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GMAT · Quantitative — Data Sufficiency · United States

Quantitative — Data Sufficiency for the GMAT Exam — U.S. candidates

12% of the GMAT test plan. Determining whether two statements, individually or combined, provide enough information to answer a question — without solving it. Calibrated for American candidates.

Behind every published pass rate is a distribution of which topics caused most of the failures. This is one of those topics. Quantitative — Data Sufficiency sits at roughly 12% of the Graduate Management Admission Test content distribution — Data Sufficiency (DS) is unique to the GMAT and the most conceptually different question type most test-takers encounter. The goal is NOT to find the answer — it is to determine if the answer CAN be found. Candidates who try to solve DS questions like PS questions waste time and make systematic errors. Pass rates for the GMAT are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For U.S. candidates preparing for GMAT, the calibration of study to local context matters: U.S. licensure exams are governed at the state level (CDL, NCLEX) or by national boards (MCAT, GRE). Pearson VUE and PSI are the dominant test-delivery vendors.

Pass rates for GMAT (United States) are published periodically by the awarding body.

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.

  • !Solving for a specific numerical value instead of testing whether a unique answer is possible
  • !Forgetting that Statement 2 must be evaluated independently before testing both together
  • !Assuming constraints from Statement 1 when evaluating Statement 2 in isolation

Study tips

  • 1Memorize the five DS answer choices and their logic (A, B, C, D, E) before test day — eliminate systematically.
  • 2For "is X > 5" type questions, find cases where X > 5 AND cases where X ≤ 5 to prove insufficiency.
  • 3Never re-use Statement 1 when evaluating Statement 2 — treat them as completely separate universes.
  • 4If you are testing in the U.S., expect GMAT delivery via Pearson VUE or PSI test centres — register through the official board portal at least 30 days in advance.

Sample GMAT Quantitative — Data Sufficiency 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

    Is integer n divisible by 6? (1) n is divisible by 12. (2) n is divisible by 9.

    • AStatement (1) alone is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficientCorrect
    • BStatement (2) alone is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient
    • CBoth statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient
    • DEach statement alone is sufficient
    Why this answer?

    If n is divisible by 12, it is divisible by all factors of 12, including 6. So Statement 1 is sufficient. Statement 2 alone: n could be 9 (not divisible by 6) or 18 (divisible by 6) — insufficient. Answer: A.

Frequently asked questions

What are the five answer choices for every Data Sufficiency question?
(A) Statement 1 alone sufficient; (B) Statement 2 alone sufficient; (C) Both together sufficient, neither alone; (D) Each statement alone sufficient; (E) Neither statement nor both together sufficient. The same five choices appear on every DS question.
What is the GMAT pass rate for American candidates?
Pass rates for GMAT candidates in United States are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should American candidates study Quantitative — Data Sufficiency for the GMAT?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Quantitative — Data Sufficiency requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. U.S. licensure exams are governed at the state level (CDL, NCLEX) or by national boards (MCAT, GRE). Pearson VUE and PSI are the dominant test-delivery vendors. Combine Quantitative — Data Sufficiency study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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