Can I skip studying Percents and Interest Word Problems?

Karishma and Janielle,

Thank you so much for your replies.

@Janielle, you see, I don't have a specific question I can't solve, it seems that I can't grasp the principles to solve those questions in general. After I see the solution, I understand it, but I can feel that I am not getting the "fundamentals" to solve any percentage-type question, so next time I try a new quetion I don't know how to start. And it loops like this all the time.

karishma, thank you very much for the links, I will check them right now. It's a shame I can't skip the topic so I guess I wil have to give it another go. Interestingly, I can easily solve interest problems, even in my head. But when it comes to other type of % like the ones that involve calculating percentages of X, Y without any concrete values, or "An epidemic is reported to have broken out in Florida. The number of detected instances of a certain disease is reported to have increased by 85% in the last year. What is the lowest number of newly detected instances possible?" I just don't know where to start.

Another question please, I noticed that word problems are more "popular" on the exam in PS format than DS. Do you think it's wise to dedicate most of my time to PS format on WPs? Or should I give it a 50-50 attention allocation for both PS and DS?

Ones again, thank you so much for your feedback!

All the best

In percentage questions, it often works if you assume the value of base as 100 (in case there are no concrete values). For the problem you mentioned, here is my solution: an-epidemic-is-reported-to-have-broken-out-in-florida-142827.html#p1146177
It doesn't matter if you couldn't think of it as long as you understand it fully now.
As for word problems, they are based on concepts such as percentages, ratios, weighted averages, time speed distance etc. They may be more popular in PS format but either way it makes no difference. Be comfortable with the concepts and you will be able to handle both formats equally well.

Hi mate,
Welcome to that peculiar corner; between the devil and a hard place.
I suggest you embrace the devil.
It wouldn't kill you.
You can pull it off.
Yes you can.
go to www.gmatprepnow.com click on that silly topic and surprise yourself.
iliavko you can.

I wouldn't skip. Many other topics which are not percent problems entirely have percent related parts in them.

Check below links for theory and practice on percents:

Percentages, Interest and More

Compound Interest Problems from our Special Questions Directory.

Theory on Percent and Interest Problems

DS Percent and Interest Problems
PS Percent and Interest Problems

Thank you all for your feedback, there seems to be a unanimous concensus that I should dive into percents head first, thing that I've already done and amazingly I am starting to understnad a few things. Let's hope the trend goes on

Karishima, Bunuel your links were very useful, thank you!

One more time, thank you all for your feedback!