Mission 1 - Intro Qual/Intro SC Flashcards
Structure of DS Questions
There is a question stem and 2 statements that go with it.
Splitting Data Sufficiency Answer Choices
Split them into A/D and B/C/E. If statement 1 is not sufficient, eliminate A/D. Essentially- if it’s not one it cannot be either or that one.
What is special about yes/no DS questions and how can you use this to your advantage?
Yes/no questions do not ask for a value. They ask if you have enough evidence to conclusively answer yes or no. AKA do you have enough ingredients to create your dish (answer), per the recipe (the statements). You can save time and exploit it by not creating a dish/not finding the answer.
What a tutor used to say is “can Einstein solve it”
Where does the trick lie in the following question:
“Is X divisible by 2”
This is a yes/no question. Very used to try solve for X. Learn to distance yourself from this. Save time. Realize that yes/no questions are not value questions.
Why is it important to read the entire question stem carefully?
The question stem may limit your domain, which will influence your range of answers. It’s one thing if the question asks what is the value of x, but another if it says, if x>0 what is the value of X. Small pieces of info will exploit common mistakes, so use to advantage.
How can rephrasing or simplifying info in the question stem and statements help you?
Sometimes, the information is complicated on purpose. An equation with 4 variables could just really be a linear one in disguise (where some variables cancel). This is just an example.
What is unique about DS questions?
We simply need to know if we can get to the answer and we don’t always need to do all the work. Who cares what the answer is type of mentality. Save the analytical/tactical skills for PS not DS.
Statement 1 allows you to conclude that x=1 or x=0. Statement 2 allows you to conclude that x=1 or x=5.
The answer is “together”/C. Since there is overlap of one value, and neither is sufficient to answer the question alone, that’s the answer.
What is the black swan trap and how do you take actions against it?
The black swan trap demonstrates that it only takes one contradictory answer to disprove a scenario, and that a scenario won’t ever conclusively be right just because you have evidence in favor of it.
If we look at x^2>x, and only test positives, we will systematically answer YES. But it might be more worthwhile to play devil’s advocate and test for 0.
To avoid the trap, test the whole array of numbers- positives +fractions, negatives+ their fractions. 0.
GMAT Sentence Correction questions primarily test skills in ___________
Noticing issues.
It’s not all about grammar, and indeed, grammar will only get you so far.
A correct answer in Sentence Correction questions will be (2 points).
- Grammatically correct
2. Conveys effective meaning
Why is it important to read sentence correction answers entirely, or holistically?
Individual components of a question may pass your tests but the sentence as a whole could fail to convey meaning.
How should you go about answering SC questions the right way?
Process of using contenders and positive elimination.
Read through the question. If it seems fine, keep A as you contender and go thru other choices. If A seems flawed, positively eliminate A. Find the same mistake repeated in other answer choices and then eliminate those. Then check for any other errors.
What is the tie breaker in SC questions in a scenario in which you are left with 2 good answer choices?
First, try to see how the 2 choices differ. Is it tense? Is it something else?
See which option conveys meaning more effectively. Test for ambiguous, illogical and nonsensical constructions.
If there are no differences on any level, both may be wrong.
For SC answers that feel off, try to dig into why they are wrong. Don’t just shun them. You have to explain why four of the answers are incorrect, with confidence.
