Data Interpretation Cheats

The GMAT Quantitative section includes between two and four data interpretation questions which will always include a graph, chart, or data table. If you aren’t keen on data, and numbers to start with, this section can be very intimidating, so this week we’ve put together some ‘cheats’ that can boost your performance in this section; no numbers required.

1. Read all questions carefully, and take care not to mix percentages with raw numbers.
2. Whenever the question speaks of an “approximation” you can round off the numbers for faster calculations.
3. Read the data artifacts first, take a moment to consider what you’re seeing and then read the problem. This can help you solve the problem faster.
4. Do not rush. The majority of mistakes are not made from calculation mistakes, but from using the wrong data. Be sure of what the question is asking.

Ready to put those tips to the test? Log into JumboTests now and see how you prepared you are.