Sample GRE Questions: Practice Examples for Every Section

The Verbal Reasoning section tests your ability to analyze written material, synthesize information, and understand relationships between words and concepts. You’ll encounter three main question types: Reading Comprehension, Text Completion, and Sentence Equivalence.

Reading Comprehension Examples

Reading Comprehension makes up roughly half of the Verbal Reasoning section. You’ll read passages ranging from one paragraph to several paragraphs and answer questions about main ideas, supporting details, the author’s tone, and logical inferences.

Sample Passage:

Reviving the practice of using elements of popular music in classical compositions—an approach that had been in hibernation in the United States during the 1960s—composer Philip Glass (born 1937) embraced the ethos of popular music in his compositions. His work displays a deliberate aesthetic that challenged the boundaries traditionally separating “high” art from popular entertainment.

Question 1: The passage suggests that Philip Glass’s compositions are characterized by which of the following?

A) A rejection of all popular music influences
B) An intentional blending of classical and popular music traditions
C) A strict adherence to 1960s compositional techniques
D) A focus exclusively on instrumental arrangements
E) An avoidance of experimental approaches

Answer: B

The passage explicitly states that Glass “embraced the ethos of popular music” and challenged traditional boundaries between high art and popular entertainment, making B the correct choice.

Question 2: The author’s primary purpose in the passage is to:

A) Criticize Glass’s departure from traditional composition
B) Describe a shift in Glass’s approach to musical composition
C) Compare Glass’s work to other 1960s composers
D) Argue that popular music has no place in classical composition
E) Analyze the technical elements of Glass’s most famous works

Answer: B

Text Completion Examples

Text Completion questions test your vocabulary and ability to understand how words function within context. These questions contain one to three blanks, and you must select the word or words that best complete the passage.

Question 3 (One Blank):

The scientist’s hypothesis was surprisingly _______, given the complexity of the phenomena she sought to explain.

A) convoluted
B) parsimonious
C) ambiguous
D) elaborate
E) nebulous

Answer: B (parsimonious)

The word “surprisingly” signals a contrast—you’d expect a complex phenomenon to require a complex explanation, so “parsimonious” (using the fewest assumptions or simplest explanation) creates the intended contrast.

Question 4 (Two Blanks):

The memoir’s greatest strength lies in its author’s ability to be (i) _______ about her own shortcomings while remaining (ii) _______ in her assessment of others’ motivations.

Blank (i)	Blank (ii)
A) reticent	D) charitable
B) candid	E) dismissive
C) defensive	F) indifferent

Answer: B (candid) and D (charitable)

Being “candid” (honest and direct) about one’s own shortcomings while remaining “charitable” (generous in judgment) toward others creates a balanced, admirable portrait of the memoirist.

Sentence Equivalence Examples

Sentence Equivalence questions present a single sentence with one blank. You must select two answer choices that both complete the sentence and produce sentences with similar meanings.

Question 5:

The professor’s lectures were anything but _______, packed with unexpected tangents, colorful anecdotes, and thought-provoking digressions that kept students engaged.

Select two answers:

A) tedious
B) pedestrian
C) animated
D) monotonous
E) riveting
F) conventional

Answer: A (tedious) and D (monotonous)

The phrase “anything but” indicates negation. The description of “unexpected tangents” and “colorful anecdotes” suggests the lectures were the opposite of boring. Both “tedious” and “monotonous” convey dullness, so negating them produces similar meanings.

The Quantitative Reasoning section evaluates your ability to solve problems using arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis. You’ll encounter four question types: Quantitative Comparison, Multiple Choice (single answer), Multiple Choice (multiple answers), and Numeric Entry.

If you’re pursuing a STEM-focused master’s program, strong performance in this section is particularly important. According to ETS data, engineering and physical science applicants tend to have higher Quantitative scores compared to humanities applicants.

Quantitative Comparison Examples

These questions ask you to compare two quantities and determine their relationship. The answer choices are always the same:

• A) Quantity A is greater
• B) Quantity B is greater
• C) The two quantities are equal
• D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given

Question 6:

x > 0

Quantity A	Quantity B
x²	x³

Answer: D

The relationship depends on the value of x. If x = 2, then x² = 4 and x³ = 8, so Quantity B is greater. But if x = 0.5, then x² = 0.25 and x³ = 0.125, so Quantity A is greater. Since different values of x yield different relationships, the answer is D.

Question 7:

A circle has a circumference of 16π.

Quantity A	Quantity B
The diameter of the circle	16

Answer: C

Circumference = πd, so 16π = πd, meaning d = 16. The two quantities are equal.

Multiple Choice Examples

Question 8 (Single Answer):

A car gets 33 miles per gallon using gasoline that costs $2.95 per gallon. Approximately what is the cost of gasoline for driving 350 miles?

A) $27.50
B) $31.30
C) $35.00
D) $40.00
E) $45.50

Answer: B

Gallons needed = 350 ÷ 33 ≈ 10.6 gallons
Cost = 10.6 × $2.95 ≈ $31.27, which rounds to $31.30

Question 9 (Single Answer):

If 3x + 2y = 12 and x – y = 1, what is the value of x?

A) 2
B) 2.5
C) 2.8
D) 3
E) 3.5

Answer: C

From x – y = 1, we get x = y + 1.
Substituting: 3(y + 1) + 2y = 12
3y + 3 + 2y = 12
5y = 9
y = 1.8, so x = 2.8

Question 10 (Multiple Answers):

Which of the following integers are multiples of both 3 and 4?

Indicate all that apply.

A) 12
B) 18
C) 24
D) 32
E) 36
F) 48

Answer: A, C, E, F

Multiples of both 3 and 4 must be multiples of 12 (the LCM of 3 and 4). The multiples of 12 in the list are 12, 24, 36, and 48.

Numeric Entry Examples

Question 11:

A rectangular garden has a length that is 3 feet more than twice its width. If the perimeter of the garden is 48 feet, what is the width in feet?

Answer: 7

Let width = w. Then length = 2w + 3.
Perimeter = 2(w) + 2(2w + 3) = 48
2w + 4w + 6 = 48
6w = 42
w = 7 feet

Question 12:

Machine A produces k liters of a solution in 10 minutes. Machine B produces the same amount in 15 minutes. How many minutes does it take both machines, working together, to produce k liters?

Answer: 6

Rate of A = k/10 liters per minute
Rate of B = k/15 liters per minute
Combined rate = k/10 + k/15 = 3k/30 + 2k/30 = 5k/30 = k/6 liters per minute
Time to produce k liters = k ÷ (k/6) = 6 minutes

The Analytical Writing section now consists of a single “Analyze an Issue” task. You have 30 minutes to develop and support your position on a given topic. This section evaluates your critical thinking, argument construction, and writing clarity.

ETS publishes the complete pool of potential essay topics on its website so that you can review and practice with actual prompts before test day.

Sample Issue Prompts

Prompt 1:

“As people rely more and more on technology to solve problems, the ability of humans to think for themselves will surely deteriorate.”

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

Prompt 2:

“The best way to teach is to praise positive actions and ignore negative ones.”

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take.

Prompt 3:

“Knowing about the past cannot help people to make important decisions today.”

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true.

Tips for a High-Scoring Essay

A score of 6 (the highest) is rare and requires exceptional clarity, organization, and depth. Most successful test-takers aim for a 4.0 to 5.0, which demonstrates competent analytical writing. Here’s what graders look for:

1. Clear thesis statement: Take a definitive position in your introduction.
2. Balanced consideration: Acknowledge counterarguments before refuting them.
3. Specific examples: Draw from history, science, current events, or personal experience.
4. Logical organization: Use clear transitions between paragraphs.
5. Strong conclusion: Summarize your argument and reinforce your thesis.

Aim for 500-600 words—long enough to develop your argument fully but concise enough to maintain quality within the time limit.

This is perhaps the most common question among prospective graduate students, and the answer depends entirely on your target programs. According to ETS data from 2023-2024:

• Average Verbal Reasoning score: 151.2
• Average Quantitative Reasoning score: 157.6
• Average Analytical Writing score: 3.65

However, “average” may not cut it for competitive programs. Here’s a general breakdown:

Score Range	Percentile	Competitiveness
150-155	40th-60th	Average; suitable for many programs
156-162	60th-85th	Competitive; strong for most programs
163-170	85th-99th	Highly competitive; ideal for top-tier programs

If you’re applying to accredited online master’s programs, check each school’s average admitted scores or minimum requirements. Some programs publish this information on their admissions pages, while others may share it upon request.

Score Expectations by Field

Your target score should also account for your intended field of study:

• Engineering and Computer Science: Quantitative scores of 160+ are often expected
• Humanities and Social Sciences: Verbal scores of 160+ carry more weight
• Business (MBA programs): Balanced scores around 155+ in both sections are typically competitive
• Education: Scores around the 50th percentile are often sufficient

Effective GRE preparation isn’t about cramming—it’s about strategic, consistent practice over time. Here’s a framework that works for many successful test-takers:

Create a Study Timeline

Most students benefit from 8-12 weeks of focused preparation. If you’re working full-time or managing other responsibilities, consider extending this to 3-4 months with lighter daily study sessions.

• Weeks 1-2: Take a diagnostic test and identify weaknesses
• Weeks 3-6: Focus on content review and targeted practice
• Weeks 7-10: Full-length practice tests and strategy refinement
• Weeks 11-12: Light review and rest before test day

Prioritize Official Materials

ETS offers free practice tests through its POWERPREP software, and its official guides contain actual retired questions. These materials most accurately reflect what you’ll see on test day.

Other high-quality resources include:

• Manhattan Prep’s 5 lb. Book of GRE Practice Problems
• Kaplan GRE Prep Plus
• Magoosh GRE (online platform with video explanations)

Focus on Weaknesses, Not Strengths

It’s tempting to practice what you’re already good at, but score improvements come from addressing weaknesses. If geometry gives you trouble, dedicate extra time to those concepts. If reading comprehension passages slow you down, practice timing strategies.

Simulate Test Conditions

Take at least 3-4 full-length practice tests under realistic conditions: timed, uninterrupted, and without notes. This builds stamina and helps you develop pacing strategies for each section.

Here are more sample questions to help you continue your preparation:

Verbal Practice

Question 13 (Text Completion – Three Blanks):

The author’s tone throughout the essay is (i) _______, reflecting a (ii) _______ attitude toward her subject that avoids the (iii) _______ of many academic treatments of the topic.

Blank (i)	Blank (ii)	Blank (iii)
A) strident	D) dismissive	G) accessibility
B) measured	E) balanced	H) pedantry
C) effusive	F) hostile	I) brevity

Answer: B (measured), E (balanced), H (pedantry)

Quantitative Practice

Question 14:

In a group of 50 students, 30 study French, 25 study Spanish, and 10 study both languages. How many students study neither French nor Spanish?

Answer: 5

Using the inclusion-exclusion principle:
Students studying at least one language = 30 + 25 – 10 = 45
Students studying neither = 50 – 45 = 5

Question 15:

The average of five consecutive integers is 42. What is the largest of these integers?

Answer: 44

If the average is 42, the middle number (third integer) is 42.
The five consecutive integers are: 40, 41, 42, 43, 44.