Recent emphasis on statistics problems on the GMAT
Here at ManhattanGMAT, we’re continuously trying to figure out how better to study for the GMAT.
One of our Instructors analyzed the downloadable test at www.mba.com (which anyone studying for the GMAT ought to download at some point, it’s a GREAT resource). We found a remarkably high concentration of weighted average problems. Now, everyone expects statistics problems on the GMAT, but these recent problems are in different forms than seen in the Official Guide and in other places. In other words, instead of a customary mean, median, or standard deviation question, the recent questions are more complex weighted average types of problems or hybrid mean-median problems.
A fair, but not great, litmus test of this flavor of GMAT problem can be found in Problem Solving #224 (p. 183) of the Official Guide. If you get this problem right, you’re likely in okay shape. If not, you may want to consider reviewing some problems of this type before rolling into exam day. And of course, it would be a good idea to spend some time with the test from www.mba.com in order to make full use of that resource, because the statistics problems on the GMAT are likely to be tougher than the ones you’ve been practicing on.