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An exhibit has missing values. Should I estimate them or ask for more data?

Data Analysis

I got a chart with one year missing for a key segment. I wasn't sure whether I was expected to interpolate, ignore it, or ask the interviewer. What's the best way to handle missing exhibit data?

Oct 9, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

First decide whether the missing value is actually necessary for the question you are solving.

The percentages in my case exhibit don't add to 100%. What should I do?

Data Analysis

A chart showed market shares that added up to about 96%. I wasted time wondering whether I misread it. Should I flag something like that or just assume rounding or other players?

Oct 9, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Flag it briefly if the discrepancy could affect your interpretation, then keep moving.

A chart uses index values instead of actual units. How should I explain the insight?

Data Analysis

I had an exhibit where everything was shown as an index with the base year equal to 100. I could see the direction, but I got awkward trying to explain what the changes actually meant for the business. How should I talk through indexed charts?

Oct 8, 2026Denmark

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Focus on relative change, not on inventing absolute values the chart does not provide.

If I get three exhibits at once, how do I decide which one to analyze first?

Data Analysis

A practice case dropped three exhibits on me at the same time. I started reading them in order, but afterward my partner said I should have prioritized. How do you decide where to start without already knowing the answer?

Oct 7, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Anchor the order to the client question, not to the order in which the exhibits appear.

Two exhibits use different time periods. How do I compare them without forcing a conclusion?

Data Analysis

I had a case where one chart showed the last five years and another only showed the last two. The trends looked different and I wasn't sure whether I was even comparing like with like. What should I do in the interview?

Oct 7, 2026United Kingdom

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Start by calling out the mismatch instead of quietly comparing the charts as if the periods were identical.

Should I calculate every percentage difference I see in an exhibit?

Data Analysis

I tend to start calculating growth rates and percentage changes even when the chart already makes the direction obvious. It feels safer to quantify everything, but I am probably wasting time. When is the math actually necessary?

Oct 4, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Calculate when the magnitude changes the insight or decision. Do not calculate just to turn every visual observation into a number.

What should I do if a chart has two different y-axes?

Data Analysis

Dual-axis charts throw me off because the lines can look like they move together even when the scales are completely different. In an interview, how do I make sure I do not draw the wrong conclusion from that type of exhibit?

Oct 1, 2026United Kingdom

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Read both axes before interpreting any relationship between the lines.

What if the chart's percentage change and absolute change tell different stories?

Data Analysis

I had an exhibit where one small segment grew a lot in percentage terms but a large segment added far more dollars with a smaller percentage increase. I was not sure which one to emphasize. How do you decide whether percentage growth or absolute impact matters more?

Sep 28, 2026Switzerland

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Use the metric that best answers the client's objective, and mention the other when it changes the interpretation.

Should I mention every outlier I see in a chart, even if it is not relevant to the case?

Data Analysis

I am getting better at spotting outliers in exhibits, but I think I sometimes overdo it and mention every weird data point I see. If an outlier does not seem connected to the client question, should I still call it out to show that I noticed it?

Sep 23, 2026United States

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

No. Mention an outlier when it could change the interpretation or decision, not simply to prove that you saw it.

If two charts point in opposite directions, which one should drive the recommendation?

Data Analysis

I had a case where one exhibit made the business look attractive, but the next chart suggested the opposite. I got stuck trying to decide which chart was 'right.' When exhibits conflict, how are you supposed to decide what matters most for the final recommendation?

Sep 20, 2026United Kingdom

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Do not choose a chart in isolation. Reconcile what each exhibit is measuring and connect both back to the client's objective.

What do you do when a case exhibit genuinely makes no sense at first?

Data Analysis

Sometimes I look at an exhibit and just do not understand what it is trying to show for the first 20 seconds. Is it okay to ask a clarification question, or should you always be able to work it out yourself?

Jun 6, 2026United Kingdom

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

It is completely normal to need a moment to orient yourself. Start with the title, axes, units, legend, and any footnotes. Those elements usually explain most of what initially feels confusing.

I can read the chart but still miss the actual insight. How do I fix that?

Data Analysis

My coach keeps telling me my chart reading is descriptive but not insightful. I can explain what the bars or lines are doing, but I do not always get to the ‘so what’ quickly enough. How do you train yourself to spot the real insight instead of just narrating the data?

Apr 3, 2026Canada

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Try forcing a two-step process: first describe the most important pattern, then immediately ask what that pattern implies for the client’s problem. Insight is usually just data plus implication.

How do you explain a chart insight without sounding like you are narrating every number?

Data Analysis

I understand the exhibits, but when I talk through them I end up saying way too much. How do strong candidates communicate the insight without reading the whole chart back to the interviewer?

Apr 2, 2026Germany

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Start with the headline, not the process. Tell the interviewer the most important conclusion you see, then support it with the two or three data points that make the conclusion credible.

I lose too much time reading exhibits. How do you get faster?

Data Analysis

I am okay once I understand the chart, but getting there takes me too long. I end up reading every label and detail instead of seeing the point quickly. How do strong candidates read exhibits faster without missing something important?

Mar 3, 2026Australia

Top answer Mayank G.

Mayank G.Coach

Fast exhibit reading is usually a sequence, not a talent. Start with the title and axis labels, then identify what the chart is actually comparing, then look for the biggest movement, gap, or outlier before you dive into smaller details.

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Community Forum

An exhibit has missing values. Should I estimate them or ask for more data?

The percentages in my case exhibit don't add to 100%. What should I do?

A chart uses index values instead of actual units. How should I explain the insight?

If I get three exhibits at once, how do I decide which one to analyze first?

Two exhibits use different time periods. How do I compare them without forcing a conclusion?

Should I calculate every percentage difference I see in an exhibit?

What should I do if a chart has two different y-axes?

What if the chart's percentage change and absolute change tell different stories?

Should I mention every outlier I see in a chart, even if it is not relevant to the case?

If two charts point in opposite directions, which one should drive the recommendation?

What do you do when a case exhibit genuinely makes no sense at first?

I can read the chart but still miss the actual insight. How do I fix that?

How do you explain a chart insight without sounding like you are narrating every number?

I lose too much time reading exhibits. How do you get faster?