How to Ace CAT QA in 100 Days Focus on Arithmetic, Algebra & Geometry

Preparing for the CAT Quantitative Ability (QA) section can be daunting, but with the right approach, you can make remarkable progress in just 100 days. The key is to focus on Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry — three topic clusters that dominate the CAT QA syllabus and consistently appear in the exam. Structuring your preparation into clear phases will help you cover the syllabus systematically, improve accuracy, and build test-day confidence.

Phase 1 (Days 1–30) – Foundation Building:

The first month is about building a strong conceptual base. Start with Arithmetic, the largest contributor to QA, covering Percentages, Ratios, Time-Speed-Distance, Time-Work, and Mixtures. Alongside theory, solve at least 15 problems per topic daily and practice mental calculations to boost speed. Once you have a grip on Arithmetic, move to Algebra, including Linear and Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Progressions, and Functions. Since CAT often presents Algebra in application-heavy ways, focus on understanding the logic behind each concept. As soon as you finish a topic, immediately solve all previous year CAT questions from that topic to get used to real exam difficulty and style. By the end of this phase, aim to have completed 70–80% of Arithmetic and Algebra, reinforced by weekly mini-section tests.

Phase 2 (Days 31–70) – Geometry & Mixed Practice:

In the next 40 days, finish any pending topics from Arithmetic and Algebra, then turn to Geometry and Mensuration. Cover Lines and Angles, Triangles (especially similarity and congruence), Circles, Polygons, and 3D solids. Geometry in CAT is highly application-based, so understand theorems and their uses rather than memorizing them blindly. Continue the topic-wise PYQ practice — once you finish each subtopic in Geometry, solve all its past CAT questions. At this stage, start mixing Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry in your practice and attempt 40-minute sectional tests every few days to simulate time-pressured decision-making.

Phase 3 (Days 71–100) – Mocks, Revision & PYQ Re-attempts:

The final month is about exam simulation and refinement. Take at least two full-length CAT mock tests every week, followed by detailed error analysis. Use the last three weeks for targeted revision: Week 11 for Arithmetic, Week 12 for Algebra, and Week 13 for Geometry. Revisit all previous year questions from your mistake log to ensure you’ve mastered concepts you struggled with earlier.

Following this phased 100-day plan — combined with systematic topic-wise PYQ solving — will give you complete coverage of Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry, and the confidence to turn QA into one of your strongest scoring sections in CAT.