The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on
iimcat.ac.in
.
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.
CAT Excellence Unlocked: Master Percentage, Caseletts, and Prepositions for Success - Day 7
Ongoing Event
CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 20 Sep' 25
In the previous article, we discussed strategies for preparing HCF, LCM (Number System), Spider (Data Interpretation), and articles on Day 6 of CAT preparation, based on the CAT syllabus, along with CAT percentage questions. We have covered a significant portion of the Number System for CAT, including related questions. While CAT percentage questions are generally of moderate difficulty, they can be tricky. Typically, you can expect about 1-2 questions on Percentage from the Number System section.
We’re back with the strategic plan for Day 7 to continue our journey toward cracking CAT 2024. In this article, we will discuss strategies for the following topics and provide CAT Percentage questions for practice.
Part-1: Quantitative Aptitude for CAT 2024
Topic: Percentage The Percentage is the basic building block of Arithmetic. It is one of the most important topics for the CAT Exam. Here are some Percentage questions for CAT exam below:
The word “Percent” means “per 100” or “out of 100”.
To Ease your preparation for CAT 2024, divide the Percentage in 5 parts as below:
Questions of the type where x% of y is to be calculated
x% of y = xy/100
Ex: 20 % of 30 = 20 * 30/100 = 6
Questions of the type where x is what % of y is to be calculated
x is what % of y = x*100/ y
Ex: 20 is what % of 30 = 20 * 100/30 = 66.66 %
Questions of the type where x is what % more/ less than y is to be calculated
x is what % more/ less than y = (Difference between x and y) * 100/ y
Ex: 20 is what % less than 30 = 10 * 100/30 = 33.33 %
Successive change:
Ex: Price of a commodity is increased by 10% first and then decreased by 5%. Find the net percentage change.
If the initial price is 100 then after the first change value will be 110. Now decrease this value by 5%. The final value after the second change will be 104.5. So, the Net percentage change will be 4.5%.
Such problems are to be dealt with separately.
Expenditure-based questions
Election-based problems.
CAT Percentage Questions From CAT Previous Year Papers
The two Percentage questions from previous year CAT questions on percentage are given below:
Q1. In an examination, the maximum possible score is N while the pass mark is 45% of N. A candidate obtains 36 marks but falls short of the pass mark by 68%. Which one of the following is then correct? [ CAT Question Paper]
243 ≤ N ≤ 252.
N ≥ 253.
201 ≤ N ≤ 242.
N ≤ 200.
Solution: (1)
Passing Marks = 45 % of N = 0.45 N
Also, passing marks = 36 + 68 % of (0.45 N) = 36 + 0.306N
So, 0.45N = 36 + 0.306N
N = 36/0.144 = 250
So, the answer is option 1
Percentage Questions For CAT Exam
Q2. In a class, 60% of the students are girls and the rest are boys. There are 30 more girls than boys. If 68% of the students, including 30 boys, pass an examination, the percentage of the girls who do not pass is [CAT Question Paper 2019, TITA]
Percentage questions for CAT with solutions
Solution: 20%
Let Total Students = 100x
Girls = 60x
Boys = 40x
Difference between girls and boys = 20x = 30
So, Number of boys = 40x = 60
Number of girls = 60x = 90
Total students = 150
Pass students = 68% of 150 = 102 (In which 30 are boys)
Girls who passed the exam = 102- 30 = 72
Girls who didn’t pass = 90- 72 = 18
Percentage of girls who didn’t Pass = 18*100/90 = 20%
Prerequisite to prepare for CAT level Percentage questions:
To prepare for the CAT exam, students must have knowledge of
fraction
Simplification and Approximation
Tips to Prepare Percentage on CAT preparation
Learn the Percentage to fractions conversion to solve the questions quickly.
For Ex: 50% of a number is calculated by dividing the number by 2.
33.33 % of a number is calculated by dividing the number by 3.
12.5% of a number is calculated by dividing the number by 8. etc
To find the net Percentage change (In Successive Increase or Decrease), you can use the formula.
Net R% = R1 + R2 + (R1*R2)/100
Take the value of R1 and R2 positive if they are increasing and negative if they are decreasing.
Use Unitary Method.
CAT Percentage questions generally combine more than one topic in the problems and will require you to use some degree of logic to make equations in the problems.
Practice different kinds of problems.
References to Study (Theory):
Quantitative Aptitude book by Abhijit Guha.
2iim Online Learning Classroom
References to Study (Practice):
Arun Sharma: A Quantitative Approach for CAT (6th Edition)
https://iim-cat-questions-answers.2iim.com
CAT previous year papers
Part-2: Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
Topic: Data Interpretation (Caselets questions for CAT)
In previous articles-Day 6, strategies for DI based on Spider/ Radar Graph have been discussed. In this article, Data Caselets for CAT Data interpretation exam. In the CAT Exam and other management entrance exams, data interpretation is a must-come topic.
A caselet or case study consists of a set of information in the form of a passage. A set of questions based on it were asked.
No tables or graphs are given. You have to read the information to deduce the information and organize the given data to solve the questions.
Example:
Mr Sundar purchased a bike for Rs. 40,500. The bike is also available at Rs. 20,000 down payment and the monthly instalments of Rs. 1400 per month for 2 years or Rs. 16,000 down payment and a monthly instalment of Rs. 1100 per month for 3 years. Mr Sundar has with him Rs. 17,000 only. He took a loan equal to the balance money of the down payment from a private firm. The terms of that private firm are:
If Rs. 4500 is borrowed for a period of 12 months, the rate of interest is 10 %. The interest will be calculated on the whole amount for the whole year itself. Thus, the borrower needs to pay an amount of Rs. 412.5 per month for 12 months, because 4500 is the principal amount + 450 as the interest rate.
If more than Rs. 4500 is borrowed for 1 year, the rate of interest is 20 % and is calculated in exactly the same way as given above.
Questions Based On Caselet/ Case Study From CAT Previous Year Papers/ Data Caselets questions
Comprehension:
Twenty-four people are part of three committees which are to look at the research, teaching, and administration respectively. No two committees have any members in common. No two committees are of the same size. Each committee has three types of people: bureaucrats, educationalists, and politicians, with at least one from each of the three types in each committee. The following facts are also known about the committees:
The numbers of bureaucrats in the research and teaching committees are equal, while the number of bureaucrats in the research committee is 75% of the number of bureaucrats in the administration committee.
The number of educationalists in the teaching committee is less than the number of educationalists in the research committee. The number of educationalists in the research committee is the average of the numbers of educationalists in the other two committees.
60% of the politicians are in the administration committee, and 20% are in the teaching committee.
[CAT Question Paper 2018]
Q1. Based on the given information, which of the following statements MUST be FALSE?
The size of the research committee is less than the size of the administration committee
In the teaching committee the number of educationalists is equal to the number of politicians
The size of the research committee is less than the size of the teaching committee
In the administration committee the number of bureaucrats is equal to the number of educationalists
Solution: (3)
No of Bureaucrats in teaching = No of Bureaucrats in Research = 75% of No of Bureaucracy in Administrative
So, No of Bureaucrats in Research: No of Bureaucrats in teaching: No of Bureaucrats in Administrative = 3: 3: 4
No of Politicians in administration = 60% of total politicians
No of Politicians in teaching = 20% of total politicians
No of Politicians in research = 20% of total politicians
No of politicians in Research: No of politicians in teaching: No of politicians in Administration = 1: 1: 3
Research | Teaching | Administrative | Total | |
Bureaucrats | 3x | 3x | 4x | 10x |
Politicians | Y | y | 3y | 5y |
Educationalist |
Possible values for the number of bureaucrats is 10, 20, 30….
(30 is not possible since total number of persons are 24 and 20 is not possible since in each committee there must be 1 politicians and 1 educationalist which will be 6 members at least, so the total will become more than 20)
From here we can say
Research | Teaching | Administrative | Total | |
Bureaucrats | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Possible values for number of Politicians is 5, 10 (Not more than 10 since 10 bureaucrats are there)
If politicians were 10 then the number of educationalists will be 4 which cannot be distributed according to the condition (point 2) given.
So, the number of Politicians = 5.
Research | Teaching | Administrative | Total | |
Bureaucrats | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Politicians | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Educationalists | 9 |
According to point (2) given in the question;
Educationalists in research are average of that in the remaining two committees.
Also, The number of educationalists in the teaching committee is less than the number of educationalists in the research committee.
According to this number of educationalists in Research = 3 (Average of 6)
In teaching, educationalists will be either 2 or 1. So,
Research | Teaching | Administrative | Total | |
Bureaucrats | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
Politicians | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
Educationalist | 3 | 1 or 2 | 5 or 4 | 9 |
Total | 7 | 5 or 6 | 12 or 11 | 24 |
Option 3 is certainly false. Option 2 and option 3 can be true or false.
So, the answer will be (3)
Q2. What is the number of bureaucrats in the administration committee? [TITA - CAT question paper]
Ans: 4
See solution of Q1.
Q3. Which of the following CANNOT be determined uniquely based on the given information?
The total number of bureaucrats in the three committees
The size of the research committee
The size of the teaching committee
The total number of educationalists in the three committees
Ans: (3)
Since two possibilities are there.
Prerequisite:
To Prepare Data Interpretation (Caselet) for the CAT 2024, students must learn
Percentage (Basic)
Observational Skills
Profit and Loss (Basic)
Simple Interest (Basic)
Tips to Prepare DI (Caselet) for CAT Preparation
Convert Caselet into tables or other simpler forms of data representation.
Use notations for names of things, people or places while solving the question.
Solve small calculations mentally.
Not down the important points separately.
References to Study (Theory):
LRDI for CAT and GMAT by Nishit K Sinha.
‘Feel Free to Learn’ (YouTube Channel)
References to Study (Practice):
https://www.mockat.com/ (free Mock Test)
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
CAT previous year papers
Part-3: CAT VARC preparation of prepositions
Topic: Prepositions and its Uses
Prepositions are one of the entities in English grammar to define the relation between nouns and pronouns along with an object to form a meaningful sentence.
Basic Prepositions: Prepositions that indicate time, direction, location etc.
Example: in, at, on, under, since, over, off, etc
Prepositions using participles: These can be made using ‘ed, ing’ etc.
Example: during, regarding
Phrase Prepositions: It defines the connection of an object with the object modifier.
Example: after dawn, etc
Practice Questions on prepositions to prepare for CAT Exam/ CAT VARC questions
Direction: Choose the correct preposition
Q1. What is the time __ your watch?
In
By
On
At
Ans. B
Q2. I will meet you __ airport/ bus station/ railway station.
At
In
Besides
Nearby
Ans. a
Q3. He entered __ the room.
Into
onto
in
No preposition required
Ans. d
Q4. The car was parked__ the shade of a tree.
Under
On
In
No preposition required
Ans. c
Q5. I have worked in academics __ 6 years.
For
Since
Of
From
Ans. A
Prerequisite to prepare for CAT VARC questions ( CAT VARC preparation of prepositions) :
Basic Knowledge of Sentence Structure.
Basic Knowledge of Phrases.
Tips to Prepare Prepositions and its Uses for CAT 2024
Give special attention to confusing prepositions like beside, besides, etc.
Develop the habit of reading so that one can become aware of word collocation. For example- scared of, aware of, etc
Practice error-based questions daily.
Read newspapers so that you will get more clarity about the uses of prepositions.
References to Study (Theory) for CAT preparation:
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT by Meenakshi Upadhyay and Arun Sharma (9th Edition)
engvid.com (You Channel)
References to Study for CAT exam preparation (Practice)
engvid.com (Web)
Oxford Practice Grammar (sixth edition)
We will be back with the Day-8 strategy tomorrow. Stay focused and keep practicing.
Free PDFs for CAT Preparation 2024
CAT 2023 Official Question Paper and Answer Key (Slot 1) | |
CAT 2023 Official Question Paper and Answer Key (Slot 3) |
Thank You
All the best.
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Yes, you can pursue an MBA at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, through the CAT exam.
Eligibility Criteria:
-
Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university.
-
Entrance Exam: A valid CAT score is required for admission.
Admission Process:
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Application: Register online through the BBAU admission portal.
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Entrance Exam: Appear for the CAT exam and obtain a valid score.
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Counseling: Shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling based on their CAT scores.
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Document Verification: Submit necessary documents for verification.
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Fee Payment: Complete the fee payment to confirm admission.
Course Details:
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Duration: 2 years (full-time).
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Specializations: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, among others.
Placement Opportunities:
BBAU has a strong placement record, with top companies recruiting MBA graduates.
For more details and to apply, visit the official BBAU MBA admission page
Hello Amgothu
With 305 marks in ICAR PG and being from ST category, your chances of getting an AIEEA (CAT) seat is good, especially in plant sciences and less competitive subjects
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
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