Section guide · QR
DAT Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
The last section of the day: 40 questions in 45 minutes. The math is high-school level; the challenge is speed, careful reading and the basic on-screen calculator.
How the section is built
40 questions in 45 minutes, about 68 seconds each. Topics are mixed together rather than grouped, so each question starts from scratch.
A basic on-screen calculator is available in this section only. It does arithmetic and square roots, not graphs or scientific functions, and it is slower to use than a handheld one.
QR comes after the scheduled break, at the end of a sitting that runs well over four hours, so stamina matters as much as the math.
What it tests
Algebra
Equations and inequalities, expressions, exponents and roots, absolute value, ratios and proportions, and graphs of lines and simple functions.
Data analysis and interpretation
Reading tables and charts, and judging what data can and cannot tell you.
Quantitative comparison
Two quantities side by side: which is larger, are they equal, or is there not enough information to say.
Probability and statistics
Counting, combinations and permutations, simple and compound probability, and mean, median, mode and spread.
Applied mathematics
Word problems on rates, work, mixtures, percentages, interest, ages and unit conversions.
How to practise it
- 01Rebuild the basics first: fractions, percentages, exponents and unit conversions done quickly by hand.
- 02Practise with a basic four-function calculator, not a scientific one, so you know which steps are faster on screen and which are faster on paper.
- 03Learn the standard setups for word problems - rate times time, combined work, mixtures - so you recognise them in the first read.
- 04Sit timed sets at 68 seconds a question and track which topics cost you the most time, not just which ones you miss.
- 05Take at least some practice sections at the end of a long study day, to get used to doing arithmetic tired.
Common mistakes
Using the calculator for everything
Clicking through simple arithmetic on screen is slower than doing it by hand, and every entry is a chance for a typo.
Sinking time into one word problem
A long word problem is worth the same as a quick algebra question. If the setup is not clear in the first pass, mark it and move on.
Answering a different question
Solving for x when the question asks for 2x, or giving a percentage when it asks for a fraction. Re-read the last line before you choose.
Assuming in quantitative comparison
If a variable could be negative, zero or a fraction, test those cases before you decide one quantity is always larger.
How it is scored
Quantitative Reasoning is reported as one 200-600 score for all 40 questions and is one of the five scores in the Academic Average. The ADA reports a first-time mean of about 411 (DAT User's Manual 2026, tests taken March to December 2025).
With only 40 questions, each one is a large share of the score, so a single careless miss shows up more here than in the longer sections.
The ADA does not publish the table that turns correct answers into a 200-600 score, so every practice score is an estimate. How DAT600 estimates a score explains ours, and the DAT score calculator turns a raw score into an estimate with its range.
QR questions
How many questions are in DAT Quantitative Reasoning?
40 questions in 45 minutes.
Is there a calculator on DAT QR?
Yes, a basic on-screen calculator, and Quantitative Reasoning is the only DAT section that has one.
What math is on DAT Quantitative Reasoning?
Algebra, data analysis and interpretation, quantitative comparison, probability and statistics, and applied word problems. It is high-school level math.
How much time do I get per QR question?
About 68 seconds on average.
When is QR on test day?
It is the last section, after Reading Comprehension and the optional scheduled break.
Other sections
See QR on the real screen.
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