Mastering the GMAT Quant Section: Strategies for Achieving a High Score

The Quantitative section of the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) is designed to evaluate your problem-solving skills, analytical abilities, and basic mathematical knowledge. Scoring a Q50 or above on the GMAT Quant section is an ambitious goal, but it is achievable with the right preparation and strategies. In this article, we will discuss tips and techniques to master the GMAT Math section and achieve a 700+ on your exam.

Table of Contents

• How to Improve GMAT Quant Score?
  • Understand the GMAT Quant Section Format
  • Strengthen Your Mathematical Foundation
  • Develop a Systematic Approach to Problem-Solving
  • Master Time Management
  • Use Efficient Techniques for Data Sufficiency Questions
• Conclusion

How to Improve GMAT Quant Score?

Your performance in the GMAT Math section is evaluated using a computer-adaptive testing (CAT) format. This means the test adapts to your skill level as you answer questions. Initially, you'll receive a question of medium difficulty. If you answer it correctly, the test will present you with a more challenging question. If you answer incorrectly, you'll receive an easier question. Your final score is determined based on the number of questions you answered correctly, the difficulty level of those questions, and the total number of questions you answered.

1. Understand the GMAT Quant Section Format

The GMAT Quantitative section, also known as the Quant section, is designed to assess your mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities. It consists of 31 multiple-choice questions that you need to complete within 62 minutes. The Quant section is divided into two main question types: Problem-Solving (PS) and Data Sufficiency (DS).

Let’s discuss both the question types with examples.

(I) Problem-Solving (PS) Questions

Problem-Solving questions make up roughly half of the Quant section. These questions test your ability to solve mathematical problems using arithmetic, algebra, and geometry concepts. You'll be given a problem and five answer choices, and your task is to select the correct answer.

(II) Data Sufficiency (DS) Questions

Data Sufficiency questions comprise the other half of the Quant section. These questions test your ability to analyse a problem, identify relevant information, and determine if there is enough data to answer the question. DS questions have two statements, labelled (1) and (2). Your task is to determine whether the statements provide sufficient information to answer the question.

For both PS and DS questions, you'll encounter a wide range of mathematical concepts, including number properties, algebra, geometry, probability, and statistics. The difficulty level of questions varies, with some being relatively straightforward while others are more complex.

2. Strengthen Your Mathematical Foundation

Having a strong foundation in basic mathematical concepts is crucial for success in the GMAT Quant section. This includes thoroughly understanding arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems. Review these concepts and ensure you have a solid grasp of the fundamentals before diving into advanced problem-solving strategies.

To improve your knowledge of fundamental mathematical concepts, follow this step-by-step plan:

Week 1: Arithmetic Operations and Fractions

• Days 1-2: Review addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers. Understanding order of operation, is critical on the GMAT, which is BODMAS (Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction)

• Days 3-4: Understand fractions, including simplifying, converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions, and finding the least common denominator (LCD).

Fraction: A fraction is a portion or part out of a complete whole. When we write 3/7, it means 4 is the numerator (also, known as dividend) and 7 is the denominator (also known as divisor).

When you multiply or divide the numerator and denominator of a fraction with the same number, the fraction obtained is known as Equivalent fraction.

Improper Fraction: When the numerator of fraction is greater than the denominator, it known as improper fraction.

Least Common Denominator: Fractions cannot be added or subtracted until they have common denominator or divisor. This common denominator is known as Least Common Denominator (LCD) or least common multiple(LCM).

• Days 5-7: Practice operations with fractions (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).

Adding and subtracting fractions:

Multiplying fractions: To multiply fractions, just multiply the numerators and denominators of the given fractions.

Dividing fractions: To divide the fractions, just multiply the first fraction with the reciprocal of the second fraction.

Example: (¾) / (2/5) = (3/4) * (5/2) = 15/ 8

Week 2: Decimals and Percentages

• Days 1-2: Learn decimals and their relationship to fractions, and practice arithmetic operations with decimals (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).

Decimals: Decimals can be converted to fractions by dividing with a power of 10.

Place Value: Every digit in a number has a place value.

Adding and Subtracting Decimals: When decimals are added or subtracted, just make sure that decimal points are lined up.

Multiplying Decimals: To multiply the decimals, just multiply them as integers, by ignoring decimals. The number of decimals in the product is the sum of decimals in the given numbers.

Dividing Decimals: To divide the decimals, take the following steps:

Step 1: Convert the decimals to fractions

Step 2: Then divide the fractions, by multiplying the first fraction with the reciprocal of the second fraction.

• Days 3-4: Understand percentages and their relationship to fractions and decimals.

Percentage: Percent simply means “per hundred”.

Percent indicates for every 100.

To solve the percent question please remember few keywords:

• What means the unknown
• Percent means divided by 100
• Of means to multiply
• Is means equal to

Percent to Decimal: You can convert percent to fractions by dividing by 100.

Fraction to Percent

Similarly, you can convert fraction to percent, by multiplying by 100

• Days 5-7: Practice percentages, and solve percentage problems, such as calculating percentage increases and decreases.

Percentage Increase: Percent increase is increase divided by original or initial value.

Percentage Increase = Increase /Initial value × 100%

Week 3: Ratios, Proportions, and Exponents

• Days 1-2: Study ratios, including simplifying and expressing them in different forms, and solving problems involving ratios.

Ratio: Ratio is comparison of two or more similar quantities.

• Days 3-4: Understand proportions, including how to set up and solve proportional relationships.

Proportion: Proportion is used for comparing ratios. To solve proportion question, just cross multiply and simplify the fractions

• Days 5-7: Review exponents, including the rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with exponents, as well as simplifying expressions with exponents.

Exponents: Exponent is the power to a base.

You should know the below mentioned rules

• am × an = am+n
• am/an = am-n
• a0 = 1
• a-m = 1/am
• (am)n = amn
• (ab)m = ambm
• (a/b)m = am/bm

Week 4: Roots and Basic Geometry

• Days 1-2: Learn about square roots and cube roots, and practice simplifying expressions with roots.

Square Root: When the power of the number is ½, it square root of that number. Square root is represented as '√ '.

Cube Root: When the power of the number is 1/3, it is cube root of the given number

• Days 3-4: Study basic geometry concepts, such as lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, and circles, along with their properties.

You should Know few basic terms:

Line: It is set of points, in one dimensional plane, which extends in both the directions. A line do not have a definite length.

Rays:  A ray has one end point and extends in one direction in a plane. Ray also do not have a definite length. (Example:)

you can understand with rays of sun, then start from a point but do not have any end point.

Line Segment:

A ray has one end point and extends in one direction in a plane. Ray also do not have a definite length. (Example: you can understand with rays of sun, then start from a point but do not have any end point).

Angles: when two lines meet at a point, they form an angle.

Triangle: Triangle is a polygon with 3 sides.

• Sum of interior angle of triangle is 180 degrees.
• Sum of exterior angles is 360 degrees.
• Number of diagonal is zero.

Quadrilateral:  Quadrilateral is a polygon with 4 sides..

• Sum of interior angle of triangle is 360 degrees.
• Sum of exterior angles is 360 degrees.
• Number of diagonal is two.

Remember the properties of the following quadrilaterals:

Parallelogram

• Opposite sides are equal and parallel.
• Opposite angles are equal.
• Diagonals bisect each other.

Square

• All sides are equal.
• All angles are 90 degrees.
• Diagonals bisect each other are 90 degrees.

Rectangle

• Opposite sides are equal.
• All angles are 90 degrees.
• Diagonals bisect each other.

Rhombus

• All sides are equal.
• Opposite angles are equal.
• Diagonals bisect each other.

Trapezium

• One pair of opposite side is parallel.
• One pair of opposite side is non-parallel.

Circle: A circle is a set of points which are equidistant from a point, which is known as the centre of the circle.

• Days 5-7: Review essential geometry formulas, such as area, perimeter, and volume, and practice solving geometry problems using these formulas.

Important definitions:

• Area is the region enclosed within the two dimensional plane.
• Perimeter is the sum of all the sides of the figure.
• Volume is the capacity of the three dimensional object.

Few important formulas you should know:

Square:

Area = a2, where a is the side of the square

Perimeter = 4a

Length of diagonal = √2 a

Rectangle:

Area = length * breadth

Perimeter = 2 (length + breadth)

Length of diagonal = √(length2 + breadth2)

Rhombus:

Area = ½ d1 * d2, where d1 is the length of first diagonal and d2 is the length of second diagonal.

Perimeter = 4a, where a is the side length

Parallelogram:

Area = base * height

Volumes of few important three dimensional objects are:

Cube: a3, where a is the side length

Cuboid: length * breadth * height

Cylinder: pie * r2* h, where r is the radius and h is the height

Cone: 1/3 * pie * r2* h, where r is the radius and h is the height

Sphere: 4/3 * pie * r3, where r is the radius

Throughout the four weeks, follow these strategies to optimise your learning:

• Allocate study time: Dedicate consistent daily study time to each topic, ensuring you have enough time to review, practice, and understand each concept.

• Use reliable resources: Utilize textbooks, online courses, or GMAT-specific study materials to access accurate and comprehensive information on each topic.

• Take notes: Write down the essential concepts, formulas, and rules for each topic. This will help you retain information and create a valuable reference tool for future study.

• Review your work: Analyze your performance on practice problems, identifying any mistakes or areas of weakness. Address these gaps in knowledge and work to improve your understanding of the concepts.

• Seek help if needed: If you're struggling with a particular concept, consider joining a study group, seeking help from a tutor, or using online forums to clarify your understanding.

• Track your progress: Monitor your improvement over time by regularly assessing your understanding and problem-solving abilities for each topic.

3. Develop a Systematic Approach to Problem-Solving

A systematic approach to problem-solving is essential for tackling GMAT Quantitative questions effectively and efficiently. This tutorial will outline a structured problem-solving methodology tailored to GMAT problem-solving questions.

• Read the question carefully: It is essential that you understand the problem you need to solve. Note any given information, constraints, and conditions that may impact your solution.
• Identify the concept being tested: Determine which mathematical concept or topic the question is testing, such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, or statistics. This will help you apply the appropriate strategies and techniques to solve the problem.
• Translate the problem into mathematical terms: Translate the given information into a mathematical expression, equation, or relationship. Break down word problems into simpler components and identify the relationships between them.
• Develop a plan or strategy: Based on your understanding of the problem and the concept being tested, develop a GMAT Quant strategy to solve the problem. Consider different approaches, such as working backwards, substitution, elimination, or plugging in numbers, and choose the most efficient method.
• Execute the plan: Implement your chosen strategy and solve the problem step by step. Be mindful of the given constraints and conditions, and ensure your calculations are accurate.
• Check your answer: Once you've arrived at a solution, check your answer for reasonableness and accuracy. Verify that your answer meets the given conditions and constraints. Use a different method to solve the problem and confirm your answer if possible.
• Review your work: Briefly review your work to ensure you haven't made any errors or overlooked any information. If you're not confident in your solution, revisit your plan or strategy and consider alternative approaches.

To optimize your problem-solving process, follow these additional tips:

• Practice mental math: Improve your mental math skills to increase your calculation speed and accuracy during the exam.
• Master key formulas and concepts: Familiarize yourself with essential formulas and concepts for each topic, as this will save you time during the exam and enable you to solve problems more efficiently.
• Time management: Practice solving problems under timed conditions to become more comfortable with the GMAT's time constraints.
• Analyse your mistakes: Review your practice problems and identify any mistakes or misconceptions. Understand the reasons behind your errors and address any gaps in your knowledge to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
• Use reliable resources: Utilize high-quality study materials and resources, such as GMAT-specific prep books, online courses, and official GMAT resources, to ensure you're learning from the most accurate and up-to-date sources.

By following this systematic approach and dedicating consistent effort, you can effectively tackle problem-solving questions in the GMAT Quantitative section.

4. Master Time Management

Time management is crucial for success in the GMAT Quant section. With 31 questions to answer in 62 minutes, you have approximately two minutes per question. However, not all questions will take the same amount of time to solve. Develop a strategy for allocating your time effectively, such as:

• Quickly scanning the question to determine its difficulty level and deciding whether to invest time in solving it or guessing and moving on.
• Estimating the time required to solve each question and sticking to that limit.
• Monitoring your progress and adjusting your pace accordingly.
• Saving time on easier questions to allocate more time to the more difficult ones.
• Practising under timed conditions to become familiar with the pressure of the exam.

5. Use Efficient Techniques for Data Sufficiency Questions

Data Sufficiency (DS) questions are unique to the GMAT and can be challenging for test-takers. They assess your ability to analyse a problem, identify relevant information, and determine whether there's enough data to answer the question.

Let’s discuss efficient techniques to tackle DS questions effectively.

(I) Understand the question format

DS questions present a problem followed by two statements labelled (1) and (2). You must determine whether the statements provide sufficient information to answer the problem.

There are five answer choices:

A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.

B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.

C) BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.

D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.

E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

(II) Analyse the problem

Before evaluating the statements, read the problem carefully and identify the information required to answer it. Break down the problem into simpler components, if possible. Consider any constraints or conditions, and make a note of them.

(III) Evaluate each statement individually

Start with statement (1). Determine whether it provides enough information to answer the problem. If it does, eliminate answer choices B, C, and E. If it doesn't, eliminate answer choices A and D.

Next, evaluate statement (2) independently. If statement (1) was sufficient, you need to check whether statement (2) is also sufficient. If both statements are sufficient, the correct answer is D. If only one statement is sufficient, you've already found the correct answer (A or B).

If statement (1) was insufficient, evaluate whether statement (2) provides enough information. If it does, the correct answer is B; otherwise, proceed to step 4.

(IV) Evaluate the statements together

If neither statement is sufficient alone, consider the information from both statements together. If the combined information is sufficient, the correct answer is C; otherwise, the answer is E.

(V) Employ strategic approaches

To maximise efficiency, adopt the following strategies when working with DS questions:

Simplify expressions: When possible, simplify the expressions in the statements to make them easier to evaluate.

Estimate or approximate: When exact values aren't necessary, estimating or approximating can save time and help you determine sufficiency.

Plug in numbers: When working with variables, try plugging in specific numbers to test whether the statements provide enough information.

Use process of elimination: Eliminate answer choices as you evaluate the statements to narrow down your options and make an educated guess if necessary.

Be cautious with diagrams: Diagrams in DS questions might not be drawn to scale. Don't rely on visual judgments; use given information and mathematical relationships instead.