GMAT® Official Guide 2019 Quantitative Review
4.1 Test-Taking Strategies
- Pace yourself.
Consult the on-screen timer periodically. Work as carefully as possible, but do not spend
valuable time checking answers or pondering problems that you find difficult. - Use the erasable notepad provided.
Working a problem out may help you avoid errors in solving the problem. If diagrams or figures
are not presented, it may help to draw your own. - Read each question carefully to determine what is being asked.
For word problems, take one step at a time, reading each sentence carefully and translating the
information into equations or other useful mathematical representations. - Scan the answer choices before attempting to answer a question.
Scanning the answers can prevent you from putting answers in a form that is not given (e.g.,
finding the answer in decimal form, such as 0.25, when the choices are given in fractional form,
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such as 4 ). Also, if the question requires approximations, a shortcut could serve well (e.g., you
may be able to approximate 48 percent of a number by using half). - Don't waste time trying to solve a problem that is too difficult for you.
Make your best guess and then move on to the next question.
4.2 The Directions
These directions are very similar to those you will see for problem solving questions when you take the
GMAT exam. If you read them carefully and understand them clearly before sitting for the GMAT
exam, you will not need to spend too much time reviewing them once the test begins.
Solve the problem and indicate the best of the answer choices given.
Numbers: All numbers used are real numbers.
Figures: A figure accompanying a problem solving question is intended to provide information useful
in solving the problem. Figures are drawn as accurately as possible. Exceptions will be clearly noted.
Lines shown as straight are straight, and lines that appear jagged are also straight. The positions of
points, angles, regions, etc., exist in the order shown, and angle measures are greater than zero. All
figures lie in a plane unless otherwise indicated.