GMAT word problems
A large share of GMAT Quant arrives as prose. The errors here are almost never algebraic — they are translation errors, where the equation describes something slightly different from what the question asked.
Translate, then solve
- Write down what the unknown is, in words, before using a letter.
- Translate each clause into a relationship as you read it.
- Check that the equation says what the sentence says.
- Solve, then re-read the question to confirm what it asked for.
That last step catches the commonest loss on the section: solving correctly for x when the question asked for 2x, or for the difference, or for the remaining amount.
Phrases that mislead
| Phrase | Means | Often misread as |
|---|---|---|
| A is 5 less than B | A = B − 5 | A = 5 − B |
| The ratio of A to B is 3:2 | A = 3k, B = 2k | A = 3, B = 2 |
| A is twice as old as B was | Two different times | One time |
| Increased by 20% | × 1.2 | + 20 |
| A certain number | One unknown, not "any" | Anything convenient |
Ratio questions nearly always need the multiplier k. Treating a ratio as actual values is the most frequent single translation error on the GMAT.
Word problems — FAQs
2 questions
For anything with two relationships, yes. Holding them in your head is where translation errors come from.
Often, especially for ratio and percentage questions where no actual total is given.
More quantitative question types
Sources
Written from the test board's own published material and checked on 1 October 2026.