What's the learning curve for DS for an absolute beginner?

Question

Hello everyone! I have dived into GMAT Quant preparation only recently and am struggling with DS. I've been needing as much as 5-8 minutes for some questions and am still getting them wrong. Attempted 37 questions from number properties, could answer only 33 and got only 21 right, that too after spending a lot of time. I took about 3 hours to do those questions and have spent another three hours trying to understand their explanation (11 questions still remain).

I am concerned if I'm moving ahead too slow. What was the learning curve for you all when it comes to DS?

Oh, I'm not an engineer. Had stopped paying attention in school after class 8. So I spent the first seven months of this year working with maths textbooks (RD Sharma) of classes 6 to 12. While I'm doing ok on PS, DS is leaving me flummoxed. Like a deer in the headlight. I want to know if I'll improve with more practice or do I need to make some other changes? I want to be able to apply to IIMs by Round 3 deadline anyhow.

Thanks to everyone who chooses to answer!

ReedArnoldMPREP · Answer

The thing that is first and foremost important to understand about data sufficiency is that--at its highest level--it is not testing math. It is testing logic. It's important that you work to deeply understand the logical structure underneath data sufficiency before you try to bring in the mathematical topics the GMAT uses in DS.

Here are a few DS questions that don't use math (one I consider the 'perfect' DS question, and is copied in my signature):

Is Animal P a mammal?
1). Animal P is a species of bear.
2). Animal P walks on 4 legs.

Answer:

Show Spoiler

A

Is Animal P a bear?
1). Animal P is a mammal
2). Animal P walks on 4 legs

Answer:

Show Spoiler

E

What book am I reading?
1). I am reading the fourth book in a popular fantasy series.
2). I am reading a book by JK Rowling

Answer:

Show Spoiler

C

Darryl, Jane, and Tom are sitting on a three person bench, in that order. If Darryl is married, is a married person sitting next to an unmarried person?

1). Jane is married
2). Tom is unmarried

Answer:

Show Spoiler

B

What city am I in?
1). I am in the most populated city in Texas.
2). I am in the fourth most populated city in the U.S.

Answer:

Show Spoiler

D

Understanding why each answer choice means what it means is crucial, here, because the logic of the answer choices is constant. What, really, does it mean for a statement (or a combination of statements) to be 'sufficient' or 'insufficient,' in each question? Why, exactly, is a statement insufficient? Why is one sufficient? A lot of students have the right answers to these questions, but they aren't deeply understood.

DS is about recognizing when a single, specific inference can be made (specifically, the one the main question is asking about), and when an inference cannot be made. You are wondering if the constraints of the statements 'narrow down' your options enough such that you can make an inference regarding the question that is asked, or, if the statements are not constrained enough such that there is no single outcome regarding the question in the possibilities that are allowed.

Here's a video on 'testing cases,' one of the most important tactics in DS strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5H-hPgLQoY&t=765s

Another important strategy for DS is rephrasing/pre-thinking. Here's a video on that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NEqP1On-3k

RiyaJain69 · Answer

Thank you very much for such a detailed reply, for your time, the insights and the helpful video links. I hope to pick up on the DS section soon.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi RiyaJain69,

Many GMATers spend 3 months (or more) of consistent study time before they hit their 'peak' scores, so if you've been focused on DS for just a short period of time (re: a few days or a week), then you should not expect to have 'mastered' this question type just yet. DS questions are interesting because they're built to 'test' you on a variety of skills (far more than just your 'math' skills), including organization, accuracy, attention-to-detail, thoroughness and the ability to prove that your answer is correct. DS questions also have no 'safety net' - meaning that if you make a little mistake, then you will convince yourself that one of the wrong answers is correct. Thankfully, the 'math' behind most DS questions isn't that complicated, but you have to be thorough with your work and take advantage of any 'shortcuts' that are built into the prompt.

Before I can offer you any additional advice for your studies, it would help if you could provide a bit more information on how you've been studying and your goals:

Studies:
1) How long have you studied? How many hours do you typically study each week?
2) What study materials have you used so far? What “brands” of CATs/mocks have you used?
3) On what dates (or approximate dates) did you take EACH of your CATs/mocks and how did you score on EACH (including the Quant and Verbal Scaled Scores for EACH)?

Goals:
4) What is your overall goal score?
5) When are you planning to apply to Business School and what Schools are you planning to apply to?

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

RiyaJain69 · Answer

Thank you very much for your time, Rich. I agree with your every statement. It is in organising the elements of a DS question and the statements that I'm getting tangled. Surely, finding counter-example to prove or disprove a statement takes further time. Basically, I am needing a lot of time to wrap my head around questions.

Studies:
1. Been studying school maths January to June this year. Began following an online GMAT programme mid-July. Started DS problems only in July. I have taken a break from work, so I study at least 8-10 hours a day.
2. From January to June: Supplementary textbooks for school (RD Sharma) for classes 6 to 12. July onwards: Online quant course by Wizako.
3. Haven't taken a single mock because of super high anxiety level. I've been facing debilitating anxiety and depression issues (I'm under therapy), so can't take a mock until I'm fully prepared.

Goals:
4. Goal: At least 700 (Since I'm not from IT background)
5. Time: Want to apply before R3 deadline this year so I can study at Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad/Bangalore/Calcutta.

My verbal is good. I'm an editor by profession, and a good one at that. Yet to get a hang of CR but I'm fine with SC and RC. I believe my errors in SC will reduce further after I revise the lessons once. Quant remains my area of concern.

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi RiyaJain69,

Many GMATers find the Quant, the Verbal or Both to be challenging - so you're not alone. Since DS questions are 'structured' in a specific way, it takes everyone a certain amount of time to get used to working in that format (including what it means to be "Sufficient" or "Insufficient" and which of the 5 answers to actually choose). Thankfully, the GMAT is a consistent, predictable Exam, so you CAN train to score at a higher level.

You have plenty of time before the Round 3 deadlines, so you can proceed with your studies however you like. That having been said, one of the key aspects to whatever study plan you choose to follow will be taking FULL-LENGTH CATs/mocks at regular intervals and in a realistic fashion that matches-up with how you will take the Official GMAT (since there are Test-taking skills that take time to develop, but that can really only be learned by taking CATs over time). Many GMATers are unhappy with their initial practice scores, but you really shouldn't be worried about that. That initial Score will just be a measure of your skills at that point - and you'll improve on that result over time as you learn more about the content, Tactics and little 'secrets' of the Exam.

At some point in the next month, I highly recommend that you take a FULL-LENGTH practice CAT Test; you can access 2 for free at www.mba.com (and they come with some additional practice materials). That score will give us a good sense of your natural strengths and weaknesses and will help provide a basis for comparison as you continue to study. A FULL CAT takes about 3.5 hours to complete, so make sure that you've set aside enough time to take it in one sitting. Once you have that Score, you should report back here (or you can feel free to PM me directly) and we can discuss the results and how you might best proceed with your studies.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

GMATWhizTeam · Answer

Hi Riya, GMAT quant tests only specific types of questions from each topic. So, if you know those questions types and how to solve those using the right methodology, then you can score well on GMAT quant. So, I would suggest you to not ignore any topics you are struggling with. Instead, ● focus on learning the right methodology, ● get to know the question types and then ● practice a few questions to solidify the learning • Repeat the process for all the topics DS questions are tricky as there are a lot of traps set by the test makers. Students generally tend to directly jump into solving individual statements after reading the question stem, which is not the right process. After reading the question stem, you have to do a certain pre-analysis on the question stem. For example, if the question stem says x, y and z are in arithmetic progression, we generally tend to assume x, y and z as integers. That’s the basic mistakes students do. It’s never mentioned in the question that they are integers. X can be 0.5 or 2/3 or any value. And sometimes students tend to ignore a few cases such as 0 and 1. All these things matter in DS questions. You may find this link containing series of videos on tackling DS questions helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciEFdNq ... IRVeSxdxWA Hope this helped and feel free to contact if you have any further queries. You can always write back to me here or the better way would be to connect over a call and have a discussion. You can schedule a free consultation call using the below link. Click here to schedule a call

RiyaJain69 · Answer

Thank you, Piyush! I had attended your webinar six-seven months ago and found it helpful. (I'm the one who had asked if I should spend time with RD Sharma books as I know nothing about many concepts in quant.)

My biggest challenge is that my reaction time to DS questions is huge. Some questions, I'm able to solve within 2 minutes. Some leave me tangled. I feel like a deer caught in headlights. Since all DS questions are different, I am not able to figure out how to decrease my reaction time.

RiyaJain69 · Answer

Thanks again, Rich. So kind of you to take time out. Your answer inspires confidence that regular practice might help me improve on DS. Fingers crossed!

As you have suggested, I will start writing full-length mocks soon, after my first round of revision. Thank you for pointing out the thing about test-taking skills. I had paid zero attention to this.

Thank you again!

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