How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT: Tips, Syllabus, and Books

The Master of Business Administration degree is one of the most sought-after post-graduate degrees in the country. Every year, thousands of MBA candidates take the CAT exam in the hopes of getting into one of the top business schools. The test, as we all know, is one of the most difficult competitive admission examinations, and you must cover all bases in order to get a high percentile.

According to the current CAT exam structure, you will have 120 minutes to answer 66 questions from three sections. You will get all the knowledge you want in this article below to create an effective CAT study plan and ace the QA part. Preparing for the CAT quantitative aptitude section can be tough and overwhelming. We have presented in this article a few key tips that will help you ace the quant section. Go through the article to learn more about the CAT quantitative aptitude preparation tips.

Also Check: Best Books to prepare for the CAT exam

What is Quantitative Aptitude?

Quantitative ability/ aptitude is required in various tests throughout the world, including the CAT. In general, QA is a method of evaluating a person's quantitative, analytical, logical, cognitive, and other skills/abilities. As a result, it is a key portion of the CAT admission test.

The QA CAT syllabus largely assesses a candidate's mathematics, problem-solving, and numerical abilities. The subjects listed below will help you obtain a better idea of what is covered in the CAT quantitative ability syllabus.

Syllabus of Quantitative Aptitude

There is no specific curriculum or specified guideline offered by the organizers for any of the CAT sections. This leaves candidates confused about how to proceed with their CAT preparation. However, while the CAT curriculum isn't set in stone, there are a number of repeating subjects and sub-topics that you must study. To begin, consider the overall paper pattern for this segment in the table below:

Topics of Quantitative Ability

Simply said, the QA component of the exam will assess your understanding of a variety of mathematical concepts and their applications. This section is organized into the following general subjects, each of which has several sub-topics:

• Geometry & Mensuration
• Trigonometry
• Allegations and Mixtures
• Number System
• Modern Maths
• Arithmetic Topics
• Algebra Topics

These are the primary topics discussed in the section; the table below provides a more detailed breakdown of these and their sub-topics.

The difficulty level of questions varies each section/sub-section, although the average sectional difficulty level ranges from moderate to high. Now that you're familiar with most of the important topics that comprise the QA portion of the test, as well as the level of difficulty, let's look at how you may best prepare for and answer QA questions in CAT.

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude?

Some candidates, particularly those with non-mathematical backgrounds, find it exceedingly difficult to prepare for quants. So, in this part, we will assist you in developing a quant preparation plan. The procedures and quantitative aptitude guidelines listed here can assist you in your CAT preparation journey. Check these preparation tips below.

Prepare a Time Table

It makes no difference how much study time you have if you don't use it effectively. This is especially true for candidates who have a limited amount of time to study for the next major exam. So the first step is to create a well-structured and specified timetable.

Make smaller time periods out of the overall number of days you have, and establish goals for each. For example, you may create weekly schedules, assign a certain amount of hours to QA preparation, and pick which subjects to cover in that period. Make careful you stay to the schedule.

Always Commence With the Basics

It is recommended to start with the fundamental ideas before moving on to more complicated subjects. You won't be able to manage the more complicated ideas until you understand the basic ones clearly. So make a list of subjects that range from easy to challenging.

Understand your strengths and weaknesses

Since it is essential to devote extra time to working on your shortcomings when it comes to CAT preparation, you must have heard this advice from many former CAT toppers. Giving a few practice exams can help you identify your strengths and limitations. Once you are aware of this, concentrate more on improving your understanding of the concepts related to your weak areas. To maintain your level of preparation, keep answering at least 1-3 questions from subjects in which you are knowledgeable.

Learn the formulas, then memorize them

A significant part of the quants section involves formulas. But avoid the error of trying to remember them without comprehending the process or reasoning involved. Understanding a problem's whole solution process logically and applying precise formulae would not only hasten your learning process but also make you more intuitive throughout the exam.

Analyze your performance by taking sectional mock exams

Once you've mastered all of the material in this area, begin practicing by taking sectional CAT mock examinations. After taking the tests, review the answers and evaluate your performance. You may also use internet tools that offer video answers to a variety of CAT questions and themes. The goal of this study is to evaluate your performance on a regular basis and adjust your CAT preparation approach as needed.

Practice and revise more

It is impossible to overstate the value of practice and correction. If you want to do successfully, you must consistently put in preparatory time and effort. Once you have studied every quant subtopic and taken several practice exams, keep studying. Keep returning to concepts and formulae and improving them. To stay on track in your preparation, practice often by completing sample papers, previous papers, etc.

Let's look at a few brief preparation tips and methods (topic wise) that will offer you a competitive advantage.

CAT Preparation Division of QA Syllabus

According to the quantity of questions from each area in the CAT test, candidates can split the syllabus into sections. We have categorized the CAT curriculum into key areas, subtopics, and the anticipated number of questions from each topic based on the questions answered in past years.

CAT QA Preparation - Topic Wise

Students usually are unclear of how to effectively prepare for the QA component of the CAT test due to a lack of clarity in the syllabus regarding the disciplines included in the Quantitative Aptitude syllabus. However, an examination of past year's exams indicated that each year, almost 10-12 questions from the fields of Numbers and Geometry & Mensuration account up the majority of the overall number of questions.

How to Prepare for Arithmetic?

• Arithmetic is a key component of Quant preparation and a jump-starter. A significant amount of mathematics supports the preparation for data interpretation. 
• Percentages, profit and loss, SI & CI, ratios, mixtures, averages, speed, time, distance, races, pipes, cisterns, and time work are some of the topics covered in arithmetic.
• The order in which arithmetic subjects are covered makes life easier since its ideas are built upon one another. 
• For instance: Simple interest is a rise in percentage, whereas compound interest is an increase in percentage over time. This is how one should approach subjects in arithmetic

How to prepare for the Number System?

• Numerous questions in the CAT are related to the broad topic of number systems. 
• Number Systems covers a wide range of subjects, including Factors and Multiples, HCF and LCM, Factorials, Base Systems, Remainders, and Other topics.
• There are no special methods, tricks, or shortcuts needed to solve problems in number theory.
• One only has to comprehend the fundamental concepts, such as factors, multiples, etc.
• Understand every guideline, and practice your questions frequently.

How to prepare for Geometry?

• There are around 6–8 problems in the CAT on geometry, along with trigonometry, mensuration, and co-geometry.
• The greatest method to comprehend how forms function is to study concepts from theorems, which is one big area of geometry where fundamental concepts definitely affect the whole learning process. 
• One can better grasp certain concepts in geometry by visualizing them, asking oneself probing questions, and providing evidence for them. 
• From a starting point, a student advances to coordinate geometry, trigonometry, and 3D geometry. 
• The key to answering any Geometry question on the CAT exam is understanding which concept to apply.

How to prepare for Algebra?

After Arithmetic, CAT Algebra is the second-most important subject.

• Working with variables, the x's and y's, and other mathematical concepts must be mastered in order to succeed in CAT Algebra. 
• Linear & Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Functions, Progressions, and Algebraic Expressions to Polynomials are the subjects covered in CAT Algebra.
• Although algebra is a fascinating subject that should be prepared for with enjoyment, students often find themselves unsure of where to begin.

Know More About: CAT Preparation Tips

Also Read: How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT?

Best Books for Preparation

There are two main ways to prepare for any exam: either alone or with the aid of coaching facilities. Many candidates also choose the hybrid option, in which they use self-study for the remaining portions and offline/online tutoring for certain of the requirements. Regardless of the technique you select, it is essential to investigate a wide range of study resources, such as books, question banks, online videos, and more.

Listed below are a few of the best books for preparation in Quantitative Aptitude

• How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT – Sarvesh Verma
• Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT - Nishit Sinha

Mistakes to Avoid While Attempting CAT QA Questions

Spending more than 90 seconds on a question: You will have 40 minutes to attempt 22 questions in the CAT QA section. Hence, it is advised not to spend more than 90 seconds on any particular question and to save time for the remaining ones.

Learning too many formulas and short tricks: Avoid learning too many formulas and short tricks for a particular topic to avoid confusion. Choose and stick to only 1-2 tricks that work best to save time while attempting CAT QA questions in the exam.

Not Using the Option Elimination Strategy: Go through the options as many times, and the questions based on numbers and algebra can be easily solved using the option-based elimination strategy. This saves you from lengthy calculations. This means, eliminating the options that are not at all near to the answer.

Calculation Mistakes: Candidates often commit silly calculation mistakes in a hurry. Be careful with calculations as accuracy is equally important as the number of questions you attempt. Solving 85-90% of questions with accuracy is better than solving 100% of paper with silly mistakes.

CAT Quantitative Preparation - Toppers Tips

Many CAT toppers with 99 and 100 percentile have shared that they found Quantitative Aptitude was their weak area but they improved a lot in it with consistent preparation. Here is what they said about the Quant section in CAT.

CAT Topper Rachit Saran, MDI Gurgaon (99.04 % in CAT 2017) on how he cracked Quantitative Aptitude in CAT

CAT Topper Rachit Saran explained how he cracked Quant section. He said “I was scoring really low in Quant. I realized that the problem was not with my concepts; it was with my immature stubbornness to solve every question that came my way. Also, I wanted to solve all of them using the traditional methods.  I tried to cast this behaviour out by reminding myself that my entire goal here is to get the answer in least amount of time and nothing else. So, I learnt some unconventional techniques and started being selective with the questions. Of course, the choices here would skew towards my strengths.”

“The entire strategy here circled around selecting the right questions. Once I was done with my conceptual basics, I picked up my first couple of mocks and analysed them to see whether I was wasting time on the tough nuts. I devised my strategy in a way that allowed me to go through all the questions on the test, while solving only those that I was confident about.”

CAT Topper Rohan Joshi (99.63 % in CAT 2017) on how he cracked Quantitative Aptitude section

CAT Topper Rohan Joshi (99.63 % in CAT 2017) explained how he cracked Quant section, “I started with solving basic questions and slowly moved on to higher difficulty levels as my preparation advanced.”

CAT Topper Somesh Lohani, FMS Delhi (99.99 % in CAT 2016) on how he cracked Quantitative Aptitude section

CAT topper Somesh Lohani, FMS MBA 2017-19 batch pass out said, “For quant, first thing to do is clearing your basics. There are multiple books available in the market such as by Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha, etc. Also videos on YouTube such as Dinesh Miglani collection on YouTube are really helpful and will help in clearing the basics concepts. Once I had my basic concepts cleared, it was all about solving as many questions as possible from different books, online materials and mock tests.”

CAT Topper Gyayak Jain, IIM Ahmedabad (100% in CAT 2016) on how he cracked Quantitative Aptitude section

CAT topper with 100 percentile and IIM Ahmedabad PGP 2017-19 batch pass out, Gyayak Jain said, “I used TIME study modules to get me acquainted with various formulas and tricks of solving various types of problems. The practice for it was done in mock tests. Also, I had no guilt in leaving questions which I was uncomfortable with or was unsure about. I did not waste time in re-solving a question more than once if I am not getting any of the options.”