulary term for this.
4. Answer: The two quantities are equal. Quantity A is $2^{30} + 2^{30}$, which is $2 \times 2^{30}$. Using exponent rules, $2^1 \times 2^{30} = 2^{31}$. Thus, A and B are identical.
5. Answer: (A) humble and (D) unassuming. The word "Despite" signals a contrast with "arrogance." We need words that mean the opposite of arrogant. Both "humble" and "unassuming" fit. For more practice like this, see our GRE Sentence Equivalence Practice Questions.
6. Answer: 52 mph. Average speed = Total Distance / Total Time. Distance 1 = $60 \times 3 = 180$. Distance 2 = $40 \times 2 = 80$. Total distance = 260 miles. Total time = 5 hours. $260 / 5 = 52$.
7. Answer: I, II, and III. If $n^2$ is odd, $n$ must be odd (I). If $n$ is odd, $n+1$ is even (II). If $n^2$ is odd, $n^2 + 1$ is even (III). All three are true.
8. Answer: 10. Use the formula: $\text{Total} = A + B - \text{Both} + \text{Neither}$. $50 = 28 + 22 - 10 + \text{Neither}$. $50 = 40 + \text{Neither}$. Thus, Neither = 10.

1. If a circle is inscribed inside a square with a side length of 10, what is the area of the circle?

• A\( 10\pi \)
• B\( 25\pi \)
• C\( 50\pi \)
• D\( 100\pi \)

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a GRE question "medium" difficulty?

Medium questions are defined by their requirement for multi-step reasoning or the inclusion of subtle distractors that test your attention to detail. They often combine two different mathematical concepts or use secondary definitions of common vocabulary words.

How many medium questions are on the GRE?

Because the GRE is section-level adaptive, the number of medium questions you see depends on your performance in the first section. Most students will encounter a mix of difficulties, but a solid performance on the first section leads to a second section with more medium and hard questions.

Should I spend more time on medium questions than easy ones?

You should aim to complete easy questions quickly to save time for medium and hard ones, but never rush. Since all questions within a section are worth the same points, it is better to ensure accuracy on a medium question than to guess quickly just to reach a hard one.

Can I use a calculator for medium math questions?

Yes, the GRE provides an on-screen calculator for the Quantitative Reasoning sections. However, for many medium questions involving exponents or ratios, mental math or simplification is often faster and less prone to entry errors.

Where can I find more medium GRE practice questions with answers?

You can find high-quality practice sets through the official ETS website or by using AI-powered question generators that tailor difficulty levels to your current skill set. Consistent practice with explanations is key to moving from medium to hard proficiency.