Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 16:06 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 16:06
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
daagh
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Last visit: 16 Oct 2020
Posts: 5,264
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 422
Status: enjoying
Location: India
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 5,264
Kudos: 42,419
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Sachin9
Joined: 22 Jul 2012
Last visit: 25 Dec 2015
Posts: 351
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 562
Status:Gonna rock this time!!!
Location: India
GMAT 1: 640 Q43 V34
GMAT 2: 630 Q47 V29
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
GMAT 2: 630 Q47 V29
Posts: 351
Kudos: 174
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
aalokk
Joined: 28 Oct 2012
Last visit: 27 Aug 2025
Posts: 20
Own Kudos:
152
 [6]
Given Kudos: 51
Concentration: Technology, Real Estate
Posts: 20
Kudos: 152
 [6]
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
butterflow
Joined: 23 Mar 2014
Last visit: 02 Apr 2017
Posts: 3
Given Kudos: 2
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
When an if...then sentence represents a particular future case with no uncertainty, use IF present THEN future.
A and E are thus the contenders.
If they want to be able to compete is redundant in option a and thus the correct ans is E.
User avatar
prasi55
Joined: 23 Jun 2013
Last visit: 06 Jan 2023
Posts: 110
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 4
Status:GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: EnterMBA
Location: India
GRE 1: Q790 V710
GPA: 3.3
WE:Editorial and Writing (Education)
GRE 1: Q790 V710
Posts: 110
Kudos: 288
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Also, in A, "will be required" is unnecessary as it is unclear "who" requires them to raise their governance game. Also, "compete with" is preferred.


--Prasad
EnterMBA.in
User avatar
Game
Joined: 11 Feb 2014
Last visit: 19 Nov 2014
Posts: 49
Own Kudos:
257
 [1]
Given Kudos: 25
Posts: 49
Kudos: 257
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able
to compete against private firms


A. Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want
to be able to compete against private firms

B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete
with private firms

C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to
compete against private firms

D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to
be in competition with private firms

E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are
to compete with private firms
User avatar
Gnpth
Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Last visit: 03 Mar 2023
Posts: 1,048
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 330
Status:Chasing my MBB Dream!
Location: United States (DC)
WE:General Management (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
Posts: 1,048
Kudos: 6,700
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Game
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able
to compete against private firms


A. Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want
to be able to compete against private firms

B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete
with private firms

C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to
compete against private firms

D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to
be in competition with private firms

E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are
to compete with private firms

Merging similar topic.

Please read the rules before posting any questions.

1. Rules for posting in Quants forum.
2. Rules for posting in Verbal forum.
User avatar
souvik101990
Joined: 19 Mar 2012
Last visit: 11 Nov 2025
Posts: 4,321
Own Kudos:
53,094
 [3]
Given Kudos: 2,326
Location: United States (WA)
Concentration: Leadership, General Management
GMAT 1: 760 Q50 V42
GMAT 2: 740 Q49 V42 (Online)
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
GPA: 3.8
WE:Marketing (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 3: 760 Q50 V42 (Online)
Posts: 4,321
Kudos: 53,094
 [3]
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms.

A. Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms

B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete with private firms

C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to compete against private firms

D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to be in competition with private firms

E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are to compete with private firms
User avatar
thangvietname
Joined: 09 Jun 2010
Last visit: 28 Jun 2017
Posts: 522
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 916
Posts: 522
Kudos: 561
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
will do used in if clause shows the action following that of main clause.

wrong question
avatar
ravinder050484
Joined: 23 Aug 2014
Last visit: 10 Dec 2017
Posts: 5
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 6
Posts: 5
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone explain me what is wrong with option B, though E is also correct but B is more straight forward and concise.
User avatar
Ergenekon
Joined: 19 Apr 2013
Last visit: 17 Jun 2019
Posts: 475
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 537
Concentration: Strategy, Healthcare
GMAT 1: 730 Q48 V41
GPA: 4
GMAT 1: 730 Q48 V41
Posts: 475
Kudos: 286
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Chose E. Although B is also attractive..
avatar
gaurav90
Joined: 13 Aug 2014
Last visit: 12 Feb 2018
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V39
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V39
Posts: 18
Kudos: 13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
souvik101990
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms.

A. Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms

B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete with private firms

C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to compete against private firms

D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to be in competition with private firms

E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are to compete with private firms

A. "will be required" and "want to be able to" are unidiomatic and long compared to E.
B. This is similar to the construction "If they wish to X, then they should Y" ...here the latter part should be an obligation, a necessity. The correct construction would be "If they wish to X, then they must/need to Y". But, yes, it is tempting to the ear. Luckily, when you arrive at E, the temptation goes away!
C. a conditional (would) is used with present tense (wish to). This is incorrect. It is either present+future or past+conditional.
D. "have to need to" is redundant and very unpleasant to the ear, and so is "are to be in".
E. Simple and elegant. Follows the "If [present], then [future]" format.
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Ist segment of conditions Condition future test and reason present tense.
avatar
dipanjan_1988
Joined: 17 May 2015
Last visit: 23 Mar 2021
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 29
Posts: 8
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
getgyan
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms

A. U Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms
B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete with private firms
C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to compete against private firms
D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to be in competition with private firms
E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are to compete with private firms

"Compete against" is wrong idiom. It should be "Compete with".
So A and C are out
Rejecting D because of the phrase "are to be in competition with". B and E are much more concise.
I chose E over B because in B, just because E sounds better than B.

Can anyone please tell me the correct POE for B?

Thanks
User avatar
mvictor
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 17 Jul 2014
Last visit: 14 Jul 2021
Posts: 2,124
Own Kudos:
1,263
 [1]
Given Kudos: 236
Location: United States (IL)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
GPA: 3.92
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
Posts: 2,124
Kudos: 1,263
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aalokk
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms

A. Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms
B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete with private firms
C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to compete against private firms
D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to be in competition with private firms
E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are to compete with private firms

we need to use first conditional
If present simple, then Will + verb in infinitive form.
if present simple, then should/would - incorrect. B and C make this error.
D - have to need / are to be in - oh my good...way too wordy.
A - will be required / to be able - same thing..way too wordy.

E is more concise, and expresses the intended meaning in the shortest possible way.
User avatar
sidoknowia
Joined: 18 Jun 2016
Last visit: 02 Jun 2017
Posts: 71
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 74
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Entrepreneurship
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V36
WE:Business Development (Computer Software)
Products:
GMAT 1: 700 Q49 V36
Posts: 71
Kudos: 110
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aalokk
Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms

A. Public companies will be required to raise their governance game if they want to be able to compete against private firms
B. Public companies should raise their governance game if they wish to compete with private firms
C. Public companies would need to raise their governance game if they wish to compete against private firms
D. Public companies have to need to raise their governance game if they are to be in competition with private firms
E. Public companies will need to raise their governance game if they are to compete with private firms


If.....then type of question.
If in present tense...then must have simple present.
So contending options are A and E. Since A sounds wordy. I would go with E
avatar
sidkat2006
Joined: 23 Oct 2016
Last visit: 08 Oct 2018
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 15
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Also isnt there an idiom error?Compete with and compete against?
avatar
rany
Joined: 03 Mar 2015
Last visit: 29 Apr 2025
Posts: 3
Posts: 3
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
In option E , isn't "They are to " considered awkward according to MGMAT.
User avatar
sayan640
Joined: 29 Oct 2015
Last visit: 10 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,179
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 783
GMAT 1: 570 Q42 V28
Products:
GMAT 1: 570 Q42 V28
Posts: 1,179
Kudos: 813
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
VeritasKarishma GMATGuruNY GMATNinja generis
Can you please explain this question ?
avatar
SantoshN
Joined: 21 Aug 2019
Last visit: 19 Dec 2022
Posts: 23
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 49
Posts: 23
Kudos: 10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
MichaelS
I'm not crazy about this question--none of the answers is quite GMAT style--but it does push us to consider if...then construction.

When an if...then sentence represents a general rule with no uncertainty, use IF present THEN present. When an if...then sentence represents a particular future case with no uncertainty, use IF present THEN future. (For other if...then constructions not relevant to this question, see the Manhattan GMAT Sentence Correction Strategy Guide, page 112-113)

For this sentence, I'd incline toward IF present THEN future, because this sentence seems to be about a particular case. I might accept IF present THEN present if all the IF present THEN future answers have other grammatical problems. So I'll eliminate C for sure, and B tentatively.

OK, for concision I'm going to choose compete over be able to compete or be in competition, so there go A and D.

That leaves E. I don't think B is terrible, but I'd have to go with E.

A small additional point: raise their...game is too colloquial for real GMAT SC.
   1   2   3   
Moderators:
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
7443 posts
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
231 posts
189 posts