GMAT Strategies

Look for the following:

1) Crazy Answers

2) "Joe Bloggs" Answers

3) Partial Answers

1) Two seconds to reread the problem

2) take a one or a few more steps to solve

1) common sense - take a step back and look at the answers

2) typically can take out two

1) attracted to easy solutions that can be arrived at one step or answers that repeat numbers from the problem

2) eliminate one answer

• Difficulty level (medim and difficult)
• - Joe is attracted to easy solutions that can be solved in one step
• - Joe is attracted to answer choices that simply repeat numbers from the problem

1) pick numbers from the variables in the problem

2) using the numbers, find a target answer

3) plug i the numbers into the answer choices to see which choice equals the answer

Note: Game theory - during the beginning of the test, makes sense to check ALL the answers, but during the second half, go with the first answer that works

• How to pick the answer:
• Pick first answer (A) than the last answer (E), than B, D, C

1) Variables in the answer choices

2) Percents in the answer choices (when they are % of some unspecified amount)

3) Fractions or rations in the answer choices (when they are fractional or ratios of unspecified amount)

Main goal - find the final answer by breaking down each variable

Then plug into each equation

Keep it simple (small numbers)

Unless it concerns hours and days, it make sense to use 24 or multiple of 24 (48)

Minutes and hours - 60, or multiple of 60 (120)

Don't use 0 or 1 = "weird numbers"

Plug in 100 (convenient number)

Identify a specifc whole amount

Number should be evenly divisible by 2, 3, or 5

• This can be done as long as:
• 1) The answer choices are numbers
• 2) question is relatively straightforward (only ask for "what is x?", not "what is x+Y?")

• Steps:
• 1) Start with the middle answer (C)
• - number answers are alwyas given in order of size
• 2) If choice C is too small, try the next larger number
• 3) If choice C is too big, try the next smaller number

May need to plug in more than one number

solve for x & y

Go down the line

Can also try 0 and 1 (weird numbers)