GMAT Math

Your situation is very common among people preparing for the GMAT. The truth of the matter is that EVERYONE struggles with Data Sufficiency (DS) questions at first. Keep in mind that this question type is unique to the GMAT, so it's totally foreign territory.

It just takes time for the concepts and strategies to become secondary, at which point you may come to find that DS questions are actually easier than Problem Solving questions.

I could start listing dozens of DS strategies and common mistakes (like confusing the answer to sufficiency question to the answer to the target question), but it's easier to just direct you to our free set of 16 videos that cover everything you need to know to tackle DS questions: https://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat-data-sufficiency

Cheers,
Brent

Hi jeph86,

Data Sufficiency is the question type that is unique to the GMAT, and many Test Takers find them to be challenging questions (at first), so you're not alone. DS questions are predictable though, and the math behind most of them is fairly easy to deal with - as such, you have to learn the necessary Tactics and practice the little 'steps' that you'll have to consistently work through to get the correct answer.

1) Other than the OG, what practice materials have you been using for DS?
2) How long have you been studying?
3) How have you scored on your CATs (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores)?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Because DS is a question type unique to the GMAT, most students will initially perform worse on those questions at first, until they learn proper DS technique. You have to learn how to:
a) frame / rephrase the question correctly
b) analyze the statements with the correct mindset: trying to prove insufficiency

Here are the biggest problems I see students having with DS questions:

- Mixing up what they know with what they're wondering (i.e. assuming that the question is true and/or testing the validity of the statements). You always have to take the statements as irrefutable facts, and see what they tell you about the question.

- Not considering multiple cases. If you're testing numbers, be sure to consider negatives, fractions, square roots, and zero in addition to the postitive integers that tend to spring to mind first.

- The "Value Fallacy" - thinking you always need to solve for the value of the variable to answer the question. Most of the time with yes/no questions, you won't need a definitive value to get a sufficient answer of "yes" (or much less commonly, "no"). Especially if the question asks for a proportion (percent, ratio, or fraction), it's unlikely that you'll need a value to answer it.

- Falling for the "C trap." This is what we call it when students combine the statements too quickly without considering them individually. If it seems too obvious that the statements together are sufficient, then one of the statements is probably sufficient on its own.

- Statement carryover - accidentally using what you learned from statement 1 when you're evaluating statement 2.

Here are a few articles to help you think through these questions in the right way:

https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog/ ... ncy-works/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... questions/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ncy-traps/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... est-cases/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... fficiency/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... aw-it-out/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... tatements/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ust-right/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... at-part-1/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... ms-part-1/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... -part-1-2/
https://www.manhattanprep.com/gmat/blog ... fficiency/

Hi jeph86,

The OG is a great book for practice questions, but it's not really designed to teach you Tactics, patterns or any of the little 'secrets' to the GMAT. As such, you're going to need additional resources during your studies. Given your initial CAT score, you'll likely need a GMAT Course of some type (either Guided Self-Study or instructor-led).

1) What is your goal score?
2) When are you planning to take the GMAT?

3) What School(s) are you planning to apply to?
4) When are you planning to apply?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi jeph86,

While your score goal is reasonable, your last practice CAT score shows that you have a LOT of work to do to reach that goal. With an April 6th Test Date, you only have about a month of study time, which is probably not going to be enough for you to hit a 600. You should absolutely continue to study because your overall goals ARE achievable, but to be practical - you also have to consider alternatives to this current plan.

1) When would the next application deadline be after April 15th?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi jeph86,

While it's understandable that you probably want to start your Program sooner rather than later, the July 15th application deadline would give you far MORE time to study for the GMAT (and a greater chance to improve your score).

1) Although you didn't state the exact date, did you take your first CAT sometime in the last week (or was it further back)?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Hi jeph86,

Since that CAT was taken about 5 weeks ago, it would be a good idea for you to take a new FULL-LENGTH CAT (with the Essay and IR sections), so that we can get a sense of how well your studies are going. That score result will give us an idea of how well you've improved by approaching this process "your way" and what you need to focus on going forward. As such, I suggest that you take that CAT sometime soon (perhaps this weekend) and that you report back here once you have those results.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich