Data Sufficiency

Importance of Data Sufficiency in various exams

Questions from Data Sufficiency are quite common at many B-School exams like CAT, GMAT, XAT
and SNAP. In fact, in GMAT, data sufficiency questions account for almost half of the total questions
in the quantitative section. Most of the Data Sufficiency questions are based upon quantitative
concepts. However, it is important to note that only knowing the quantitative concepts is not
sufficient to ace the data sufficiency questions. It is important to understand cases in which it can be
concluded that the data given in sufficient.

Data Sufficiency Syllabus

With relation to CAT, Data Sufficiency questions most commonly appear from Number System. But
this does not mean you ignore topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration and Time, Speed &
Distance. The following is a list from where the Data Sufficiency Questions may appear in all exams:

 Number system
 Algebra
 Geometry
 Mensuration
 Percentage
 Profit and Loss
 Time, Speed & distance
 Permutation and Combination
 Probability
 Ratio and Mixtures

CAT
Data Sufficiency, a very important topic of the exam, tests the ability of a candidate to determine
whether a given set of data is sufficient to answer the question given. . All Data Sufficiency problems
have the same structure. They comprise three elements:

1. A stem
2. Two statements
3. The answer choices

The two statements are labeled as I and II. Each of the two statements entails certain information
that may or may not be related to the problem. The candidate has to determine whether the
information provided in the statements, either I or II or both I and II are sufficient to solve the
problem. The question stem may carry important information and requires you to read between the
lines. Statement II should be read independently of Statement I. The answer should satisfy both the
statements. In every question, the answer choices are exactly the same; therefore, it is important to
remember the answer choices to help you save time during the exam.

1. On which day of the week did Rahul reached Delhi?”

  Statement (1) Rahul’s brother reached Delhi a day before than Rahul.

 Statement (2) Rahul’s father reached Delhi on Thursday which was two days later than the
arrival of his brother.

2.  How is A related to B?

 B is the father of A.
 D is the brother of A.

3. Among four friends K, L, M, and N, who’s the heaviest?

 Statement (1) L is heavier than K but lighter than N.

 Statement (2) M is lighter than L

4. Many Indian experts think that India has a very meager oil reserve. Is that correct?

 Statement (1): India imports about 1.5 crore tons of crude oil every year.

 Statement (2): When foreign countries were recently invited to participate in exploration

and production activity in India, nearly 67 companies took up the offer.

5. Is my son 12 years old?

 Statement (1): Four years later, he will be 20 years younger than me

 Statement (2): Now I am 20 years older than him.

XAT
Question Analysis

Year No of Questions Good attempt Difficulty

2020 2 1 Moderate
2019 2 1 Moderate
2018 2 1 Easy - Moderate

Questions from Previous Years:

1. Is x a natural number?
(x)2 - 5x + 6 = 0
(x)2 + x - 6  = 0
 Statement 1: 5x is an integer
 Statement 2: x is a prime number

2. Is x a negative number?
  Statement 1: x > -5
 Statement 2: x > 5

3. Given that x = 5. What is the value of (y - z)?

 x, y and z are in Arithmetic Progression in the same order with common difference  
 x is the average of x, y and z.
 xy - xz = 20
 x + y =  y +  z

4. How long will it take for two pipes A and B to fill an empty cistern if they worked alternately
for an hour each?
 Statement 1: Working alone, Pipe A can fill the cistern in 40 hours
 Statement 2: Pipe B is one third as efficient as Pipe A

5. What is the value of X, if X and Y are two distinct integers and their product is 30?
 Statement 1: X is an odd integer.
 Statement 2: X > Y

GMAT

The Data Sufficiency (DS) section is extraordinarily apt for the GMAT, as it tests uniquely managerial
skills. It’s often more about logic and critical reasoning than deep mathematical knowledge or ability.
On the GMAT Quantitative section, you get 62 minutes for 31 questions—of these 31 questions,
approximately 11-13 will be Data Sufficiency questions. Furthermore, there are two kinds of data
sufficiency question: Yes/No and Value questions. We’ll see plenty of each type in the practice
problems below. Each practice problem illustrates an essential tip for success.

Some Questions from Previous Years:

1. A 25 m long wire is cut into 3 pieces. How long is the longest piece?
a. Two pieces are each 1 m shorter than the longest piece.
b. Two pieces of the wire are of the same length.
c. The longest piece of the wire is 12.5% more than the smallest piece.

2. What is the monthly income of Mr X?

a. Mr X spends 85% of his income on various items and remaining speed amount is
saved.
b. Monthly savings of Mr. X are Rs. 4500
c. Out of the total money spent by Mr. X in a month, one fifth is spent on food and
remaining amount of Rs. 20400 on other items.
3.   Who is the father of M?
a. A and B are brothers. 
b. B's wife is sister of M's wife.

4. The set S of numbers has the following properties:

a. If x is in S, then 1/x is in S
b. If both x and y are in S, then so is x + y. Is 3 in S?
 Statement 1: 1/3 is in S
  Statement 2: 1 is in S

5. Is t<0t<0?
a.  4t4t is an integer
b.  4t2+8t=04t2+8t=0
 Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer
the question asked
 Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer
the question asked
 Both Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked;
but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient
 EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question
 Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked,
and additional data specific to the problem are needed

SNAP
Question Analysis

Year No of Questions Good attempt Difficulty

2019 3 2 Difficult
2018 2 1 Moderate
0 - -
2017

1. The average of three quotations for a particular item is Rs.120. Is the

highest quotation less than or equal to Rs.139?
a. The lowest quotation is Rs.90
b. One of the Quotation is Rs.125.
2. How many people, read both Economic Times and Financial Express?
a. Out of 300 readers, 200 read financial express, 220 read Economic times
and 50 read Indian Express.
b. Out of total 300 readers, 200 read financial express, 220 read Economic
times and 50 read neither.
3. A bus started from bus stop P, developed engine trouble and reached bus
stop Q, 40 minutes late. What is the distance between bus stops P and Q?
a. The engine trouble developed after traveling 40 kms from Bus stop P and
the speed reduced to 1/4th of the original speed.
b. The engine trouble developed after traveling 40 kms from Bus stop P in
two hours and the speed reduced 1/4th of the original speed.
4. What is the value of prime number X?
a. X + Y is a two-digit number greater than 50.
 b. Y is a two-digit number.

How to deal with that topic preparation

Level 1

 Students are supposed to have basic knowledge on the properties of numbers.

 They should have an analytical mindset.
 Students need to have the skill to identify which type of concept is being used and find
solutions.

 Avoid making assumptions

 Always look for a definite answer

Level 2
 A firm knowledge of all topics under Quantitative Aptitude is necessary to excel in Data
Sufficiency.
 For a chapter like DS, the only way to master it is by practicing. The more you practice the
better you will be able to internalize the technique and strategy used for answering the
questions. It analyses the aptitude of a candidate to reason and distinguish important facts
from assumptions.

 All candidates should familiarize themselves with a systematic method to analyze the
answer choices. The questions of data sufficiency fall under one of the two categories:
mathematical or analytical/logical.
Level 3

Students need to look into problems which use multiple concepts to find the solution. Try to
answer questions from the advanced level of previous CAT papers, mock tests and materials.
And, try to attempt these questions on a time-based manner. Taking too much time for
advanced questions will be harmful to crack the exam. Finally, students need to practice as
much questions as they can to get a hold of the concepts and find solutions fast. Practice will
always help the student to crack the exam.

Approaching data sufficiency question:

There are two words involved in data sufficiency - "Data" and "Sufficiency". In every
question, you are going to get a sub-question followed by two statements (or data).
Using the two statements (or data) given in the question, you will be required to find
out if the data given is sufficient or not to solve the question.