(I hope a similar topic doesn't exist yet, otherwise please merge it.)
I recently found a technique how to tackle Data Sufficiency questions which helped me to boost my score in that area. I am looking for more such techniques, tricks, and workarounds for specific question types (or whole areas) and thought it would be useful if everyone shared his/her own and we put it together in one place so people can cherry-pick what's useful for them.
It doesn't matter whether it's your own technique or whether you found/learned it somewhere else. It might even be just general knowledge or common sense. It also doesn't matter whether the technique is helpful for everyone or only you. There might be someone who can benefit from it.
I will start...
1-2-TEN/1-2-C Technique for Data Sufficiency questions
Again, this is not my own technique but it's based on Kaplan and BeatTheGMAT, so many of you will know it already. However, I found it highly valuable for me so I will list it here. It's actually 2 techniques combined: Encoding the answer choices (Kaplan) and using a structured elimination method (BeatTheGMAT), and giving it an easy to remember name so it can easily me memorized for the exam.
The technique addresses the following issues of DS questions:
1. The five standard answer choices A-E are lengthy and hard to remember; practicing DS questions I regularly found myself flipping back in the book to see what answer a letter stands for.
2. While everyone knows eliminating answers is good, having a structured approach to eliminate answers is better, because a) you might be able to eliminate several answers in a bunch and b) you can make sure to not miss any potential combination (I sometimes found myself too early deciding for eg. answer A) because the first statement was sufficient, forgetting to check for answer D) each statement is sufficient).
3. Some elimination approaches are not easy to remember, such as the decision tree in the OG.
The technique
Elimination Technique for Roman Numeral questions
This simple technique is so super drop-dead logical that I almost hate myself for not getting the idea myself. Instead, I found it in this Kaplan video on YouTube.
Roman Numeral questions ask to identify statements as true or false based on the information given in the question stem. Example:
The technique
Rather than testing all statements one after another, start with the statement that occurs most frequently in the answer choices. This way, for many questions, you will be able to eliminate several answer choices at once by only testing one statement, sometimes even narrowing it down to only one answer choice left---which must be the correct one then. Otherwise, if you need to continue eliminating, proceed in the same way or (if all remaining statement occur equally frequently in the remaining answer choices, proceed with the statement that is most easy to solve).
A good example can be found in this Kaplan video on YouTube.
I recently found a technique how to tackle Data Sufficiency questions which helped me to boost my score in that area. I am looking for more such techniques, tricks, and workarounds for specific question types (or whole areas) and thought it would be useful if everyone shared his/her own and we put it together in one place so people can cherry-pick what's useful for them.
It doesn't matter whether it's your own technique or whether you found/learned it somewhere else. It might even be just general knowledge or common sense. It also doesn't matter whether the technique is helpful for everyone or only you. There might be someone who can benefit from it.
I will start...
1-2-TEN/1-2-C Technique for Data Sufficiency questions
Again, this is not my own technique but it's based on Kaplan and BeatTheGMAT, so many of you will know it already. However, I found it highly valuable for me so I will list it here. It's actually 2 techniques combined: Encoding the answer choices (Kaplan) and using a structured elimination method (BeatTheGMAT), and giving it an easy to remember name so it can easily me memorized for the exam.
The technique addresses the following issues of DS questions:
1. The five standard answer choices A-E are lengthy and hard to remember; practicing DS questions I regularly found myself flipping back in the book to see what answer a letter stands for.
2. While everyone knows eliminating answers is good, having a structured approach to eliminate answers is better, because a) you might be able to eliminate several answers in a bunch and b) you can make sure to not miss any potential combination (I sometimes found myself too early deciding for eg. answer A) because the first statement was sufficient, forgetting to check for answer D) each statement is sufficient).
3. Some elimination approaches are not easy to remember, such as the decision tree in the OG.
The technique
- Step 1-2-TEN: Simply write down these five characters as an easier to remember coding for the answer choices A-E:
1: Statement 1 alone is sufficient
2: Statement 2 alone is sufficient
T: Both statements together are sufficient but neither alone is sufficient
E: Each statement alone is sufficient
N: Neither statement is sufficient
(Of course, you would only write down "1-2-T-E-N" but not the explanations) - Step 1-2-C: Check the first statement, check the second statement, check the combined statement (if necessary):
a) For both statements, check if they are sufficient. If the statement is sufficient, you can strike from your list the other statement (1 or 2 respectively), as well as "T" and "N". If the statement is insufficient, you can strike from your list that statement as well as "E". In many cases, this will already lead to a solution.
b) If both statements alone are insufficient, check the combination of the two statements. If the combination is sufficient, the answer is "T" (decoded it's "C", of course), otherwise it's "N" (decoded "E")
Elimination Technique for Roman Numeral questions
This simple technique is so super drop-dead logical that I almost hate myself for not getting the idea myself. Instead, I found it in this Kaplan video on YouTube.
Roman Numeral questions ask to identify statements as true or false based on the information given in the question stem. Example:
Same as with the Data Sufficiency questions, while eliminating answers is good, having a structured approach to eliminate answers is better, because you might be able to eliminate several answers in a bunch.In which of the following pairs are the two numbers equivalent?
I. (3^0.5)^2 and 1/81
II. 7^-1 and -(1/7)
III. 3^3 x 3^3 and 243
(A) None
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II
(E) I, II, and III
The technique
Rather than testing all statements one after another, start with the statement that occurs most frequently in the answer choices. This way, for many questions, you will be able to eliminate several answer choices at once by only testing one statement, sometimes even narrowing it down to only one answer choice left---which must be the correct one then. Otherwise, if you need to continue eliminating, proceed in the same way or (if all remaining statement occur equally frequently in the remaining answer choices, proceed with the statement that is most easy to solve).
A good example can be found in this Kaplan video on YouTube.
