CAT 2024 QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE
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CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus includes sections like Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems, Geometry, and Modern Maths. As per the experience of CAT test-takers, the difficulty level of questions asked from CAT QA syllabus is moderate to high.
Read the article to know more about CAT Quantitative aptitude pattern, syllabus, important topics, study notes, and much more.
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Here are all the necessary details candidates need to know about CAT QA Exam Pattern:
Pattern | Details |
---|---|
Total Questions in CAT Quantitative Aptitude Section | 22 |
Total Marks in Quantitative Aptitude For CAT Section | 66 |
Type of Questions in Quantitative Section | MCQs and TITA (non-MCQ) |
Total MCQs in Quant for CAT Section | 14-15 |
Total Non-MCQs (TITA) in QA Section | 7-8 |
Time Limit | 40 minutes |
Difficulty in Quantitative Aptitude For CAT Section | Moderate to High |
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CAT Aspirants must be perfectly acquainted with CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus which has been determined based on the past years question papers. This is crucial for preparation, so here is the CAT QA Syllabus for your reference:
CAT QA Syllabus | ||
---|---|---|
Coordinate Geometry | Mensuration | LCM & HCF |
Set theory & Function | Probability | Quadratic and Linear Equations |
Number System | Averages | Complex Numbers |
Ratio, Proportion & Variation | Speed, Time and Distance | Geometry |
Compound Interest | Profit, Loss and Discount | Algebra |
Trigonometry | Permutation and Combination | Progressions and Series |
Quantitative Aptitude Questions | Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Techniques for CAT | Number System Shortcut for CAT |
Shortcuts in Averages | Remainder Concepts | Circles |
Factorials | Power Cycle | Relatives Speed |
Arithmetic Progression | Polygons | Harmonic Progression |
Quadrilaterals | Points, Lines and Planes | Circles |
Angles | Geometric Progression | Weighted Average |
Graphical Division Geometry | Similar Triangles | Derangement |
Applications of Averages | Conditional probability | Application of Power Cycle |
Constant Product Rule | Laws in Set Theory | Properties of Ratio |
Triangles | Boats and Streams for CAT | Escalator Questions for CAT |
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CAT Cutoffs | CAT Score vs Percentile | CAT Answer Key | CAT Question Paper | CAT Cut off for IITs |
Numerous candidates face difficulty and get confused during the CAT Quant test preparation because the CAT exam does not have a predefined syllabus. But it should be noted that the questions are generally asked from a few repeating concepts every year. So, candidates are suggested to check the past year question trends and get well versed with the related information and prepare accordingly. Some of the topics are expected to repeat in CAT 2022 based on previous year question paper analysis.
Topic | Description |
---|---|
Percentages | Expect questions mostly from change in percentage; increase or decrease. Go through the basic percent formula. |
Profit, Loss, and Discount | This section simply revolves on the topic of percentages. Questions are mainly from profit, loss, cost price, selling price, discount, and market price. You can also expect questions from false wights. Learn all the formulas for profit and loss along with tricks for shortcuts. |
Simple and Compound Interest | The number of questions from this section has been mostly low. the one might expect mostly calculation based questions. Basic formulas of Simple and Compound Interest are adequate. Questions related to the rate of increase of population are not to be missed. |
Ratio and Proportion | A wide variety of questions based on multiple and fundamental concepts are important. You will find the basic concepts handy in solving questions time, work, time speed, distance, mixtures, allegation, geometry, and more. |
Averages, Mixtures, Allegation | This topic is quite important in CAT. questions such as “which two elements are mixed together in different proportions to get a new mixture”. This topic combines other topics like ratio and proportion, averages, and percentages. |
Time and Work | There can be more than one hundred varieties of questions from this section. Pipes and cisterns, which make the core concept are also included. The method of LCM is recommended over formulas as there are over 20 of them. |
Time, Speed, and Distance | Expect questions from average and relative speed, meeting points, boats, streams, are important. Proper knowledge of relative speed and shortcut on meeting points should suffice. |
Equations | Stress on questions from quadratic equations. Don't miss out on topics like integral solutions for variables. Learn the concepts of nature of roots, quadratic equations, and integral solutions. |
Progression | stress on arithmetic and geometric progressions. Do not miss out on summation of series. Put effort on formulas from areas like number of terms, cum of AP and GP series, and their means. |
Functions and Graphs | Mostly questions are on functions of simplification. Other sections like modulus functions and graphs have also occurred frequently. Trying to understand the graphs of a few functions such as modulus, log, greatest integer, is helpful. Do not miss out on functions and composite functions. |
Maxima Minima | Mostly 3 types of questions (maximum in equation form); AM-GM concept, polynomials, functions/graphs. Learn the method for solving each of these problems. |
Properties of Numbers | Expect questions from topics such as perfect squares, prime numbers, fractions, integers. Learn the elementary concepts along with the properties of numbers. Level of difficulty of questions is moderate to hard. |
Divisibility Rules | Questions from this topic are expected to be pretty to the point. Expect problems based on divisibility rules on the initial sets of natural numbers. Learn the divisibility rules of these numbers - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ,7 ,8, 9, 11, 12, and 13. |
Remainders | Difficulty level of questions from this topic are mostly easy to moderate. This is not a very important topic as over the past few years, questions from this section were not set. Learn the basic concepts like remainders and negative remainders. |
Factors, HCM & LCM | This too is not a very important topic. Previous CAT papers featured questions from factors and remainders. Focus on prime factorization and the approaches involved in finding integral solutions. |
Factorials | Not an important topic, problems are mostly based on finding the number of zeros that are trailing. |
Unit and Last Two Digits | Questions are based on finding the last or second last digit in the expansion from a single digit number raised to exponent is given. Learn power cycles and last 2 digit tricks. |
Base System | Not an important topic. Learn the fundamental concepts of the base system. Questions are based on the method of converting numbers from a given base to another. Learning fundamental concepts of the base system should suffice. |
Triangles | Questions from this topic mostly test the fundamentals theorems of triangles. This is an important topic and candidates should focus on pythagoras theorem, various degrees of triangles like isosceles, equilateral, and mass point geometry. |
Circles | Another important topic in geometry, you can expect questions which test the basic concepts, problems involving multiple circles, tangent is important. Focus on learning the theorems, formulas, segments, and tangent circles. |
Quadrilaterals | Expect questions mostly from parallelogram, trapezium, squares, and rectangles. Learn the formulas of areas for all quadrilateral figures and their perimeters. |
Polygons | Not an important topic. You can expect questions on hexagon. Shortcut tricks and direct formulas hexagon diagonals should suffice. |
3D mensuration | This topic is now quite frequent in CAT. learning the formula for area and volume of cones, cylinders, cube, cuboid, spheres, and cylinders should do the trick. |
Coordinate Geometry | Not at all an important topic: learn the basics of coordinate geometry. The conic section can be ignored. |
Permutations and Combinations | Moderately important topic. You can expect questions mainly from committee formation, arrangements, and counting. You should learn the elementary formulas for this topic. Do not ignore the fundamental principles of counting. |
Probability | You can ignore this topic completely as problems from probability have stopped coming altogether. |
Set Theory | Variable venn diagram problems that include minima and maxima are important. Get a working knowledge of venn diagram concepts. |
In case a candidate is preparing for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT with the help of coaching centers, or wish to go for a mix of coaching supported preparation and self-preparation to get the best of both in CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation, along with the best book for Quant 2022 preparation, he will be getting the best study material with more Quantitative Aptitude Practice Questions for CAT. With the help of this CAT preparation material, you will be able to develop your own Quantitative Aptitude tricks to crack the Quant 2022 questions quickly.
In fact, the best books for the CAT Quantitative Aptitude Section should be of the latest edition carrying the latest features as per the current CAT exam pattern with Quantitative Aptitude Questions and Answers.
Name of the Book | Name of the Author |
---|---|
NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10) | NCERT |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R S Aggarwal |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh K Verma |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha |
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit Sinha |
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Before going to the CAT QA Exam Pattern, it is necessary to check out the exam pattern for the other subjects. Here is the CAT Exam Pattern:
Section in CAT exam | Total questions | Total MCQs (Negative marking) | Total Non-MCQs (No negative marking) |
---|---|---|---|
Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 19 | 5 |
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 12 | 8 |
Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 14 | 8 |
Total | 66 | 45 | 21 |
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It should be noted that the topics mentioned above are not the only topics required for CAT exams. So, the Candidates are suggested to have a thorough knowledge of broader topics related to quantitative section. This section is very crucial for CAT since almost 34 questions are asked from this section which involves a wide range of numerical topics. Since CAT Quant 2022 will test you on Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Modern Math among other important topics, the most important of the Quantitative Aptitude Tricks is to strengthen your basics followed by Quantitative Aptitude Practice Questions for CAT. Some of the most important topics in this section include:
Topic Name | Expected No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
---|---|---|
Number System, Basic Arithmetic | 5-10 Questions | Moderate |
Geometry & Mensuration | 7-8 Questions | Moderately Difficult |
Algebra | 6-7 Questions | Moderate |
Permutation & Combination | 1-2 Questions | Easy |
Probability | 1-2 Questions | Moderate |
Time, Speed, and Distance | 1-2 Questions | Moderately Difficult |
Trigonometry, Logarithms, and Sets | 1-3 Questions | Easy |
Profit, loss, and Discounts | 1-2 Questions | Moderately Easy |
Interests (SI, CI) | 1-2 Questions | Moderately Difficult |
Time and Work | 1-2 Questions | Difficult |
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Session No. | Topic | Time (Hours) |
---|---|---|
Session 1 | Averages | 2 |
Session 2 | Percentages | 2 |
Session 3 | Profit & Loss | 2 |
Session 4 | Linear & Quadratic Equations | 2 |
Session 5 | Ratio Proportion | 2.5 |
Session 6 | Mixtures | 1.5 |
Session 7 | Speed, Time & Distance | 2.5 |
Session 8 | Races | 1.5 |
Session 9 | Pipes & Cisterns | 2 |
Session 10 | Simple & Compound Interest | 2 |
Total | 20 |
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CAT Quantitative Ability is usually the crucial section for candidates without a technical, engineering, or commerce background, but the strongest section for technical background candidates. With 22 questions, the QA section is also very important for candidates. Generally, most toppers remark that they focused on making their concepts stronger.
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CAT 2021 QA was of moderate difficulty with a few time-consuming and tricky questions. The question paper in each of the 3 slots had 14 MCQs and 8 TITA-type questions. The topics with the highest weightage were Number systems, Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. Here is the detailed slot-wise analysis of CAT QA paper 2021:
Topic | No of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempts |
---|---|---|
Number System | 2 | 1-2 |
Algebra | 5 | 3-4 |
Arithmetic | 11 | 7-8 |
Modern Math | 1 | 1 |
Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | 1-2 |
Total | 22 | 14-16 |
Topic | No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempt |
---|---|---|
Number System | 2 | 1-2 |
Algebra | 5 | 3-4 |
Arithmetic | 11 | 6-7 |
Modern Math | 1 | 1 |
Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | 2-3 |
Total | 22 | 13-15 |
Topic | No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempt |
---|---|---|
Number System | - | - |
Algebra | 6 | 4 |
Arithmetic | 11 | 7-8 |
Modern Math | 1 | 1 |
Geometry & Mensuration | 4 | 2-3 |
Total | 22 | 15-17 |
Slot Number | CAT Question Paper with Solutions |
---|---|
CAT QA Question Paper & Answer Key of 2021 | |
CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 2 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 3 | Download |
CAT Official QA Question Paper & Answer Key of 2020 | |
CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 2 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 3 | Download |
CAT QA Question Paper & Answer Key 2019 | |
CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 2 | Download |
CAT QA Question Paper & Answer Key 2018 | |
CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 2 | Download |
CAT QA Question Paper & Answer Key 2017 | |
CAT Quant Slot 1 | Download |
CAT Quant Slot 2 | Download |
Ques: What comprises CAT Quantitative Aptitude section?
Ans: CAT Quantitative Aptitude simply means the ability of an individual to solve numerical and mathematical calculations in a limited time. It assesses the capability of playing with numbers in a logical manner. This is very often required in most competitive exams.
Ques: How to Prepare Quantitative Aptitude for CAT 2022?
Ans: Quantitative Aptitude demands a lot of practice and to save time for practicing more, one should adopt all small and simple tactics to increase one’s practice and reduce errors. Take frequent mock tests and strengthen the fundamental concept and basics by going through different study materials and different Quantitative Aptitude books.
Ques: What are the topics covered in CAT Quant Syllabus?
Ans: Following are the most crucial topics to prepare for CAT Quantitative Aptitude:
Ques: What are the important CAT 2022 Quantitative Aptitude Tips to crack the exam?
Ans: CAT is not having any defined syllabus. So, candidates are required to prepare from various topics and more or less rely on previous year question sets of CAT.
Ques. What is considered a good attempt in CAT Quantitative Aptitude?
Ans. While it varies every year depending on the difficulty of the paper and other sections, generally a good attempt in CAT Quantitative Aptitude is considered to be around 14-16 questions to get above 85 percentile.
Ques. What are the best books for CAT Quantitative Ability preparation?
Ans. The best books for CAT Quant preparation are:
Ques. How many questions will be asked in CAT QA 2022?
Ans. Based on the changes introduced in CAT exam pattern in 2021, 22 questions will be asked in XAT 2022 QA section. Out of these 22 questions, 14 will be objective-type MCQs and 8 will be TITA-type.
Ques. Does QADI have the highest weightage in XAT exam?
Ans. Yes, the QADI (Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation) section has the highest weightage in XAT exam. It comprises the maximum number of questions-28 carrying 1 mark each.
Ans. Before taking any decision, you must go through all three options that you have in great detail. There are a few reasons why you should not go for IIM-Kozhikode. First, the fees are extremely high, estimated to be around Rs 19.00 lakh. Second, the average package offered at IIMK is around 16-17L, and you will earn more than that after two years. But, once again, if you are desperate for an MBA, you can enroll in IIMK, which comes with the 'IIM' label, which will be very useful in the long run. Give CAT once more. You only need to get a high CAT score and then leave the rest up to their selection process. Second, CAT is extremely unpredictable. With proper preparation, you can achieve excellent results. So, if you're willing to work another year and are confident enough to take the CAT, this is the perfect way to take it. You should look into PGPX from ISB or elsewhere. This option is appealing, but it requires hard work and careful consideration. If you enjoy working in IT and want to advance quickly, this is the path to take. Read more
Ans. Every IIMS and other management colleges make a shortlist based on the percentile after CAT result is declared. With percentile, IIMs also consider other factors like academics, category, gender factor, diversity, etc. The list is made for the second round i.e. GD/PI or WAT/PI. GD/WAT will have a generic topic. There can be a topic from current affairs. PI is taken by some of the faculty and alumni of the institute. In institutes like FMS, there is an extempore after PI. After these rounds, a final shortlist is made with weightage given to GD/PI or WAT/PI performance and CAT percentile. Individual IIMs also have some additional factors. The offer letters are then sent out to top candidates in each category up to the maximum number of seats. The rest candidates are waitlisted. As students choose admissions, the waitlist continues to change. Read more
Ans. I know this decision is a bit difficult to make. What you need to keep in mind is that these two colleges should not be compared to other great IIMs or even ISBs. Those B Schools are at another level and cannot be on par with Kashipur or Raipur. To facilitate a better decision, I will mention the circumstances of these B Schools then you can choose after considering all options. IIM Indore and IIM Kashipur: Both these colleges are not worth a year drop as they will help you earn only an extra 1.5-2 LPA. Moreover, in the coming years, Kashipur and Raipur will have almost the same brand value as that Indore and Kozhikode. IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bangalore: All these top IIMs are definitely worth a year's drop provided that you are confident enough to cope with the cutoff. All these IIMs consider your academics while selecting so if that is your reason for the year drop I don’t think it will help. There is no surety of admission even after a percentile of 100. ISB: This one is at a whole different level and is in the category of elite B Schools like UCB, NYU, HBS, etc. The top-notch faculty offers amazing pedagogy at relatively low fees. CAT is sufficient for IIMs. But if you want to go for ISB, a work experience of 4+ years and a GMAT are a must. Read more
Ans. IIMs shortlists students for admission based on their CAT score. The second step of selection is GD-PI. For final selection, students are usually shortlisted based on their past academic performance, entrance examination score, and performance in GD-PI. IIMs also consider other factors such as work experience, gender diversity, academic diversity, etc. while shortlisting students. Weights given to these factors are different for different IIMs. Having relevant work experience can certainly help you get a shortlist. Read more
Ans. Everyone knows that IIM A values diversity over grades. There have been students who were not even waitlisted at IIM K but were at IIM A due to their extremely unique profiles. If you want to build a profile for IIM A, strive for originality. Do something that no one else is doing, such as starting a blog, having a strong digital presence on Instagram, writing on Quora, and so on. Consider what students with a 99 percentile typically do, such as being brilliant in academics and receiving a call from IIM Ahmedabad. Choose a domain in which these students are unlikely to excel and excel in that domain. Furthermore, activities such as writing a blog or hosting a YouTube channel will undoubtedly help you, in the long run, to secure summer and final placements during your MBA. As a result, you will gain valuable insights and hands-on experience with various social media tools such as SEO, SEM, Analytics, and so on. Read more
Ans. If you are aiming for old IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, you will need to score above 99 percentile in CAT. For IIMs and other top-tier B-Schools in India, the CAT cutoff stays above 90 percentile. If you have a good profile, and 99+ CAT score, you can expect to get calls from old IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT, FMS, etc. Read more
Ans. Here are some of the things that you will realize after appearing for the CAT examination. Spend the first few minutes going over the papers before diving in. Browse through the problems and start with the ones that you know you can solve in one go. CAT prioritizes solving not sequence. If you aren’t sure about an answer, leave it. Concentrate on other problems. You shouldn’t spend more than 2-3 minutes on a single problem. Don’t use the elimination method, if you can solve the problem in less than 1 minute. Do rough work thoroughly. Don’t answer any questions, just by guessing. There will be a few lengthy questions. Try to ignore these. Even CAT toppers don’t score the full marks. CAT doesn’t test your knowledge. The only thing matters are how much you score. So, try to attempt as many questions as you can correctly. Read more
Ans. You need to practice a lot in order to be able to solve Quantitative Aptitude in the CAT examination. Quants involve using mathematical ability as well as imagination. You need to memorize some concepts as well as formulas. CAT syllabus for Quants includes a lot of topics that we have studied in 9th and 10th and only the application is different for topics such as PNC & Algebra, Numbers, etc. Most important topics in terms of weightage are as follows. Arithmetic Algebra Geometry Numbers P&C, Series, Log Several chapters are easy and can be completed in a short period of time. You should start your preparation with numbers, it is the base for the quants topics. Once you are a clear knowledge of the topics, start giving time-based mocks. Analyze the mocks and work on the common mistakes that you made. Read more
Ans. Yes, average students can crack CAT. Students who get through CAT at one go, have the right aptitude for CAT, which was built over time. They have been practicing Maths right from their school days and have been avid readers. If you are average at your studies, you need to spend a lot of time practicing, in order to score good percentile in CAT. Most students usually have gaps in Maths or DILR or English. You need to put in the extra hours to bridge the gap. Find out the subjects in which you are weak, clear the basics, and practice as much as you can. Read more
Ans. Take a look at the below table to know what CAT score will fetch what CAT percentile, for 2022. Percentile Score VA-RC Score DI-LR Score QA Overall Score 90% 29 1 26 72 95% 32 20 29 81 In 2021, for 90 percentile the required score was 59 and for 95 percentile the required score was 72. Read more
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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