CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2024: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most competitive and challenging exams for MBA aspirants in India. On top of that, the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section is highly important. It tests your mathematical, problem-solving, and logical reasoning skills.
Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry are one of the CAT important topics. Questions from these topics keep appearing every year.
To get a more better understanding, checking with the CAT Quant topic-wise weightage will help you understand even better. This will help you understand the number and type of questions asked across the years. The following table will help you know the topics of quant that are being asked in the actual exam.
Arithmetic | Algebra | Modern Maths | Geometry |
Averages | Maxima and Minima | Venn Diagram | Circles |
Ratios and Proportion | Linear Equations | Factors and Multiples | Coordinate Geometry |
Percentages | Quadratic Equations | HCF and LCM | Mensuration (2D & 3D) |
SI and CI | Inequalities | Remainders | Polygons |
Profit and Loss | Arithmetic Progression | Base Systems | Quadrilaterals |
Mixture & Alligation | Geometric Progression | Permutations and Combinations | Triangles |
Time and Work, Pipes & Cisterns, | Functions and Graphs | Probability | Trigonometry |
Time, Speed, Distance | Logarithms | Sequence and Series | Lines and Angles |
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Based on the weightage and CAT Quantitative difficulty level of topics, we have prepared an order in which you can finish your syllabus one after the other, these 3 topics will cover 90% of the CAT quant syllabus.
Recommendations: Choosing the right resources and CAT study material is crucial for effective preparation. Here's a list of highly recommended and widely popular books for CAT Quant Syllabus self-preparation.
Apart from the books mentioned above, you can also refer to free YouTube videos CAT 2023 toppers highly recommend.
Number of Quants Questions for Daily Practice
- In the first half of your preparation journey, it is recommended to solve at least 30 to 40 CAT Quant questions daily. However, during the last phase of the preparation, it is recommended to solve at least 45 to 50 quants questions everyday.
Having said that, it is important to note that the number of questions one needs to solve everyday is not set in stone. Moreover, you can adjust that as per your level too.
Section | Number of Questions | Marks Per Question | Negative Marking (Only for MCQs) |
VARC | 24 | 3 | -1 |
DILR | 20 | 3 | -1 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 3 | -1 |
Total | 66 | 198 |
The difficulty level of CAT Quantitative Aptitude questions is generally moderate to high. This section is often referred to as the most challenging after the DILR section. The application of the most fundamental mathematical ideas that were taught to us in high school forms the foundation of this entire section. However, students may find it more difficult to think coherently due to the format of the questions and the shortened time restriction. To score 40 or above on the quantitative aptitude test, a great deal of strategic preparation with appropriate questions is required.
The CAT exam is known to add some or the other surprise element in the exam every year. Moreover, the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) is a section that is usually moderately difficult in the CAT. However, having said that, IIM Calcutta will be conducting the CAT this year in 2024. IIM Calcutta is known for setting highly difficult Quant questions in CAT. So, it will be better to sharpen your axe at the earliest. It is imprtant to keep in mind that if the QA section is difficult, the cut offs will also be lower comparatively.
In order to get a 99 percentile plus in your Quantitative Ability section, you should solve at least 16 questions correctly in that section.
A score anywhere between 104 to 108 is considered as a good score in the QA section of the CAT. A score of 120 plus will take you to the top 10 percent candidates.
CAT preparation usually takes 6 months minimum. However, a lot of CAT toppers are still able to finish all the CAT preparation and syllabus within just 3 months with strategic planning, focused attention, and discipline.
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