While many non-native speakers and international students have a much harder time with Verbalquestions than Quant questions, word problems are frequently a sticking point for non-native speakers take the GMAT. Non-native speakers need to be able to recognize quant keywords with the same speed and accuracy as native speakers.

The following are some of the most common keywords used in the Quant section of the GMAT.

Percent:

• percent of
• percent change
• initial value
• Percent increase/decrease

Fraction:

• Denominator
• Numerator
• Mixed fraction
• Equivalent
• Graphical
• Numerical

Number Properties:

• Integers
• Units Digit
• Multiple
• Prime Number
• Common Factor/Multiple
• Dividend
• Divisor
• Remainder
• Consecutive

Descriptive Statistics:

• Mean/Average
• Median
• Mode
• Range
• Standard Deviation
• Central Tendency
• Variance

Addition:

• Increased by
• More than
• Combined, together
• Total of
• Sum
• Added to

Subtraction:

• Decreased by
• Minus
• Less than/Fewer than
• Difference between/of

Multiplication:

• Of
• Times
• Product of
• Increased/decreased by a factor of

Division:

• Out of
• Ratio of
• Percent of
• Per

Equals:

• Is/Are/Was/Were/Will be
• Gives
• Yielded
• Sold for
• Earned

This article is part of an ongoing series of tips for international students and non-native speakers taking the GMAT. See the rest here.