Quantitative comparison question format practice as tested on the Middle and Upper Level ISEE.
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- On the ISEE/SSAT, what is a Quantitative Comparison (QC) question?
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A question where you compare two quantities, Column A and Column B, and determine which is larger or if they are equal.- How many answer choices are there on a QC question?
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Four answer choices.- What are the four answer choices for a QC question?
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A, B, C, D. The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.- What does answer choice A mean on a QC question?
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The quantity in Column A is greater.- What does answer choice B mean on a QC question?
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The quantity in Column B is greater.- What does answer choice C mean on a QC question?
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The two quantities are equal.- What does answer choice D mean on a QC question?
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The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.- When should you choose answer D (relationship cannot be determined)?
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When different possible values for variables lead to different answers (for example, sometimes A > B and sometimes B > A depending on the variable).- Can you eliminate answer choice D even before solving a QC question?
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Yes. If both columns contain only numbers with no variables, the relationship is always determined, so D cannot be the answer.- What is the main benefit of cross-multiplication on QC questions?
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It lets you compare fractions without calculating decimals, and it avoids rounding errors.- What is a common mistake when comparing two fractions on a QC?
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Comparing only the numerators or only the denominators instead of comparing the fractions as whole numbers.- How do negative numbers change the outcome of a comparison on a QC?
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Negative numbers can reverse inequality signs and change which quantity is larger, especially when multiplying or squaring.- On a QC question where both columns contain the same variable, what should you try?
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Plug in multiple values (one positive, one negative, one fraction) to see if the relationship changes.- Is zero a good test value to plug into a QC question?
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Yes, zero often simplifies the problem and reveals relationships, but always test at least one other value too.- Should you test negative numbers when checking a QC question with a variable?
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Yes. Negative numbers often behave differently from positive numbers and can change the relationship.
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