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Practice · GRE · Data interpretation

GRE data interpretation practice questions

33 questions with worked solutions. Question sets built on bar and segmented-bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, scatterplots and tables, some with two graphs, as on the test.

14 easy · 14 medium · 5 hard · Percentile levels 60th to 90th · what the levels mean

Practise timed: 12 questions · 21 min All GRE topics

1 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
University enrolment by faculty (number of students)
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5002,4002,100Arts3,1003,900Science1,8002,600Engineering2,7003,000Business20202024
By what percent did total enrolment increase from 2020 to 2024?
  1. 12%
  2. 14%
  3. 16%
  4. 18%
  5. 20%
Show answer
Answer: C. 16%
2020 total: 2400+3100+1800+2700=10,0002400+3100+1800+2700=10{,}000. 2024: 2100+3900+2600+3000=11,6002100+3900+2600+3000=11{,}600. Increase 16%.
2 Easy ≈ 70th percentile
University enrolment by faculty (number of students)
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5002,4002,100Arts3,1003,900Science1,8002,600Engineering2,7003,000Business20202024
In 2024, Engineering accounted for approximately what percent of total enrolment?
  1. 20%
  2. 22%
  3. 24%
  4. 26%
  5. 28%
Show answer
Answer: B. 22%
260011,600≈0.224\tfrac{2600}{11{,}600}\approx0.224, about 22%.
3 Hard ≈ 90th percentile
University enrolment by faculty (number of students)
05001,0001,5002,0002,5003,0003,5004,0004,5002,4002,100Arts3,1003,900Science1,8002,600Engineering2,7003,000Business20202024
Which faculty's share of total enrolment changed by the fewest percentage points from 2020 to 2024?
  1. Arts
  2. Science
  3. Engineering
  4. Business
Show answer
Answer: D. Business
Shares in 2020: 24%, 31%, 18%, 27%. In 2024: 18.1%, 33.6%, 22.4%, 25.9%. Changes: −5.9-5.9, +2.6+2.6, +4.4+4.4, −1.1-1.1. Business grew by 300 students but its share barely moved, because the total grew too.
4 Medium ≈ 75th percentile
Average monthly temperature (°C), City P and City Q
0°5°10°15°20°25°30°JFMAMJJASOND12°13°15°17°20°24°27°27°24°20°16°13°2°3°7°11°15°18°21°20°16°11°6°3°City QCity P
In how many months was City Q's average temperature at least 10 °C higher than City P's?
  1. 3
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 6
  5. 8
Show answer
Answer: B. 4
Differences Q − P, January to December: 10, 10, 8, 6, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10. Four months reach 10: January, February, November, December.
5 Easy ≈ 70th percentile
Average monthly temperature (°C), City P and City Q
0°5°10°15°20°25°30°JFMAMJJASOND12°13°15°17°20°24°27°27°24°20°16°13°2°3°7°11°15°18°21°20°16°11°6°3°City QCity P
What is the difference between the two cities' annual temperature ranges (highest monthly average minus lowest)?
  1. 4 °C
  2. 6 °C
  3. 8 °C
  4. 15 °C
  5. 19 °C
Show answer
Answer: A. 4 °C
P: 21−2=1921-2=19. Q: 27−12=1527-12=15. Difference 4 °C.
6 Medium ≈ 80th percentile
Average monthly temperature (°C), City P and City Q
0°5°10°15°20°25°30°JFMAMJJASOND12°13°15°17°20°24°27°27°24°20°16°13°2°3°7°11°15°18°21°20°16°11°6°3°City QCity P
By approximately how many degrees does the mean of City Q's twelve monthly averages exceed that of City P?
  1. 5.6
  2. 6.4
  3. 7.2
  4. 7.9
  5. 8.6
Show answer
Answer: D. 7.9
Q's twelve values sum to 228 (mean 19.0); P's sum to 133 (mean 11.1). Difference 228−13312=9512≈7.9\tfrac{228-133}{12}=\tfrac{95}{12}\approx7.9.
7 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
Monthly household budget (income $5,000)
35%Housing35%18%Savings18%15%Food15%12%Transport12%12%Other12%8%Leisure8%
How much more per month does the household spend on housing than on food and transport combined?
  1. $250
  2. $400
  3. $500
  4. $750
  5. $1,350
Show answer
Answer: B. $400
35%−(15%+12%)=8%35\%-(15\%+12\%)=8\% of $5,000, which is $400.
8 Hard ≈ 90th percentile
Monthly household budget (income $5,000)
35%Housing35%18%Savings18%15%Food15%12%Transport12%12%Other12%8%Leisure8%
Income rises by 10% and the dollar amount spent on housing does not change. Housing's new share of income is closest to which of these?
  1. 25%
  2. 30%
  3. 32%
  4. 35%
  5. 38%
Show answer
Answer: C. 32%
Housing stays at 0.35×5000=$17500.35\times5000=\$1750; income becomes $5,500. 17505500≈31.8%\tfrac{1750}{5500}\approx31.8\%. Dividing 35% by 1.1 gives the same thing.
9 Easy ≈ 70th percentile
Monthly household budget (income $5,000)
35%Housing35%18%Savings18%15%Food15%12%Transport12%12%Other12%8%Leisure8%
What is the central angle, in degrees, of the Savings sector?
  1. 57.6
  2. 64.8
  3. 72
  4. 81
  5. 90
Show answer
Answer: B. 64.8
0.18×360∘=64.8∘0.18\times360^\circ=64.8^\circ.
10 Medium ≈ 85th percentile
Advertising spend and sales, ten stores ($ thousands)
406080100120140160Sales0481216202428325, 608, 7210, 8012, 8515, 9818, 10420, 11822, 12025, 13030, 150Advertising
For how many of the ten stores were sales more than 5 times advertising spend?
  1. 6
  2. 7
  3. 8
  4. 9
  5. 10
Show answer
Answer: D. 9
Ratios: 12, 9, 8, 7.1, 6.5, 5.8, 5.9, 5.5, 5.2 and exactly 5.0 for the store at (30, 150). "More than" excludes that one: 9 stores.
11 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
Advertising spend and sales, ten stores ($ thousands)
406080100120140160Sales0481216202428325, 608, 7210, 8012, 8515, 9818, 10420, 11822, 12025, 13030, 150Advertising
What is the median sales figure of the ten stores, in thousands of dollars?
  1. 98
  2. 99
  3. 101
  4. 104
  5. 111
Show answer
Answer: C. 101
Sorted sales: 60, 72, 80, 85, 98, 104, 118, 120, 130, 150. With ten values the median is the mean of the 5th and 6th: 98+1042=101\tfrac{98+104}{2}=101.
12 Easy ≈ 60th percentile
Advertising spend and sales, ten stores ($ thousands)
406080100120140160Sales0481216202428325, 608, 7210, 8012, 8515, 9818, 10420, 11822, 12025, 13030, 150Advertising
What is the mean advertising spend of the ten stores, in thousands of dollars?
  1. 15
  2. 16
  3. 16.5
  4. 17
  5. 18
Show answer
Answer: C. 16.5
5+8+10+12+15+18+20+22+25+30=1655+8+10+12+15+18+20+22+25+30=165, and 165/10=16.5165/10=16.5.
13 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
Revenue and costs by quarter ($ millions)
$0$40$80$120$160$200$120$95Q1$140$100Q2$160$130Q3$200$150Q4RevenueCosts
In which quarter was profit (revenue minus costs) highest?
  1. Q1
  2. Q2
  3. Q3
  4. Q4
Show answer
Answer: D. Q4
Profits: 25, 40, 30 and 50. Q4 is highest, although Q3 had higher costs than Q2.
14 Medium ≈ 85th percentile
Revenue and costs by quarter ($ millions)
$0$40$80$120$160$200$120$95Q1$140$100Q2$160$130Q3$200$150Q4RevenueCosts
By what percent did profit change from Q2 to Q3?
  1. It fell by 33%
  2. It fell by 25%
  3. It fell by 10%
  4. It rose by 10%
  5. It rose by 25%
Show answer
Answer: B. It fell by 25%
Profit went from 40 to 30: a fall of 1040=25%\tfrac{10}{40}=25\%. Revenue rose over the same quarter, which is the trap.
15 Hard ≈ 90th percentile
Revenue and costs by quarter ($ millions)
$0$40$80$120$160$200$120$95Q1$140$100Q2$160$130Q3$200$150Q4RevenueCosts
In which quarter was the profit margin (profit as a percent of revenue) highest?
  1. Q1
  2. Q2
  3. Q3
  4. Q4
Show answer
Answer: B. Q2
Margins: 25120=20.8%\tfrac{25}{120}=20.8\%, 40140=28.6%\tfrac{40}{140}=28.6\%, 30160=18.8%\tfrac{30}{160}=18.8\%, 50200=25%\tfrac{50}{200}=25\%. Q2 wins, even though Q4 has the largest profit.
16 Medium ≈ 75th percentile
Unemployment rate (%), Region A and Region B
0%2%4%6%8%10%12%20182019202020212022202320248%7.6%10.2%9.1%8.3%7.9%7.5%5.2%4.8%7.9%6.5%5%4.4%4.1%Region BRegion A
In which year was the gap between the two regions' rates smallest?
  1. 2018
  2. 2019
  3. 2020
  4. 2021
  5. 2024
Show answer
Answer: C. 2020
Gaps: 2.8, 2.8, 2.3, 2.6, 3.3, 3.5, 3.4 percentage points. The smallest, 2.3, is in 2020, the year both rates peaked.
17 Medium ≈ 85th percentile
Unemployment rate (%), Region A and Region B
0%2%4%6%8%10%12%20182019202020212022202320248%7.6%10.2%9.1%8.3%7.9%7.5%5.2%4.8%7.9%6.5%5%4.4%4.1%Region BRegion A
Region A's 2024 rate is approximately what percent below its 2020 peak?
  1. 38%
  2. 43%
  3. 48%
  4. 52%
  5. 93%
Show answer
Answer: C. 48%
7.9−4.17.9≈48%\tfrac{7.9-4.1}{7.9}\approx48\%. Dividing by the later value instead of the peak gives the trap answer 93%.
18 Hard ≈ 90th percentile
Unemployment rate (%), Region A and Region B
0%2%4%6%8%10%12%20182019202020212022202320248%7.6%10.2%9.1%8.3%7.9%7.5%5.2%4.8%7.9%6.5%5%4.4%4.1%Region BRegion A
If Region B's rate falls from 2024 to 2025 by the same number of percentage points as it did from 2023 to 2024, what will the 2025 rate be?
  1. 7.0%
  2. 7.1%
  3. 7.3%
  4. 7.4%
  5. 7.5%
Show answer
Answer: B. 7.1%
From 7.9 to 7.5 is a fall of 0.4 percentage points, so 2025 would be 7.1%.
19 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
Monthly visitors to a museum (thousands), January–June
304050607080JanFebMarAprMayJun423851607266
By approximately what percent did the number of visitors increase from February to May?
  1. 47%
  2. 71%
  3. 90%
  4. 112%
  5. 189%
Show answer
Answer: C. 90%
From 38 to 72 thousand: 72/38≈1.89572/38\approx1.895, an increase of about 90%. The 189% option is the ratio mistaken for the increase.
20 Medium ≈ 75th percentile
Monthly visitors to a museum (thousands), January–June
304050607080JanFebMarAprMayJun423851607266
What was the average (arithmetic mean) number of visitors per month from January to June, to the nearest thousand? Give your answer in thousands.
Show answer
Answer: 5555
42+38+51+60+72+66=32942+38+51+60+72+66=329, and 329/6≈54.8329/6\approx54.8, which rounds to 55 thousand.
21 Medium ≈ 85th percentile
Monthly visitors to a museum (thousands), January–June
304050607080JanFebMarAprMayJun423851607266
In how many months did the number of visitors change by more than 15% from the month before?
Show answer
Answer: 33
Month-on-month changes: Feb −9.5%-9.5\%, Mar +34.2%+34.2\%, Apr +17.6%+17.6\%, May +20.0%+20.0\%, Jun −8.3%-8.3\%. Three exceed 15%: March, April and May. April is the close one: 9 on a base of 51 is just over 17%.
22 Easy ≈ 70th percentile
Electricity generation by source, Country K (terawatt-hours)
0501001502002503001208040240201590100702602020501101202802025CoalGasRenewables
By approximately how many percentage points did renewables' share of total generation increase from 2015 to 2025?
  1. 19
  2. 22
  3. 26
  4. 30
  5. 34
Show answer
Answer: C. 26
Totals: 240 in 2015 and 280 in 2025. Shares: 40240≈16.7%\tfrac{40}{240}\approx16.7\% and 120280≈42.9%\tfrac{120}{280}\approx42.9\%. The increase is about 26 percentage points. Reading the tripling of renewable output as the answer ignores that the total grew too.
23 Medium ≈ 85th percentile
Electricity generation by source, Country K (terawatt-hours)
0501001502002503001208040240201590100702602020501101202802025CoalGasRenewables
For which of the sources was the share of total generation lower in 2025 than in 2020?

Select all that apply.

  1. Coal
  2. Gas
  3. Renewables
Show answer
Answer: A. Coal
2020 total 260, 2025 total 280. Coal: 34.6% to 17.9%, lower. Gas: 100260≈38.5%\tfrac{100}{260}\approx38.5\% to 110280≈39.3%\tfrac{110}{280}\approx39.3\%, slightly higher, because gas grew by 10% while the total grew by under 8%. Renewables: 26.9% to 42.9%. Only coal.
24 Medium ≈ 80th percentile
Electricity generation by source, Country K (terawatt-hours)
0501001502002503001208040240201590100702602020501101202802025CoalGasRenewables
Renewable generation by type, Country K, 2025 (terawatt-hours)
55 TWhWind55 TWh40 TWhSolar40 TWh25 TWhHydro25 TWh
Wind generation in 2025 was what percent of total generation that year? Give your answer to the nearest whole percent.
Show answer
Answer: 2020
Wind was 55 TWh (second graph) and total generation 280 TWh (first graph): 55280≈19.6%\tfrac{55}{280}\approx19.6\%, which rounds to 20. Dividing by the renewable total of 120 instead gives 46%, the share of renewables rather than of all generation.
25 Medium ≈ 75th percentile
Applicants and admitted students by graduate programme, 2024
ProgrammeApplicantsAdmitted
Economics1,250150
Engineering2,400360
Finance1,800162
Mathematics64096
Public Policy900162
Which programmes admitted a higher percentage of their applicants than the five programmes did combined?

Select all that apply.

  1. Economics
  2. Engineering
  3. Finance
  4. Mathematics
  5. Public Policy
Show answer
Answer: B. Engineering; D. Mathematics; E. Public Policy
Combined: 930 admitted of 6,990 applicants, about 13.3%. Rates: Economics 12%, Engineering 15%, Finance 9%, Mathematics 15%, Public Policy 18%. Engineering, Mathematics and Public Policy are above 13.3%.
26 Easy ≈ 70th percentile
Applicants and admitted students by graduate programme, 2024
ProgrammeApplicantsAdmitted
Economics1,250150
Engineering2,400360
Finance1,800162
Mathematics64096
Public Policy900162
Next year Engineering applicants increase by 20% and the number admitted stays at 360. What will the Engineering acceptance rate be, as a percent?
Show answer
Answer: 12.512.5
Applicants become 2400×1.2=28802400\times1.2=2880, and 3602880=0.125\tfrac{360}{2880}=0.125, or 12.5%. The rate falls by a factor of 1.2, not by 20%, which would give 12%.
27 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
Applicants and admitted students by graduate programme, 2024
ProgrammeApplicantsAdmitted
Economics1,250150
Engineering2,400360
Finance1,800162
Mathematics64096
Public Policy900162
Engineering's share of all admitted students across the five programmes is closest to which of these?
  1. 15\displaystyle \tfrac15
  2. 14\displaystyle \tfrac14
  3. 13\displaystyle \tfrac13
  4. 25\displaystyle \tfrac25
  5. 12\displaystyle \tfrac12
Show answer
Answer: D. 25\displaystyle \tfrac25
Admitted in total: 150+360+162+96+162=930150+360+162+96+162=930. 360930≈0.387\tfrac{360}{930}\approx0.387, closest to 25=0.4\tfrac25=0.4.
28 Easy ≈ 70th percentile
Employees by one-way commute time in minutes (200 employees)
0102030405060180–94610–195220–293830–392640–492050–59
The median commute time of the 200 employees falls in which interval?
  1. 0–9 minutes
  2. 10–19 minutes
  3. 20–29 minutes
  4. 30–39 minutes
  5. 40–49 minutes
Show answer
Answer: C. 20–29 minutes
The median is the mean of the 100th and 101st values in order. Cumulative counts: 18, 64, 116, … The 65th to 116th values lie in 20–29, so both do.
29 Hard ≈ 90th percentile
Employees by one-way commute time in minutes (200 employees)
0102030405060180–94610–195220–293830–392640–492050–59
Each commute time is a whole number of minutes. Which of the following could be the average (arithmetic mean) commute time of the 200 employees, in minutes?

Select all that apply.

  1. 22
  2. 24
  3. 28
  4. 32
  5. 33
Show answer
Answer: B. 24; C. 28; D. 32
The mean is least when every time sits at the bottom of its interval: 0⋅18+10⋅46+20⋅52+30⋅38+40⋅26+50⋅20200=4680200=23.4\tfrac{0\cdot18+10\cdot46+20\cdot52+30\cdot38+40\cdot26+50\cdot20}{200}=\tfrac{4680}{200}=23.4. It is greatest when every time sits at the top, 9 minutes more each: 32.4. Any value between is possible, so 24, 28 and 32 qualify; 22 and 33 do not.
30 Easy ≈ 65th percentile
Employees by one-way commute time in minutes (200 employees)
0102030405060180–94610–195220–293830–392640–492050–59
What fraction of the employees commute for 30 minutes or more? Give your answer as a fraction or a decimal.
Show answer
Answer: 2150\tfrac{21}{50}
38+26+20=8438+26+20=84 of 200, which is 84200=2150=0.42\tfrac{84}{200}=\tfrac{21}{50}=0.42.
31 Medium ≈ 80th percentile
Price index for food and housing (2020 = 100)
90100110120130202020212022202320242025100104108113119126100103111118121124HousingFood
In which years did the food index rise by more than 5 percent from the year before?

Select all that apply.

  1. 2021
  2. 2022
  3. 2023
  4. 2024
  5. 2025
Show answer
Answer: B. 2022; C. 2023
Food: 2021 +3.0%+3.0\%, 2022 111103−1≈7.8%\tfrac{111}{103}-1\approx7.8\%, 2023 118111−1≈6.3%\tfrac{118}{111}-1\approx6.3\%, 2024 +2.5%+2.5\%, 2025 +2.5%+2.5\%. Only 2022 and 2023. An index rise of 7 points from 111 is a smaller percentage than 8 points from 103.
32 Medium ≈ 80th percentile
Price index for food and housing (2020 = 100)
90100110120130202020212022202320242025100104108113119126100103111118121124HousingFood
By approximately what percent did the housing index rise from 2022 to 2025?
  1. 15%
  2. 17%
  3. 18%
  4. 20%
  5. 26%
Show answer
Answer: B. 17%
126108≈1.167\tfrac{126}{108}\approx1.167, a rise of about 17%. The index rose 18 points, but points equal percent only when measured from the base year's 100.
33 Medium ≈ 85th percentile
Price index for food and housing (2020 = 100)
90100110120130202020212022202320242025100104108113119126100103111118121124HousingFood
If the food index grows by 4 percent a year after 2025, in which year will it first be above 140?
  1. 2027
  2. 2028
  3. 2029
  4. 2030
  5. 2031
Show answer
Answer: C. 2029
From 124: 2026 ≈128.96\approx128.96, 2027 ≈134.12\approx134.12, 2028 ≈139.48\approx139.48, 2029 ≈145.06\approx145.06. 2028 falls just short, so the answer is 2029. Adding 4 points a year instead reaches exactly 140 in 2029 and passes it only in 2030, the trap option.

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