Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    Ace Time, Speed, and Distance with Understanding Decision-Making puzzle sets and Active-Passive Voice - Day 30

    Ace Time, Speed, and Distance with Understanding Decision-Making puzzle sets and Active-Passive Voice - Day 30

    Irshad AnwarUpdated on 18 Jun 2025, 02:45 PM IST

    Speed, Time, Distance, and Races form one of the most frequently tested and conceptually rich topics in the CAT exam. These questions consistently appear each year, often requiring a deep understanding of fundamentals and real-world application rather than just formulas. Built on core concepts like ratios and proportions, this topic typically contributes 3–4 questions for CAT 2025. Mastering it can significantly boost your score, especially when practised through quizzes and detailed solution-based exercises. As part of our CAT 2024 60-day preparation blog series, today’s focus is on offering key strategies to help you stay on track, strengthen your core skills

    Ace Time, Speed, and Distance with Understanding Decision-Making puzzle sets and Active-Passive Voice - Day 30
    cat 2024

    Part-1: CAT 2024 QA Preparation Tips (Quantitative Aptitude)

    Time and distance questions are a must and come most of the time in exams. Aspirants are recommended to go through this topic properly and prepare well. The questions can be like time and distance basic questions or speed and distance advanced questions.

    CAT Exam Important Topic: Strategy to Prepare “Basics of Time, Speed and Distance” and time and distance questions for CAT-2024

    Time and distance questions for competitive exams are some of the most important topics to focus on. The Time, Speed and Distance questions need proper clarity of concepts and formulas and also knowledge on how to solve the following questions.

    CAT Syllabus 2024: Important Concept/Formula Used in Time, Speed and Distance Questions

    1. Speed = Distance/ Time
    2. Concept of proportionality
      1. S1/S2= T2/T1, when distance is fixed

      2. S1/S2= D1/D2, when time is fixed
        S2, speed, when the time taken is T2
        S1, speed when the time taken, is T1
        D1, D2 are distances for S1 and S2 respectively.

    3. Average speed = Total Distance/Time taken

    4. Concept of relative speed

      Srel = S1+ S2, if both are moving in opposite direction
      Srel = S1 – S2, if both are moving in same direction

    CAT Exam: Previous Year CAT Questions On Time, Speed and Distance (Concept of Proportionality, Relative Speed and Average Speed )

    Q1. Two cars travel the same distance starting at 10:00 am and 11:00 am, respectively, on the same day. They reach their common destination at the same point in time. If the first car travelled for at least 6 hours, then the highest possible value of the percentage by which the speed of the second car could exceed that of the first car is [CAT exam:2019]

    1. 10
    2. 20
    3. 30
    4. 25
    Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

    Final Application Deadline: 15th March | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025

    ITM Business School MBA Admissions 2026

    400+ Company Visits | Highest CTC Offered: 21 LPA | Average CTC Offered: 8.65 LPA | 100% Placement Assurance

    Answer: [2]

    Second car took 1 hr less than the first car.

    First Car travelled for at least 6 hours, then the second car must travel for at least 5 hrs.

    For, the highest possible value of the percentage by which the speed of the second car could exceed that of the first car, the above case should be taken

    S1/S2 = T2/T1

    S1/S2 = 5/6,

    If S1 = 5, then S2 = 6

    So, S2 is greater than S1 by 20%.

    Speed Distance Time Questions With Solutions

    Q2. The distance from A to B is 60 km. Partha and Narayan start from A simultaneously and move towards B. Partha takes four hours more than Narayan to reach B. Moreover, Partha reaches the mid-point of A and B two hours before Narayan reaches B. The speed of Partha, in km per hour, is [CAT exam: 2018]

    1. 6
    2. 3
    3. 4
    4. 5
    CAT 2025 College Predictor
    Use CAT 2025 College Predictor to check your chances for IIM and top MBA calls based on CAT percentile, profile, work experience and cut-off trends.
    Use Now

    Solution: [4]

    Let Parth reach mid-way at x hours, then Narayan will reach B at (x+2) hours.

    Since Parth takes 4 hours more than Narayan to reach B, Parth should reach at (x+ 6) hours to B.

    It reflects that Parth took 6 hours to reach from midways to B(30 Km).

    So, the Speed of Parth = 30/6 = 5 Km/ hr.

    CAT entrance exam: Prerequisite:

    Tips and Tricks for problems on time and distance:

    1. Divide questions into the categories of proportionality, Relative Speed and Average Speed.
    2. Average Speed = 2 S1.S2/ (S1 + S2) If distances covered with both speeds are the same.
    3. Using the concept of ratio while solving the questions proportionality.
    4. Relative Speed can be calculated by the Distance covered by both A and B/ Time taken if they are approaching each other.
    5. Relative Speed can be calculated by the Difference between distances covered by A and B/ Time taken if they are going away from each other.
    6. Practice different problems based on CAT Previous years questions

    CAT study material: References to Study (Theory)

    1. How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma (7th Edition; Pg No 335 to 339)
    2. Rodha (YouTube, Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKiP208avbc)

    CAT study material: References to Practice Time, Speed and Distance Questions

    1. Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT – Sarvesh Verma.
    2. 2IIM CAT Preparation (YouTube)
    3. (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPLrK2RWVME)

    Part 2: CAT 2024 Preparation Tips: CAT DILR tips (Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation)

    CAT 2024 Syllabus Topic: Strategy to prepare “Decision Making Questions ” (Part-1) for CAT

    CAT 2024: Important Concepts

    1. Eligibility Criteria
    2. Passage based decision making
    UPES MBA Admissions 2026

    Last Date to Apply: 26th March | Ranked #36 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement

    Amity University-Noida MBA Admissions 2026

    Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.

    Decision Making And Problem Solving Questions For Cat 2024

    Comprehension:

    A fertiliser company AFC decided to recruit management trainees for its ammonia plant. The following criteria are decided to select a candidate:

    Should be a Chemical Engineer graduate with a minimum of 65%.

    Should have a Post graduate diploma in business management.

    Should not be less than 21 yr of age on 1 July 2024.

    Should not be greater than 28 yr of age on 1 July 2024.

    Should have scored a minimum of 70% marks on the Entrance test.

    However, if the candidate fulfils all the criteria except

    A above but got marks less than 65% but greater than 60% in graduation and has experience of more than 2 yrs, his case may be referred to the managing director.

    B above and has scored more than 85% on the Entrance test. His case may be referred to GM.

    Give Answers

    1. if the candidate is selected
    2. if the candidate is referred to the managing director
    3. if the candidate is not selected
    4. if the candidate is referred to GM

    Q1. Ram Chandra Saini from Gujrat, born on 12 Sept 2000, passed his Chemical Engineering degree with 65.49% and scored 77% on the Entrance Test. He also worked in a fertiliser company from 17 November 2021 to 23 Sept 2024.

    Q2. Ms Arundhanti Ray from WB, a 27 yr old lady, is a chemical Engineer with 61% marks and has a postgraduate diploma in business and also scored 74% on Entrance Test. She has also worked as a manager in a private company for 3 years.

    Q3. Raju Mhatre is a 25 yr old chemical engineering graduate with 62% marks in graduation. He is working as an assistant manager in a private company for the last 2 yr. He passed the Entrance test with 52% marks and has done a diploma in business management in 2019.

    Decision Making And Problem-Solving Questions

    Solution:

    As per the information given in the question, a criteria table is drawn.

    Name

    Criteria A

    Criteria B

    Criteria C

    Criteria D

    Criteria E

    Criteria (i)

    Criteria (ii)

    Ram Chandra Saini


    X




    NA

    X

    Arundhanti Ray

    X






    NA

    Raju

    Mhatre

    X




    X


    NA

    Answers:

    1. [3], Since B and (ii) both are not fulfilled

    2. [2]

    3. [3], since both A and E are not fulfilled.

    CAT entrance exam: Prerequisite:

    1. Analytical Skills
    2. Problem Solving/ Puzzles

    CAT Tips and Tricks for Decision Making Questions

    1. Read carefully all the conditions given.
    2. Make a table to check the validity of the conditions given.
    3. For Selection all the basic conditions must be fulfilled.
    4. For rejection at-least one independent condition and one additional condition must be violated.

    CAT Syllabus 2024: References to Study (Theory)

    1. Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by B S Sijwali (Pg No 514- 540)
    2. CAT LRDI by Nishit K Sinha

    CAT Syllabus 2024: References to Study (Practice)

    1. Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Agrawal.
    2. CAT/XAT Previous years Papers and Sample Papers.

    Part-3: CAT Exam Preparation 2024: CAT exam tips for VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

    CAT preparation: Basic Concept of active and passive voice

    Structure of Active voice sentences

    Subject + Verb + Object (S + V + O)

    Structure of Passive voice sentences

    Object + Verb + Subject (O + V + S)

    CAT Exam Important Topic: Strategy to Prepare “Active and Passive Voice” for CAT-2024

    CAT Previous Years' Questions on Active and Passive Voice:

    Question 1: We have to leave the tap open for all the polluted water to drain

    1. The tap has to be left open for all the polluted water to drain.

    1. The tap had to be left open for all the polluted water to drain.

    1. The tap will be left open for all the polluted water to drain.

    1. The tap should be left open for all the polluted water to drain.

    Ans (a)

    Explanation: Active: Subject + have / has / had + to + V1+ Object

    Passive: Subject(Obj)+ have / has / had + to + be + V3+ by + Agent(Sub)

    Question 2: Did someone tease you?

    1. Was you teased by someone?

    1. Were you teased by someone?

    1. Was you being teased by someone?

    1. Were you being teased by someone?

    Ans (d)

    Explanation: To make passive form of modal verbs, following structure is followed:

    (for indefinite)

    Sub + Modal + V1 + Obj (active)

    Obj + Modal + be + V3 + by + Sub (passive)

    CAT 2024: Prerequisite

    1. The basic idea of sentence structure.
    2. Knowledge of subject-verb and object.

    CAT exam: References to Study (Theory)

    1. How to Prepare for Verbal Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma (9th Edition)
    2. Wren and Martin
    3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xUnSLYPrdk

    CAT: References to Study (Practice)

    1. https://iim-cat-questions-answers.2iim.com/
    2. CAT Previous years Papers and Sample Papers.
    3. CAT2CET (YouTube)

    We will be back with Day 31 tomorrow. Do practice and be focused.

    Time, Speed and Distance Weightage in CAT Exams

    Time, Speed, and Distance is a consistently tested topic in the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section. Understanding its weightage over the years helps aspirants prioritize preparation, focus on key question types, and enhance their accuracy and time management skills.

    Year

    Topic Name

    Number of Questions

    2,023

    Time, Distance, and Work

    9

    2022

    Time, Distance, and Work

    8

    2021

    Time, Distance, and Work

    9

    2020

    Time, Distance, and Work

    13

    Important Resources to Ace CAT Preparations 2025

    Top eBooks for CAT 2025 preparation help you master important topics. They provide structured, topic-wise content, expert strategies, and a wide range of practice exercises to boost your speed and accuracy. These resources strengthen your verbal reasoning skills and support focused learning. Start using the best eBooks today to actively build a strong foundation and improve your CAT 2025 performance.

    3000+ Most Important Words - Vocabulary Builder

    Download Here

    500+ Most Important Idioms and Phrases

    Download Here

    300+ Most Important Phrasal Verbs

    Download Here

    CAT 2025 Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Study Material

    Download Now

    Permutation & Combination - Video Lectures and Practice Questions

    Download Here

    Mastering DILR Questions with Expert Solutions

    Download Here

    CAT 2025 Exam's High Scoring Chapters and Topics

    Download Now

    Mastering CAT Exam: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages

    Download Now

    CAT 2025 Mastery: Chapter-wise MCQs for Success for VARC, DILR, Quant

    Download Now

    CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers

    Download Now

    CAT DILR Questions with Solution, Download LRDI Questions for CAT

    Download Now

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What are common mistakes in solving Speed-Time-Distance problems?
    A:

    Rushing through without understanding the question, misusing formulas, ignoring unit conversions, and poor time management are common errors. Always clarify what is being asked before starting calculations.

    Q: How important is grammar for the CAT VARC section?
    A:

    While CAT doesn’t test grammar directly, strong grammar improves comprehension and sentence correction accuracy, especially in para jumbles and summary-based questions.

    Q: What’s the best way to approach decision-making puzzle sets in CAT?
    A:

    Read puzzles carefully, break them into data points, and create tables or diagrams. Prioritise constraints and eliminate impossibilities to arrive at a logical and structured solution.

    Q: How can I improve accuracy in Time, Speed, and Distance questions?
    A:

    Practice with varied difficulty levels, master unit conversions, and understand core formulas. Focus on concepts over memorisation and simulate exam conditions to improve accuracy and time management.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Bschool Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    VITBEE Application Date

    31 Oct'25 - 12 Apr'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    PU MET Application Date

    3 Dec'25 - 28 Mar'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Online MBA
    Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
    Corporate Law
    Via National Law University, New Delhi
    Strategic Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Online BBA
    Via Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida
    Management of Commercial Banking
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Management of Inventory Systems
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Udemy
     703 courses
    Edx
     467 courses
    Swayam
     236 courses
    Emeritus
     231 courses
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe
    University of Essex, Colchester
    Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
    Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
    Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
    Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
    Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
    Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
    Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
    University of Reading, Reading
    Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
    Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
    The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    FMS Udaipur admission for 2026 is not open. The MBA 2026 admission will likely commence in May 2026. You can keep checking the official website of FMS.

    Hi admission to the courses offered at CUSAT is based on the CUSAT CAT results, relative performnace of the students and the number of applications for each course. Please check CUSAT CAT cutoff 2025 to know in detail about the cutoff score for Electrical and Electronic branch in previous years.

    Yes, it is possible. If you have received a PI call from IIM Sambalpur with a 75 percentile in CAT, you have a chance to convert the call. However, the final selection will depend on multiple factors such as your personal interview performance, academic record, and overall profile.

    All the