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GMAT Data Sufficiency Tips and Strategies 2024

GMAT Data Sufficiency questions require a distinct strategy to find solutions. Check GMAT Data Sufficiency question details and strategies to solve them.
authorImageShivani Kumari11 Jul, 2024
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GMAT Data Sufficiency Tips and Strategies 2024

GMAT Data Sufficiency: The GMAT Data Insights section includes five types of questions. In these questions, each problem presents a question alongside two statements. Candidates have to determine whether these statements, alone or together, provide enough information to answer the related question.

When attempting the GMAT Data Sufficiency section, candidates don’t necessarily need to solve the question like in other sections of the exam. The Data Sufficiency section mainly requires candidates to assess if the statement provides sufficient data for answering the question.

Understanding GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions

The GMAT Data Sufficiency questions are designed to evaluate candidates' business management abilities. In every business sector, professionals have to solve real-life problems with limited resources or data. This way, the GMAT Data Sufficiency questions simulate scenarios where complete information is often unavailable or is constrained by time and resources. This section also mirrors real-world challenges where decision-making depends on determining if the provided data is adequate for reaching conclusions or solutions.

What to Expect in GMAT Data Sufficiency Section?

Data Sufficiency is a crucial part of the GMAT Quantitative Reasoning section. These questions constitute roughly half of the total questions in this segment. They typically comprise around 15 out of 31 questions in the quant section. However, the exact number of data sufficiency questions can vary in GMAT. Therefore, a substantial portion of a candidate's quant score is based on their performance in the data efficiency questions.

Strategies to Solve GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions

Here are recommended strategies to solve GMAT Data Sufficiency questions:

  • Analyse Each Sentence Separately

Candidates should evaluate each sentence separately before considering them together. It's crucial to analyse whether each statement alone provides enough data to answer the question posed. Candidates must also avoid the common error of carrying over information from the first statement to the second.

A helpful strategy for Data Sufficiency questions is to analyse the short sentences first and then move to complex sentences. This approach helps in systematically assessing the sufficiency of each statement before exploring their combined impact.

  • Avoid Calculation in Each Question

Test-takers often attempt to compute the values of the provided question step-by-step, which is unnecessary and impractical during the GMAT. Therefore, candidates should primarily focus on determining whether it is possible to derive an answer using the provided information and refrain from calculating specific answers. The key to scoring well in GMAT Data Sufficiency lies in assessing whether the information provided allows for the derivation of a solution conceptually. This strategic approach, grounded in building equations and analysing scenarios rather than calculating exact values, suffices to answer the question effectively.

  • Understand the Question Type

GMAT Data Sufficiency questions can be categorised into two types: value questions and yes/no questions. Value questions require determining a specific numerical value (e.g., what is the value of 5x?). In such cases, if either statement provides sufficient information to calculate a definite numerical value, that statement alone is considered sufficient. Yes/no questions, on the other hand, inquire whether something is true or not. For yes/no questions, a clear and definitive answer of either yes or no from either statement indicates sufficiency. Statements that yield answers that could be either yes or no, depending on circumstances, are deemed insufficient.

  • Use Simple Numbers

To effectively tackle GMAT data sufficiency questions, test-takers can employ the strategy of using strategic numbers for variables in equations. This method is particularly useful for questions seeking algebraic solutions or expressions. When substituting numbers, candidates must opt for simple integers that align with the problem's constraints. For example, if the question specifies using multiples of 3, select numbers like 6 or 9 instead of more complex choices such as 54 or 63 to facilitate easier arithmetic operations.

  • Focus on Sufficiency

Candidates should focus on sufficiency when tackling these questions during the GMAT exam. Unlike other problem-solving sections, where the goal is to find the definitive correct answer, in Data Sufficiency questions, the aim is to determine whether there is enough information available to arrive at an answer. Sometimes, the answer to this question may indeed be "no," indicating that the provided data is insufficient to make a conclusive determination. PW GMAT Online Coaching offers regular live classes to help candidates learn various tips and tricks for effective problem-solving. Join PW GMAT Coaching Class to strategically prepare for the exam under the guidance of experts and resolve doubts to enhance exam scores.

Also Read

GMAT 2024 Exam Date GMAT 2024 Registration GMAT 2024 Syllabus
GMAT 2024 Exam Pattern GMAT 2024 Preparation GMAT 2024 Cut Off
GMAT 2024 Admit Card GMAT 2024 Result GMAT 2024 Mock Test

GMAT Data Sufficiency FAQs

What are the 5 options in data sufficiency?

5 options presented in GMAT Data Sufficiency questions are- A – Statement (1) alone is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient. B – Statement (2) alone is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient. C – Both statements together are sufficient, but neither statement alone is sufficient. D – Each statement alone is sufficient. E – Neither statement alone nor both statements together are sufficient.

How many data sufficiency questions are in GMAT?

GMAT includes nearly 15 data sufficiency questions.

How to crack data sufficiency in GMAT?

To crack data sufficiency in GMAT, candidates must separately analyse each question, compute answers by plugging simple values, memorise the answer options, and avoid unnecessary calculations.

Is data sufficiency asked in GMAT?

Yes, Data Sufficiency is a crucial part of the GMAT Quant section. Candidates must strategically prepare and learn to solve the GMAT DS questions.
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