CAT Preparation 2024: How to Approach Quantitative Aptitude Section

Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT exam can be seen as a combination of Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. Maximum questions are asked from these three topics. Here's expert advice on how to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2024. By Deekshant Sehrawat

CAT Quant preparation requires sharp memory, deep understanding and a lot of practice. Candidates planning to appear for CAT 2024 must have already started off with the preparations. CAT 2024 will be held on November 24, 2024. So, here is some advice on how to make the best use your time till the CAT exam day. In this article, I'll share some micro-level CAT preparation tips for Quantitative Aptitude. 

As CAT exam 2024 will get closer, the value of every single day and every single hour being invested will go up drastically. Having a clear plan of action will certainly enable you to make better use of the time, and also increase the chances of deriving far better returns on this invested time.

Since the CAT question paper has Quantitative Aptitude as the third section, it will appear the last in the exam. Good part is that now CAT Quantitative Aptitude section has only 22 questions to be solved in 40 minutes. Ensuring a good start to CAT will help you feel more confident in solving the first two sections.

Let’s Start With Your Strategy for CAT Quant Preparation

Let’s assume that you intend to invest around 100 hours (this number could differ for different students and the rest of the things will proportionately alter) of your CAT preparation time in the QA section between now and the CAT 2024 exam day. This excludes the hours spent in your classroom coaching, CAT mock tests and their analyses. This simply is the time you spend by yourself on improving the various topics in the specific section – Quantitative Aptitude.

Also read:

• 6 strategies for quant preparation
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Topic-Wise Break Up of Quantitative Aptitude Section of CAT

CAT Quantitative Aptitude section can be seen as a combination of Arithmetic (excluding Number Systems, which can also be seen as a separate entity), Algebra and Geometry. An indicative breakup among the four areas could be as follows:

But the above assumes an equal proficiency across all four areas, which is unlikely to be true for most of you. Hence, you can possibly take away around 10 hours from two of your strongest areas and invest them in one/two of your weakest area(s) among the four. So, if you are weak in Arithmetic, just about average in Number Systems, strong in Geometry, and very strong in Algebra, the break-up could be tweaked to look something like:

Number of Hours to Spend on CAT Quantitative Aptitude Topics

You can check the table below for estimated time taken for each topic of CAT quantitative aptitude. You can make a time table for quant preparation on the basis of this estimation. This can be a reference point and you should adjust the timing depending on your weak and strong areas. 

Also Read:

• Section wise CAT Syllabus
• Latest CAT Exam Pattern
• CAT Books and Study Material

This is just an example of how best to plan your time investment in CAT preparation. It is also advisable not to use the entire quota for any specific area in one go and use the same in tranches. For example, you could break the total time into roughly three phases, using around one-third of the allotted hours in each while moving across areas in sequence and then return to the first one again and so on. This will ensure that you stay in touch with all the areas through to the end. A smart way also would be to keep the last iteration for revision. Alternatively, you could account for that in your overall time and keep 15 per cent of total hours as blocked for revision at the end. In that case, you can plan for only 85 per cent of the time in that section in the manner suggested above.

The general tendency is to do more in areas that you are already comfortable in. If you are more interested in Arithmetic, for example, chances are you will spend more time on it, despite being relatively better placed in it. On the other hand, you will keep avoiding areas/topics that you are relatively weaker in (and they are also likely to be the ones you are less interested in). Proceeding in that way, you will never improve in areas that you really need to improve in.

It is also argued by some that you should invest more in your strengths to make them stronger. But the point is that if you are already at say 90 (on a scale of 100) in a given area/topic, there is no point in investing more time. You simply need to do more questions that are in the top 10 per cent. Practicing more questions at levels lower than 90 in that area/topic will be a waste of time.

Within each of the four areas also, you should spend more time on topics you are weaker in, and less time on topics you are stronger in – doing questions only at levels higher than your current levels. This approach will enable you to derive maximum output from your time/efforts invested in the preparation. Having a clear idea of the time you need to invest in each topic in CAT Quantitative Aptitude in front of you will also ensure urgency apart from pushing you to be more consistent in your efforts.

How to identify and be able to spend that time according to your needs, is where your coaching/mentors/guidance needs to adapt to your needs! Increasingly, across all levels of education, one-size-fits-all approach is being abandoned for its inefficiency and ineffectiveness. 

Rigidness is passé. Plan your CAT 2024 preparation according to your needs. For any given level of ability and preparation, how well you adapt your preparation and invest your time according to your own specific needs will decide how superior a return are you able to achieve.

About the Author

Deekshant Sehrawat is a man of many facets. An IIT Delhi, IIM Calcutta alumnus Deekshant, is the founder of a top MBA preparation online coaching. Deekshant is also a lyricist and has co-authored a number of songs with Dr. Palash Sen, lead singer of Hindi rock band Euphoria.

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