# GMAT Table Analysis: Sorting Method and Example | topin

GMAT guidesTable Analysis

Section

Data Insights

Format

A sortable table and 3 two-option statements

Scoring

No partial credit; all three statements must be right

Calculator

On-screen calculator available

Common tasks

Medians, rankings, ratios, percentages and conditions across rows

## How it works

A short introduction explains the table. You can sort it by any column, one column at a time. Each statement is marked with one of two labels, such as yes or no, and the question is only correct if all three are right.

## Worked example

The table shows six shops in a chain last year. Shop, Region, Revenue (£000), Change on previous year, Staff Alder, North, 840, +6%, 12 Birch, South, 1,120, -3%, 16 Cedar, North, 610, +11%, 10 Damson, East, 950, +2%, 19 Elm, South, 700, -8%, 9 Fir, East, 1,030, +4%, 14 For each statement, choose Yes if it is true from the table, otherwise No. 1\. The shop with the highest revenue also has the highest revenue per member of staff. 2\. The median revenue of the six shops is above £850,000\. 3\. Every shop whose revenue fell on the previous year is in the South region.

Show the answer

1: No 2: Yes 3: Yes

1: Birch has the highest revenue, 1,120 / 16 = 70 (£000) per member of staff. Elm has 700 / 9 = about 77.8, and Fir has 1,030 / 14 = about 73.6, so Birch is not highest. No. 2: Sorted revenues are 610, 700, 840, 950, 1,030, 1,120\. The median is the mean of 840 and 950, which is 895, above 850\. Yes. 3: Sort by change: only Birch (-3%) and Elm (-8%) fell, and both are South. Yes.

## A method for Table Analysis

1. 1  
### Read the introduction and headers  
Check the units, such as thousands or percentages, and what each column measures before reading any statement.
2. 2  
### Find the column each statement needs  
Underline the key quantity in the statement, such as revenue per member of staff, and note which columns build it.
3. 3  
### Sort, then scan  
Sort by the relevant column to find maximums, medians and rankings at a glance. Sort again for the next statement.
4. 4  
### Calculate only the rows that matter  
For ratios, work out the few candidate rows rather than all of them. Use the calculator for awkward division.
5. 5  
### Confirm all three before submitting  
With no partial credit, a quick second look at each statement is worth the time.

## Traps to avoid

* Assuming the row with the largest total also has the largest ratio or percentage.
* Forgetting to average the two middle values when a column has an even number of rows.
* Confusing a percentage change with an absolute change in a column.
* Reading the wrong row after sorting, because the order of the rows has changed.

## Table Analysis FAQs

Can you sort the table in GMAT Table Analysis?

Yes. You can sort by any column, which is the main tool for finding medians, rankings and extreme values quickly.

Is there partial credit in GMAT Table Analysis?

No. You must get all three statements right to earn credit for the question.

How long should a Table Analysis question take?

Aim for about two and a half minutes. Sorting well keeps most of them close to that.

Do I need the calculator for Table Analysis?

Sometimes. Use it for ratios and percentages you cannot estimate, but scan the sorted table first, since many statements need no arithmetic.

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