Complete Guide for GMAT Quantitative Aptitude Section

The Quantitative section of the GMAT Exam evaluates your basic mathematical skills. It tests a candidate's understanding of basic concepts in mathematics learnt at school and the ability to reason mathematically. The section involves solving reasoning using quantitative techniques, mathematical problems and interpreting graphic data.  This section has two types of questions. They are problem-solving questions and Data Sufficiency questions. In total there are 31 questions in this section.

Types of Questions in the Quantitative Aptitude Section of GMAT

To solve the questions of this section you would require some knowledge of arithmetic, algebra and geometry as well. Also note down that the difficulty of the questions stems from the logic and analytical skills required, not the underlying only the math skills. Remember that you cannot use a calculator while answering the questions of the Quantitative section. Here we will discuss the question types of this section:

Data Sufficiency

• You will be given a problem that consists of a question and two statements. Using the data in the statements and adding your knowledge of math and general knowledge, you should decide whether you have enough data in the statement to answer the question asked.
• It requires you to recognize quickly the information you would need to solve the problem and to eliminate answer choices which you think are wrong. You will get 17 or 18 questions of this type.

Problem Solving

• Evaluates your ability to use logical and analytical reasoning to solve mathematical problems.
• You will be provided with a question and five answer choices for it. This question type uses the math of high school level which includes algebra and plane geometry. You will get 19 or 20 questions of this type.

Skills Measured in Quantitative Aptitude Section

• Your ability to understand the problems involving arithmetic, elementary algebra, and common geometry concepts.
• Your ability to reason mathematically, interpret the graphic data and skills to solve the mathematical problems.
• Evaluation of the amount of information needed to solve quantitative problems.
• Your ability to analyze a given quantitative problem.
• Your ability to the point which has sufficient information to solve a problem.
• Your ability to recognize which information is relevant.

Tricks for Quantitative Aptitude Section of GMAT

For gaining a good score in the Quantitative Reasoning section of the GMAT exam you should know how to apply your knowledge of math to reasoning questions it includes your knowledge in the following areas:

1. Arithmetic – knowledge of  integers, fractions, roots and powers, statistics, and probability etc
2. Algebra – topics such as variables and functions, and how to solve different types of equations.
3. Geometry – the properties of geometric objects, including triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, solids, and cylinders, and coordinate geometry.
4. Word problems – combining arithmetic, algebraic, and geometric principles to solve problems.

Problem Solving Question Strategies

Here are some tips to solve Problem Solving Questions of GMAT:

Pace Yourself

• Keep your eyes on-screen timer periodically. Don’t spend your much time on checking the answers or finding answers for difficult questions, work carefully. It is important to finish the section.

Use the erasable note board.

• Solving problems by writing may help you avoid making mistakes. Use the provided erasable note board at the test centre.

Read each question carefully

• For word problems, take each step carefully. Read each sentence and convert the data into mathematical representations equations. It is important to determine what data is given and what is being asked so that you can answer it accurately.

Scan the answer choices before you answer a question.

• If you won’t go through, you may waste time putting answers in a form which is not given. For questions that require approximations, you should scan the given answer choices first which may help you get the answer through short mental tricks instead of long computation.

Don’t waste time by trying to solve a problem that you find difficult

• If you find the question as too difficult or time-consuming then eliminate the choices which you think are wrong, select the best of the remaining choices, and move on to the next question.

Data Sufficiency Question Strategies

Here are some tips to solve Data Sufficiency Questions in GMAT:

Remember that you are only determining whether you have sufficient data. So decide whether the problem allows only one value or a range of values.
Avoid making unreasonable assumptions based on geometric figures. The values are not always drawn to scale.
Don’t rush through the questions which are easy, you may make mistakes by doing it.
So now you know how to prepare and crack the Quantitative Aptitude Section of GMAT. So do your best, keep all the tips in your mind and crack it well.

All the best.!!

Read also

• Complete Guide for GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment Section
• Complete Guide for GMAT Verbal Reasoning Section
• Complete Guide for GMAT Integrated Reasoning Section