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Section 3 of 3 — Final Stretch!

Section 3: Data Insights Intensive 📊

60 Minutes | 5 Question Types | 40 Practice Questions

5
Question Types
60
Practice Qs
8h
Total Time
700+
Target Score
Your 24-Hour Journey Hours 17–24 · 66–100%
Quant
Verbal
DI ← You Are Here
Hr 1Hr 8Hr 16Hr 24 ✓

What You'll Master This Session

HourTopicFocus
17Multi-Source ReasoningTabs, inference, contradiction detection
18Table AnalysisSort, filter, True/False judgment
19Graphics InterpretationCharts, fill-in-the-blank, trend reading
20Two-Part AnalysisSimultaneous conditions, grid logic
21Data Sufficiency in DIDecision trees, statement evaluation
22Statistics & ProbabilityMean, median, SD, correlation, probability
23Speed Drills10 rapid-fire mixed DI questions
24Final Review & Exam DayStrategy, checklist, score prediction
Hour 17

Multi-Source Reasoning

  • ▸Two or three tabs present conflicting or complementary data — synthesize across tabs, not just recall within one.
  • ▸Question types: Inference, contradiction detection, and application — cite the specific tab as your evidence.
  • ▸Strategy: Skim all tabs in 30 seconds, then return to the relevant tab per question — navigate, don't memorize.
Tab 1: Email Tab 2: Report Tab 3: Chart From: Director of Operations Our Q3 revenue grew 12% YoY, but operating costs rose 18%. The new logistics contract accounts for most of the cost increase. We expect margins to recover in Q4 once the contract is renegotiated. ⚠ Contradiction Alert Tab 2 shows Q4 costs rising, not recovering — tabs conflict Active tab shown • Switch tabs to find contradictions across sources

Tabbed interface: active tab highlighted; contradiction detected across Tab 1 and Tab 2

Practice Questions

Q1. Tab 1 (email) says "costs rose 18% due to logistics." Tab 2 (report) says "logistics costs were flat." These two sources: ▼
Answer: Contradict each other on logistics costs.
When tabs conflict, the correct answer acknowledges the contradiction. Never force a reconciliation the data doesn't support. MSR rewards students who notice inter-tab inconsistencies.
Q2. A researcher's email (Tab 1) states sample size = 200. Her published abstract (Tab 2) states n = 180. This discrepancy most likely indicates: ▼
Answer: 20 participants were excluded between data collection and publication.
MSR rewards inference grounded in both tabs. The most plausible bridge between n=200 (collected) and n=180 (published) is participant exclusion — a standard research practice. Don't over-infer; the best answer merely connects the two facts.
Q3. Based ONLY on Tab 3 (a bar chart ranking regions West > South > East > North by Q2 revenue), which region had the highest Q2 revenue? ▼
Answer: West.
"Based only on Tab 3" signals you must ignore other tabs. Tallest bar = highest value. This tests disciplined tab isolation — a key MSR skill.
Hour 18

Table Analysis

  • ▸Sort any column to reorder the table — questions often hinge on rank order, not raw values.
  • ▸Answers are True / False / Cannot Determine — "Cannot Determine" applies when the table lacks the required data.
  • ▸Column arithmetic: compute ratios, differences, or percentages across columns for the target row before concluding.
Company Revenue ($M) ▼ Employees Rev/Emp ★ Alpha Corp $480 1,200 $400K Beta Inc $310 900 $344K Gamma LLC $290 650 $446K ↑ Delta Co $175 420 $417K Sorted by Revenue desc • Highlighted row = question target • Gamma has highest Rev/Emp despite lower revenue

Revenue sorted descending; note Gamma LLC has the highest revenue-per-employee despite ranking 3rd in total revenue

Practice Questions

Q1. True or False: Alpha Corp has the highest revenue per employee of all four companies. ▼
Answer: False.
Alpha's Rev/Emp = $400K. Gamma LLC = $290M ÷ 650 = $446K — higher. The highest revenue company is not necessarily the most efficient. Always compute all values.
Q2. True or False: The combined revenue of Beta Inc and Delta Co exceeds Alpha Corp's revenue. ▼
Answer: True.
$310M + $175M = $485M > $480M (Alpha). The margin is slim — always do the arithmetic rather than eyeballing.
Q3. True, False, or Cannot Determine: Gamma LLC's profit margin exceeds 20%. ▼
Answer: Cannot Determine.
The table shows revenue and headcount only — no profit data. "Cannot Determine" is correct whenever the required data point is absent from the table entirely.
Hour 19

Graphics Interpretation

  • ▸Fill-in-the-blank format: drop-down menus complete a sentence — read the full sentence before choosing a value.
  • ▸Graph types tested: bar charts, line graphs, scatter plots, pie charts — each demands a different reading technique.
  • ▸Axis trap: always check if the y-axis starts at zero before describing magnitude or comparing bar heights.
Q3 Revenue by Company ($M) 0 100 200 300 400 $480M Alpha $310M Beta $290M Gamma $175M Delta Y-axis starts at 0 • Q3 2024

Bar chart comparing Q3 revenue; y-axis correctly starts at 0

Practice Questions

Q1. Alpha Corp's revenue is approximately [___] times that of Delta Co. (Nearest 0.5) ▼
Answer: Approximately 2.5 times (exact: 2.74x).
$480M ÷ $175M ≈ 2.74. Drop-downs will offer 2, 2.5, 3, 4 — select 2.5 or 3 depending on options. Always divide; never eyeball bar heights.
Q2. The combined revenue of Beta and Gamma is [___] percent of Alpha Corp's revenue. ▼
Answer: 125%.
Beta + Gamma = $310 + $290 = $600M. $600 ÷ $480 = 1.25 = 125%. Their combined total exceeds Alpha — a common trap expecting you to assume the leader is dominant.
Q3. If Delta Co grows revenue by 40% next quarter, its revenue compared to Gamma LLC's current revenue will be [___]. ▼
Answer: Still less than Gamma's current revenue.
Delta × 1.40 = $175M × 1.4 = $245M < $290M (Gamma). Even a 40% jump doesn't close the gap — a classic GI trap assuming growth "catches up."
Hour 20

Two-Part Analysis

  • ▸Two columns must be satisfied simultaneously — both selections must work together, not independently.
  • ▸Common types: algebra (two unknowns), verbal (premise + assumption), logic (two constraints).
  • ▸Approach: solve for one variable first, substitute to find the other — never pick both independently.
Two-Part Answer Grid — Select One per Column Column A (First Value) Column B (Second Value) x = 3 y = 7 ✓ x = 5 y = 5 x = 8 ✓ y = 2 ⚠ x=5 and y=2 must satisfy BOTH conditions simultaneously — verify before confirming

Two-Part grid: one selection per column; both must satisfy the joint constraint

Practice Questions

Q1. Two positive integers x and y satisfy: x + y = 12 and x × y = 35. Select x (Column A) and y (Column B). Options: 3, 5, 7, 9. ▼
Answer: x = 5, y = 7 (or x = 7, y = 5).
5 + 7 = 12 ✓ and 5 × 7 = 35 ✓. Check: 3 + 9 = 12 but 3×9=27 ✗. Always verify BOTH conditions. The trap is selecting values satisfying only one.
Q2. A company allocates its $600K budget so that marketing spend is twice operations spend. Select marketing (Col A) and operations (Col B). Options: $150K, $200K, $400K, $450K. ▼
Answer: Marketing = $400K, Operations = $200K.
Let ops = x → marketing = 2x → 3x = $600K → x = $200K, 2x = $400K. Verify: $400K + $200K = $600K ✓ and $400K = 2×$200K ✓.
Q3. Verbal Two-Part: An argument concludes "Policy X reduces crime." Identify (Col A) the supporting premise and (Col B) the required assumption. ▼
Col A = stated evidence (e.g., "Cities using Policy X saw 20% fewer crimes"). Col B = gap assumption (e.g., "No other factors changed between the compared periods").
The premise is explicitly stated; the assumption bridges premise to conclusion without being stated outright. If confounders changed, the conclusion fails.
Hour 21

Data Sufficiency in DI

  • ▸Five answer choices — memorize cold: (A) only stmt 1, (B) only stmt 2, (C) both together, (D) either alone, (E) neither.
  • ▸Decision tree: test Statement 1 alone → test Statement 2 alone → combine only if each alone fails.
  • ▸Yes/No questions: "sufficient" means always-yes OR always-no — sometimes-yes-sometimes-no = insufficient.
DS Question Test Stmt 1 Alone Test Stmt 2 Alone S1 sufficient S1 fails S2 sufficient S2 fails Combine → C or E Answer key: A=S1 only • B=S2 only • C=both needed • D=either alone • E=neither works

Always test statements independently; combine only when each alone is insufficient

Practice Questions

Q1. Is integer n even? (1) n² is even. (2) n/2 is an integer. ▼
Answer: D — Either statement alone is sufficient.
(1) n² even ⇒ n must be even (odd² is always odd) → sufficient. (2) n/2 is integer ⇒ n divisible by 2 → n is even → sufficient. Each alone definitively answers the question.
Q2. What is the value of x + y? (1) x − y = 4. (2) x² − y² = 24. ▼
Answer: C — Both statements together are sufficient.
(1) alone: two unknowns, one equation → insufficient. (2) alone: x²−y² = (x+y)(x−y) = 24, unknown (x−y) → insufficient. Together: (x+y)(4) = 24 → x+y = 6. Sufficient.
Q3. Is x > 0? (1) x² > x. (2) x³ > x². ▼
Answer: B — Statement 2 alone is sufficient.
(1) x²>x: true for x>1 OR x<0 → insufficient. (2) x³>x²: divide both sides by x² (positive) → x>1 → definitely positive → sufficient.
Hour 22

Statistics & Probability

  • ▸Mean vs. Median: outliers skew the mean but not the median — know when each is the better measure of center.
  • ▸Standard deviation measures spread — larger SD = more variability; never confuse it with range.
  • ▸Correlation ≠ Causation: a positive r on a scatter plot shows association only — reject any answer claiming causation.
Study Hours vs. GMAT Score (Positive Correlation, r ≈ +0.88) 550 600 650 700 750 20h 40h 60h 80h 100h Outlier r ≈ +0.88 X: Study Hours • Y: GMAT Score • Red dot = outlier that inflates mean but not median

Scatter plot: strong positive correlation; outlier (red) would skew mean upward

Practice Questions

Q1. Seven students scored: 58, 62, 65, 70, 72, 74, 120. Which measure of center best represents a typical student's score, and why? ▼
Answer: Median (70) — the outlier 120 inflates the mean to ~74.4.
Mean = 521÷7 ≈ 74.4. Median = 70 (4th of 7 sorted values). The outlier pulls mean above most scores; median is resistant to outliers. A classic GMAT stats distinction.
Q2. A bag contains 4 red and 6 blue marbles. Two marbles are drawn without replacement. What is the probability both are red? ▼
Answer: 2/15.
P(1st red) = 4/10. P(2nd red | 1st red) = 3/9. Joint = (4/10)×(3/9) = 12/90 = 2/15. Without replacement: always reduce the denominator for each subsequent draw.
Q3. The scatter plot shows r = +0.88 between study hours and GMAT score. Which conclusion is valid? ▼
Answer: More study hours are strongly associated with higher scores — but this does not prove studying causes higher scores.
r = +0.88 = strong positive correlation. Causation is not proven. A confound (e.g., baseline aptitude) could drive both. Always reject answer choices using "causes" when only correlation data exists.
Hour 23

Speed Drills — 10 Quick-Fire Questions

⏱

Timed Format: 90 seconds per question

Set a timer. Commit to an answer before expanding the solution. Track accuracy under time pressure.

Q1 [Table] Five projects with ROI: 12%, 9%, 15%, 7%, 11%. True or False: The median ROI exceeds the mean ROI. ▼
True. Sorted: 7, 9, 11, 12, 15. Median = 11%. Mean = 54÷5 = 10.8%. Median (11%) > Mean (10.8%). Don't assume — compute both.
Q2 [Two-Part] x + y = 20, x − y = 6. Find x (Col A) and y (Col B). ▼
x = 13, y = 7. Add: 2x = 26 → x = 13. Subtract: 2y = 14 → y = 7. Check: 13+7=20 ✓, 13−7=6 ✓.
Q3 [Graphics] Pie chart: Dept A=35%, B=25%, C=20%, D=20%. Total budget = $2M. What is Dept A's budget? ▼
$700,000. 35% × $2,000,000 = $700,000. Confirm percentages: 35+25+20+20=100 ✓. Pie chart arithmetic: always percentage × total.
Q4 [DS] Is xy > 0? (1) x + y > 0. (2) x > 0. ▼
E — Neither sufficient. (1) x=3,y=−1: xy=−3<0; x=3,y=1: xy=3>0 → inconsistent. (2) x>0 but y unknown. Together: x=5,y=−2 → xy=−10<0 still possible. E.
Q5 [MSR] Tab 1: "Product launch delayed to Q2." Tab 2: "Q1 earnings beat expectations due to new product revenue." These tabs are: ▼
Contradictory. A product delayed to Q2 cannot have generated Q1 revenue. Identify this logical impossibility and flag the inter-tab inconsistency.
Q6 [Stats] Set A: {2,4,6,8,10}. Set B: {1,4,6,8,11}. Both have mean 6. Which has greater standard deviation? ▼
Set B has greater SD. Set A deviations from mean: −4,−2,0,+2,+4. Set B: −5,−2,0,+2,+5. Set B's extremes create larger squared deviations → larger SD. Equal means, different spreads.
Q7 [Probability] A fair die is rolled twice. What is the probability the sum equals 7? ▼
1/6. Pairs summing to 7: (1,6),(2,5),(3,4),(4,3),(5,2),(6,1) = 6. Total outcomes = 36. P = 6/36 = 1/6. Sum=7 is the single most likely outcome on two dice — worth memorizing.
Q8 [Table] Profit margins: X=22%, Y=18%, Z=25%, W=15%. True or False: More than half the firms have margins above 20%. ▼
False. X (22%) and Z (25%) are above 20% — 2 of 4 = exactly half, not more than half. "More than half" requires ≥3 of 4. Precision of language matters.
Q9 [Two-Part Verbal] Conclusion: "Remote work reduces office costs." Select (A) the best supporting premise and (B) the key assumption. ▼
(A) "Companies with remote policies spend 30% less on real estate." (B) "Remote work doesn't incur equivalent costs elsewhere (e.g., home office stipends)."
Premise: stated evidence. Assumption: unstated bridge. If stipends equal office savings, the conclusion collapses.
Q10 [GI] Line graph: revenue growth rates Q1=5%, Q2=8%, Q3=3%, Q4=−2%. The overall trend for the year is [___]. ▼
Positive but decelerating (growth rate declining). Revenue grew in Q1–Q3 but at a slowing rate, turning negative in Q4. Cumulative revenue is still up for the year, but the growth rate trend is downward. Drop-down options: "increasing" vs. "decelerating" — select decelerating.
10?
Score your drill:
8–10 correct: exam-ready · 5–7: review weak areas · Below 5: revisit Hours 17–22
Hour 24

Final Review & Exam Day Strategy

Your 24-Hour Journey: What You've Mastered

Hrs 1–8 Quant: Number Properties, Algebra, Geometry, Word Problems, Data Sufficiency, Speed Drills
Hrs 9–16 Verbal: Critical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Correction, Speed Drills
Hrs 17–22 Data Insights: MSR, Table Analysis, Graphics, Two-Part, DS, Statistics & Probability
Hrs 23–24 Speed Drills, Exam Day Strategy, Test Checklist, Score Prediction

Test Day Checklist

Test Day Checklist ✓ NIGHT BEFORE ✓ Confirm test center location & arrive 30 minutes early ✓ Valid government-issued photo ID ready (passport preferred) ✓ Sleep 7–8 hours — no late-night cramming MORNING OF ✓ Protein-rich breakfast — avoid sugar spikes ✓ Review personal notes only — no new material DURING EXAM ✓ Use all breaks — eat, hydrate, stretch ✓ Flag and move on if stuck — max 2.5 min per Q ✓ DI: skim all tabs in 30 s before answering ✓ Eliminate 2 wrong answers before guessing ✓ Trust first instinct — limit second-guessing ✓ Harder Qs = adaptive test working — stay calm Recommended Section Order (GMAT Focus Edition) 1. Quantitative Reasoning (45 min • 21 questions) 2. Verbal Reasoning (45 min • 23 questions) 3. Data Insights (45 min • 20 questions) — finish strong!

Score Prediction: Accuracy Rate → Estimated GMAT Score

Accuracy RateEst. Score RangePercentileStatus
Below 45%445 – 525< 25thNeeds Work
45 – 55%525 – 58525th – 45thDeveloping
55 – 65%585 – 63545th – 60thCompetitive
65 – 75%635 – 68560th – 75thStrong
75 – 85%685 – 71575th – 87th700+ Zone
Above 85%715 – 80587th – 99thElite

Score ranges are approximate. GMAT Focus Edition maximum score is 805.

🎯

You're Ready. Go Score 700+!

You've completed 24 hours of intensive GMAT preparation. You know the strategies, you've drilled the question types, you've handled the pressure. Trust your preparation and walk in confident.

Final Mindset Reminders

  • ▸Every question is a fresh opportunity — don't carry mistakes forward
  • ▸Educated guessing on hard questions beats running out of time
  • ▸Harder questions mean the adaptive test is working in your favor
  • ▸You've prepared more thoroughly than most test-takers — believe that
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