The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to the world of management for a student in India. The question paper is prepared by the top IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) of the country every year. CAT exam easily creates a niche for itself among the top admission tests of the country’s academia. In this article, you’ll find some CAT Quantitative Aptitude shortcut methods that will be helpful for those preparing for the CAT 2024 exam.
The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) will close the registrations for CAT 2025 for admission to MBA and other management courses for the academic year 2025-26.
If you are looking forward to register for the CAT 2025 for admission to MBA and other management programmes, follow the 6 simple steps given below.
Official Website
Go to the official portal of IIM CAT 2025 at iimcat.ac.in.
New Registration
On the homepage, look for the new registration link and click on it.
Registered Candidate Login
Graduates who have already registered but haven’t filled the application form yet, can directly register through the ‘registered candidate login’ using user ID and password.
Details to Fill
For new registrations, candidates are required to fill the following given points to complete the registration.
Name of Candidate
Note: Candidate name should be entered exactly as it appears in 10th/SSC Certificate.
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)
Email Address
Confirm Email Address
Country
Mobile Number
Code
Confirm Code
Confirm Mobile Number
Candidates will have to generate an OTP by clicking on the generate OTP button. They will be redirected to CAPTCHA to fill and submit. To verify the mobile number, enter the OTP received and click on “Validate the OTP” tab. After validation, you will be able to submit the registration form.
Registered applicants will receive the User ID and Password on the registered email address and or on the registered mobile number. Overseas candidates will receive both User ID and Password on registered email address.
CAPTCHA
Applicants will have to retype the characters displayed in the CAPTCHA box provided. “The CAPTCHA box (as displayed above) is a special set of characters displayed on the screen,” the official notification reads.
Declaration
After filling all the requisite details, candidates must select the “I Agree” checkbox in the Declaration section to enable the submit button. The declaration is for candidates that they are committing to be honest and fair in all their actions and that the information provided in the CAT 2025 Registration Form is correct and true.
“Providing wrong information can lead to the cancellation of your right to appear in the examination or to be considered for the admission process as mandated by the appropriate authority. It is mandatory to agree to the contents in the Declaration to proceed to submit the form,” the notice on the website reads.
CAT Shortcut Tricks: Importance of regular practice
Conclusion
Download Free Practice Questions with Detailed Solutions for CAT Exam - MCQ PDFs
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods
Using quant shortcut methods can increase the chances of getting a good score in the Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT 2024 exam. These CAT Quantitative Aptitude shortcut methods save time by making candidates rely less on the on-screen calculator and long-drawn calculations. In this article you'll find CAT number system shortcut tricks, arithmetic shortcut tricks, algebra shortcut tricks, and shortcut tricks from other CAT QA topics.
So make use of the CAT shortcut methods given in the article and don’t forget to practice questions daily.
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
There are basically 3 sections in CAT Examination, which are:
Section
No. of Q’s
Time
A. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
24
40 min.
B. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
20
40 min.
C. Quantitative Ability
22
40 min.
Total
66
120 min. (2 hr.)
Each correct answer fetches 3 marks. Hence the total marks of the examination are 66 x 3 = 198. To achieve a good score in this section, it is important to solve questions quickly and accurately, and CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods or Shortcut Tricks for CAT Quant 2024 are quite helpful.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude section: An overview
CAT QA Syllabus
The syllabus of CAT exam is only what we have studied in our schools till the tenth standard. However, no specific syllabus exists. But for a better understanding of the CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus, we can refer to the following table:
Arithmetic
1. Percentage (Basics and related questions)
2. Ratios (Basics and related concepts i.e. Proportion and Variation)
3. Averages (Basics and related concepts i.e. Mixtures & Alligation)
4. Profit & Loss
5. Simple and Compound Interest
6. Time, Speed and Distance
(Questions related to Trains, Boats, Circular track etc.)
7. Time & Work
Number System
1. Numbers and their classification i.e. Prime numbers, rational numbers, fractions, integers etc.
2. Divisibility Rule
3. Factorization of Numbers
4. LCM & HCF related questions
Geometry
1. Lines and angles
2. Triangles (area, similarity, congruency etc.)
3. Circles
4. Quadrilaterals (Rectangle, square, trapezium)
5. Mensuration (Area and volume of 2D and 3D figures)
Why are shortcut methods important for the CAT exam?
The Quantitative Aptitude section’s weightage is 66 marks out of a total of 198 marks. For good percentiles, score must be as follows (as per a review of previous exams):
1. Score > 33 = 99+ percentile {Attempts must be at least 14 with high accuracy}
2. Score > 24 = 95+ percentile {Attempts must be at least 10 with high accuracy}
3. Score > 18 = 80+ percentile {Attempts must be at least 7 with high accuracy}
The total time for this section is 40 min., so if the target score is more than 99 percentile, then for each question we get less than 3 min. and if the target score is more than 95 percentiles then we get around 4 min. for each question. In this time, we have to read, understand, and solve the question which is impossible to do without using the right approach and shortcut methods. Let’s understand how we can save time using Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Techniques for CAT Exam:
CAT Number System Shortcut Tricks
Generally, 2-3 questions are asked from this section directly in the CAT Exam, but concepts of the number system are important to solve questions related to other sections i.e. algebra and arithmetic. Some CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods related to the number system are as under:
Divisibility rules
Understanding Divisibility rules is important to know whether any number is divisible by a divisor or we are wasting time in simplification, for ex: N= 37895; N/9; the rule of divisibility of 9 is that if the sum of digits of the dividend (N) is divisible by 9 then the number is also divisible by 9. In this example, sum of digits of N is 3+7+8+9+5 = 32, 32 is not divisible by 9 so there is no need to divide the number.
Let’s understand another shortcut method out of Shortcut Tricks for CAT Quant 2024:
? If ‘abcabc’ / 1001 then ans is ‘abc’. If a number is in the form of ‘abcabc’ then we can say that the number is definitely divisible by 1001 and its factors which are 3,7 & 11.
Ex: N = 325325 / 1001 = 325.
Prime factorization technique
Prime factorization is important while solving questions related to LCM & HCF and basic numbers questions related to the divisibility rule and classification of numbers. Let’s understand a shortcut method out of Shortcut Tricks for CAT Quant 2024:
? While factorization, always break the no. in big numbers.
Ex: N= 240 = 2 x 120 = 2 x 2 x 60 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 30 [ This is time taking]
Or N = 240 = 16 x 15 = 24 x 3 x 5
Simplification techniques
To simplify the calculation while solving questions related to the CAT Exam, simplification by short methods can save a great amount of time, let’s understand this with the help of the following example:
Simplification of fractions or how to cancel out -
M-2 [Take common if possible- it will save time or effort]
25 x 7 (2 x 5 + 4 x1) / 15 x 30 (5 x1 + 2 x 1) = 25 x 7 x 14 / 15 x 30 x 7 = 7/9
(Cancel out as much as possible rather than multiplication, this will make calculation easy)
Squaring and cubing numbers
Vedic Mathematics Tricks are most important to make the calculation part easy. One should learn squares from 1-25 (at least) and cubes from 1-12 (at least) which are helpful to find the squares and cubes of greater numbers. We can understand this from the following general approaches which are out of shortcut methods to find squares and cubes.
Square of 2-digit numbers:
To find the square of a two-digit number you can use the following method which is a general method for all such numbers:
[Note: If there are 2 digits in the second part then the ten’s digit will be added to the first part]
Square of 3-digit numbers:
To find the square of a 3-digit number you can use the following method which is a general method for all such numbers:
N = ‘abc’ [ wherein c-unit digit, b-tens digit and a-hundreds digit]
N2 = a (‘abc’ + ‘bc’) / ‘bc’2
Ex: (i) 3012 = 3(301+1)/ 012 = 3(302)/01 = 906/01
= 90601
Note: [There must be only two digits in the second part, if we get only one digit after squaring then we have to write zero before digit i.e.1 as 01 and if we get more than two digits then we have to add hundreds digit in the first part like following example]
This approach will save time if the numbers are close to multiples of hundred like 301, 407, 119 etc. For different type of numbers, we use different approaches to save time.
CAT Arithmetic Shortcut Tricks
The arithmetic section is basically the combination of three basic concepts (Percentage, Ratio & proportion, Average) and their applications in different ways. In the CAT Exam, out of 22 questions, generally, 8-9 questions are asked from the arithmetic section. The basics of simple equations and calculations are the base for solving arithmetic questions. Following are some shortcut methods related to arithmetic section:
Addition and subtraction shortcuts:
Addition and subtraction are the base of the calculation part. To improve our calculation, we can work over some basic techniques related to addition and subtraction, let’s understand this with the help of some examples (practice these without pen and paper):
Addition Techniques:
If we have to add 8 or 9 in any number, then we can use 8 as 10-2 and 9 as 10-1 because addition of 10 in number is very simple.
Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024
Multiplication is the most used part during calculation, if we can multiply greater numbers easily then we can save time and energy, for this let’s understand a shortcut method for multiplication by using Vedic Maths:
Column II I step1: Multiply column I step 2: cross multiplication
4 2 2 4 2
X 6 3 X3 6 3
----------- -----------
6 (4 x 3) + (6 x 2) + add carry from column 1 if
any = 24 {carry forward 2}
step3: Multiply column II – 4
x 6
------------
24 + add carry from step 2 if any = 24 + 2 = 26
Now start writing result of every step (after removing carry) from step-3 to step-1
= 26/4/6 = 2646 ans.
Division shortcuts
Division is the most hectic part of the calculation. By using some shortcut techniques, we can save effort. For eg: 1/5 = 2/10; 1/25 = 4/100; 1/125 = 8/1000, let’s understand how we can use these fractions:
(i) 523/5 = 523 x 2 / 10 = 1046 / 10 = 104.6
[As we can experience that multiplication of 2 is much easier than division by 5]
(ii) 728 / 25 = 728 x 4 / 100 = 2912 / 100 = 29.12
[As we can experience that multiplication of 4 is much easier than division by 25]
[As we can experience that multiplication of 8 is much easier than division by 125]
Percentage calculations
To solve the percentage questions efficiently by using shorter methods for saving time, focus on the following points:
Learn and practice the ready reference of conversion which are asked frequently, for ex: 25% = ¼, 33.33% = 1/3 (simplest conversion) but for exam like CAT we have to learn some difficult ones for ex: 1/19 = 5.26%, 18.18% = 2/11 etc. [ Don’t worry about these, by proper techniques we can learn these in 1 day but for efficiency we have to keep revising these].
We have to learn 3 concepts
a. Multiplication factor (M.F.)
Ex: A has 200 Rs. And B has 30% more than A, then B = 200 x 1.3 = 260 Rs.
b. Successive % change
c. Reverse percentage comparison.
Time, speed, and distance shortcuts
Time, speed and distance (T.S.D) is basically the application of percentage and ratio (using variation). In this section, most of the questions require shortcut methods and good knowledge of percentages and ratio. Let’s understand this with the help of a shortcut method:
Ex:
Que: If a person drives with the speed of 7 km/hr. from his house to office then he reaches 10 min late but if he starts at the same time from his house with the speed of 8 km./hr. then he reaches to the office 5 min. early. Find the distance between his house and office.
Ans: If we solve it by basic method then it will take around 5-6 min. but with the help of a formula we can solve this within 30 sec.-
Let S1 = 7 km/hr. and S2 = 8 km/hr.; Given: Time difference of both conditions = 15 min. = ¼ hr.
Then D = S1 x S2 x time difference / speed difference = 7 x 8 x 1/ 4 x 1 = 14 km.
Time and Work problem-solving methods
Time and Work is also an application of ratio. In this section, most of the questions are solved by using the LCM method which is a shortcut method for these types of questions which is less time taking than basic arithmetic approach. Let’s understand this with the help of a shortcut method:
Ex: A can do a piece of work in 8 days. B can do the same in 14 days. In how many days can the work be completed if A and B work together?
Solution: TA = 8 days; TB = 14 days
Let total work to be done= LCM (TA, TB) = LCM (8,14) = 56
W = 56 units
A can do = ⁵⁶⁄₈ = 7 units/day
B can do = ⁵⁶⁄₁₄ = 4 units/day then, (A + B) together can do = 11 units per day
So, no. of days taken by (A + B) to complete the same work is = ⁵⁶⁄₁₁ days
CAT Algebra Shortcut Tricks
In Algebra section basically, we deal with variables and their properties. In Quantitative Aptitude section out of 22 questions 7-8 questions are asked from this section. Some CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods related to algebra section are as under:
Simplification of algebraic expressions
To simplify the algebraic equations, you must learn algebraic identities. Let’s understand how to use identities as shortcut methods to solve the questions easily.
Ex: (x2 – 3) (x2 + 3) [ We can use identity to solve that i.e. (a-b) (a+b) = a2 – b2]
= (x4 - 32) = (x4 - 9)
Factorization techniques
A quadratic equation typically takes the form ?2+??+?=0; where a,b,c are constants, and ?≠0. The goal of factorization is to express the quadratic as a product of two linear factors. Let’s understand a shortcut method rather than basic factorization method:
? If, in a quadratic equation ?2+??+?=0, (b/2)2=c then factors are (x + b/2)2= 0.
Ex: ?2+6?+9= 0; we can notice that (b/2)2=c then factors are (?+3)2=0.
Algebraic identities
Algebraic identities are useful to solve not only quadratic questions but also for calculation. Let’s understand this with a simple identity which is (a-b) (a+b) = a2 – b2 .
Ex: 42 x 38 = (40 + 2) (40 – 2) [This method is very useful for solving such multiplication]
= 402 – 22 = 1600 – 4 = 1596
CAT Geometry Shortcut Tricks
Geometry section is basically all about the properties related to different shapes. In Quantitative Aptitude section 3-4 questions are asked out of 22 questions from this section. Some CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods related to geometry are as under:
Pythagorean triplets and their applications
Pythagoras theorem states that, in a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides i.e. H2 = Base2 + Height2.
Pythagorean triplet is a shortcut method out of Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Techniques for CAT Exam where we can find side without using Pythagoras theorem. There are some fix pairs which defines the sides of right-angle triangle i.e. (3,4,5- 5 is hypotenuse and 3,4 are other two sides), (6,8,10), (8,15,17) etc.
[Note: Greatest side in triplets is hypotenuse]
Ex: If base = 15, height = 8 (given), then we can say that hypotenuse = 17 without using Pythagoras theorem
Tricks for solving geometry problems quickly
Geometry questions are lengthy and time-consuming. To solve these questions, we require shortcut methods. Let’s understand a shortcut method out of CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Methods:
Ex: If side of an equilateral triangle ABC is 6 cm. then find the circumradius(R) of triangle ABC.
Solution:
M-1
Formula to find circumradius of a triangle is R= product of sides of triangle / 4x area of triangle
M-2
But we can directly find the circumradius of equilateral triangle with this shortcut:
R = side/ √3 = 6 / √3 = 2 √3 Ans.
CAT Mensuration Shortcut Tricks
Mensuration section is related to area and volumes of 2D and 3D shapes. At least 1 question is asked from this section in all competitive exams including CAT. Let’s understand some basics and Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Techniques for CAT Exam related to this section as under:
Formulas for calculating area and volume of basic shapes
Knowledge of basic formulas is must to solve the questions and to apply shortcut methods properly. Some basic formulas which are used as shortcut methods are as under:
1. Area of parallelogram = Base x Height
Ex: In a parallelogram, base = 10 and height = 6 then area = 10 x 6 = 60
Shortcut methods for complex shapes
Polygons more than 4 sides are considered as complex shapes. Out of polygons, regular hexagon is mostly asked in the CAT Examination. Let’s understand some shortcut formulas to solve problems related to complex shapes:
Ex: If side of a regular hexagon is 8 cm. then find area and circumradius of the shape.
Solution: Area = 3√3 x square of side = 3√3 x 8 = 24√3 square cm.
Circumradius (R) = 2 x side = 2 x 8 = 16 cm.
Surface area and volume calculation tricks
To find the area and volume of 3D shapes is bit lengthy than that of 2D shapes. But the base formula for some 3D shapes are same. For Cube, Cuboid and Cylinder (these shapes come under prism shapes) we can use a general formula to find area and volume which is as under:
Area = Perimeter of Base x Height
Volume = Area of Base x Height
Let’s understand how we can make formulas by using this single formula. In Cylinder, base is circular, let the radius of circular base is r and height of cylinder is h, then:
Area = Perimeter of Base (Circle) x Height = 2πr x h = 2πrh
Volume = Area of Base (Circle) x Height = πr2 x h = πr2h
CAT Trigonometry Shortcut Tricks
Trigonometry is all about measurements related to triangles. Trigonometry is used to find sides using ratios and angles in any polygon by breaking the shape in triangles. Let’s understand some shortcut techniques out of Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Techniques for CAT Exam:
Shortcut methods for trigonometric ratios
To remember the trigonometric ratios is difficult but we can learn that using a shortcut method which we used to learn in tenth class.
Sin θ=P/H; Cos θ=B/H; Tan θ= P/B [ where P=perpendicular, B=base, H=hypotenuse]
To learn this, we can use a quote, “Pandit(P) Badri(B) Prasad(P) /Har(H) Har(H) Bole(B)” = PBP/HHB
sin θ cos θ tan θ
P B P
-----------------------
H H B
These trigonometric ratios and Pythagoras theorem are used to make trigonometric identities i.e. sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1; which are used to solve more questions quickly.
Trigonometric equations solving techniques
To simplify trigonometric equations, we can simply convert any trigonometric ratio in terms of sin θ & cos θ or we can use any other identity:
Ex: If tan θ + sec θ = 3 then find sin θ.
Solution:
M-1 tan θ = sin θ/ cos θ; sec θ = 1/ cos θ
From given equation? sin θ/ cos θ + 1/ cos θ = 3
sin θ. cos θ + 1 = 3 cos θ
Now we can further solve this question by using the basic identity sin2 θ + cos2 θ = 1.
M-2 sec θ - tan θ = 1/ (sec θ + tan θ) [A result derived from identity sec2θ = tan2θ + 1]
Given: sec θ + tan θ = 3 …. Eq-1
So we can say sec θ - tan θ = 1/3 …...Eq-2
Now sin θ can be easily find out by solving both equations
Applications of trigonometry in geometry problems
Trigonometry is used to find sides and angles while solving geometry problems.
Ex: In triangle ABC, side AB= 10cm., BC= 7 cm. if angle B = 30 degree then find area of the triangle.
Solution: Area of the triangle = ½ x AB X BC X Sin B = ½ x10 x7 x sin 30 = ½ x 70 x ½ = 17.5
CAT Shortcut Tricks For Other Topics
Probability shortcuts techniques
Probability is occurrence chances of any event. The most important thing to keep in mind that the value of probability of any event can’t be more than 1 and less than 0.
Probability = Favorable outcomes of any event / Total possible outcomes of the event
Let’s understand some shortcut methods to find total possible outcomes of any event:
1. If n coins are tossed simultaneously then total no. of outcomes = 2n
Ex: If 3 coins are tossed simultaneously then total no. of outcomes = 23 = 8
2. If n dices are rolled simultaneously then total no. of outcomes = 6n
Ex: If 2 dices are rolled simultaneously then total no. of outcomes = 62 = 36
Permutation and combination shortcut techniques
Permutation and combination are somehow base of probability. In this section, we learn about finding all possibilities of any event. Let’s understand some shortcut methods to solve questions related to P & C:
Ex: In how many ways 5 letters can be posted in 3 letter boxes.
Solution:
Here letters have choice to choose in which letter box they will be posted as per address. So, no. of letters is considered as N and no. of letter boxes are considered as R.
So total no. of ways = RN = 35 = 243 ans.
Practice and Application
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Method: Trick to Find the Number of Factors of Any Factorial
To find the number of factors of a factorial, like n!, follow these steps:
Prime Factorization: First, find the prime factorization of n!. For this, you need to determine the highest power of each prime number that divides n!. For a prime p, this power can be calculated using the formula: Highest power of p in n! = (n/p) + (n/p²) + (n/p³) + …, where you stop when p^k > n.
Number of Factors: Once you have the prime factorization of n!, express it in the form p₁a₁ × p₂a₂ × … × pₖaₖ. To find the total number of factors, use the formula: Number of factors = (a₁ + 1) × (a₂ + 1) × … × (aₖ + 1). Here, a₁, a₂, …, aₖ are the powers of the prime factors.
The assumption technique is a method used in quantitative problems, especially in algebra and statistics, to simplify complex problems by making reasonable assumptions. Here’s how to use it:
Identify the Variables: Understand the variables involved in the problem and what you need to find.
Make an Assumption: Choose a reasonable value for one of the variables to simplify calculations. For example, assume a specific value for an unknown or a common value to test the feasibility of different options.
Solve the Simplified Problem: Use the assumed value to solve the problem and derive a solution or pattern. This helps in making the problem more manageable and often leads to insights about the real values.
Validate the Assumption: Check if the solution obtained with the assumption fits all conditions of the problem. Adjust the assumption if necessary and repeat the process.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Shortcut Method: To Find the Squares of Numbers from 30 to 70
For numbers between 30 and 70, you can use the following shortcuts to quickly find their squares:
Use the Formula: For numbers near 50, use the formula: (50 ± d)² = 2500 ± 2 × 50 × d + d². Here, d is the difference from 50. For example, to find 53², use: 53² = (50 + 3)² = 50² + 2 × 50 × 3 + 3² = 2500 + 300 + 9 = 2809.
Break Down Larger Numbers: For numbers further from 50, break them into simpler parts. For instance, to find 68², use: 68² = (70 - 2)² = 70² - 2 × 70 × 2 + 2² = 4900 - 280 + 4 = 4624.
Direct Multiplication: For exact squares, use direct multiplication if you’re comfortable. For example, 34² = 34 × 34 = 1156.
Estimate and Adjust: For quicker estimates, find the nearest base (like 50 or 100), calculate the square, and adjust for the difference.
Using these tricks and techniques will help you tackle problems related to factorials, assumptions, and squares more efficiently.
Percentages: To quickly find 15% of a number, calculate 10% and 5% separately and add them together. For example, 15% of 240 is 24 (10% of 240) + 12 (5% of 240) = 36.
Squaring Numbers Close to 50: For numbers close to 50, use (a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b². For example, to find 48², use (50 - 2)² = 50² - 2 × 50 × 2 + 2² = 2500 - 200 + 4 = 2304.
Multiplying Numbers Close to 100: For numbers like 97 and 98, use (100 - a) × (100 - b) = 10000 - 100(a + b) + ab. So, 97 × 98 = 10000 - 100(97 + 98) + (97 × 98) = 9506.
Percentage Increase/Decrease: To find a percentage increase, use (New Value - Old Value) / Old Value × 100%. For a decrease, the formula is (Old Value - New Value) / Old Value × 100%.
Finding the Average: To quickly find the average of a set of numbers, sum them up and divide by the number of items. For example, the average of 8, 12, and 15 is (8 + 12 + 15) / 3 = 35 / 3 = 11.67.
Simple Interest Calculation: Use the formula SI = (P × R × T) / 100, where P is the principal, R is the rate of interest, and T is the time in years.
Compound Interest Approximation: For compound interest, use the formula A = P × (1 + R/100)ⁿ, where P is the principal, R is the rate, and n is the number of periods. For quick approximation, use 1 + (R/100)ⁿ.
Ratios: To simplify ratios, divide all terms by their greatest common divisor. For example, 30:45 simplifies to 2:3 (since both 30 and 45 can be divided by 15).
Time and Work: If A can complete a job in x days and B in y days, their combined work rate is 1/x + 1/y. For example, if A can finish in 6 days and B in 12 days, their combined rate is 1/6 + 1/12 = 1/4, so they finish in 4 days.
Finding Percentages of Large Numbers: To find 8% of 1250, calculate 10% of 1250 (which is 125), and then subtract 2% (which is 25). Thus, 8% of 1250 = 125 - 25 = 100.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Important Topics
Topics
Time and Work
Interests (SI, CI)
Time, Speed, and Distance
Probability
Geometry & Mensuration
Number System, Basic Arithmetic
Algebra
Permutation & Combination
Profit, loss, and Discounts
Trigonometry, Logarithms, and Sets
CAT Shortcut Tricks: Importance of regular practice
The complexity and intensity of the exam demand a strategic and consistent preparation approach, where regular practice plays a critical role. The CAT exam not only tests your knowledge but also your ability to apply that knowledge quickly and accurately. Frequent practice enables you to increase your speed and improve your accuracy, reducing careless mistakes and enhancing your ability to solve problems under time constraints by using different shortcut methods that you have mastered with regular practice.
Solving previous years' CAT questions using shortcut methods
Solving CAT previous year question papers helps you to understand the type of questions and approach required to solve the questions. If you have the right approach and shortcut methods to solve the questions then a great score can be achieved in the exam. To achieve the desired score and dream IIM, you have to try to learn the shortcut methods as per the requirement of the exam and you have to practice them as much as you can in CAT mock tests and previous year questions.
CAT mock test practice with time management strategies
Through continuous practice, you can identify which types of questions you are strong or weak in, allowing you to develop personalized strategies. For example, deciding which questions to attempt first, and which ones to skip helps in time management. Time management is crucial in the CAT exam since all sections are timed, and you need to balance speed with the thoroughness of your answers. The length of the CAT exam requires mental stamina to maintain focus and concentration throughout the test. Regular practice sessions that mimic the length and intensity of the actual exam can help build this stamina.
Conclusion
To achieve a great score in an exam like the CAT you have to practice the Quantitative Aptitude Tricks & Shortcuts for the CAT exam, multiple times and have to understand the exam pattern so a specific strategy can be made. A smart approach is the key to clear the CAT Exam.
Download Free Practice Questions with Detailed Solutions for CAT Exam - MCQ PDFs
Q: How to practice questions using shortcut methods?
A:
You can start practicing with LOD 1 (Level of Difficulty 1) questions. Once you get comfortable with the methods, move to sample papers and CAT PYQs. Solve a lot of questions from each topic.
Q: What topics are covered in the Quantitative Ability section?
A:
The CAT QA section covers the following topics:
Percentage
Ratios
Averages
Profit & Loss
Simple and Compound Interest
Time, Speed and Distance
Time & Work
Numbers and their classification
LCM & HCF
Lines and angles
Triangles
Circles
Quadrilaterals
Mensuration
Trigonometry
Co-ordinate Geometry
Advance Linear Equations
Quadratic Equations
Inequalities & Modulus
Permutation & Combination
Probability
Q: How many questions are typically in the Quant section, and what is the time limit?
A:
The Quant section has a total of 22 questions with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes.
Q: How should I prepare for the Quant section?
A:
Go through the CAT QA syllabus and understand the exam pattern. Start by revising basic concepts.
Take the help of online or offline tutors if you’re weak in maths. A thorough understanding of basic concepts is necessary.
Practice questions from CAT QA books, sample papers and PYQs regularly.
Don’t forget to revise the concepts that you have studied.
Take mock tests regularly to gauge your performance and analyze the mocks to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Work on weak areas accordingly.
Q: Are CAT shortcut methods reliable?
A:
Yes, if you use shortcut methods correctly then they are reliable. For this, you should practice a lot using shortcut methods to improve your accuracy and speed.
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.
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
In CAT registration, you cannot create a new user ID with the same mobile number, even if you use a different email ID. Each mobile number and email can be linked to only one account. If you already registered once, the system will not accept a duplicate with that number. To register again, you must use a new mobile number and new email ID. If you lost your old login, you can recover it through the forgot password/user ID option on the CAT portal.
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 ?
Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'.
They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared.
They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders.
On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries.
On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :
Question:
Assuming that the next customer's order could only be attended to when the previous customer's order was closed, at what time would the first customer's order be considered closed ?
Six sticks of equal lengths were kept in the vertical position in an empty flower-vase, to be arranged at the six corners of a regular hexagon. The two ends of each of the sticks were of different colours.
The top ends of the sticks were one of each of the following colours – Red, Cyan, Pink, Brown, Black and Green. The bottom ends were one of each of the following colours – Blue, Yellow, White, Orange, Purple and Grey. Both the sets of colours mentioned were in no particular order.
It was also known that :
a) The stick with the red colour was opposite to the stick with the blue colour
b) There were exactly two sticks whose both ends had colours whose names started with the same letter
c) The stick with the grey colour was adjacent to the stick with the white colour
d) The stick with the cyan colour was adjacent to both the sticks with the brown colour and the one with the blue colour
e) The stick with the purple colour was adjacent to both the sticks with the grey colour and the one with the green colour
f) The stick with the white colour was opposite to the stick with the green colour
Question :
What was the colour of the bottom end of the stick having brown colour at the top end ?
Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'.
They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared.
They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders.
On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries.
On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :
Question:
Assuming that the next customer's order could only be attended to when the previous customer's order was closed, at what time would the third customer's order be considered closed ?
Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'.
They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared.
They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders.
On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries.
On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :
Question:
Suppose Moloy and Niloy had decided to process multiple orders at the same time, however strictly prioritising a first come first serve basis, when would the second customer's order be considered closed ?
Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'.
They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared.
They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders.
On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries.
On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :
Question:
Suppose Moloy and Niloy had decided to process multiple orders at the same time, however strictly prioritising a first come first serve basis, when would the third customer's order be considered closed ?
Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'.
They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared.
They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders.
On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries.
On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :
Question:
A fourth customer comes in and orders two plates of French Toast at 6.24 pm. Suppose Moloy and Niloy had decided to process multiple orders at the same time, however strictly prioritising a first come first serve basis. For exactly how many minutes would one of the friends be idle from 6.00 pm till serving the last customer, assuming that the four customers were the only ones to have come in within the period being discussed ?
Two friends Moloy and Niloy passed out from the Purulia Institute of Science and Technology with B.Tech degrees in Mechanical Engineering, but even after a year placement was hard to find. So they decided to take the challenge head-on, came down to Kolkata, rented a garage space on Park Street, and having an affinity towards making people enjoy good food, started their firm named 'B.Tech Bread-Omlette Wala'.
They started with three items on the menu. One was the French Toast which could be prepared in 3 minutes. The second was the Egg Tortillas which took 15 minutes to prepare. Any one of Moloy and Niloy could prepare any one of them at a time. The third was the Egg Bhurji with French Fries. This however was prepared on an automated fryer which could prepare 3 servings at a time and took 5 minutes irrespective of the number of servings equal to or below 3. The fryer did not need anyone to attend to it, and the time to put in the raw ingredients could be neglected. So one could tend to the preparation of other items while the Egg Bhurji with French Fries were being prepared.
They wanted to serve the orders as early as possible after the order was given. The individual items in any order were served as and when all the items were ready, and the order was then considered closed. None of the items on the menu were prepared in advance in anticipation of future orders.
On the first day, 3 groups of customers came in and ordered at 6.00 pm, 6.10 pm, and 6.13 pm. The first order was for a plate of Egg Tortillas, two plates of French Toast, and three plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The second order was for a plate of French Toast and two plates of Egg Bhurji with French Fries. The third order was for a plate of Egg Tortilla and a plate of Egg Bhurji with French Fries.
On the backdrop of the above information answer the questions given :
Question:
Had Niloy been absent on that day, and assuming that the next customer's order could only be attended to when the previous customer's order was closed, at what time would the fourth customer's order (refer to the previous question) be considered closed ?
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 ?
The Jadavpur University’s Prince Anwar Shah Road hostel consists of two large separate buildings, one for the ladies and the other for the gents, while having a common kitchen and dining hall. It is the hostel of the CS and the EEC department of engineering students of the university.
In recognition of the growing dissatisfaction and hence complaints among the inmates of the hostel regarding the menu served for dinner, the Dean of the engineering department, Dr Aparesh Sanyal, personally decided to investigate the matter. He set about collecting information about the preference of dinner among the inmates, separately from the gents and the ladies wing of the hostel.
Dr Sanyal was able to gather the following partial information :
Hostel inmates
Menu preference for dinner
Total
Egg Meal
Fish Meal
Chicken Meal
Gents
20
Ladies
64
Total
60
The Warden of the hostel was consulted, who after investigation declared that the following facts were clear :
1. Forty percent of the hostel inmates were ladies
2. One-third of the gentlemen inmates preferred an egg meal for dinner
3. Half the hostel inmates preferred either fish meal or chicken meal
Question:
What proportion of the lady hostel inmates preferred a fish meal for dinner ?
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
2 Jobs Available
Never miss an CAT update
Get timely CAT updates directly to your inbox. Stay informed!
