Medium Free GRE Practice Questions Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

Medium Free GRE Practice Questions are standardized assessment items designed to mirror the difficulty of the second section of an adaptive GRE exam for average to high-performing test-takers. These questions focus on bridging the gap between basic arithmetic or vocabulary recognition and the complex, multi-step reasoning required for top-tier scores. In the GRE Prep ecosystem, medium-level questions typically involve integrating two or more mathematical concepts or identifying nuanced shifts in tone within a reading passage. Unlike easy questions that might test a single rule, medium questions often require you to manipulate variables, interpret data sets with multiple variables, or select vocabulary words that depend heavily on specific contextual clues. According to the Educational Testing Service (ETS), the GRE is a section-level adaptive test, meaning your performance on the first section determines whether you see medium, easy, or hard questions in the second half. Mastering this middle ground is essential for securing a competitive score in the 150–160 range.

Solved Examples

Reviewing these worked examples will help you understand the logic required for medium-difficulty problems.

1. Quantitative Comparison: Compare Quantity A: $2^{30} + 2^{30}$ and Quantity B: $2^{31}$.
   1. Simplify Quantity A by factoring: $2^{30} + 2^{30} = 2 \times (2^{30})$.
   2. Apply exponent rules: $2^1 \times 2^{30} = 2^{1+30} = 2^{31}$.
   3. Compare the results: Since both quantities equal $2^{31}$, the two quantities are equal.
2. Text Completion: The researcher’s claim was so _______ that even her most loyal supporters found it difficult to defend in public.
   1. Analyze the context: The phrase "difficult to defend" suggests a negative or extreme quality.
   2. Evaluate options like "tenable" (defensible) vs. "specious" (superficially plausible but actually wrong).
   3. Conclusion: "Specious" or "untenable" fits the logic of being hard to support.
3. Geometry: A circle is inscribed in a square with a side length of $8$. What is the area of the circle?
   1. Determine the diameter: If the circle is inscribed in a square of side $8$, the diameter of the circle is $8$.
   2. Find the radius: $r = \frac{8}{2} = 4$.
   3. Calculate area: $\text{Area} = \pi r^2 = \pi (4)^2 = 16\pi$.

Practice Questions

Test your skills with these Medium Free GRE Practice Questions covering various topics found on the exam.

1. If $x$ and $y$ are integers such that $3x + 2y = 18$ and $x > y$, what is one possible value for $x$?

2. A jar contains 5 red marbles, 7 blue marbles, and 8 green marbles. If two marbles are drawn at random without replacement, what is the probability that both are blue?

3. While the committee’s report was intended to be _______, the inclusion of several biased anecdotes rendered it surprisingly partisan.

4. Quantity A: The average (arithmetic mean) of $n, n+1, n+2$. Quantity B: $n+1$.

5. If the area of a triangle is $24$ and its base is $6$, what is the height of the triangle?

6. Select the two answer choices that, when used to complete the sentence, fit the meaning of the sentence as a whole and produce completed sentences that are alike in meaning: The diplomat was known for her _______, often resolving conflicts with subtle gestures rather than overt demands.

7. A car travels at an average speed of $60$ miles per hour for $2$ hours and then at $45$ miles per hour for $3$ hours. What is the average speed for the entire trip?

8. Solve for $z$: $\frac{z-3}{4} = \frac{z+1}{6}$.

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: 4 (or 6). If $x=4$, $3(4) + 2y = 18 \rightarrow 12 + 2y = 18 \rightarrow 2y = 6 \rightarrow y = 3$. Since $4 > 3$, this works. If $x=6$, $y=0$, which also works.
2. Answer: $\frac{21}{190}$. Total marbles = $20$. Probability of first blue = $\frac{7}{20}$. Probability of second blue = $\frac{6}{19}$. Multiply: $\frac{7}{20} \times \frac{6}{19} = \frac{42}{380} = \frac{21}{190}$. You can practice more probability with an adaptive GRE practice test.
3. Answer: Objective (or Disinterested). The word "partisan" (biased) is contrasted by "While," so the blank needs a word meaning neutral or unbiased.
4. Answer: The two quantities are equal. Mean = $\frac{n + (n+1) + (n+2)}{3} = \frac{3n+3}{3} = n+1$.
5. Answer: 8. Area $= \frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height}$. $24 = \frac{1}{2} \times 6 \times h \rightarrow 24 = 3h \rightarrow h = 8$.
6. Answer: Adroitness and Dexterity. Both words imply skill or cleverness in handling situations, matching the context of "subtle gestures." Check out GRE sentence equivalence practice questions for more like this.
7. Answer: 51 mph. Total distance = $(60 \times 2) + (45 \times 3) = 120 + 135 = 255$ miles. Total time = $5$ hours. Average speed = $\frac{255}{5} = 51$.
8. Answer: 11. Cross-multiply: $6(z-3) = 4(z+1) \rightarrow 6z - 18 = 4z + 4 \rightarrow 2z = 22 \rightarrow z = 11$. Using an AI Question Generator can help create similar algebraic drills.

1. If a rectangular garden has a perimeter of 40 feet and its length is 12 feet, what is the area of the garden in square feet?

• A84
• B96
• C120
• D144

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a GRE question "medium" difficulty?

A medium question generally requires two distinct cognitive steps, such as solving an algebraic equation and then applying that result to a geometric property. They avoid the obvious traps of easy questions but do not quite reach the high abstraction levels of hard questions.

How many medium questions are on the GRE?

The number of medium questions varies depending on your performance, but most test-takers will encounter a significant portion of medium-level items in their first section. If you perform average on the first section, your second section will consist almost entirely of medium-difficulty questions.

Can I reach a 160 score by only getting medium questions right?

It is statistically difficult but possible; however, reaching a 160 usually requires consistent accuracy on medium questions and correctly answering several hard questions. High accuracy on medium questions is the foundation for a competitive score.

What is the best way to practice medium-level math?

Focus on word problems and data interpretation, as these often categorize as medium difficulty due to the reading comprehension involved. Resources like Khan Academy provide excellent modular practice for these specific quantitative skills.

Does the GRE Verbal section have medium questions?

Yes, Verbal medium questions often involve text completion with secondary meanings of common words. They require you to look beyond the first definition of a word to find the one that fits the logic of the sentence perfectly.