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CAT Exam 2023: How to qualify Quantitative Ability effortlessly

Continuing with the series of articles on CAT preparation, we will, in this article, focus on the Quantitative Ability section of the CAT.

If one can start completely afresh now and put in the necessary effort, the CAT exam can be tamed by such a person. But, do remember that putting in the right kind of effort is the key.

Let us understand the Quantitative Ability section in detail along with the ways to prepare for it.

Quantitative Ability:

This year's section is expected to have 22 questions, going by the pattern seen in the last couple of years. The questions are expected to be from the regular areas of Arithmetic and Algebra along with a sprinkling of topics from Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Probability, and Permutations & Combinations.

Some students may feel that they are not strong on QA, so CAT is not for them. However, one needs to understand that not all the 22 Qs are expected to be solved within the given 40 minutes. By scoring about half of the questions, one can expect to cross the 90-95 percentile level comfortably. 

As the sections are timed individually, selective preparation is very risky, as one may end up getting questions from the areas that he/she has left out of preparation. Therefore, till the last 3-4 weeks running up to the exam, the students should focus on getting better on all the topics in Quant. Then the focus should be shifted to concentrating on specific areas which would give them the maximum return for their time. A two-pronged approach needs to be adopted for this

1. Mock-CAT Performance Analysis: Students should have a clear understanding of their comfort level in all Quant topics. Mock-CAT performances should be analyzed at a topic level. The areas where the students have been scoring below par repeatedly and the areas where the scores have been fluctuating should be the areas of focus.
2. Previous CAT paper analysis: The areas which have been consistently contributing to the CAT exam over the years should be identified and attention should be given to them.

Follow these simple steps while preparing

• Understand the basics concepts of the selected topic thoroughly
• Write down all the formulae and concepts related to the topic on a chart to use as a ready reckoner
• Ensure that you know when a particular formula is to be used
• Solve at least 30-40 questions (CAT level) from the topic

Accuracy and speed are the two most important parameters that eventually determine the score of the student in the test. Higher speed would mean more number of questions attempted and higher accuracy will make sure that the marks lost (along with negative marking) are minimised.

Hence, having the right test taking strategy to ensure that these two parameters are taken care of is crucial even for a student who has prepared at the highest level. Which question to try and attempt and which question to leave out is something that should be carefully and quickly done to ensure accuracy and speed. 

All the best!

About The Author

Mr Ramnath Kanakadandi, Sr. Course Director at T.I.M.E. is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is currently serving as a Senior Course Director at T.I.M.E. With over two decades of experience, he has held senior management roles across various industries, specializing in test prep, business process reengineering, and outsourcing. In addition to his professional pursuits, Mr Kanakadandi is a dedicated enthusiast of cricket and tennis. In his leisure time, he plays cricket, feeding his passion for the sport.