GMAT Blog

Can You Divide by Variables?

- by Katharine Rudzitis During math problems on the GMAT, test-takers might see problems like these: x3 - 4x2 + 4x = 0 Does (3x)/(7x) equal 3/7? For what values does [(x+3)(x-5)]/[(x+3)(x-6)] equal (x-5)/(x-6)? It can be tempting to...

General Approach to Sentence Correction Questions

- by Katharine Rudzitis GMAT Sentence Correction questions can be challenging, so it’s important to approach each of them with a general strategy. Jumping right into reading the answer choices isn’t the smartest way to proceed. Test-takers...

Difference of Two Squares on the GMAT

- By Katharine Rudzitis Many mathematical expressions on the GMAT can be factored using the difference of two squares formula: x2 – y2 = (x + y)(x – y). Applying this formula can save time, but sometimes it’s tough to recognize a...

The GMAT Enhanced Score Report

- by Katharine Rudzitis Traditional GMAT score reports include scores from the Verbal, Quantitative, and Integrated Reasoning sections of the GMAT, as well as the total score for the entire exam. However, these reports don’t provide...

Engaging with GMAT Reading Comprehension Passages

By Katharine Rudzitis Anyone planning to take the GMAT will sit through a Verbal Reasoning section, which includes questions on lengthy Reading Comprehension passages. These questions involve tasks related to the main idea, structure,...

Solving Average Speed Problems

- by Katharine Rudzitis Average speed problems are common on the GMAT. These questions can be tricky if you haven’t practiced solving them, because the most obvious answer choice is a trap. To see why, try the following problem: Joe drives...

Variables in the Answer Choices – Part II

In the last article, we learned the algebraic approach and the input-output approach for solving questions with variables in the answer choices (VIACs). In that article, I ended by saying that, while the input-output approach is often...

Questions, Questions!

Not all GMAT practice questions are equal. Learn to spot substandard GMAT questions so you don’t waste precious study time and energy. by Brent Hanneson and David Sovka, GMAT Prep Now. Just like your grandmother probably told you, the...

Variables in the Answer Choices – Part I – Two Approaches

In this article, we’ll examine two different approaches you can take when solving questions with variables in the answer choices (also known as VIACs). To begin, please try the following question: Townville has X residents, and Y of them...

Handling “Analyze the Answer Choices” Questions

Consider the following two questions: Question #1: If 10 is the greatest common divisor of positive integers x and y, and 20 is the lowest common multiple of x and y, what is the value of xy? A) 15 B) 20 C) 30 D) 100 E) 200 Question #2:...

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