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Every CAT aspirant has that one section where they feel most at home. For me, that CAT section was always Quantitative Ability (QA). Being a B.Tech student from IIT Delhi with a strong foundation in mathematics, and having taught JEE aspirants for years, math wasn’t just another subject for me- it was second nature. Numbers, equations, and logic were things I enjoyed, not things I feared.
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But the CAT QA sections is not the same as JEE-level mathematics. While JEE dives deep into concepts, proofs, and problem-solving at advanced levels, CAT QA is about clarity, accuracy, and above all, speed with selection. It’s not about solving the toughest problem; it’s about solving the right problem quickly.
This realization shaped my CAT preparation. I didn’t need to “learn” QA from scratch, but I did need to recalibrate my mindset from being a JEE problem-solver to being a smart CAT test-taker.
I had a clear advantage:
JEE Math Background – I had already spent years mastering algebra, geometry, probability, and calculus. CAT doesn’t even touch calculus, so the CAT syllabus felt lighter.
Teaching Experience – Explaining math to JEE students gave me a deeper understanding and forced me to think of multiple ways to solve the same problem. This turned into a huge asset for CAT QA, even in the CAT preparation, where shortcuts matter.
Comfort With Numbers – Years of practice with number crunching, ratios, and approximations meant I could rely on my instincts when needed.
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However, CAT preparation also had a downside. My natural tendency was to over-solve- writing detailed steps when CAT often only needs a 10-second insight. Early in the CAT preparation, even in the CAT mocks, I caught myself wasting time solving like I was in a JEE exam. The biggest mindset shift was learning to spot the trick instead of doing the grind.
The CAT QA section revolves around a few big buckets. Here’s how I approached each:
This is the backbone of CAT QA- time, speed, distance; work and time; percentages; ratios; averages; mixtures.
My Strategy: Since arithmetic is logic-heavy rather than formula-heavy, while I was preparing for CAT, I practised it with a focus on visualization and ratios. For example, in mixtures, instead of applying formulas, I trained myself to use the alligation method instinctively.
Why Important: Arithmetic often forms 8–10 questions in CAT, and they are the highest ROI questions.
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As part of the CAT syllabus, Algebra Covers equations, inequalities, functions, sequences, logarithms.
My Strategy: Algebra was familiar from JEE, but CAT frames questions differently- more word-problem style than equation-solving. So in my CAT preparation, I focused on translating English into math quickly.
Typical Challenge: Wasting time expanding polynomials or over-complicating. Instead, I trained to spot patterns.
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Lines, triangles, circles, polygons, areas, volumes.
My Strategy: While I was preparing for CAT, I focused on properties and visualization rather than memorizing formulas. CAT loves to test basic properties in disguised ways.
Big Lesson: Draw neat diagrams! Many times, the trick appears once you actually sketch.
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Permutation & combination, probability, set theory.
My Strategy: Since I had taught these for JEE, I was comfortable, but I realized CAT focuses on application-based puzzles rather than raw formulas.
The trick is structured counting rather than brute force.
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Factors, remainders, divisibility, base systems.
My Strategy: I didn’t spend too much time here during my CAT preparation because the weightage is low, but I made sure I had command over remainders (modulo) and HCF-LCM problems.
Shortcut Hack: For remainder problems, I always looked for patterns in powers instead of expanding.
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I didn’t flood myself with too many resources. I picked a few CAT study materials and stuck with them.
Previous CAT Papers (2017–2023) – CAT previosu years question papers are gold. I solved each paper 2 times: first attempt, second with time pressure.
Sectional Tests (CL) – These helped me simulate 40-min QA sections regularly.
Mocks (10+ full-length) – The CAT mock test are most critical resource. Gave me exposure to variety + built stamina.
Self-Made Notes – A list of “20-second tricks” I had taught JEE kids, adapted for CAT. For example, average speed shortcuts, number system mods, and algebra identities.
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On my CAT preparation even though QA was my strongest section, I wasn’t perfect.
Over-solving: Initially, I wasted time doing long methods when a shortcut existed.
Silly Mistakes: Mental math sometimes made me rush → wrong answers despite knowing the method.
Question Selection: In mocks, I tried to solve everything. Big mistake. I had to train myself to skip confidently.
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3 Rounds in CAT QA Section
Round 1 → Solve “sitters” in 10–20 sec. (~10 questions)
Round 2 → Attempt slightly tougher but solvable ones. (~8 questions)
Round 3 → If time permits, revisit skips. (~3–4 questions)
Mental Math Training
Daily practice of squares (till 40), cubes (till 20), reciprocals (till 20), % equivalents. This saved me 5+ minutes in exam.
Approximation & Elimination
If options were far apart, I didn’t solve fully. Approximation got me the answer faster.
Elimination by plugging options backwards was sometimes faster than forward solving.
CAT Mock Analysis
Every mock gave me 5–6 silly errors to correct. I tracked them in a logbook (“careless division,” “ignoring condition,” etc.). By the final month, these errors had dropped sharply.
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On the CAT exam day , my QA strategy was clear:
Target 20+ attempts with 100% accuracy.
Don’t get stuck. If a question took more than 2 minutes without progress, move.
Stay calm- QA was my section to “finish strong.”
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Start With Arithmetic – It builds momentum and confidence during the CAT preparation.
Don’t Chase 100% Accuracy – Aim for ~90% with good attempts.
Maintain a Formula Sheet – During the CAT preposition focus more on logic and properties.
Practice Backward Solving – Plugging options is underrated.
Focus on High-ROI Topics – Arithmetic + Algebra + Geometry form ~70% of QA. Master these first.
Develop Number Sense – Learn to “feel” whether an answer is 200 vs 2000 without calculating fully.
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In the CAT preparation, QA wasn’t just my strongest section- it was my comfort zone. The reason I cracked it was not because I knew “more math” than others, but because I knew how to play the CAT game:
Spot easy ones.
Skip time-sinks.
Use shortcuts smartly.
Stay accurate under pressure.
For anyone preparing, remember: QA is not about brute force, it’s about clarity + speed + selection. If you can train your brain to think smartly, you’ll not just crack QA- you’ll actually enjoy it.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
If you are looking to take admission in the MBA programme with a CAT score of 73, check out the list of MBA Colleges accepting 70-80 percentile .
All the best!
You can find all the information here:
CAT- https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-exam-dates
SNAP- https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/snap-exam-dates
Hi Minakshi,
You can find the details related to IIM Kashipur admission criteria by clicking on the link below:
Dear Saloni,
May i know which college you are looking to apply for? Because the MBA fee varies from one college to another. Please check MBA fees colleges wise here:
MBA Fees in India 2025: Top Colleges, Fee Structure, Courses, Cost of MBA
Admission to IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) for its flagship MBA (International Business) is generally through the CAT exam (as per the latest admission process), and there is no regular direct admission without an entrance test. However, executive or certificate courses may have different criteria. With Bcom (Foreign Trade)
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