If you’ve ever wondered why the “Data Interpretation” section is part of almost all entrance exams (CAT, MAT, SNAP, XAT etc.) for B-schools, it’s because this section bears the closest resemblance to the kind of problems that you as a manager/ CEO would be tackling!

Considered to be quite a scoring section, DI consists of exactly what the name states: you’ve got to interpret & make sense out of a LOT of data thrown at you!

Some tips to score better in the DI section:

1. Scan the Question: Most DI questions will consist of a bunch of statistics, numbers & diagrams that might look scary (to baffle you) but are actually not at all difficult to solve. In fact the trend has been: the scarier a DI set/caselet looks, the easier it is to solve.
So before you lose heart & move on to an easier-looking set/caselet, scan that scary set & the list of questions in it. There will be at least of couple of “sitters” (questions that can be easily answered).

2. Hone your Calculation Skills/Speed: The Date Interpretation section is calculation-intensive. And by “calculations” we mean stuff like 556/874 and not 2*9=? Such calculations can eat up your time. It is imperative, therefore to get very, very comfortable with calculations. Learn shortcuts that will help you calculate in your head or better still; figure out how Vedic Maths works. It will help you a lot!

3. Get familiar with all types of DI questions: When you have been practicing DI questions for a while, you’ll begin to notice that there are different types or formats of questions in this section. There will be bar charts, tables, pie charts etc. There will also be questions where a lot of text/information will be provided in 1 long paragraph. Work on your reading & comprehension speed. It will go a long way in helping you tackle this section. Also try reading business newspapers which have articles that are data-intensive & have graphs & pie-charts etc. After reading the article, try to mentally collate & analyse the data provided in them. Such activities will help you get into the “DI mode” & stay in that mode always!

4. Practice, practice, practice: The last but the most important piece of advice we can give you! Copious amount of practice will help you in two ways:
a. Your speed will increase considerably. You would have attempted all kinds of DI questions many number of times. You will end up attempting more questions correctly, thus increasing your score.
b. Your confidence will increase considerably. You know you have practiced a lot! This will help you face tough questions with determination.

So try to solve at least 1 DI question everyday. (Click here for sample tests of various MBA exams). Refer to good books that have a lot of solved and un-solved questions for practice. Some suggestions: ‘How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT’ by TATA-McGraw Hill publications, ‘How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT’ by Arihant Prakashan, Verbal & Non Verbal Reasoning’ by R.S. Agarwal (S. Chand and Sons publications), ‘Course In Mental Ability and Quantitative Aptitude’ by Edgar Thorpe, ‘Analytical and Logical Reasoning’ by B.S. Sijwali (Arihant publications), ‘Reasoning and DI for MBA Exam’ by Arun Sharma and ‘Fundamental of Reasoning: A Logic Book’ by Robert M. Johnson.

There is no particular syllabus for the Data Interpretation section for CAT, MAT, SNAP, XAT or any other B-school entrance exam. This is one section that truly tests your managerial aptitude. All the best!

Nishatha Abraham Bijeesh

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