The Quantitative Ability (QA) section of the CAT exam is an important part of the exam, testing candidates' mathematical skills and their ability to solve problems under time pressure. With 3 months remaining to CAT 2024, candidates must understand the key areas of this section and form and sharpen their strategies to ace the Quants sections of CAT.
CAT 2024 Quants Overview
Understanding the quant structure of the CAT exam is of high importance to know what to expect from the paper. Following are details of the quant section for CAT 2024.
| Particulars | Details |
| Section Name | Quantitative Ability |
| Total questions | 22 |
| Total MCQ questions | 14 |
| Total Non-MCQ Questions | 8 |
| Total Sectional Timing | 40 minutes |
How to Prepare for CAT Quant
Here are few tips to prepare for Quantitative section of CAT 2024:
- Tackle important topics first: Arithmetic and Algebra forms a major portion of the section. Typically from these 2 topics alone there will be approx 12-14 questions in the exam. Hence, candidate must start with completing these two topics first and later moving to other topics like Geometry, Number system etc.
- Build Strong Fundamentals: Candidate must ensure that their basic concepts are clear. This will help them tackle any tricky questions and build confidence. Focus on understanding the concepts rather than just memorizing formulas.
- Daily Practice: Allocate specific hours each day for quant practice (try to allocate at least 2 hours). Consistency is key to retaining mathematical concepts and improving problem-solving skills. One excellent source of keeping yourself consistent with all the three sections of CAT exam is CAT Daily Targets. You will be provided with 1 test of each section consists of 5 question every day.
- Mock Tests and Analysis: Regularly take CAT mock tests to simulate exam conditions. After each mock test, candidates must analyze their performance to understand their strengths and weaknesses. After taking a mock try to analyse it for at least 2-3 hours. Try to solve every single question on your own before jumping onto the video solution.
- Time Management: Practice solving questions within a timer. This will help candidates manage time during the actual exam, ensuring they attempt a maximum number of questions. If you find yourself stuck at any question then do not wait on it for more than 1 minute, just move on other questions which are actually doable. It should not happen that you wasted a lot of time on one question and because of which you couldn't even see some of the questions.
Best Quant Books for CAT 2024
Using the right CAT study material is crucial as it will not only guide candidates in the right direction but also save their time by providing them important topics and ample questions to practice at one place. Here are few of the CAT aspirant favorite books that top percentilers refer every year to crack Quant section.
| Books | Authors |
| CAT Formula Book by Cracku | Maruti Sir |
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Verma |
CAT Quantitative Practice Questions
Regular practice of a variety CAT Quant Questions is the key to crack CAT quants. Candidates need to solve a diverse range of questions which can help them in familiarizing themselves with different problem types and difficulty levels, ensuring a well-rounded preparation.
Candidates can easily find question banks online, many of which are offered by reputable educational platforms such as Cracku. Additionally, free YouTube videos provide a a number of top quality practice questions, often solved by expert. Revision Videos by sayalii mam are highly recommended if you are looking for revision. Using these resources allows candidates to brush up their fundamental concepts, face more advanced problems and get to know a broader spectrum of explanations and solving techniques by experts.
CAT 2024 Quant Strategies
Candidates can improve their quant score by employing the below strategies and get the most out of their preparation:
Prioritize High-Weightage Topics
Candidates should focus on preparing topics that have consistently weigh high in the CAT exam, like: Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. Mastering these areas can help candidates to be able to tackle a major portion of exam based on these topics only as they constitute a large portion of the Quant section.
Develop a Strong Conceptual Foundation
It is important that candidates hone their conceptual knowledge of the Quant topics as it has recently been seen that CAT ask questions that are generally a mix of various concepts rather than giving a direct questions.
Practice with Timed Sessions
Proper time management is very important for success in the CAT exam. Candidates should regularly practice solving questions within a set time limit to improve both speed and accuracy.
Selection of Questions
Candidates should learn to select the questions wisely. Not all questions are to be done as there will not be enough time. Leave difficult, confusing, and lengthy questions to save time and attempt other questions. Try to pick questions from the area of your strength.
Analyze and Learn from Mock Tests
Candidates should take regular mock tests and conduct thorough analysis of the taken mocks after ward to identify their mistakes ( i.e., if its conceptual errors, calculation mistakes, or time management issues), strengths and weaknesses. Mocks will help them refine their preparation strategy. Best way to analyse a mock is by making a notebook and write the mistakes you have made while giving mock. Now, before giving another mock just go through that notebook once so that, you don't make those mistakes again.
Don't Ignore Sectional Tests: Don't make this mistake of avoiding sectional test. These mocks are of utmost priority if you are the one who is struggling with quant score. If you are good with concepts i.e you can solve the question on your own if given enough time but can't solve in exam then you should focus on sectional tests.
