Data Insights — Multi-Source Reasoning for the GMAT Exam

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

• !Reading only the first tab and missing key data in subsequent tabs
• !Treating a source's stated assumption as a proven fact
• !Selecting an answer that is true per one source but contradicted by another

Study tips

• 1Read all tabs before answering any question — note the type (quantitative vs qualitative) of each.
• 2Flag explicit contradictions between sources; MSR questions often test whether you noticed them.
• 3Practice the "what does each source add" approach: summarise each tab in one sentence before answering.

Sample GMAT Data Insights — Multi-Source Reasoning questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real GMAT questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

1. 1

   Tab 1 states that Project Alpha has a budget of $2M. Tab 2 (a chart) shows Alpha spent $1.8M through Q3. Tab 3 (email) says the project will "likely exceed budget." Which inference is best supported?

   • AProject Alpha will definitely exceed its budget
   • BProject Alpha has already exceeded its budget
   • CProject Alpha has spent $1.8M and may exceed its $2M budgetCorrect
   • DThe email is unreliable because the chart shows underspending
   Why this answer?

   The chart confirms $1.8M spent (within the $2M budget so far) and the email projects a likely overrun. The best inference combines both sources. "Definitely" (A) and "already exceeded" (B) overstate the evidence.