The Online GRE Math Study Guide: Help and Practice Tips for the GRE Math Section

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) contains three parts; the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing sections. The Quantitative section of the GRE tests students on a variety of math skills. Many students reach out to Varsity Tutors when they want a little help preparing for this section of the test. Our knowledgeable instructors use first-rate study resources to guide students through the process of preparing for the Quantitative Reasoning section as well as the other sections on the test.

Check out this GRE math study guide for tips that can simplify questions in the Quantitative or math section!

Take Practice Exams

When it comes to GRE math practice, online exams can prove very useful to students – as long as you use them carefully. Taking a practice test lets you know what types of problems to expect on the actual test, and the results of a practice test reveal what you need to work on. When you have this information, you are better able to make efficient use of your study time. Our instructors review practice tests with students and suggest specific ways that they can improve on various skills. This part is crucial – taking practice tests without going over them or practicing to avoid making the same mistakes in your next practice test will mean that even though you are practicing, you aren’t necessarily going to improve. Our Varsity Tutors instructors partner with their students to analyze and learn from practice tests to provide the best GRE math prep available!

Plugging in the Numbers

One of the easiest strategies that students can use when tackling the Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE is to approach a problem starting with the answer choices. For instance, an algebra question may include an equation that asks a student to find the value of x . If you’re stuck, you can plug each of the answer options into the equation in place of x . The number that completes the equation is the correct answer option! This strategy proves especially helpful when you work through a problem in the traditional way and find that your answer is not one of the answer options.

Eliminating Answer Choices

Students looking for GRE math help should endeavor to simplify each problem as much as possible. For example, after looking at a question and considering all of the multiple choice answers, you may notice that one or two of the answer options are obviously incorrect. In that case, you can cross out or eliminate these answer options. This will leave you with fewer options to consider and make the problem more manageable. This test-taking technique can also be used on multiple choice questions in the Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE.

Getting Into the Habit of Using Scrap Paper

You should also get into the habit of writing out all of the steps of a math problem on a sheet of scrap paper. This is one of those GRE math tips that many students are aware of, but decide not to put into practice. However, this tip can save you a lot of time if you make a mistake somewhere in a problem. If your answer is not included in the list of answer choices, you can refer to the scrap paper and review the various steps of the problem to see where things went wrong. In addition, you should use scrap paper for drawing shapes referred to in any math question. Seeing a shape can sometimes prompt you to figure out an answer more quickly than trying to visualize the shape – and it will help you avoid making mistakes, too!

Reviewing High School Math Problems

For students who want more GRE math practice, online exercises for high school students are a great option. Many of the geometry and algebra skills tested in the Quantitative section are skills students learned in high school.

In addition to going online to complete practice math questions, you can look in traditional math textbooks designed for high school students. This sort of prep helps students who aren’t as comfortable with some of the fundamentals of math become familiar with working the steps of an algebra equation or successfully completing a geometry problem. Our professional instructors offer guidance and encouragement to students as they work their way through practice problems. We provide students with individualized help, so they can see great improvement as test day approaches.

We offer online courses that are convenient for individuals with busy school or work schedules. Varsity Tutors has the best GRE math prep courses for students who want to enjoy success on the GRE!

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