Data sufficiency:

If you are confident that you understand the problem but find yourself
struggling with proving or disproving (1) and (2), it's probably E.

Data Sufficiency is a challenge that is unique to the GMAT. You won't find a
Data Sufficiency problem anywhere else in the world, but if you want a
respectable score on the Quantitative part of the test, you'll need to spend
a lot of time getting comfortable with the Data Sufficiency question type.

The Data Sufficiency Format

If you're a complete novice, it's necessary to familiarize yourself with the

basic format. Here's what a Data Sufficiency item looks like:

If x is positive, is x a prime number?

(1) x is odd.
(2) x < 8

There are three important components to any DS question:

 Information given in the question. Here, we know that x is positive.

That will never change. (There isn't always information given in the
question.)
 The question itself. We want to know whether x is prime.

 The statements. (1) and (2) give us information that may or may not
allow us to answer the question.

The Process

Evaluate each statement on its own. If there is information given in the

question, keep that in mind as well.

First, look at (1). Using (1) alone, we know that x is positive, and that it
is odd. Is that enough information to answer the question? If x is a positive
odd number, it could be prime: for instance, if x = 3. However, it might not
be prime: for instance, if x = 9. Thus, we say that statement (1) is
insufficient.

Next, look at (2) alone. The tricky part is that you have to temporarily
forget what you learned in (1). (It may sound easy, but I absolutely
guarantee you that you'll make this mistake at least once, and probably many
more times than that.)

Again, we're also considering information given in the question. Here, then,
we know that x is positive, and that it is less than 8. If x is greater than
0 and less than 8, is it prime? Again, we don't know. It could be 3, which is
prime, but it could be 4, which is not. Further, we don't know that x is an
integer, which opens up the possibility that x is, say, 2.5. So, statement
(2) is insufficient.

Putting the Statements Together

If both statements are insufficient on their own, we must consider both of

them together. Here, we have all of the information available to us: x is
positive, it is odd, and it is less than 8. The only possible values for x
are 1, 3, 5, and 7.
Still, however, we don't have enough information. While 3, 5, and 7 are
prime, 1 is not a prime. The statements, when taken together, are still
insufficient.

The Choices

One thing that makes Data Sufficiency more manageable is that the choices
never change: They are the same on every single DS item. Here they 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) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

(I wrote more about the choices, and some additional tricks you can use to
navigate them, in this article.

In the question we just worked through, the correct choice was (E).

Data Sufficiency Strategies

I've written a few other articles on Data Sufficiency, but to keep things
short, here are some pieces of advice to start with:

 Don't calculate except when necessary. You only need to know whether
the statements are sufficient, not what the value of x is.
 Simplify everything. Often, the questions are needlessly complex, but
if you spend a few seconds looking for what you really need to know,
you can make the question much simpler.

 Don't pick numbers as your default strategy. (See: The Perils of

Picking Numbers.)

When you're starting out, Data Sufficiency can seem very daunting, but keep
practicing. By the time you take the test, you should be handling DS
questions faster than Problem Solving items (because you don't have to
calculate), and the format will be second nature.

Data Sufficiency Tips:

 Be very familiar with the answer choices. No excuses: On Data
Sufficiency, they’re always the same! Know in the blink of an eye what
choice C is. On test day, if you find that Statement 1 is insufficient,
be able to cross out choices A and D without hesitation.
 Get in the habit of writing down what you absolutely need in order to
find certain quantities. Each statement alone will be sufficient if
both of the statements on their own contain all the information
necessary to answer the question. The statements will be sufficient
together if they contain every piece of necessary information between
them. Take the area of a parallelogram, for example. Do you need to
 know every side length to determine the area? If you have every side
length, can you find the area?

 Train yourself not to look at the statements together. Statement 2 may

tell you that x is negative, but that fact has no bearing on Statement
1 when viewed by itself. Explore all the possibilities offered by each
statement individually. If you’ve scrutinized Statement 1 and found it
sufficient, be equally merciless when it comes to Statement 2. Don’t
let it off the hook just because it doesn’t contradict Statement 1.

 Remember that important information is often buried in the prompt.

Don’t pay so much attention to the statements that you forget the rest
of the question. Often, half the information that you need is in the
set-up.

 Know when it’s actually necessary to solve single-variable equations.

If the question asks for the value of x and you whittle the problem
down to an equation like 305x = 2(500) – 10205, don’t waste your time
solving for x! It’s only important to know that you COULD solve if you
wanted to. Remember, all linear one-variable equations have a unique
solution, but quadratic equations—equations with an x^2 term—can have
zero, one, or two solutions.

Quick Tips for Data Interpretation

In gleaning data from a chart, graph or table, it's remarkably easy to
inadvertently grab your data from the wrong graph, bar, line, etc. This is
the #1 cause of incorrect responses in CAT Data Interpretation. To avoid this
blunder, point your finger/pencil to the data you want; put your
finger/pencil directly against the question paper and keep it there until
you're sure you're looking at the right part of the right chart or graph.

Check to see if the question asks for an approximation. If so, you can safely
estimate numbers by rounding off.

CAUTION:

1. When rounding off fractions, round the numerator and denominator in the
same direction (either up or down); otherwise you'll distort the value of the
fraction.

2. Don't confuse percentages with raw numbers. Always ask yourself which type
of number the chart or graph is providing, and which type the question is
asking for.

3. It's okay to rely on visual approximations when it comes to reading bar

graphs and line charts. The test-makers are not out to test your eyesight. So
if two or more answer choices come very, very close to your solution, rest
assured that you needn't estimate values more precisely.

Take 15-30 seconds right up front to assimilate and make sense of the chart,
graph, or table and be sure to read all the information around it. Get a
sense for what the variables are and how they relate to one another, before
you tackle the questions.

Data may be represented in a number of complex forms, and hence solving Data
Interpretation problems becomes far more difficult. There is no fixed format
for solving such problems, and each has to be tackled in its own distinct
way. Thus, to answer such questions correctly, it is essential to practice
all types of Data Interpretation exercises a number of times, so as to be
familiar with all the data presentation types. Yet, there are some primary
guidelines that can always be followed:

Tips on Solving DATA INTERPRETATION Problems :

a) Read the data very carefully, as the smallest detail may change the
meaning of the question completely. Similarly, the instructions have to be
understood carefully to prevent wasting time in calculating data that is not
required, and also to find out exactly what is the answer that is sought.

b) Try to understand the data provided carefully, before jumping to answer

the questions. The questions are designed to be deceptive, and proper
understanding of the requirements is a must. If the Data Interpretation is of
the Combined variety or if there are more than one data table/charts/graphs,
try to understand the relation between the given tables. For Example, one
table may talk about absolute sales figures, while the other table may talk
of sales as a percentage of production. Hence, any question on excess
production or Goods in stock, will require data from both tables.

c) Be very careful of the units used in the tables, and the units in which
the answers (options) are provided. A mistake in the units may yield an
entirely different answer. Also be careful of whether the answer is required
in decimal or percentage. Such errors are common and easily avoidable.

Reading comprehension:

GMAT Reading comprehension is a part of the verbal section. You will find
very less guidance material on the internet or in the books. We know that you
need some guidance on Reading Comprehension and so after filtering the whole
internet and the verbal books and the experiences of the top scorers we are
able to find TOP 10 GMAT READING COMPREHENSION TIPS AND STRATEGIES.

Here is a list of Top 10 Reading Comprehension Tips and Strategies and

Pointers that should be remembered when dealing with the GMAT Reading
Comprehension:

1. Read between the Paragraphs

GMAT examiners are smart people, they know that you are nervous, you are in
an alien environment and you can easily fool. Now think how can you be
fooled, simple giving you simple GMAT Reading Comprehension and to read but
tricking you in the questions and answer choices. Mostly it has been seen
that whenever GMAT gives you a simple RC you have 90% inference base
questions. The questions are simple and looks that you have seen the answer
and you will find he lines in the choices that you have just read in the
passage. Sadly, you have chosen the wrong answer.

Remember: Read between the line of the passage and never mark the choice that
repeats the line in the passage. Inference base question always need a new
evidence to answer the question.

2. Read for Author’s Main Idea and Primary Purpose

GMAT Reading Comprehension may be tough and may be simple. The only thing to
remember is the Author’s Main Idea and Primary Purpose. Without the Author’s
Main Idea and Primary Purpose you may not be able to answer any question. The
faster you are able to get Author’s Main Idea and Primary Purpose the faster
you will solve the RC questions correctly. Author’s Main Idea and Primary
Purpose is generally found in the last paragraph.

3. Create a thought flowchart by writing down the Main Idea and Primary
purpose after each paragraph.

Moving to the next point, to make it easier to find the Main Idea and Primary
purpose of the passage always use the scratch paper to write down the Main
Idea and Primary purpose of each and every paragraph. This would help you
know each paragraph purpose and the contribution towards the whole
comprehension. Some time the idea changes in a single paragraph and you might
miss those points and mark wrong choices. So write down about each paragraph

4. The Main Idea of the passage is the repeated idea in each of the Main
ideas (of the paragraphs)

How to find you have chosen the right Main idea. If you have carefully
followed the last point than you can very easily find the correct main idea
of the whole passage. This is how you will find the main idea. The Main Idea
will repeat itself in most of the paragraphs. Follow the steps and you RC
life will be easy.

5. The primary purpose is mostly the Primary purpose of the concluding

paragraph.

If you have been careful you will find that have discussed this point before
this also. GMAT examiners are smart. Know Why? They know that you will be
stuffed till the end if the passage so they put the Primary purpose in the
end. That’s why you should be alert and write down Primary purpose and main
idea of each paragraph.

6. Classify the passages

Always classify the passages. Generally GMAT Reading comprehension can be

classified in three main categories. Want to know the three main categories?
Here they are:

1. Explanatory (Mostly Science passages, explain one theory/phenomenon

in detail)
2. Comparative (two or more point of views on a theory/topic. Doesn’t
go in much detail)

3. Argumentative (Subjective, opinionated. Mostly social science /

business topics. Pros and cons of a topic with author’s views on
them)

7. Paraphrase the text to simplify (especially Questions and choices).

GMAT is a test of English, no need to remind you that but the thing to keep
in mind is the Paraphrase of the text. The better you understand what you are
dealing with the higher the GMAT score. Sometime GMAT ask you simple question
but camouflage it with difficult word and complex situations. Paraphrase the
text and answer the question easily.

8. Don’t over read. Skip examples, dates, lengthy names, any details
which can be referred in case something is asked explicitly.

Read the passage carefully but don’t waste your time remembering the data or
understanding the complex English. Simply skim the passage and only remember
the details that you need to know. Don’t try to remember that are explicitly
stated in the passage. You can get that detail when needed. Remember the
details that are not stated and are implicitly stated in the passage.

9. Don’t go for choices which hold true only for one part of the
author’s argument.

Famous GMAT trick and the GMAT examiner are often lucky enough to fool you.
Simply you are given the statement that is either explicitly stated in the
passage or refer only the part of the argument to be true. Always remember if
the question is divided in two parts than the answer choice should also
support both the parts

10. Don’t go for choices which exaggerate the author’s conclusion.

Sometime in GMAT Reading Comprehension the questions asked are about the
author. Don’t use your own knowledge about the subject or don’t answer based
on the sentiments. Only use the information mention in the passage. Don’t
answer the question because .it holds true in the real world. Leave your real
world outside the examination room. Answer only through the passage and don’t
use your brain too much.

Reading comprehension:

1. Reading the questions, skip the first one or get its' content.

2. After reading a question, return to the paragraph.At this time, you

will use scanning and skimming skills ,try to locate where the answer
is .Normally, the answers will following one by one so you can save a
little time.

3. After completing all the answers, you return back to the first
one.Because the first answer is usually a general question.So after you
answer the others , you will easy to finish this one.

The Reading Comprehension question type on the GMAT requires you to

read passages that are up to 350 words long (about a page) and answer a
small number of questions about them. The verbal section of the GMAT is
75 minutes long, during which time you are likely to see between 3 and
5 reading passages, each with 3-4 questions each. In rare cases, a
passage will have only 2 questions attached.

Because the GMAT is an adaptive test, there is no guarantee about how

many RC questions any given test-taker will see on the exam. The
passage appears on the left side of the screen, with a scroll bar if it
runs more than one screen. The questions appear one by one, on the
right side of the screen. Thus, the passage is always visible to test-
takers while working on questions. GMAT passages may be about the
physical or biological sciences, social science, the humanities
(history, art, archaeology), or business topics, such as economic
models, marketing strategies, or human resource theories. If you are
ready to test your knowledge check out the sample Reading Comprehension
questions here.