How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability?

How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability? - For CAT candidates one of the most challenging/difficult tasks is to prepare for the quantitative ability section. Most of the CAT toppers consider the QA section as one of the most unpredictable and time-consuming as well. Especially the candidates who are from a non-engineering educational background face a tough time practising and solving the quantitative ability section questions. Hence, at the time of preparation, candidates lookout for major CAT quantitative aptitude tips to solve questions easily and effectively. Although IIMs will not prescribe any official CAT 2020 syllabus. On the basis of past year question papers, expert suggestions and CAT toppers, candidates need to understand the foremost things that the quantitative ability section of CAT is not torment. All candidates need to know the tips that can flip the page and bring new differences to the overall preparation. With effective CAT quantitative aptitude tips, preparing for CAT 2020 can be a lot more effective. Careers360 brings to you what QA is all about? Major topics covered in the QA section of CAT 2020, preparation tips on how to prepare for CAT quantitative ability and much more.
Latest- Know about CAT Mock Test 2020. Candidates can download CAT 2020 admit card from October 28.

As the CAT 2020 exam will have a sectional limit of 40 minutes each, it is important for candidates to strategically attempt each section of the test for getting an overall good percentile.

What is Quantitative Ability?

The quantitative ability section of CAT 2020 aims to test three things. Numerical ability, mathematical skills as well as problem-solving skills. The quantitative ability or aptitude section is one of the core parts that are part of almost all MBA entrance exams. In general, the questions in the quantitative ability section of the CAT are related to elementary mathematics. Candidates to score good marks and fall within the cutoff of CAT 2020 need to be completely acquainted with the fundamental concepts of solving questions. As per the exam pattern of CAT 2020, the quantitative ability is a separate section and will have 60 minutes of sectional timing to solve the related questions.

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CAT Syllabus 2020

How to Prepare for CAT 2020 in 6 months

Major Topics Covered Under CAT Quantitative Ability

How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT 2019 Toppers, Lakshya, who has made his way to IIM Calcutta says on how to prepare for CAT quantitative aptitude. Lakshya said that his approach was to practice a lot of basic arithmetic questions like percentage, profit and loss. Along with that geometry and number system have been the key areas of focus for the CAT exam for him”. Given below are the major tips from experts and toppers which can be checked by candidates who are preparing for CAT 2020. Given below are the major strategies which, if followed will give fruitful results in CAT 2020:

• Plan Preparation Schedule

• Start With The Basics

• Work on Shortcut Techniques

• Focus on Weak Areas

• Practice with sectional time

• Solve Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers

Let us look at each point one by one -

Plan Preparation Schedule

To start any preparation, it is vital that candidates must make a clear cut time table. Try to devote 3 hours to the QA section. Start with the basics, follow the time strictly and then practice what you prepare. Check out the previous year question papers of CAT to know which topics are covered under the quantitative ability section. Do not make a monthly planner as it may be difficult to follow initially. Start with a weekly planner on how to prepare for quantitative ability and break it into a daily strategy.

Start With The Basics

Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”. Candidates who are preparing for CAT need to first focus on the basic level questions instead of wasting time on complex topics.

Once the conceptual clarity of each topic is there, candidates must start practising and solving more and more questions. Solving simple examples at first and then gradually moving towards the difficult questions would be helpful. As per the CAT 2020 important dates, the exam will be held on November 29, candidates should try to give a good amount of time on clearing their concepts.

The key to success in the QA section is getting your concepts. Candidates who are preparing for CAT without coaching can make online study groups with like-minded people and put up their queries to find basic concepts clearly. Rahul Gupta, who secured 100 percentile in CAT 2019 shares that he studied the basic theory, number systems, arithmetics and related topics. Two months before the exam he started taking mock tests and used to devote at least four to five hours on the quantitative ability section of CAT. He practised a lot of questions on Geometry. Solving more questions gave him the confidence to respond correctly on the day of the exam and his efforts paid off”.

The Quantitative ability section is about how much time and practice candidates can put in. The more they practice the better the chances of success.

Work on Shortcut Techniques

On how to prepare for the CAT quantitative ability, the very first thing that comes in mind's - How to solve the questions accurately in such a limited time. Hence, in order to focus on time management for CAT 2020, candidates must try to find ways of solving questions in a simplified yet rapid manner. Learn simple methods using real friends or reel environments, or take help from google. It is important to understand and know which formula to apply in which question to solve it accurately and without letting go time.

While preparing and solving questions of the QA section, it is not advisable to attempt too many questions on guesswork due to negative marking.

Focus on Weak Areas

The thumb rule for CAT 2020 in the initial months of practice is to focus on the areas of improvements and overcome the mistakes by more practising. At the time of preparing the QA section, weaker sections must be given due weightage. However, if candidates start their preparation of CAT 2020 in 3 months it is better to focus on main areas rather than spending time on weaknesses.

As per the toppers of CAT 2019, a fairly good score can be obtained by solving even half a number of questions (correctly) in QA.

Practice with Sectional Time

As mentioned above, CAT 2020 will have sectional timing of 60 minutes (1 hour) to answer one section. As a solution to "How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA)," candidates should try to solve the entire section keeping an eye on the time. Better to move ahead of time as having a buffer time of minimum of 5 to 10 minutes will leave room for revision on the exam day.

CAT toppers suggest that candidates should mark important questions and concepts in order to have a quick revision during the final leg. Konreddy Varun who was a CAT topper suggested that in a glance candidates can decide whether the question is doable or not.

Note - For questions of QA section, candidates should follow and stick to the two-minute rule i.e. If a question cannot be solved within two minutes of time duration, it is better to move on to the next one. Solving and practising good amount of questions will give results in the quantitative ability section.

Solve Mock Tests and Previous Year Papers

One of the strategies on how to prepare for CAT quantitative ability is to solve more and more mock test of CAT 2020. To test where they stand initially candidates can go for pre-mocks and get a sight of what to study. While once they are done with the practice and revision, they can go to post-mocks of CAT. To get a command over the QA section, it is better to practice it on a regular basis. Take at least one mock a day as soon as you think CAT 2020 is near. Through CAT mock tests 2020, candidates will encounter variations in questions and this will help them improve themselves.

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CAT Sample Paper 2020

How to Prepare for CAT 2020 in 3 months

Solving CAT Mock Tests will also acquaint candidates with the simulated exam day ambience. IIMs also provide the facility of official mock tests The previous year papers are very useful to analyze the paper pattern and difficulty level of questions.

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Why Take Mock Tests Before CAT 2020

Why, When and How to take CAT Mock Test

With a dedicated amount of preparation, the questions of QA section can be easily solved and admission to the IIMs or any other prestigious B-School other than IIMs is easily acquired.

Best Books on How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability Section:

About CAT 2020

Indian Institute of Management’s conduct CAT every year on a rotational basis. CAT 2020 exam is scheduled to be conducted on November 29 as per the exam dates. The registration of CAT 2020 commenced from August 5, 2020. Interested candidates are requested to first look at the CAT eligibility criteria 2020 and then register themselves.