IBPS PO is one of the most sought after exams in India. According to the tentative calendar, IBPS is going to conduct prelims exam in the month of October. IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude is one section where most of the aspirants score well. Hence, it is essential to outscore most aspirants to get yourself through the competitive process.
The question that nags the aspirants now is how to prepare for IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude. Online preparation for IBPS PO will be useful in helping aspirants prepare for the exam. In the prelims exam, the quantitative aptitude section contains 35 questions. Practice as many questions from the previous year papers of IBPS PO to know about the questions asked in this exam.
To solve the questions, it is not always necessary to do them conventionally. In this blog, let us see some tricks to solve problems fast. Deploy the tricks in IBPS PO mock tests so that you feel confident about using them in the actual exam.
Tricks to crack IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude:
1.Use approximation:
As IBPS provides options, it is not mandatory to calculate values to the decimal point. Approximate the calculations such that accuracy is not compromised.
Eg) We can approximate 699/896 to 70/90. Now, since we are decreasing the numerator and increasing the denominator, the actual value will be slightly greater than 7/9.
2.Eliminate options:
In certain questions, we can arrive at the answer just by eliminating the options. Options provide a hint about how to solve the problem. Use them wisely.
Eg) A shopkeeper provides consecutive discounts of 10%,20% and 10% on a piece of cloth. What is the ratio of final selling price to initial selling price?
A)648:1000
B)1000:648
C)824:1000
D)1000:824
The final selling price must be less than the initial selling price as the shopkeeper offers discounts. This directly eliminates options B and D. Option C is 824:1000. But, the shopkeeper offers a discount of 20% in the second step and this alone will bring the price to 800.
Hence, we can eliminate option C. Option A is the right answer.
3.Exploit low hanging fruits:
Topics like quadratic equations in IBPS banking exam, approximation and Data interpretation in IBPS PO are easier targets as compared to individual questions (concept based). Solve these questions within 15 to 20 minutes. You would have comfortably crossed the sectional cutoff for this section.
Continue with number series questions only if you can get a hint of the logic used within 15 seconds. Else, move on to miscellaneous problems.
It is essential to have a strong test taking strategy based on your strengths on the exam day.
4.Substitute options:
In certain problems, when your solution gets clumsy, try to substitute the options. This will help you save an enormous amount of time.
Eg) A rectangular wall of sides ‘x’ m and ‘x-6’ m is to be painted. The cost of painting the wall per square meter is Rs. 6. If the total cost of painting the wall is Rs. 96, find the length of the longer side of the rectangle.
A) 8
B) 7
C) 9
D) 11
We know that cost of painting = area to be painted* cost per area
6*X(X-6) = 96
X(X-6) = 16
X^2 – 6X – 16 = 0
(X-8)(X+2)=0 => X = 8 or -2 (not possible)
X = 8
Instead of solving the conventional way, we can just substitute options in the equation X(X-6) = 16. The option that satisfies the equation will be the right answer.
5.Skip questions:
Don’t get into a tussle with the question. If you have spent more than a minute on a single question and have gotten nowhere, then it is time to move on. There are plenty of choices to choose from.
In DI sets, there will be certain speed breakers which will require the reconstruction of the entire table. Skip those questions. You do not have any obligation to solve every question in a set. Your motive must be to maximise your scores within the limited time frame available in the IBPS PO Quantitative Aptitude section.
| Take a free Mock for IBPS PO (in the latest pattern) |
6.Be thorough with commonly used values:
Try to memorise squares of numbers till 30, cubes of numbers till 20. Also, be thorough with fraction to decimal conversions and vice versa. This will greatly help you in improving the calculation speed.
Eg) 18^3 – 17^3 + 16^3 = ?
A person who knows the values of squares and cubes can solve this question in 20 seconds whereas it will take at least a minute for a person who doesn’t know them. Every second saved counts in the exam.
Aspirants can read 7 important IBPS PO maths tricks to improve their calculation speed. Also learn about how to solve data sufficiency questions for IBPS PO exam. Prepare for General Knowledge for IBPS PO to crack mains exam.
Thanks