Data Insights Ep. 9: How to Approach Data Sufficiency

Struggling with Data Sufficiency questions on the Data Insights section of the GMAT Focus Edition? Unsure how to structure your studying for this question type? Looking for some pointers on a general approach? If so, you've found the right video.

In this lesson, Charles -- the original GMAT Ninja, and owner of a perfect 800 GMAT score -- presents both an analysis and a general approach for Data Sufficiency questions. Some key points discussed include the following: 1) Data Sufficiency questions focus on logic/reasoning over heavy calculation 2) Data Sufficiency questions tend to be word problems with real-world scenarios 3) Be aware of the calculator but don't over-rely on it 4) Develop a systematic approach to avoid lethal careless errors

This is video #9 in our full-coverage series for the Data Insights section of the new GMAT Focus Edition. For updates on upcoming videos, please subscribe!

Chapters:
00:02 Introduction
04.58 Question 1
16:30 Question 2
22:16 Question 3
27:36 Question 4
35:12 Conclusion

[harshchopra]

Hey Charles. I gave GMAT classic and scored 710 using your videos to study and practicing through OG. I got shortlisted from my target college and wanted to convey my heartfelt thanks to you, Harry, Dana and the other team members!🙌

[Fad_gg]

Hi Charles,

I would like to know your advice on this, when solving a Quant question should I first read the whole question and understand it then note down the things I need or should I note down as I’m reading?

I’m struggling to find the best systematic way on approaching a quant question.

Another question please, should I study each subtopic and practice few questions then move to the other, or should I make sure that I master each topic first even if it will take time. Cause I prefer to finish everything then start practicing each topic and mastering it, this way I don’t feel pressured that I still have much theory to finish.

[deepus]

Just wanted to drop a big Thank you for these amazing videos 🪄 The advice you gave at 3:42 on avoiding careless mistakes was absolute gold for me. I focused on being more methodical & took the time to read every question carefully, in both DI & Quant. And this helped me eliminate all those little errors I was making. I also practiced a lot of questions from OG. Managed to secure 97th percentile in DI and 91st in Quant in Focus edition.. so grateful 🙇‍♂

[Val]

Charles, this was super helpful! Thanks a lot ! :)

[poojaarora]

Thanks, Charles! Though I am considering the current version this video might be a great help to me for the IR section preparation.

[nidhishparekh]

Hey Charles, just wanted to understand something about the 2nd question.

Hypothetically, if the 1st statement gave us a value of k>17, then the 1st statement is still sufficient right?
Because it helps us answer the question whether it costs more (the answer being NO in this hypothetical case)

Thanks!

[meghajain]

All your videos are so helpful and the techniques taught are simple and nice. Thank you for uploading these! :)

[niralijoshi]

Really liked the way you teach Charles, just one thing is not banned in Singapore. it's just banned in public transport because of the smell 😅

[akshatkhandelwal]

Hey Charles! Will you make the playlist for Verbal Reasoning too for GMAT Focus?

[rajatbhatia]

Hey Charles, just wanted to know how many more episodes are there in this Data Insights playlist?

[payalkurhade]

Hi Charles. Thanks for the wonderful lecture series you have started for GMAT Focus edition. Just wanted to ask, what is the work experience required to get into B-schools overseas? Can a fresher work on their application process as well? And, since I am counted as a fresher, would you recommend MBA programs for me or is MSc a viable option? Your comment on this would really help me. Thanks, again!

[AusGreenLdn]

So basically for q1 you don’t actually need to solve in $ terms from the info provided just find an equation which is isolating that variable?

[riyasali]

Hey Charles, I find your videos very helpful just had one request, is it possible to create data sufficiency videos by each quant topic for the focus edition?

[JourneyJoe]

This was super helpful!! Thank you so much!

[samirjereissati]

Hi Charles, thank you for very helpful sequence of videos. I still having doubts on QUESTION 1 why you did not use the formula R+W+C=240, 000 to solve II statement . Thank You.

[ramosdikka]

Thank you for the video. Multiple times during the video you say that u used the calculator to solve a given equation (e.g. Q2). In a real life test, we are not allowed to use calculators, are we?

[nguyencong]

happy holidays, Charles

In the question 2, Could we consider that because from the statement 1, we only have 1 valid value of k, then statement 1 sufficient without writing down formula and finding the value of k?

[Machaivelli]

Thank you for this video Charles!

I presume this is the last video of the IR series ????

[raimakhanganguly]

Hi Charles, can you suggest how to prepare for the denser data sufficiency questions that are being asked at the exam these days?

[anne-catherinekayser]

Hey, I have not really understood how it is with the calculator. Are we allowed to use one in the DI part?