Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 00:15 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 00:15
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
praveengmat4
User avatar
Joined: 05 Apr 2025
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 4
Location: India
Products:
Forum Quiz
Posts: 4
Kudos: 0
Difficulty in cracking DI section 27 Oct 2025, 11:04
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I am really facing a lot of trouble cracking this section, the main problem is time management. Questions like tables and 2 part analysis have so much information and complex questions that it will take more than 3-4 minutes to answer and even then for tables questions, out of 3, 1 is wrong. its very irritating, as i have invested so much time in those questions, still i am losing on them. Can anyone of you please suggest a strategy to crack the DI section.
User avatar
APram
User avatar
Joined: 23 Jun 2024
Last visit: 17 Nov 2025
Posts: 671
Own Kudos:
263
Given Kudos: 240
Location: India
Schools: ISB '26 HEC INSEAD Jan '26
GMAT Focus 1: 605 Q86 V78 DI76
GPA: 3.608
Products:
GMAT Club Tests
Schools: ISB '26 HEC INSEAD Jan '26
GMAT Focus 1: 605 Q86 V78 DI76
Posts: 671
Kudos: 263
Difficulty in cracking DI section 27 Oct 2025, 12:30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Practice untimed for each topic until you get comfortable with approximations, mental calculations, noticing patterns.
Get in the habit of doing it in quants as well.
Then reach an accuracy of 90% above before practicing timed way. Then slowly implement more tactics to reduce time where you find, you are still killing it.
praveengmat4
I am really facing a lot of trouble cracking this section, the main problem is time management. Questions like tables and 2 part analysis have so much information and complex questions that it will take more than 3-4 minutes to answer and even then for tables questions, out of 3, 1 is wrong. its very irritating, as i have invested so much time in those questions, still i am losing on them. Can anyone of you please suggest a strategy to crack the DI section.
Show more
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 42,384
Own Kudos:
82,112
Given Kudos: 24,107
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 42,384
Kudos: 82,112
Difficulty in cracking DI section 29 Oct 2025, 21:53
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
praveengmat4
I am really facing a lot of trouble cracking this section, the main problem is time management. Questions like tables and 2 part analysis have so much information and complex questions that it will take more than 3-4 minutes to answer and even then for tables questions, out of 3, 1 is wrong. its very irritating, as i have invested so much time in those questions, still i am losing on them. Can anyone of you please suggest a strategy to crack the DI section.
Show more


Hi. Your issue is quite similar to most folks. The reason is that DI is not a quant section.
Your goal in DI is to solve it logically and not quantitatively. My best method that I could think of to practice and learn Tables, Graphs, and MSR questions is to treat every question (esp official ones) as a learning opportunity.

Solving a DI correctly is only part of the challenge. Instead, challenge yourself (even after you solved it) to find a faster solution. Stare at it to see where can you find a faster route/way to solve because the test in DI is not only solving it correctly but also solving it fast enough is the more important aspect.

For example you may solve an easy Table question in 2 mins, which seems great but you should be spending only 60 seconds on it and if you don't optimize that's a minute you lost and wasted which could be useful on the MSR or a hard TPA.
User avatar
hr1212
User avatar
GMAT Forum Director
Joined: 18 Apr 2019
Last visit: 17 Nov 2025
Posts: 621
Own Kudos:
924
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,483
GMAT Focus 1: 775 Q90 V85 DI90
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 775 Q90 V85 DI90
Posts: 621
Kudos: 924
 [1]
Difficulty in cracking DI section 29 Oct 2025, 22:03
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Some great insights have already been shared, and I just want to add one more perspective regarding the three sub-question format that appears in many DI questions.

If you observe closely, you’ll notice a pattern in difficulty across the sub-questions. It is rare to see all three parts being equally hard, whether in terms of understanding, time consumption, or mapping to the data. In most cases, only one of the sub-questions is noticeably tougher, and that often becomes the deciding factor in whether you get the entire question right.

From the test-maker's perspective, each question still needs to be solvable within roughly two minutes. If all three sub-questions were difficult, that would make the entire set unrealistic to complete in time. So there is usually some balance built into the structure.

Your strategy should not be to give equal time to each sub-question. Instead, try to solve the easier ones quickly, and focus on identifying which part might require the most time. Ask yourself whether you can realistically solve the harder one within the remaining time or if it makes more sense to guess quickly and move on to the next. In many cases, your overall accuracy and score will improve by focusing your energy where it gives the best return.
User avatar
bb
User avatar
Founder
Joined: 04 Dec 2002
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 42,384
Own Kudos:
82,112
 [1]
Given Kudos: 24,107
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GPA: 3
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 42,384
Kudos: 82,112
 [1]
Difficulty in cracking DI section 29 Oct 2025, 22:06
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Very good point about focusing on the ROI for your time.

Everyone reports running short on DI and just like shopping - you should not buy everything you want but instead buy what you can afford and really need.


hr1212
Some great insights have already been shared, and I just want to add one more perspective regarding the three sub-question format that appears in many DI questions.

If you observe closely, you’ll notice a pattern in difficulty across the sub-questions. It is rare to see all three parts being equally hard, whether in terms of understanding, time consumption, or mapping to the data. In most cases, only one of the sub-questions is noticeably tougher, and that often becomes the deciding factor in whether you get the entire question right.

From the test-maker's perspective, each question still needs to be solvable within roughly two minutes. If all three sub-questions were difficult, that would make the entire set unrealistic to complete in time. So there is usually some balance built into the structure.

Your strategy should not be to give equal time to each sub-question. Instead, try to solve the easier ones quickly, and focus on identifying which part might require the most time. Ask yourself whether you can realistically solve the harder one within the remaining time or if it makes more sense to guess quickly and move on to the next. In many cases, your overall accuracy and score will improve by focusing your energy where it gives the best return.
Show more
User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 21,712
Own Kudos:
26,994
Given Kudos: 300
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 21,712
Kudos: 26,994
Difficulty in cracking DI section 04 Nov 2025, 08:23
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Since time management plays a significant role in the DI section, here are some time-saving strategies to keep in mind:

* Skim the given information to understand the type of information provided. Don’t get bogged down in the details. Just get a sense of what the data is conveying.

* Use the answer choices to your advantage. In many cases, the answer choices will be so spread apart that you can quickly answer the question through approximation rather than precise calculations.

* Use the process of elimination when possible. Narrow down choices by identifying clear inconsistencies or irrelevant options in the data.

* Stay organized. Jot down quick notes or calculations to keep track of information to avoid rereading the same data multiple times.

* Prioritize quick decision-making. If a question seems too time-consuming, it’s better to make an educated guess and move on rather than get stuck. Developing this type of decision-making mindset will help you better navigate the section.

For more information, check out these articles:

- How to Prepare for GMAT Data Insights

- Data Insights Timing Strategy
Moderator:
MBAACCOUNT2025
General GMAT Forum Moderator
444 posts