What is Data Sufficiency

All Data Sufficiency questions are structured similarly: they begin with a question and end with two assertions.

The objective is to determine whether:

One or all of the assertions is/are adequate to answer the question.

While the remarks alone are ineffective, when combined, they can resolve the issue.

Neither of these statements is true, and the situation cannot be resolved.

The answer alternatives are provided in alphabetical order from A to E and are always the same.

Is X greater than 9 

Statements:

(1) X is more than eight

(2) X exceeds ten

Answers:

(A) Statement 1 is adequate on its own, whereas statement 2 is insufficient on its own.

(B) Statement 2 is adequate on its own, whereas statement 1 is insufficient on its own.

(C) Both assertions are adequate when taken together, but no statement is sufficient on its own.

(D) Each assertion is sufficient on its own.

(E) The combined statements 1 and 2 are insufficient.

The issue is not to answer the question directly, but rather to determine whether or not you have sufficient knowledge to do so.

Key tips for Data Sufficiency Questions:

1. Make a mental note of the Answer Statements.

Each question in a Data Sufficiency question has the same answer statement:

(A) Statement 1 is sufficient on its own, but statement 2 is insufficient on its own.

(B) Statement 2 is sufficient on its own, but statement 1 is insufficient on its own.

(C) Both statements are sufficient when taken together, but neither statement is sufficient on its own.

(D) Each statement is sufficient on its own.

(E) The combined statements 1 and 2 are insufficient.

You should allot approximately two minutes to each Data Sufficiency question; therefore, you will not want to waste time during the test worrying about the answer options. Before you take the test, ensure that you know these by heart and understand what they mean. By memorising these phrases, you improve your chances of quickly analysing the provided facts and selecting the appropriate response option.

2. Employ an Elimination Process – 

Examine Each Statement Separately. The most accurate method of obtaining the correct answer is to examine each statement independently. It is normally ideal to begin with the assertion that appears to be the simplest to comprehend; you are not need to approach them in order.

If assertion 1 is insufficient, response possibilities A and D can be swiftly eliminated.

If statement 2 is insufficient, response possibilities B and D can be swiftly eliminated.

If the first assertion is adequate, you can quickly determine if the second is as well (answer option D)

After that, all that remains is to determine whether the assertions become adequate when combined (response option C) or remain insufficient (answer option E).

3. You Are Not Required to Know the Correct Answer

It’s easy to become so absorbed in the problem that you find yourself attempting to solve it. At all times, keep in mind that you should be working your way through the assertions, removing those that do not apply, identifying the one that does, and moving on to the next. Frequently, applicants become stuck attempting to deduce what ‘x’ is when, in many circumstances, they do not need to.

4. Bear in mind that the answer may not be a whole number. 

It’s frequently beneficial to substitute a real number for the variables in the equations to help make sense of the statements as you move through them. It’s important to realise, though, that those variables might be anything – a positive or negative decimal, a negative integer, a positive or negative fraction, and so on. 

If a statement states that x > 8, you may assume that x must be 9 or more, while in fact it might be any decimal between two whole integers. Bear in mind that the mystery number might be anything, not simply a straightforward, orderly sequence of digits.

5. Review the Fundamentals

The Data Sufficiency questions are based on fundamental mathematics ideas that you should have learned in school. Refresh your multiplication and division skills, particularly with fractions and decimals, and ensure that you grasp the fundamentals of working with equations. Bear in mind, however, that they are not math examinations. You will perform well on Data Sufficiency problems if you apply estimate, problem-solving, and reasoning abilities.

Conclusion:

There are three approaches you may take to determining whether or not the assertions are adequate: you can utilise algebra, make an educated estimate, or plug in numbers (assign values to the variables) to assist you in determining whether or not the claims are sufficient. Whichever approach you use will be determined by the nature of the inquiry.

Regardless of how you approach the questions, remember to pause after you have established the A to E response, rather than the correct one.

Along with remembering the A to E list of alternatives, it’s a good idea to remember that once you’ve studied statement (1), you can remove either A and D or B, C, and E. The more quickly you can limit down your alternatives, the more questions you can answer.