The GMAT Data Insights (DI) section is designed to test your analytical reasoning, strategic thinking, and time management skills. Achieving a 99th percentile score in DI requires not just accuracy, but also the ability to allocate time efficiently across different question types.
Abhinav Verma, a Quant & DI expert, provides a comprehensive breakdown of GMAT Data Insights strategies to help candidates maximize their performance.
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In this blog, we explore 5 critical strategies to help you ace the GMAT Data Insights section and score 99th percentile.
1. Master Data Sufficiency Questions
Question Type: 6-8 questions
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
Data Sufficiency questions assess the ability to determine whether the given data is sufficient to solve a problem. These questions don’t always require calculations. Sometimes, recognizing patterns or making logical deductions is enough. Anyone with a strong grasp of core concepts can answer all these questions in a short time frame of 6-9 minutes, saving at least 3 extra minutes that can be used for more challenging questions.
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2. Efficiently Approach Table Analysis Questions
Question Type: 2-3 questions
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
Table Analysis questions require analyzing tabular data and extracting relevant insights. The best way to approach these questions is to understand the table structure first before reading the accompanying information. This allows for quick identification of trends and patterns. Sorting the table to filter out irrelevant rows can help answer these questions in 5-6 minutes.
3. Decode Graphical Interpretation Questions Quickly
Question Type: 2-3 questions
Difficulty Level: Medium to Difficult
Graphical Interpretation questions often contain complex graphs that test a candidate’s ability to extract key insights. Some graphs are visually dense, making them time-consuming to interpret. A common mistake candidates make is jumping directly into calculations. Instead, analyzing the graph first before reading the question allows for a more structured approach.
For correlation-based questions, identifying the general trend first simplifies the problem-solving process. For flowchart-related questions, quickly skimming through the steps before attempting an answer makes the process more efficient.
4. Ace Two-Part Analysis Questions with a Critical Reasoning Approach
Question Type: 4-6 questions
Difficulty Level: Easy to Difficult
Two-part analysis (2PA) questions require a blend of logical reasoning and problem-solving skills. Some of these questions are calculation-heavy, while others test critical reasoning abilities. The best approach is to carefully read the information provided before jumping to an answer. Since certain questions involve significant numerical calculations, using the on-screen calculator can help save valuable time.
5. Tackle Multi-Source Reasoning with Smart Time Management
Question Type: 3-6 questions
Difficulty Level: Medium to Difficult
Multi-Source Reasoning (MSR) questions require analyzing multiple sources of information presented in different tabs. Some MSR questions involve excessive data, making them the trickiest part of the DI section.
If a particular MSR set contains long passages with highly complex information, marking all three questions for review and revisiting them later can ensure better time management. However, if the MSR set contains tables or graphs, attempting the entire set in one go can be more efficient.
Achieving a 99th percentile score in GMAT Data Insights requires a structured approach. Key focus areas include:
Effective time management across all question types
Strategic use of the review feature to optimize accuracy
Minimizing unnecessary calculations by focusing on conceptual clarity
Limiting errors to no more than 1-2 questions in the DI section
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Happy Studying!