GMAT Strategies
Verbal Section:
Reading Comprehension
● Pick an option that answers the question. An option may be a correct statement but does
not answer the question.
● Answer based on the passage content. Don’t let prior knowledge of the topic influence
your answer choice.
Critical Reasoning
● First identify the conclusion of the argument (looking for keywords may help: since,
before, therefore, thereby, result, due to, so, clearly etc.)
● Identify which statements are claims, evidence to support claims, things that are not
stated but necessarily follow from what is said.
● Read the question first to know what to look out for
● Read all options before picking an answer
Sentence Correction
● Read the sentence and understand its intention
● Spot any errors in the underlined part
● Consider all aspects of correctness and effectiveness (clarity, grammar, idiomatic usage,
language economy, precision, appropriate diction)
● Substitute in options and read out in mind
● For long sentences, remove optional phrases (adjectives, adverbs, phrases separated
by commas, to simplify)
● For (aaa bbb and ccc), you can read it as (aaa bbb), (aaa ccc)
● Look at differences between options to identify areas of potential error then compare
(GMAT might including differences which are both acceptable to trick you)
○ Differences: singular/plural, tense, verb/noun/adj, sentence rearrangements
, Quantitative section:
Problem-solving
● Use erasable note board given for working (be neat)
● Translate word problems/ data into equations for understanding
● Skim answer choices before you answer the question (may not need to solve
completely, to see form to express the answer in)
● If the question is too hard/ time-consuming, eliminate obvious wrong options and guess
Data Sufficiency
● Don’t waste time by solving the problem.
● While reading the question stem, consolidate what information you know, and start
thinking about what additional information is needed to solve the question
● !!!Consider each statement separately before considering them in tandem (common
mistake: statements are separately sufficient but you put C. Happens when you rush and
read both statements together)
● Decide if the problem allows one value or a range of values. Remember you just need to
have just enough data. Answer the question asked. Eg. if statement allows you to
narrow range of x, but cannot determine x precisely, still insufficient.
● Don’t make wrong assumptions based on figures (if not drawn to scale). Also note that
figures accurately reflect information in question stem only and disregards statements.
● DS question stems may ask for a specific number, or may be a yes/no question. For yes/
no, a statement that answers no is sufficient. If statement narrows it to a maybe, still
insufficient.
○ Example below: (1) is insufficient, (2) is a maybe
○ Together, still maybe since other 5000 votes not accounted for. Together, still
maybe. Hence, E.
Common Tricks in Quant (and IR)
● Percentage vs absolute quantities
● Percentage of what (may not be of total)
● Percent of vs Percent greater/lesser than
● Ratio of two components a:b vs fraction of a/(a+b)
Verbal Section:
Reading Comprehension
● Pick an option that answers the question. An option may be a correct statement but does
not answer the question.
● Answer based on the passage content. Don’t let prior knowledge of the topic influence
your answer choice.
Critical Reasoning
● First identify the conclusion of the argument (looking for keywords may help: since,
before, therefore, thereby, result, due to, so, clearly etc.)
● Identify which statements are claims, evidence to support claims, things that are not
stated but necessarily follow from what is said.
● Read the question first to know what to look out for
● Read all options before picking an answer
Sentence Correction
● Read the sentence and understand its intention
● Spot any errors in the underlined part
● Consider all aspects of correctness and effectiveness (clarity, grammar, idiomatic usage,
language economy, precision, appropriate diction)
● Substitute in options and read out in mind
● For long sentences, remove optional phrases (adjectives, adverbs, phrases separated
by commas, to simplify)
● For (aaa bbb and ccc), you can read it as (aaa bbb), (aaa ccc)
● Look at differences between options to identify areas of potential error then compare
(GMAT might including differences which are both acceptable to trick you)
○ Differences: singular/plural, tense, verb/noun/adj, sentence rearrangements
, Quantitative section:
Problem-solving
● Use erasable note board given for working (be neat)
● Translate word problems/ data into equations for understanding
● Skim answer choices before you answer the question (may not need to solve
completely, to see form to express the answer in)
● If the question is too hard/ time-consuming, eliminate obvious wrong options and guess
Data Sufficiency
● Don’t waste time by solving the problem.
● While reading the question stem, consolidate what information you know, and start
thinking about what additional information is needed to solve the question
● !!!Consider each statement separately before considering them in tandem (common
mistake: statements are separately sufficient but you put C. Happens when you rush and
read both statements together)
● Decide if the problem allows one value or a range of values. Remember you just need to
have just enough data. Answer the question asked. Eg. if statement allows you to
narrow range of x, but cannot determine x precisely, still insufficient.
● Don’t make wrong assumptions based on figures (if not drawn to scale). Also note that
figures accurately reflect information in question stem only and disregards statements.
● DS question stems may ask for a specific number, or may be a yes/no question. For yes/
no, a statement that answers no is sufficient. If statement narrows it to a maybe, still
insufficient.
○ Example below: (1) is insufficient, (2) is a maybe
○ Together, still maybe since other 5000 votes not accounted for. Together, still
maybe. Hence, E.
Common Tricks in Quant (and IR)
● Percentage vs absolute quantities
● Percentage of what (may not be of total)
● Percent of vs Percent greater/lesser than
● Ratio of two components a:b vs fraction of a/(a+b)
