Thoughts about GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions!

I remember the first time that I opened the Office Guide for GMAT Review. I stumbled upon the section named Data Sufficiency. To my surprise, these questions did not want me to solve the math problem; instead, my job was to figure out if I had enough information to solve the math problem.

Why you cannot take Data Sufficiency questions for granted?

For some students, including me, the data sufficency questions are usually the most difficult GMAT questions. Like many Americans, I found it difficult to stop solving the math problem after realizing that I had enough information to prove the problem could be solved. For example, these data sufficiency questions are probably not looking for you to solve the hypotenuse of the right triangle with sides of 8 and 15, but these questions might want you to recognize that a triangle with sides of 8 and 15 will produce a right triangle. Then you can move on to the next question; there is no reason to figure out that the hypotenuse of the previous triangle is 17.

Recently, I had a “GMAT prep instructor” that referred to data sufficiency questions as the following: “These questions resemble the raw materials that you need for someone else to complete the company’s project; remember, you are just gathering the necessary ingredients to get the job done; let the other employees complete the manual labor.” While you are completing data sufficiency questions, think of yourself as a company’s senior vice-president, who will delegate the work to someone else! I hope the previous example is clear to you.

The Data Sufficiency answers choices do not change

An example of a data sufficiency problem:

Is B a factor of 14?

1. B is a multiple of 7.

2. B is a positive integer less than 10.

Like any other GMAT questions, data sufficiency questions will have only five answer choices. Unlike other GMAT questions, data sufficiency answer choices do not change. Let me summarize each data sufficiency answer choice, but I will not write out the exact words of each answer choice. I do not need a lawsuit from the GMAT “gods.” Choice A asks if the information in statement 1 is enough to solve the problem. Choice B asks if the information in statement 2 is enough to solve the problem. Choice C asks if you need both statements to solve the problem. Choice D asks if each statement, 1 and 2, is sufficient to solve the problem. Choice E asks if neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is sufficient enough information to solve the problem.

The data sufficiency question listed above may not be difficult to solve. However, I wanted to provide an example of this type of question for those unfamiliar with data sufficiency questions. The correct answer is C. There are many multiples of 7, and there are 9 positive integers (numbers 1-9) less than 10. Remember, number 0 is neither a positive nor negative number. If you combine statements 1 and 2, then you will realize the only positive multiple of 7 that is less than 10 is 7, which is a factor of 14.

Conclusion

Data sufficiency can be difficult for you to master. Remember, your job is not to solve the problem, but you need to know if the problem can be solved. Once you are sure about your answer choice, do not be tempted to solve the math problem. This will only hinder you from completing the quantitative section in the 75 minutes.