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CAT 2025 is around the corner and you are in the final stage of your preparation. IT is high time for everyone to revise important concepts to boost their preparation following the recent years’ trend of concept-driven, logic-heavy, moderate-length questions, with fewer but trickier calculations. To score high in the range of 95–99th percentile, you should focus on the most priority topics that appear consistently in the previous 4-5 years and offer maximum accuracy in minimum time.
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Below is the list of must-do QA topics for CAT-2025, along with their importance, question patterns, and exam-day strategy.
CAT quant is mainly divided into five sections. Below are the high-frequency, must-practice topics observed across CAT 2017–2024 papers and most likely to appear in CAT 2025. For more details on the syllabus, visit: CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
S. No. | Module | Topics | Why is it important? |
1 | Arithmetic |
| Easy to moderate and high-scoring section, covers almost 40% of the CAT QA. |
2 | Algebra |
| Moderate to difficult, but asked in a predictable structure, covers almost 30 to 35% of CAT QA. |
3 | Number System |
| Covers almost 15% of CAT QA, generally asked in set pattern. |
4 | Geometry and Mensuration |
| Covers almost 10 to 15% of CAT QA, conceptual and low time consuming. |
5 | Modern Maths |
| Covers around 5% of CAT QA, very short with clean solutions |
As you are in the last phase of preparation, this is high time to focus and revise key topics based on previous years’ trend. Recent years’ analysis shows that CAT QA is easy to moderate. Here are few key points that will certainly help you to score high in QA for CAT:
Prepare a formula sheet for quick revision and revise formulas regularly.
Select appropriate questions (not to tough) to practice
On exam day: Pick questions with clear logic and easy to solve.
Consistent practice and mock tests are required.
Do not use a calculator during practice.
Given below is the table containing the major types of questions in Quantitative Aptitude in CAT:
Arithmetic | Successive Chane Alligation based ratio problems Multi step TSD questions Work rate combination |
Algebra | Graph-based function questions Modulus inequalities Logarithmic simplifications Quadratic root property questions |
Number System | Factorization To find remainder Word problems on HCF and LCM |
Geometry and Mensuration | Problems based on Incircle and Circumcircle Geometry diagrams with known ratio Questions based on geometrical centres Coordinate geometry questions based on minimum distance |
Modern Maths | Questions on conditional probability Questions on arrangements and distributions Sets properties |
Do | Don’t |
Revise graphs, percentages, profit and loss, interest, mixtures, TSD, Time and Work | Start new topics |
Revise Properties of triangles. Polygons, and Circle | Complicated questions on Mensuration |
Revise modulus. Inequality, logarithm | Advance questions on P&C, Modern Mathematics Proofs |
Here are few points that will certainly help you during exam while attempting CAT QA:
1. Quick scan in 2 to 3 minutes to sort the questions in the category of easy, moderate, and difficult.
2. Pick the correct order of topics to solve
Arithmetic ? Algebra ? Number System ? Gemetry and Mensuration ? Modern maths
3. Do not spend more than 1 to 1.5 minutes on a single question.
4. 10 – 12 correct → 90+ percentile
14–16 correct → 95+ percentile
18–20 correct → 99+ percentile

Here are a few mistakes that a candidate can make during the exam:
Not starting with Arithmetic and instead started with Either Algebra or Geometry
Spending much time in verifying a single simple tricky question
Stuck on a single question
Overthinking
Over calculation
The candidates can download the various CAT preparation resources designed by Careers360 using the links given below.
eBook Title | Download Links |
CAT 2025 Arithmetic Important Concepts and Practice Questions | |
CAT 2025 Algebra Important Concepts and Practice Questions | |
CAT 2025 Number System - Important Concepts & Practice Questions | |
CAT 2025 Exam's High Scoring Chapters and Topics | |
CAT Mock Test Series - 20 Sets, Questions with Solutions By Experts | |
Mastering CAT Exam: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages | |
CAT 2025 Mastery: Chapter-wise MCQs for Success for VARC, DILR, Quant | |
CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers | |
CAT 2025 Important Formulas | |
Past 10 years CAT Question Papers with Answers | |
CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Study Material PDF - Geometry and Mensuration |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conceptual clarity is more important. Still, if you can memorise the formulas, it might be helpful.
If you are stuck on a question for more than 45 to 50 seconds, then skip that question.
Based on the previous 3-4 years' trends, CAT QA has 6 to 8 questions from Algebra.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :
Top colleges accepting CAT:
IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)
FMS Delhi
SPJIMR Mumbai
MDI Gurgaon
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
IIT Delhi (DMS)
IIFT
IMT Ghaziabad
JBIMS Mumbai
Top colleges accepting XAT:
XLRI Jamshedpur
XIMB Bhubaneswar
IMT Ghaziabad
Great
Hi there,
A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.
Some suitable options include AIMS Institute Bangalore, Doon Business School Dehradun, Christ Institute of
Hi there,
Yes, you are eligible for XISS Ranchi with a CAT percentile of 67.60.
According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the
Hi there,
Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and
Hi there,
The minimum eligibility criteria for a general candidate to receive a call from IIM Sambalpur are as follows:
VARC: 65%ile
QUANTS: 65%ile
LRDI: 65%ile
Overall: 90%tile
Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong
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