CUET General Test: Quick Quant Tricks for Smarter Preparation

The CUET General Test has become one of the most important examinations for students who aim to enter India’s top universities. Since its introduction, the CUET has tested not just knowledge but also speed, accuracy, and presence of mind.

 

Among all the sections, the Quantitative Aptitude part of the General Test often proves to be the trickiest for aspirants. Many students know the formulas, understand the concepts, and practice the questions, yet they find themselves running short of time during the actual exam. This happens because traditional problem-solving methods are often too slow for a time-bound competitive exam like CUET.

At Career Launcher South Ex, we have observed that students who succeed in Quant are not always those with the deepest theoretical knowledge, but rather those who know the right shortcuts, mental math tricks, and strategic approaches. In this blog, we will break down some of the most effective strategies to tackle CUET Quant, along with sample practice questions that reflect the type of problems you are likely to face. We will also discuss why mental math, Data Interpretation skills, and time-saving strategies are absolutely essential for CUET preparation.

Why Quantitative Aptitude Feels Challenging in CUET

Before we dive into shortcuts, let’s first understand why students often find Quant tough:

1. Time pressure: Even if you know the concept, detailed calculations eat into your limited time.
2. Stress factor: Under exam pressure, mental blocks are common, making simple sums seem complicated.
3. Calculation mistakes: Long methods increase the chances of silly mistakes.
4. Overthinking: Many students spend more time analyzing questions than solving them.

The good news is that most of these challenges can be solved by adopting a smarter approach to Quant. Instead of focusing on solving questions the way you do in school exams, you need to develop methods tailored for competitive exams.

Mental Math Shortcuts for CUET Quant

Mental math is one of the most powerful skills an aspirant can build. It not only saves time but also boosts confidence because you know you can handle numbers quickly without paper-and-pen calculations every time.

Squaring Numbers Near 100

If you need to square numbers close to 100, use this trick. Example: 1032103^21032 Take the difference from 100, which is +3. Add this difference to the number: 103 + 3 = 106. Then multiply the difference with itself: 3 × 3 = 9. The answer becomes 10609.

Multiplying by 5

Divide the number by 2, then add a zero if the number is even, or .5 if odd. Example: 64 × 5 = 320; 47 × 5 = 235.

Divisibility Rules

Divisibility rules help you eliminate wrong options quickly:

• A number divisible by 2 ends in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8.
• Divisible by 3 if the sum of digits is divisible by 3.
• Divisible by 9 if the sum of digits is divisible by 9.
• Divisible by 11 if the difference between sums of odd and even digits is a multiple of 11.

Percentage to Fraction Conversion

Learning quick conversions helps in Data Interpretation and profit-loss problems.

• 50% = 1/2
• 25% = 1/4
• 20% = 1/5
• 12.5% = 1/8 Instead of calculating 12.5% of 160, simply take 160 ÷ 8 = 20.

Data Interpretation Made Simple

Data Interpretation (DI) is another major part of CUET Quant. It involves reading charts, graphs, or tables and answering questions. The trap here is that students spend too much time trying to process all the data instead of focusing on the actual questions.

Tips to Crack DI Quickly

1. Scan before solving: Look at the questions before going deep into the data. That way, you know what exactly to extract.
2. Approximate when possible: For percentage comparisons, round off to the nearest number to save time.
3. Use ratios smartly: Many DI questions revolve around ratios. Mastering quick ratio simplifications saves minutes.
4. Avoid unnecessary calculations: Sometimes options are far apart, and a rough estimate is enough to pick the right one.

Time-Saving Strategies

Skip and Return

If a question looks lengthy, do not panic. Skip it and come back if time allows. Every question carries equal weight, so do not waste precious minutes on one tricky problem.

Back-Solve from Options

Sometimes, substituting options into the question is quicker than solving traditionally. Especially for algebra or percentage-based problems, this can save time.

Group Practice

Practicing sets of similar problems builds rhythm. For example, solve ten ratio-proportion questions in one sitting. This improves speed and develops a pattern-recognition ability.

Sample CUET Quant Questions

Here are a few sample CUET-style questions for practice. Try to solve them using the tricks explained above.

Q1. The average of five consecutive numbers is 27. What is the largest number?

Q2. A shopkeeper marks an item 20% above cost price and gives a discount of 10%. What is his profit percentage?

Q3. In a class, the ratio of boys to girls is 3:2. If there are 45 boys, how many girls are there?

Q4. A data set shows the number of books sold in five months: 120, 150, 180, 140, 110. What is the average number of books sold?

Q5. A train runs at 60 km/h and covers a distance in 4 hours. What distance did it travel?

Q6. If 40% of a number is 72, what is the number?

Q7. A person saves 25% of his income. If his income is 20,000, what are his savings?

Q8. Find the compound interest on 10,000 at 10% per annum for 2 years.

Q9. The sum of two numbers is 45, and their difference is 9. Find the numbers.

Q10. A chart shows that 30% of students prefer science, 25% prefer commerce, and the rest prefer humanities. If there are 200 students, how many prefer humanities?

Why Practice with Smart Tricks Matters

Solving these questions using lengthy formulas might take 10–12 minutes, but using mental math and back-solving techniques, you can easily finish them in 5 minutes or less. This is the difference between finishing the paper with confidence and leaving questions unanswered due to time shortage.

At Career Launcher South Ex, our faculty focuses on these very techniques. We teach you not only the concepts but also the shortcuts, exam strategies, and test-taking mindset that help you maximize your score in the CUET General Test.

The Bigger Picture: Beyond CUET

While CUET is a crucial exam for university admissions, many students also prepare for other entrance exams like CLAT coaching, CAT coaching, and IPM coaching. Interestingly, the quantitative skills you build for CUET will also benefit you in these other exams.

• CLAT: Although primarily focused on legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and English, CLAT often requires sharp analytical skills that overlap with Quant strategies.
• CAT: The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is at a higher difficulty level, but the same mental math tricks form the foundation for speed.
• IPM (Integrated Program in Management): IPM aspirants need strong quantitative ability, and CUET preparation builds an early foundation.

Thus, working on Quant for CUET creates a strong skill base for multiple competitive exams.

How Career Launcher South Ex Helps Aspirants

Career Launcher South Ex has consistently produced top results in CUET, CLAT, CAT, and IPM. Our structured classroom programs are designed to teach not just concepts but also application. Here is how we prepare students:

1. Concept Clarity: Every topic is taught from basics to advanced levels so that students at all learning stages can keep pace.
2. Shortcut Techniques: Special focus on mental math, approximation, and option-based solving.
3. Regular Practice: Topic-wise assignments and mock tests help students build speed and accuracy.
4. Doubt-Solving Sessions: Faculty members ensure that no student is left behind.
5. Performance Analysis: Regular tests with analysis show where you stand and how to improve.

Whether you are aiming for CUET, CLAT, CAT, or IPM, Career Launcher South Ex is the right place to start your journey.

Final Word

Cracking the CUET General Test is not about memorizing hundreds of formulas—it is about solving questions in the smartest possible way. With mental math shortcuts, Data Interpretation strategies, and disciplined practice, you can drastically improve your speed and accuracy.

The journey to success becomes smoother when you have the right guidance. At Career Launcher South Ex, we specialize in preparing students not only for CUET but also for CLAT, CAT, and IPM. With years of proven success, dedicated faculty, and a results-driven approach, we help you turn your academic goals into reality.

If you are serious about your future, now is the time to act. Don’t wait until the exam is around the corner. Build your skills, learn the right strategies, and prepare with the experts.

Enroll at Career Launcher South Ex today and take the first step toward your dream university or B-school.