Here is the tentative pattern of quant for CAT 2023:
Section |
Detail |
Total Questions for QA |
22 |
Total Time Allotted |
40 minutes |
Multiple-choice Questions |
14 |
Type in the Answer (TITA) questions |
8 |
Marking Scheme |
+3 for a right answer |
Main Topics |
Arithmetic, algebra, coordinate geometry, trigonometry, probability, modern math, etc. |
Click here for the full syllabus
Worry not! This article will carry details on the Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by establishing a process for QA preparation for CAT.
The topics covered in the Quantitative Aptitude syllabus is not clearly defined in the syllabus due to which the students are always confused about how to prepare for the Quantitative Aptitude for CAT (QA) section. However, some analysis on the previous year's papers yielded the information that every year, Numbers and Geometry & Mensuration generally account for the highest number of questions in the form of almost 10-12 questions.
Geometry and Mensuration formulae are quite intensive in number which is one of the reasons that many students find this section tough. Without the formulae and the tricks, solving these questions could take a very long time. In order to help the students how to prepare for the Quantitative Aptitude for CAT (QA) section, here are some tips to keep in mind:
For geometry, the various theorems are difficult to remember and this makes solving some of these questions very difficult. There are questions where knowing the right theorem could solve the question within 15 seconds while the conventional methods may exceed a couple of minutes.
Alligations and Mixtures are a topic that can be tested in conjunction with other topics, such as profit and loss, or through stand-alone questions. The basic concept of this topic is that it consists of two or more materials/items being mixed and the questions are usually framed to ask how much of each should be added to a mixture in order to reach a particular ratio. Profit and Loss can be added to this question by mentioning the cost of each material and the cost of the alloy.
Sequence and Series is a topic that covers three basic topics: Arithmetic Progression, Geometric Progression, and Harmonic Progression. These topics, like Alligation and Mixture, can be stand-alone questions or may be mixed with other topics, although that is quite rare.
Trigonometry is an auxiliary topic that is used in geometry, time, speed, and distance and as a standalone topic. The basic formulae for trigonometry should be at every CAT student's fingertips as it can be used quite a lot.
These are some of the topics that carry significant weight in the Quantitative Aptitude section. Some general tips on how to prepare for the QA section are:
For candidates who wish to study by themselves or require extra reading material to establish their grasp on the section of QA for CAT, here are a few books to guide you on the way-
How to plan QA preparation for CAT was once one of the biggest questions that aspirants needed to answer before they could think about giving the exam. However today, we have several resources available online to start our preparation right away. Still, the competitiveness of classroom coaching in QA classes is difficult to compete with as it is the most level field between the aspirants while VA and DILR favor those who might have a natural knack for it.