The Data Sufficiency Section

Introduction
The GMAT test writers use the data sufficiency questions to test your ability to "reason quantitatively". This stands
in sharp contrast to the problem solving section which is designed to test how well you manipulate numbers. As a
result, if you find yourself doing much number crunching with the data sufficiency questions, you are doing
something wrong.
Math Concepts You Should Know
The data sufficiency questions cover the math areas that nearly every college-bound high school student will know.
In addition to basic arithmetic, you can expect questions which will test your knowledge of averages, fractions,
decimals, algebra, factoring, and basic geometry such as triangles, circles, and areas and volumes of simple
geometric shapes.
The Answer Choices
The GMAT's data sufficiency questions will all have the exact same answer choices. Memorize these answer
choices before you take the exam. It will help you better utilize your time in the quantitative section. The answer
choices are summarized below as you will see them on the GMAT exam.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

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 but neither statement is sufficient
alone.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient to answer the question asked and additional data is needed to
answer the statements.

Use Process of Elimination

If statement 1 is insufficient then choices A and D can be immediately eliminated.
Similarly, if statement 2 is insufficient, then choices B and D can be immediately eliminated.
If either statement 1 or 2 is sufficient on its own, then choices C and E can be eliminated.
A Simple 4 Step Process for These Questions
It seems a common mistake many test takers commit is to lack an exhaustive and analytical methodology to
analyzing these questions. A simple tendency to overlook a step in the process below can make a big difference in
the final quantitative score you will be reporting to your selected business schools.
1.) Study the questions carefully. The questions generally ask one of 3 things: 1) a specific value, 2) a range of
numbers, or 3) a true/false value. Make sure you know what the question is asking.
2.) Determine what information is needed to solve the problem. This will obviously vary depending on what
type of question is asked. To determine the area of a circle, you will need to know either the circle's diameter,
radius, or circumference.
3.) Look at each of the two statements independently of each other. Follow the process of elimination rules
covered above when considering each statement individually.
4.) If step 3 did not produce an answer, then combine the two statements. If the two statements combined
can answer the question, then the answer choice is C. Otherwise, E.
Data Sufficiency Tips and Strategies

Use only the information given in the questions. The GMAT CAT tries to measure your ability to distinguish
facts from careless assumptions. Do not rely on a visual assessment of a geometry question to determine angle
sizes, parallel lines, etc. Finally, do not carry any information from one question to the next. You can count on
seeing at least a few questions where a wrong selection is presented just to capitalize on this common fallacy.
Do not get bogged down with complicated or lengthy calculations. As we stated before, these questions are
designed to test your ability to think conceptually, not solve math problems.
Use process of elimination. This GMAT section lends itself perfectly to process of elimination. If time becomes
an issue, you can always look at the 2 statements in either order. Hence, if statement 1 is confusing, look at
statement 2 to help you eliminate incorrect answer choices.
Be on the lookout for statements that tell you the same thing in different words. When the 2 statements
convey the same exact information, you will know through process of elimination that your choices are D or E. A
favorite of the GMAT testers is to use ratios and percentages. Here is an example where Statement 2 simply states
backwards the exact same information provided by Statement 1.
1.
2.

x is 50% of y
the ratio of y:x is 2:1

Make real-world assumptions where necessary. The test makers will not try to trick you in this way with these
questions. However, you must assume in certain abstract questions such as "What is the value of x?" that x can be
a fraction and/or a negative number.
Practice, practice, practice. If you spend some time practicing these questions, you will be able to internalize
these tips and strategies. You will also become very comfortable with the questions from this portion of the test and
will quickly realize if there are any math areas such as geometry or algebra where you will need to brush up on
your skills. When it comes time to sit for the GMAT, you will want to know the important data relationships for the
various math areas tested.

GMAT Data Sufficiency Questions

Below are a sample set of data sufficiency questions similar to those found in the GMAT math section. Due to the
relatively small number of questions that we have published here, we strongly recommend that you only use these
to augment your GMAT preparations.
Use the following answer choices for the questions below.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

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 but neither statement is sufficient
alone.
Each statement alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statements 1 and 2 are not sufficient to answer the question asked and additional data is needed to
answer the statements.

1) If the average size of 3 accounts is $1 million, is the smallest account less than $500,000?
1.
2.

The largest account is $1.3 million.

One of the accounts is $0.7 million.

2) Is the product of x and y greater than 60?

1.
2.

The sum of x and y is greater than 60.

Each of the variables is greater than 2.

3) What is the value of y?

1.
2.

y-3=2
y2 = 25

4) What was the percent increase of Company A's stock between June 1 and June 30, 2000?
1.
2.

The stock gained $5 in value during June 2000.

The stock rose 12% during the first half of the month.

5) Al went to the mall and spent $100. How many items did he buy that cost $20?
1.
2.

All of Al's purchases were for items that cost $20 and $30.
Al bought more than one $30 item.

6) Which company reported the larger increase in earnings?

1.
2.

Company A reported that its earnings increased by 5%.

Company B reported that its earnings increased by 7%.

7) Is x a prime number?

1.
2.

x is an even number.
x can not be divided evenly by an odd number other than 1.

GMAT Data Sufficiency Answers

1) C. Recall that the sum of the 3 accounts is $3 million. If the largest is $1.3 million, then the sum of the other two
accounts must be $1.7 million. Since the second-largest account could be $1.29 million, then the smallest account
could be $0.41 million which is less than $0.5 million. Hence, Statement 1 by itself is insufficient. If we know the
value of 2 of the variables and the average for all three, then we can determine the value of the third variable. If the
largest is $1.3 million and the smallest is $0.7 million, then the third variable must be $1.0 million. With the value of
all 3 variables, we can quickly determine the value of the smallest variable.
2) C. Statement 1 by itself is not sufficient because one of the two variables could be a small fraction. (Think of
500 and 0.01.) Statement 2 by itself could yield the product of 3 and 4. However, when both are taken together, we
can definitively answer that this question can be answered "true".
3) A. Statement 1 is sufficient to determine that x equals 5. Statement 2 only tells us that x could be +5 or -5.
4) E. Each statement is insufficient on its own to answer this question. To determine the percent change, we would
need one of the pieces of additional information:
a.
b.
c.

The beginning stock price for the month.

The ending stock price for the month.
The percent change in the stock for the second half of the month.

5) A. There is only one combination of $20 and $30 items that will total $100 and that is two of each item. (It is OK
to make the reasonable "real world" assumption that you can not have fractions when buying items in a mall.) The
answer can not be C, because the second statement, by itself, could be interpreted to mean Al bought 3 $30 items
and 1 $10 item for a total of zero $20 items.
6) E. The question can not be answered with the statements provided. The question is asking for the actual
(dollar) increase and percents alone can not provide this. (It can be safely assumed in this type of problem that the
test writers are not looking for the percent increase.)
7) E. The question can not be answered with the statements provided. If x is an even number, then it can be 2,
which is a prime number. Statement 2 does not eliminate the possibility that x is an even number other than 2.