How To Approach The QA Section Of The CAT Exam?
Published on 1st November 2024, 9:28 AM
The CAT exam consists of three sections DILR, VARC, and QA. The Quantitative Ability (QA) section of the CAT is the third section and is considered to be one of the most crucial sections and is also the toughest section. However, if you prepare the QA section meticulously, it will also help you to understand the DILR section. Moreover, out of the 66 questions, a total of 22 questions are asked from the QA section. Therefore, one cannot be simply underprepared in this section.
So how can one approach the QA section of the CAT exam? Simply put, the key to excel in your performance in the quantitative aptitude section is not entirely about how well a candidate knows but it's more like how much they can apply in the specific period with the given restrictions of sectional time frame.
How to Score Well in CAT QA Section?
Below we have given some points on how to approach or improve QA section of CAT exam:
> Learn to Solve From One Chapter to Another: Know the difference between being able to decipher a problem and solving a problem smoothly. The best advice is to solve the easy questions first, then work your way up to the medium questions of each chapter, as this will enable you to solve and understand the questions effortlessly. Aspirants can also refer to books from authentic authors, specifically about the QA section.
> Staying Power: The QA section of the CAT is the final section which means candidates would arrive at this part of the question paper in whatever time remaining of the test. So if you do not have enough stamina, you might end up wasting a lot of time on a single question. This is something that one should learn during their CAT preparation journey. Hence, it is important to build stamina as you reach the QA section and give your best performance.
> Memorizing Formulas: While solving the chapters, students are urged to memorize all the formulas and maintain a separate note containing only the formulas. Try solving the questions without peeking at the notes that you have jotted down the formulas. Once you have finished memorizing the formulas, test yourself and try to remember them, and if you are unable to do so, you can learn them again and solve the question again. Keep repeating this, and you will eventually master it.
Also, make sure that you keep the formulas where you can see them every day so that you’ll be able to recall them easily.
> Cultivate a Time Management Tactic: To attain a maximum score in the quant section, an aspirant needs a precise time management tactic. To do so, begin by finding the questions that are uncomplicated and manageable, which you can solve within a short time frame and accurately. This way, it will help you build your confidence. In case you encounter a difficult question. Try not to panic, and don’t spend plenty of time-solving the question. Instead, you can just mark it and move to the next question. If you have enough time, you can always come back later and solve it.
> Hone Your Calculation Skills: In the quant section, the two most important things are speed and accuracy. So to improve your calculation skills, the best strategy is to revise and practice quick methods for common calculations like percentages, square roots, and so on. To be able to solve these questions in a short time will save you time during the exam. Also, pay heed not to commit careless blunders while reading the question. This is especially suitable for questions that involve several steps or formulas.
> Not Skipping Mock Tests: To improve your performance, one should not skip mocks. Take as many mocks as you can and after every mocks, analyze your performance thoroughly. By analyzing your performance, it will help you to know which areas need more improvement. So stay sharp and take multiple mocks. Keep in mind that with each correct answer, you will get +3 marks, and likewise do watch out for the negative marks for an incorrect attempt. To keep up your practice, you can try attempting our free CAT mock tests to ensure your readiness for the upcoming intake.
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Best of Luck!!