Data Insight Triage for GMAT | Data Insights for GMAT PDF Download

The GMAT Data Insights section evaluates your ability to interpret and analyze data from tables, charts, and graphs. This triage document offers a clear strategy to prioritize questions, manage time efficiently, and handle different question types.  With a structured approach, it helps you focus on solving easier questions first, reviewing challenging ones, and guessing strategically when needed. Following are the approaches that we should keep in mind while attempting the GMAT DI Exam
Following are the 7 Golden rules that one should keep in mind while attempting the DI Exam

1. Key Principles of the Triage Plan

1. Prioritize Wisely: Spend your time where it counts. Focus first on questions you can confidently solve within 2 minutes.
2. Adapt Quickly: Recognize when a question is too time-consuming and move on without hesitation.
3. Leverage Your Strengths: If you excel at numerical reasoning or graphical interpretation, tackle those first to build momentum.

2. Step-by-Step Triage Approach

Step 1: Immediate Solve (High Confidence Questions): Identify questions with straightforward calculations or clear trends. Examples include:

• "What is the percentage increase shown in this graph?"
• "Based on this chart, is the claim correct (Yes/No)?"

Action Plan: Skim the data source to understand its structure (e.g., titles, axes, units). Perform calculations or reasoning in under 2 minutes. Confirm answers quickly, avoiding overthinking.

Step 2: Moderate Solve (Manageable but Time-Consuming): Identify questions requiring cross-referencing between sources or filtering large datasets. Examples include:

• Multi-Source Reasoning questions where you compare two datasets.
• Table Analysis questions with multiple filters applied.

Action Plan: Flag questions if they seem complex initially, but revisit with a specific plan. Break the question into smaller parts: read and extract relevant details from each source, simplify comparisons by focusing on specific rows or columns in tables, and use logical elimination to narrow down options.

Step 3: Skip or Guess Strategically (High Complexity): Identify questions with unclear data, heavy calculations, or overlapping visual information. Examples include:

• Scatterplots with confusing trends.
• Multi-source problems requiring multiple iterations.

Action Plan: Eliminate obviously wrong answers. Make a calculated guess based on the most likely trends. Move on quickly to avoid wasting time.

3. Question-Type Specific Strategies

A. Multi-Source Reasoning

Challenge: Comparing data across tabs or sources with conflicting information.

Approach: Skim both sources before reading the question to understand relationships. Underline keywords or data points linked to the question. Focus on eliminating distractions from irrelevant data.

B. Table Analysis

Challenge: Filtering and sorting large datasets to find specific insights.

Approach: Sort the table by the column most relevant to the question. Use logical filters to reduce data to manageable chunks. Double-check units and headers to avoid errors in interpretation.

C. Graphics Interpretation

Challenge: Understanding trends, outliers, and correlations in visual data.

Approach: Read titles, axes, and legends to interpret the chart accurately. Identify key trends (e.g., increasing, decreasing, constant) and any outliers. Use rough estimations when exact calculations aren’t required.

D. Two-Part Analysis

Challenge: Solving two interdependent questions simultaneously.

Approach: Solve one part at a time, checking how it influences the other. Test answer choices to ensure logical consistency between parts. Eliminate pairs that fail either part.

4. Time Management Blueprint

• Allocate Time Per Question 
  Spend 2 minutes max on straightforward questions. Use an extra 30-60 seconds only if the question is close to being solved.
• Track Time Per Set
  Complete each set of questions with 1-2 minutes to spare for review.
• Reserve Time for Review 
  Flagged questions should have at least 5 minutes left for reattempts.

5. Practice Plan

• Daily Drills (30 minutes/day): Solve 5-6 questions, focusing on one type (e.g., Multi-Source Reasoning). Analyze errors thoroughly, noting the type of mistake (e.g., misreading data, calculation error).
• Weekly Timed Sets (60 minutes): Attempt a timed section of 12 questions to mimic test conditions. Focus on applying the triage strategy during the mock test.
• Error Analysis: Review flagged questions and identify patterns in errors (e.g., overthinking or misinterpreting visuals).

6. Tools and Tips

• On-Screen Calculator: Use only for precise calculations in table analysis. Avoid reliance for basic math.
• Scratchpad Strategy: Jot down key figures or data relationships. Draw simple diagrams to visualize multi-step problems.
• Elimination Technique: Remove extreme values and outliers first. Focus on the logical flow of the remaining options.

7. Final Checklist Before Test Day

• Review strategies for each question type.
• Practice timed mock tests to refine pacing and accuracy.
• Familiarize yourself with the calculator and scratchpad usage.
• Build confidence by revisiting easy and moderate-level questions.
• Stay calm and focused during the test—prioritize clarity over speed.

This enhanced triage plan ensures you tackle the Data Insights section with precision and efficiency, maximizing your chances of achieving a high score.