Traditionally, the CAT test has been testing four fundamental skills of candidates. They are verbal ability, logical reasoning, data interpretation and quantitative aptitude. Every year, it is found that the quantitative aptitude has been covering 1/3^rd of questions in CAT question paper. With 100 questions in total, around 34 questions are from this section in the CAT exam. Before we delve into how to prepare for quantitative aptitude for CAT, it is better to understand the syllabus.

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus:

In general, the CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus will have the following sections. Have a look at the table below for an idea:

Also, you can expect one or two questions from number systems. The three main topics to cover in QA are set theory, probability and permutation and combination. Indeed, the number of questions in these three chapters has reduced in recent years. However, strong knowledge in set theory will help aspirants like you to solve data interpretation and logical reasoning questions with ease.

From the details above, you might have understood one thing for sure. Yes, you are right! About 90% of questions in QA section in CAT are from geometry, algebra and arithmetic. So, to score more in this section get these chapters thorough.

What to know about the difficulty level of QA Section in CAT?

It should be said that as the number of questions in the number system and modern mathematics has reduced these days, the difficulty level of this section has reduced considerably. It means that even an aspirant from the non-mathematics background can confidently manage this section to score better cut-off by scoring high in this section. Here is a table to show the difficulty level of questions in the 5 sections in Quantitative Aptitude:

How to prepare?

Before you start preparing, it is better to gather details about the syllabus in CAT Quantitative Aptitude PDF Format. You can find this file in dependable sources online. Now, you can plan the preparation in the following three steps:

Cover the basic concepts of all topics:

Indeed 90% of the questions in CAT are from Geometry, Algebra and Arithmetic. However, with this thought, you should not miss covering the basic concepts of all other chapters in the CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus. Here are the reasons for the same:

• You cannot predict the type of questions to be asked in CAT. There is every chance that the pattern of QA might change when you take the test. To handle this sudden change, you should be aware of the basics of all chapters so that you can answer all questions.
• In most instances, the QA section requires the candidates to use multiple concepts from varied topics. This will help you arrive at the right answer with ease. When you are not thorough with the basics, you will have difficulty in approaching such questions.

Practice questions:

Once you are thorough with the basics, it is better to take practice questions. The more you practice, better will be your level of confidence to take up the test. Even, some CAT quantitative aptitude books will have questions in the back. Practising these questions and also practising questions from the past CAT question papers will be of great help to you.

Timed Topic Test:

As mentioned earlier, you should not miss any topics. Once you completed reading a topic in QA, it is better to take a timed topic test. If you are not satisfied that you could complete within a specific time, it will help you practice again and again to improve your speed.

Conclusion:

As a final thought, QA is an essential part of the CAT exam. So, make sure that you give your best shot in this section to get a good CAT Cut-Off. All the Best!