GRE · Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison · Germany

Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison for the GRE Exam — German candidates

8% of the GRE test plan. Quantitative Comparison (QC) items present two quantities and ask whether Quantity A is greater, Quantity B is greater, they are equal, or the relationship cannot be determined — requiring strategy over computation. Calibrated for German candidates.

Examiners do not award marks for content alone — they award them for the ability to demonstrate competency in the precise format the test demands. Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison sits at roughly 8% of the Graduate Record Examinations content distribution — Quantitative Comparison items make up roughly 40% of all GRE Quantitative questions (about 15 per section). They are the most distinctive GRE question type and require a fundamentally different approach than problem-solving: the goal is to determine the relationship between two quantities as efficiently as possible, not to calculate exact values. Mastering QC strategy — simplification, substitution of edge cases, and recognizing when a relationship is always/sometimes/never true — can dramatically improve Quant scores. Pass rates for the GRE are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For German candidates preparing for GRE, the calibration of study to local context matters: Germany operates Abitur for university entrance, Goethe / TestDaF for German proficiency, and various Cambridge tiers (FCE, CAE) for English.

Pass rates for GRE (Germany) are published periodically by the awarding body.

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

!Computing both quantities fully when simplification would determine the relationship in seconds
!Trying only one substitution value (often x = 2) when testing variables — always test x = 0, x = 1, x = −1, and a fraction
!Forgetting that if two different substitution values give different comparison results, the answer is automatically D (cannot be determined)
!Not cancelling equal quantities from both sides — any quantity that appears identically on both sides can be subtracted or divided out

Study tips

1Learn the four QC simplification techniques: (1) add/subtract the same value from both sides, (2) multiply/divide by the same positive value, (3) substitute numbers, (4) use algebraic simplification. Apply them in this priority order.
2Always test at least four values when a variable is present: 0, 1, −1, and 1/2. These cover cases where the comparison changes direction.
3If the relationship between two quantities depends on a constraint not given (e.g., "x > 0" is not stated when x is a variable), the answer is likely D.
4Practice 20 QC problems per session to build pattern recognition — certain algebraic structures recur frequently (absolute values, squares of variables, expressions with fractions).
5Deutsche Kandidaten, die für die GRE lernen, profitieren von einem klaren Studienplan; deutsche Lerngewohnheiten (systematisches Vorgehen, Karteikartenarbeit) sind hier ein Vorteil.

Sample GRE Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real GRE questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1
Quantity A: x² + 2x + 1. Quantity B: (x + 1)². (x is any real number)
- AQuantity A is greater
- BQuantity B is greater
- CThe two quantities are equalCorrect
- DThe relationship cannot be determined from the information given
Why this answer?
Quantity A: x² + 2x + 1 is the expanded form of (x+1)² by the binomial square formula. Quantity B is (x+1)². Therefore A = B for all real values of x. The answer is C. This tests recognizing the special binomial identity — no calculation needed. (Illustrative.)
2
Quantity A: |x − 3| when x = −2. Quantity B: |x + 3| when x = 2.
- AQuantity A is greater
- BQuantity B is greater
- CThe two quantities are equalCorrect
- DThe relationship cannot be determined
Why this answer?
Quantity A: |−2 − 3| = |−5| = 5. Quantity B: |2 + 3| = |5| = 5. The quantities are equal. This tests absolute value evaluation with negative inputs — a common QC sub-type.

Frequently asked questions

What does "the relationship cannot be determined" mean in practice?

Answer D is correct when no single relationship (A > B, B > A, or A = B) holds for all possible values of the variables. If you find one substitution where A > B and another where B > A, D is correct. If A = B for one substitution but A > B for another, D is correct.

Should I guess on QC questions or skip them?

The GRE does not penalize wrong answers. Never leave a question blank — always guess. For QC items where you're uncertain, eliminate obviously wrong choices and guess from the remaining. If the quantities involve variables with no constraints, D is slightly more likely than C.

What is the GRE pass rate for German candidates?

Pass rates for GRE candidates in Germany are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.

How long should German candidates study Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison for the GRE?

For most candidates, focused mastery of Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. Germany operates Abitur for university entrance, Goethe / TestDaF for German proficiency, and various Cambridge tiers (FCE, CAE) for English. Combine Quantitative: Quantitative Comparison study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

Practice GRE Verbal & Quant free with Koydo.

Adaptive practice, 4,000+ questions, AWA scoring built-in.

Start free GRE practice →Practice this topic with AI

Related study guides

Regulatory citation: ETS GRE General Test Preparation — Quantitative Reasoning question types and conventions.