Data sufficiency is a critical component of practically all competitive tests, therefore you can’t afford to skip it. Direct and indirect understanding of mathematical ideas is used in Data Sufficiency. In this article, we’ll go over the strategy we should take when answering Data Sufficiency queries. Data sufficiency questions are frequently asked in the data interpretation portion. Let’s have a look at the concept and method for answering Data Sufficiency queries.
How do you respond to questions about data sufficiency?
- First and foremost, you must carefully study the directions for each Data Sufficiency question because the examiner might modify the directions at any time, and even if you have answered all of the questions properly, you may still mark the incorrect answers.
- You must recall and follow the procedures required in solving a specific Data Sufficiency question in the following order:
- To get the solution, check A (the first statement), then B (the second statement), and finally, if necessary, combine two statements.
Tips and Tricks for Dealing with Data Sufficiency Issues
To solve your data sufficiency questions, there are some methods and tricks that can be used. Aspirants can use the following advice:
- Because the questions are extensive, aspirants should not be alarmed and should read the full question properly. The multiple data sufficiency questions, notably the quantitative aptitude ones, can sometimes be solved verbally.
- Don’t look for a definitive solution (if not asked). The majority of the time, all you have to do is answer whatever circumstances will satisfy your needs in order to meet the question’s answer.
- Make sure you don’t make any erroneous assumptions. The only fact that needs to be examined in order to address the research is the information provided in the question.
- Try solving the solution using the first principles state while progressing point by point. Then continue adding with the next set of requirements until you can get a response.
- In general, no concern about data sufficiency required a calculative response. It mostly requires applicants to understand which variables will assist them in arriving at a solution. So, before responding, read first.
Hint #1 Data Sufficiency: Understand that “sometimes yes” and “sometimes no” are not sufficient responses to Yes/No questions. For sufficiency, “always” is required. Consider the following scenario: “Is Elise’s dog a puppy?” There are two statements:
- A puppy is defined as a dog that is less than or equivalent to three years old.
- Elise has had her dog for less than three years.
- Elise may have purchased her dog as a puppy. She could, however, have gotten her dog when she was older. As a result, we don’t have enough evidence to solve this yes/no topic, and we can clearly state that further data is required to definitively answer it.
Hint #2 for Data Sufficiency: The method allows employees the five Data Sufficiency Answer Options. They’re about the same, and also the order is always the same!
This helpful data sufficiency mnemonic designed by Kaplan Test Prep can help you recall the response choice possibilities (and order): (1)-(2)-(T)-(E)-(N). To comprehend the variety of answer options from ‘A’ to ‘E,’ see the entire breakdown below:
- The answer to the question can be found in statement (1) alone. Statement (2) by itself is insufficient.
- The answer to the question can be found in statement (2) alone. Statement (1) by itself is insufficient.
- Only after all of the pieces are put together (T) do you really have enough evidence to solve the question.
- Either (E) statement, when analyzed separately, contains adequate evidence to address the issue.
- Neither (N) statement, when analyzed separately or in combination, gives sufficient information to
Hint #3 Sufficient data: Prior to evaluating the two assertions together, evaluate each of them separately.
- This is among the most popular methods used by question authors to confound you. It’s crucial to remember that you should only use all of the data from assertions (1) and (2) once you’ve decided that they were each inadequate on their own. You’ll easily outperform the bottom one exam taker if you eliminate this typical blunder.
Hint #4 Data Sufficiency: Test for data sufficiency by plugging in “numbers of all types.”
- Statement (1) can be ruled out by substituting a positive fraction in the above question. Students who only entered positive integers made the mistake of assuming that Statement (1) was adequate. Going to plug across both positive and negative numbers in Statement (2) results in contradictory conclusions, therefore (2) is also insufficient. We can only attain sufficiency by combining (T) the two claims. As a result, C is the correct answer.
CONCLUSION
As previously stated, read the sentence stem first to determine if there is any pertinent information that can assist you in answering the question.
It’s worth noting that the query stem lacks all of the material needed to answer the question. It only provides some facts that may assist you in determining the ultimate answer. Once we’ve figured out what we need to know, we may move on to reading the first statement.