Lesson: Data Sufficiency Challenging - 09

Tough Data Sufficiency: Four Categories

At Challenge levels the Exam is trying to determine whether you?re among the top ranks of Exam test-takers. In math, the test will begin throwing curveballs at you, hoping you?ll start striking out. These "curveballs" are predictable however, and they tend to fall into one of the following four categories:

• Tough Content These questions test concepts that are more complex than those you?ve seen in earlier questions. Still no calculus or trigonometry, but you?ll see some content that you won?t see in easier questions. More often, you?ll see content that?s tested in much tougher ways.

• Easy Math/Tough Applications These questions aren?t all that difficult mathematically, once you sort through the information you?ve been given and figure out what the question really is.

• Multiple Steps Again, not necessarily difficult math, but working out the problem requires several steps.

• Unexpected Combinations Probability & geometry? Factorization & Averages? Together in a single question? This is where the Exam really tests your creativity and ability to bring together different concepts.

Now let's take a look at each of these four question types.

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