GMAT DS: How to Solve Data Sufficiency Questions?

Short Answer

Check statement 1 alone, then check statement 2 alone. Accordingly, decide among A, B, or D. If both are insufficient, only then combine. Together sufficient means C, together not sufficient means E. Always combine last only when each statement failed independently.

Overview

Data Sufficiency (DS) is an important part of the GMAT preparation for any sincere candidate. DS tests how clearly you can think. Each question has fixed answer choices, and the discipline is simple: check statement 1 alone, check statement 2 alone, and combine only if both fail. With practice, this becomes second nature and you stop wasting time on unnecessary calculation. The real challenge is not solving for values but judging sufficiency with confidence under pressure. A well-structured GMAT prep course trains you to build this discipline step by step, while realistic GMAT practice tests give you the calm to apply it on test day. If you master DS, you gain more than a higher GMAT score: you develop the clarity and composure that business schools value deeply.

 

Data Sufficiency on GMAT

Data Sufficiency, often called DS, is one of the most distinctive parts of the GMAT. The format is not something most students have seen before in their academic lives, and that is why it feels unusual in the beginning. Instead of asking you to solve a problem directly, DS questions ask whether you have enough information to solve it. The real test is not your ability to calculate, but your ability to judge sufficiency with discipline and clarity of thought. Once you see the pattern, DS becomes less of a puzzle and more of a game of logic.

The Fixed Answer Choices

Every DS question follows the same template. You will always see a question followed by two statements, and the same five answer choices. The order of these answer choices never changes, so it is important to memorize them early in your preparation. This way, when you are sitting in the test and the clock is ticking, you do not waste mental energy rereading the options every time.

Here are the five choices explained in plain words:

A: Statement 1 alone is sufficient, but statement 2 alone is not.

B: Statement 2 alone is sufficient, but statement 1 alone is not.

C: Both statements together are sufficient, but neither alone is sufficient.

D: Each statement alone is sufficient.

E: Even both statements together are not sufficient.

The discipline that makes or breaks your DS performance is this: combine the two statements only when each statement alone has failed to give you an answer. Students often make the mistake of rushing into combining too early, but the GMAT rewards patience and structure.

The Flow of Solving a DS Question

The simplest way to approach a DS problem is through a mental flowchart. Think of it as a set of checkpoints. Once you internalize these steps, you will naturally begin following them without even realizing it.

 

The first step is always to look at statement 1 on its own. Ask yourself: does statement 1 give me enough information to solve the question? If the answer is yes, then you already know that the correct answer is either option A or option D. Now you shift to statement 2 and check it independently. If statement 2 is also sufficient, then the answer is option D because each statement works on its own. If statement 2 is not sufficient, then the answer is option A because only the first statement works. In either case, there is no need to combine the statements.

The other case is when statement 1 does not give you enough information. In this case, the possible answers are B, C, or E. Even then, you do not immediately combine. The next step is to give statement 2 a fair chance on its own. If statement 2 works independently, the answer is option B. If statement 2 also fails, only then do you combine both statements. At this point, there are two possibilities: if the combination gives you an answer, then the correct option is C. If the combination still does not give you an answer, then the option is E.

This is the full cycle, and once you practice it, it feels very natural.

Building Intuition

While the flowchart sounds long, in reality, you will not go through it like a checklist every single time. With practice, you develop intuition. Many students find it useful to jot quick notes on their scratch pad. Write “1” and “2” and then test each statement one at a time.

For example:

1 sufficient, 2 not → Answer A
1 not, 2 sufficient → Answer B
1 not, 2 not, combine sufficient → Answer C
1 not, 2 not, combine not sufficient → Answer E

This little system keeps your thinking clear and prevents you from second-guessing yourself in the heat of the test.

What DS Really Tests

It is important to remember that DS is not always about calculating the final answer. In many cases, the question is less about the value itself and more about recognizing whether the information provided is enough to reach a conclusion. It is a test of logic, reasoning, and the discipline to resist unnecessary calculation. By testing how clearly you can judge sufficiency, DS is also training the kind of sharp, structured thinking that plays a role in the MBA admissions process. Business schools value applicants who can cut through clutter, focus on essentials, and make sound judgments under pressure.

Parting Thought

At first glance, Data Sufficiency questions may seem strange. But once you understand the fixed answer choices, follow the flowchart patiently, and train yourself to test each statement separately, the format becomes manageable and even enjoyable. You do not need to overcomplicate the process. Trust the structure: check statement 1 alone, check statement 2 alone, and only combine if both fail. Approach DS as a lesson in clarity and discipline. With steady practice, the steps will become second nature, and you will be able to solve them with confidence. The GMAT does not only test your knowledge; it tests how clearly you can think when the pressure is real. Treat Data Sufficiency as your training ground for logical reasoning, and you will walk into test day with strength and calm.

 

To get started with your GMAT prep in an organized way, you may want to take a free GMAT full-length practice test