Must-Know Quant Topics for CAT 2025
Since there is no official syllabus for the CAT quantitative aptitude section, covering the complete CAT quantitative aptitude syllabus can be challenging. It is important for the candidates to prioritise the CAT quantitative aptitude important topics. These important CAT quant topics are designed after analysing the CAT previous year question papers. Completely understanding the important CAT quant topics 2025 will help candidates to enhance their CAT quantitative aptitude performance.
CAT 2024 Slot-wise Analysis (Previous Year's)
The question distribution of the quantitative aptitude section of the CAT examination is provided below. Going through the analysis will help the candidates to gain a preliminary insight into the topics from which the questions are frequently asked.
Topic | Slot-1 | Slot-2 | Slot-3 |
Number System (Remainders, Floor Function, Integers, Factors and Exponents) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Surds, Indices and Logarithms | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Inequalities and Linear Equations | 0 | 2 | 1 |
PnC and Probability (Counting, P&C) | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Quadratic Equations | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Averages, Percentages, Ratios and Proportions | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Time, Work and Distance (TSD, Time & Work) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Profit, Loss and Interest (SI, CI, P&L) | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Geometry (Triangles, Circles, Mensuration) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Progressions and Series (AP, Sequences) | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Functions and Graphs (Modulus, Sets, Functional Eq.) | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Mixture and Alligation | 2 | 1 | 1 |
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics: Arithmetic Section
Almost 30-40% of the CAT quantitative aptitude section will comprise the CAT arithmetic section. While analysing the CAT previous year question papers, it can be observed that almost all the slots were arithmetic-dominated. Hence. It is beneficial for the candidates to begin with the arithmetic section during the candidate’s CAT quantitative aptitude preparation journey. Some of the important concepts that the candidates should prioritise under this section are listed below.
Mixtures and Alligations
Across the three slots of the CAT 2025 examination, the candidates were asked 4 questions in total under the mixture and alligators topic, making it one of the most important topics under the arithmetic section for the candidates. Mixtures and Alligations is a topic in quantitative aptitude that deals with combining two or more items with different prices, concentrations, or qualities to form a mixture. The concept helps in determining the ratio in which the items should be mixed to get a desired average value. The rule of alligation provides a shortcut method to solve such problems without using complex equations.
Time, Speed and Distance
Time, Speed and Distance is one of the most commonly asked topics and an important CAT quantitative aptitude topic. The variations of questions that can be asked under this section include questions on time, speed and distance concepts, boats and streams and questions on trains. This is relatively an easier section with more direct questions without involving a lot of difficult equations. At least one TSD question was asked in each slot of the CAT examination.
Ratio and Proportion
Ratio and Proportion are one of the go-to topics for any candidates preparing for the CAT quantitative aptitude section. This is largely because apart from the different forms of the questions that can be asked from this topic, the concepts of ratio and proportion is widely used in data interpretation questions, and other quantitative aptitude questions. Hence, the candidates need to be thorough with the concepts of ratio and proportion.
Time and Work
When a candidate is in search of the important CAT quant topics, they cannot forgo the time and work section. While analysing the previous year CAT question papers, it can be seen that across all the slots, one question is mandatorily asked under the time and work concept, making it an important CAT quantitative aptitude topic. Another version of the time and work concept, the pipes and cisterns question, is also frequently asked in the examination.
Percentages
Similar to the ratio and proportion questions, percentages are also an essential CAT topic. The concepts of percentages can be used throughout the arithmetic topics such as profit and loss, averages, data interpretation, graphs and so on and due to this, the candidates should consider the topic of percentages to be one among the top 10 CAT quant topics.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics: Algebra Section
After the arithmetic section, the algebra section constitutes most towards the CAT quantitative aptitude section. Together with the CAT arithmetic section, they constitute more than 50% of the CAT quantitative aptitude section. When the CAT previous year question paper is analysed, it was observed that a lot of candidates reported that they found the algebra section to be the most difficult than the arithmetic section. Due to this, the candidates should focus on the CAT quant important topics of the algebra section more to perform better in the examination.
Surds and Indices
Surds and indices were an important CAT quant topic of last year. The candidates were collectively asked 5 questions on this topic alone in the CAT examination. Going by the latest CAT exam trends, the candidates should study the various concepts of surds and indices in depth, as they are also widely used in questions involving simplification as well.
Logarithms
Similar to surds and indices, one question was compulsorily asked in all the slots of CAT, marking its significance. The questions asked about the logarithm topic were of a slightly higher level, which necessitated the need for the candidates to go in-depth about logarithms and their applications.
Linear and Quadratic Equations
Linear and Quadratic Equations are key parts of Algebra. While analysing the previous year's questions, questions related to linear and quadratic equations appeared thrice across all the slots of the CAT examination. CAT toppers have also stressed the importance of studying the concepts of linear and quadratic equations, as a question can be expected from either of the topics with certainty in the CAT 2025 examination.
Sequence and Series
The CAT 2025 algebra topic, sequence and series, is also frequently asked in a lot of CAT sample papers and previous year question papers. Generally, the candidates are asked a moderately difficult question from this section involving the concepts of APs, GPs and HPs, making the sequence and series an important CAT quant topic to watch out for.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics: Geometry Section
In the CAT 2025 examination, the candidates can expect 2-4 questions under the geometry section. While the weightage of the section is lower when compared to the sections such as algebra and arithmetic, scoring well under the geometry section can be a boost and help the candidates to enhance their CAT 2025 score. Some of the CAT 2025 quantitative aptitude important topics under the geometry section are:
Triangles
Questions on triangles are one of the favourites of the CAT examiner. It can be undoubtedly said that the candidates can expect at least one question under the concept of triangles in the CAT 2025 examination, going by the past year trends. Questions on triangles in CAT 2025 may include concepts like properties of different types of triangles, Pythagoras' theorem, similarity and congruence, area and perimeter, angles, and application-based geometry problems. Hence triangle is the most important CAT quant topic under the geometry section.
Coordinate Geometry
The candidates can also expect questions based on coordinate geometry in the CAT 2025 examination because a few questions on this topic were asked frequently in the previous year's CAT question papers. Questions involving plotting points, finding distances, midpoints, slopes of lines, equations of lines, and analysing geometric shapes using the x-y coordinate plane can be expected from coordinate geometry.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics: Modern Maths Section
The modern maths questions are the ones that show the least weightage in the CAT examinations. But due to the unpredictable nature of the examination, overlooking this section during the candidate’s CAT quantitative aptitude preparation may be one of the common mistakes made by the candidates during their CAT 2025 preparation. The most important CAT quant topics under the modern maths section are:
Permutations and Combinations
The most important CAT quant topic that the candidates should focus on under the modern maths section is the permutation and combination topic. Last year, almost all of the modern maths questions were asked from this topic alone, making it the go-to topic for prioritisation under the CAT modern maths section. The types of questions that can be asked in Permutations and Combinations include arranging letters or digits, forming numbers or words with or without repetition, selecting teams or groups from a set, distributing items among people, and solving problems involving restrictions like certain people always or never being together.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics: Number Systems Section
Number systems is another section of the CAT quantitative aptitude with a low weightage. Generally, 2-4 questions are asked under this section. The candidates are advised to keep this section for the final round of preparation. Some of the topics under the number systems section that must be prioritised by the candidates include:
Remainders
In the CAT 2025 examination, 2 questions were asked under the reminders theorem topic. Hence, it is ideal to start with this topic under the CAT number systems topic of the quantitative aptitude. Questions can include division-based problems, application of the division algorithm, using properties of remainders, cyclicity, and solving problems using concepts like Fermat’s or Euler’s theorem in advanced cases.
Factors and Exponents
Factors and Exponents is a topic in number systems where questions involve finding the number and types of factors of a number, prime factorisation, the highest common factor (HCF), the lowest common multiple (LCM), and applying the laws of exponents to simplify or solve expressions. It forms the base for solving various arithmetic and algebraic problems.
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