Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024
CAT 2025 Exam Success: Mastering Loans, Installments, Ranking, and Past Tense Made Easy- Day 11
Ongoing Event
CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 13 Sep' 25
CAT Exam Success: Mastering Loans, Installments, Ranking, and Past Tense Made Easy- Day 11: Based on the updated CAT 2025 exam pattern, we have designed an effective study method to help candidates score competitive marks in CAT 2025 exam. Our approach breaks down the entire syllabus into manageable daily sessions, ensuring thorough preparation over an extended period of time. Previously, we covered Day 10 content, which included solving numerical problems on Simple Interest and Compound Interest, decoding Blood Relations logic, and strengthening English grammar through extensive preparation related to tenses.
This Story also Contains
- Quantitative Aptitude For CAT 2025
- Logical Reasoning And Data Interpretation:
- VARC Topic: -Tenses Part-2 (Past Tense)
- Free eBooks for CAT Preparation 2025
We now present Day 11 of our CAT 2025 preparation roadmap. In this article of career360, you will find comprehensive CAT 2025 time management techniques for handling instalment questions within Simple Interest topics, along with commonly appearing question formats that frequently challenge CAT aspirants. We encourage all CAT 2025 aspirants to follow our carefully crafted 60-day study timeline, which provides a systematic flow and organised schedule for your preparation. This structured approach ensures detailed coverage of all critical topics while maintaining steady progress toward your goal.
Quantitative Aptitude For CAT 2025
Simple interest(SI) Instalments
Loans and instalments are key topics in financial mathematics and an essential tool to borrow money for various purposes, such as purchasing a home, financing education, or expanding a business.
When you take a loan from an agency and repay it in instalments after regular intervals, the amount returned at each interval is an instalment.
CAT Questions on Instalments and CAT Questions on Loans are categorised based on whether the interest rate is Simple Interest or Compound Interest.
We need to have a clear idea about how to calculate the Simple Interest or Compound Interest of a sum of money.
Simple interest = (Principal × Rate × Time) / 100
Compound interest = Principal × [1 + (Rate / 100)]Time – Principal
Suppose Anil purchased a television worth Rs. 18000 paying Rs. 10000 cash down payment, and every month a fixed instalment has to be paid for the next 6 months, where interest is charged at 10% per month on simple interest.
You need to calculate the EMI value.
First, you need to calculate the debt (the Amount due after 6 months if paid in a single time)
Principal = 18000 – 10000 = Rs. 8000
Debt = 8000 + (8000 × 10 × 6)/100 = Rs. 12800
First instalment after 1st month = Rs. 100x (Let)
Amount due after 1 month = Rs. 12800 – 100x – 100x × 5 × 10/100 = Rs. 12800 – 150x
(The instalment amount and Interest for 5 months have to be subtracted from the amount due since 100x is returned after one month and interest is added for 6 months in the original amount due)
Amount due after 2 months = Rs. 12800 – 150x – 100x – 100x × 4 × 10/100
= Rs. 12800 – 290x
(The instalment amount and Interest for 4 months have to be subtracted from the amount due since 100x is returned after two months, and interest is added for 6 months in the original amount due)
Amount due after 3 months = Rs. 12800 – 290x – 100x – 100x × 3 × 10/100
= Rs. 12800 – 420x
(The instalment amount and Interest for 3 months have to be subtracted from the amount due since 100x is returned after three months and interest is added for 6 months in the original amount due)
Amount due after 4 months = Rs. 12800 – 420x – 100x – 100x × 2 × 10/100
= Rs. 12800 – 540x
(Instalment amount and Interest for 2 months have to be subtracted from the amount due since 100x is returned after four months, an interest is added for 6 months in the original amount due)
Amount due after 5 months = Rs. 12800 – 540x – 100x – 100x × 1 × 10/100
= Rs. 12800 – 650x
(The instalment and Interest for 1 month have to be subtracted from the amount due since 100x is returned after five months, and interest is added for 6 months in the original amount due)
Amount due after 6 months = Rs. 12800 – 650x – 100x
(The instalment amount has to be subtracted from the amount, but interest is not subtracted since 100x is returned after six months and interest is added for 6 months in the original amount due)
After payment of all instalments, the amount due = 0
So, Rs. $12800 – 650x – 100x = 0$
⇒ $x = 17.067$
⇒ $100x =$ Rs. $1706.7$
Instalments At Simple Interest
To find the value of the annual instalment with Simple Interest, we use the following formula:
Annual instalment = $\frac{100A}{100T} + \left[\frac{RT(T - 1)}{2}\right]$
Where A is the total amount to be paid in T years with R% annual interest.
Instalments At Compound Interest
Let a person take a loan from an agency at r% per annum compounded annually and pay the loan in equal instalments for n years.
Then, the value of each instalment can be calculated by the given formula:
Amount due after n years = $P \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^n$
If paid in instalments, the amount due must be equal to
$P \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^n = X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-1} + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-2} + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-3} + \cdots + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)$
Where, X = Instalment value
Questions and MCQs on Loans and advances , and CAT questions on instalments (SI and CI) can be divided into sub-categories during CAT preparation:
Questions that involve calculations of the instalment value.
Questions that include calculations of the interest rate charged.
Questions that involve calculations of debt.
We need to further study topics such as “instalment loans for bad credit”, “instalment loan calculator”, and “loan instalment payment” to delve deeper into this chapter. Now we will practice some instalment loan example questions to better understand the topic.
CAT 2025 Model Questions And Answers From CAT Previous Year Papers
Question 1. John borrowed Rs. 2,10,000 from a bank at an interest rate of 10% per annum, compounded annually. The loan was repaid in two equal instalments, the first after one year and the second after another year. The first instalment was the interest of one year plus part of the principal amount, while the second was the rest of the principal amount plus due interest thereon. Then each instalment, in Rs., is:
[CAT Question Paper 2018, TITA]
Rs. 121000 (Correct answer)
Rs. 100000
Rs. 120000
Rs. 125000
CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages
Comprehensive CAT prep guide with focused practice on Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Download NowSolution:
P = 210000, n = 2, r = 10
Let X be the value of the instalment each year.
Using,
$P \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^n = X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-1} + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-2} + \cdots + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)$
$\Rightarrow 210000 \left(1 + \frac{10}{100}\right)^2 = X \left(1 + \frac{10}{100}\right)^1 + X$
$\Rightarrow 210000 \cdot \frac{121}{100} = X \cdot \frac{11}{10} + X$
$\Rightarrow 2100 \cdot 121 = X \cdot \frac{21}{10}$
$\therefore X = 121000$
Hence, the correct answer is Rs. 121000.
Question 2. Rahul takes a loan of Rs 150000 at an interest rate of 20% compound interest, which is compounded annually. He agrees to pay three equal instalments in three years, one instalment at the end of every year. Find the value of each instalment.
[CAT Question Paper - sample paper]
Rs. 71209 (Correct answer)
Rs. 68349
Rs. 76484
Rs. 72904
Solution:
P = 150000, n = 3, r = 20
Let X be the value of the instalment each year.
Using,
$P \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^n = X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-1} + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-2} + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)^{n-3} + \cdots + X \left(1 + \frac{r}{100}\right)$
$\Rightarrow 150000 \left(1 + \frac{20}{100}\right)^3 = X \left(1 + \frac{20}{100}\right)^2 + X \left(1 + \frac{20}{100}\right) + X$
$\Rightarrow 150000 \cdot \frac{216}{125} = X \cdot \frac{36}{25} + X \cdot \frac{6}{5} + X$
$\Rightarrow 150000 \cdot \frac{216}{125} = X \cdot \frac{91}{25}$
$\therefore X = 71209$
Hence, the correct answer is Rs. 71209.
Question 3: What is the amount (in INR) of debt that will be discharged in 6 equal instalments of INR 800 each, if the debt is due in 6 years at 5% per annum?
[CAT Question Paper - sample paper]
Rs. 6600
Rs. 7500
Rs. 8000
Rs. 5400 (Correct answer)
Solution:
Given:
Instalment = INR 800
Rate, r = 5%
Time, t = 6 years
Let the debt be x.
Instalment = (Debt × 100) / [100t + {r × t(t-1)} / 2]
⇒ 800 = 100x / [100 × 6 + {5 × 6(6-1)}/2]
⇒ 800 = 100x / 675
∴ x = 5400
Hence, the correct answer is Rs. 5400.
Prerequisite For CAT Questions On Instalments
To prepare for this topic for the CAT exam, students must know of
Fractions and percentages at fingertips.
Successive Changes
Simple Interest and Compound Interest
References to Study (Theory)
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by N.K. Sinha
Dinesh Miglani Tutorials for CAT, IPM, CLA, T SSC, BANK
References to Study (Practice)
Arun Sharma: A Quantitative Approach for CAT (7th Edition)
https://iim-cat-questions-answers.2iim.com
CAT previous year papers and CAT sample paper
Logical Reasoning And Data Interpretation:
Ranking (LR)
Ranking is the process of determining the position or place of a person or thing based on comparison and other information given in the questions for the CAT exam.
It is one of the most essential parts of Logical Reasoning for the CAT exam.
For some information about this topic, students can study “Ranking logical reasoning pdf”, “order and ranking Logical Reasoning ” and “Ranking logical reasoning questions”.
Ranking: Question Types Asked In the CAT Exam
There are many different types of questions asked in the CAT exam based on the ranking.
Some of them are:
The position or ranking of the person is asked from the bottom, left, right, or top.
Questions based on the swapping of positions.
Questions are based on the number of persons between two positions.
Questions based on finding the total number of objects or persons.
Approaches And Tips To Solve The CAT Question Paper On Ranking
The total number of persons in a row = (sum of positions of the same person from both sides) – 1
Example: Sunil is 16th from either end of a row; the total number of persons in the row = 16 + 16 - 1 = 31If the position of a person/ object from one end is n, and the total number of persons/objects in the row is m; then the position of the same person from the other end will be (m - n + 1).
While calculating the number of places between two persons, cases of overlapping and non-overlapping should be treated differently.
Analyse the given information in the question by thorough reading.
Use visualisation/imagination skills.
Try to draw all the possibilities and eliminate the wrong ones.
Questions On Ranking (LR) From CAT Previous Year Papers
These questions can help you build the concept of ranking: (Based on the CAT exam):
Question 1. In a queue, Antara is 19th from the front, while Manthara is 28th from the back, and Lolita is just in the middle of the two. Consider that there are 50 people in the queue. What position does Lolita occupy from the front? [CAT sample paper]
20th
19th
18th
21st (Correct answer)
Solution:
Total persons sitting between Antara and Manthara = 50 – 19 – 28 = 3
Lolita is in the middle of the two; So, Antara and Lolita have just one person between them. Therefore, Lolita must be on the 21st from the front.
Question 2. In a row of boys, Ritesh and Manish occupy the 7th place from the right end and the 9th place from the left end, respectively. Now, if they interchange their places, Ritesh and Manish occupy 25th place from the right and 27th place from the left, respectively. How many boys are present in the row?
35
26
33 (Correct answer)
Cannot be determined
Solution:
Ritesh's Position from the right end = 7; Now Manish occupies the position of Ritesh, which is 27th from the left.
So, total number of boys = 7 + 27 – 1 = 33
Question 3: Five friends, A, B, C, D, and E, are sitting in a row facing north. A is to the immediate right of B and immediate left of C. D is to the immediate right of E and immediate left of B. Who is sitting in the middle?
A
B
C
D
Solution:
From the given conditions:
A is immediately right of B → B, A, C (because A is immediately left of C)
D is immediately correct of E and immediately left of B → E, D, B, A, C.
Therefore, B is in the middle.
Question 4: In a class of 40 students, there are 10 boys and 30 girls. Ramesh is ranked 12th when students are arranged in descending order of marks. Among the boys, he is ranked 7th. How many girls are ranked above him?
4
5
6
7
Solution:
Ramesh is ranked 12th overall and 7th among the boys.
So, there are six boys ranked higher than him.
Therefore, the number of girls ranked above him is 11 - 6 = 5
Prerequisite For CAT Preparation:
To prepare the questions based on the Ranking for CAT 2025, a student must know:
Basic Additions and Subtractions
Sequence and Series
References to Study (Theory):
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal.
2IIM CAT Preparation (YouTube Channel)
References to Study (Practice):
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S.S. Aggarwal. (Basic)
LRDI for CAT and GMAT by Nishit K Sinha. (Advance)
CAT previous year papers and CAT sample paper
VARC Topic: -Tenses Part-2 (Past Tense)
As discussed in the previous article, tenses are divided into three types for easy CAT preparation. Today, we will discuss the Past Tense.
The past tense is used to describe the event that has occurred in the Past.
Past Tense can further be divided into four categories to indicate the action as follows:
Simple Past Tense/ Past Indefinite Tenses: A habitual action in the past. The action has already taken place in the past, but the exact time of the the action is not definite.
Formula: Subject + Verb (Past tense) + Object
Example: Geetha studied at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.Past Perfect Tense: It refers to an action that happened before another event.
Formula: Subject + Had + Verb (Past participle) + Object
Example: Kushal noticed that Barsha had left his mobile behind.Past Continuous Tense: Continuous action in the past, that happened for some time.
Formula: Subject + Was/ Were + Verb (Present participle) + Object
Example: Sneha was eating pizza.Past Perfect Continuous Tense: denotes an action that was in progress before another event in the past.
Formula: Subject + Had been + Verb (Present participle) + Object
Example: I had been preparing for this examination for five months.
Students can practice with simple past tense worksheets and read simple past tense formulas to gain a better understanding of basic past tense examples.
CAT questions on Past tense and Past participle from the Previous year's papers
Question 1. I met the director yesterday, and he assured me that he will help if you ask him. [Sentence correction]
[CAT previous year papers]
I met the director yesterday, and he assured me that he will help if you ask him.
Met the director yesterday, and he assured me that he would help if you asked him.
Met the director yesterday, and he assured me that he would help if you asked him.
No correction required
Solution:
The correct answer is Option B.
With ‘yesterday’, the Past indefinite tense should be used. So, option A is incorrect.
Option (c) is wrong because in “he will help if you ask him”, the verb 'will help' is in the future, which is the result of a condition ‘if you ask’, and both cannot be in the future.
Question 2. The Chief Proctor entered the classroom to see what the students_________. [Fill in the blanks]
Go had been doing
Went, was doing
Gone, had been doing
Went, we're doing
Solution:
The correct answer is option D.
Past indefinite with past continuous tense (For progressive work) is to be used.
Option A is wrong because “The chief proctor” is singular. So “goes” is appropriate for the past form.
Option B is wrong because “students” is plural, so “were doing” should be appropriate.
Option C is wrong because the past participle form of a verb alone can’t be used. There has to be a has/have/had.
Prerequisite For Tenses:
Basic Knowledge of Verbs and their forms.
Knowledge of the use of helping verbs (Was/Were/had/had been)
Knowledge of Nouns/Pronouns.
Tips For Error Correction In Past Tenses:
Learn the rules of all types of past tenses.
Read good Newspapers that use correct grammar (like The Hindu).
Do basic exercises on the past tense.
Attempt Mock-Tests.
References to Study (Theory):
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT by Meenakshi Upadhyay and Arun Sharma (9th Edition)
Learn English with Rebecca · engVid (YouTube Channel)
Class (VI-VIII) NCERT for basic grammar rules.
References to Study (Practice):
engvid.com (Web)
Wren and Martin (sixth edition)
Practice CAT Sample Papers
Recommended eBooks
Related eBooks & Sample Papers
Free eBooks for CAT Preparation 2025
300+ Phrasal Verbs List for CAT Exam, Types With Examples & Practice Questions | CAT Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers PDF |
Practice, stay focused, and wait for the CAT strategy to prepare for Day 12 (Practice Set-3) tomorrow.
Thank You
All the best.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the recommended study approach for CAT 2025?
A:
Follow a structured 60-day study timeline, with daily sessions that systematically cover all three sections. Break down the syllabus into manageable daily portions for comprehensive preparation.
Q: How important are previous year question papers for CAT 2025?
A:
Extremely important. Solve at least 10-15 years of previous papers. They help understand exam patterns, difficulty levels, and frequently asked question types.
Q: What is Simple Interest (SI) and how is it calculated?
A:
Simple Interest is the interest calculated on the principal amount over a period of time at a fixed interest rate.
The formula to find the simple interest is:
Simple interest = (Principal × Rate × Time) / 100
Q: How do instalment questions relate to Simple Interest in the CAT exam?
A:
Instalment questions often involve calculating the amount to be paid periodically to repay a loan or principal amount over a certain period with interest.
These questions combine concepts of Simple Interest and the instalment payment formula.
Also, compound interest is used if the instalments are structured to be paid in compound interest.
To find the value of the annual instalment with simple interest, we use the following formula:
Annual instalment$ = 100A / 100T + [RT(T – 1)/2]$
Where A is the total amount to be paid in T years with R% annual interest.
Q: When should I start taking mock tests?
A:
Begin mock tests after completing 40-50% of the syllabus. Take 2-3 mocks weekly initially, increasing to daily mocks in the final month. Always analyse performance thoroughly.
Q: How do the different past tense forms function in reading comprehension passages?
A:
Simple past tense: It describes the completed events in the past.
Past continuous tense: It provides background details or describes ongoing past actions.
Past perfect tense: It indicates actions completed before another past action.
Past perfect continuous tense: It describes actions that were ongoing up to a certain point in the past.
Understanding the types of past tense will help us to understand the timeline of comprehension and flow of events.
Articles
Related Stories
|
Upcoming Bschool Exams
Certifications By Top Providers
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQOxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UKNorthumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8STCardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YBUniversity of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AHBristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJPopular Courses and Specializations
List of colleges accepting CAT
Browse Bschool Colleges by State
Questions related to CAT
On Question asked by student community
Have a question related to CAT ?
Yes, you can fill the CAT form even if you currently have a backlog. CAT eligibility requires you to be in your final year of graduation or already graduated backlogs don’t stop you from applying.
While filling the form:
-
Enter the aggregate percentage/CGPA of marks you have obtained up to the latest semester for which results are declared (in your case till 4th semester).
-
There will be an option to mention that you have a backlog.
-
If you clear the backlog later, you’ll just need to show the updated marks during admission.
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, you can apply for the CAT exam as a final-year student. You must declare your backlog on the online application form. You do not write about it on the final-year student certificate; that document is to certify your enrollment status. You must clear all backlogs before the final admission process to any MBA college.
Hello,
Thank you for your question!
KL- MAT syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English/Verbal Ability, and General Awareness (similar to MAT/CMAT pattern).
CAT scores are valid in many private universities including KL University, but always check the year’s admission notification.
CAT vs other exams: CAT is toughest (IIMs + top B-schools), while MAT/CMAT/ATMA are relatively easier and accepted by many mid-level private universities.
Hello it will clear your doubt!
Hello Aspirant,
-
I saw a cat. The cat found an old map inside a drawer of the king's palace.
Here's why:
-
"a cat": It's the first time we mention the cat, so it's indefinite.
-
"The cat": Now we're talking about that specific cat we just mentioned, so it's definite.
-
"an old map": It's the first time we mention a map, and "old" starts with a vowel sound, so "an."
-
"a drawer": It's one of possibly many drawers, not a specific one known to us yet.
-
"the king's palace": This is a specific, unique place, so "the."
Hello Kapish
You can find the last 5 year questions of DILR for CAT at Careers360 website. Moreover, you can find the previous year papers of all the subjects i.e. DILR, Quants and VARC. I am attaching the link through which you would be able to access the same.
Here's the link:
CAT Previous Year Papers by CAREERS360
Sample paper of DILR:
CAT Sample Paper (DILR) by CAREERS360
Thank You!!!
Popular CAT Questions
Directions for question :
M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.
Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.
The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :
It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired.
Question :
In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?
Option: 1
September 2020
Option: 2
May 2021
Option: 3
January 2021
Option: 4
January 2022
Directions for question:
The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :
Question:
What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?
Option: 1 None
Option: 2 None
Option: 3 None
Option: 4 None
MBA/PGDM Admissions OPEN
Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM Admissions 2026
ApplyAdmissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024
IBSAT 2025-ICFAI Business School MBA/PGPM 2026
ApplyIBSAT 2025-Your gateway to MBA/PGPM @ IBS Hyderabad and 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR
Amity University Noida MBA Admissions 2025
ApplyAmongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings) | Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications
XAT- Xavier Aptitude Test 2026
Apply75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools | Apply now
Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) Admissions 2025
ApplyNAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
Symbiosis MBA - SNAP 2025
Apply1 Exam accepted by 17 Top Symbiosis Institutes for 29 MBA programmes.
CAT Notifications
Never miss an CAT update
Get timely CAT updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!