Most students get concerned when it comes to the Quantitative Ability section of the CAT exam, but with a little preparation, you can ace it! Read on to find out what you need to do.

The total quant area can be divided into 4 main parts:

Part 1: Numbers, and Geometry and Mensurations -- These two topics have to be considered a separate area, because the maximum number of questions come from here.  

Part 2: Arithmetic -- Equations, Ratio Proportion and Variation, Percentages Profit and Loss, Averages Mixtures and Alligations, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Time and Work, and Time and Distance.

Part 3: Algebra -- Indices, Logs and Surds, Quadratic Equations, Progressions, Special Equations and Inequalities.

Part 4: Pure Maths -- Permutations and Combinations, Functions and Graphs, Number Systems, Coordinate Geometry.

These fours parts have to be attempted in a systematic manner. Part 1 is probably the most important part, and hence in the run up to CAT, you should revise those areas at least three times.  All the others should be done at least twice in the coming months.

Apart from the books that coaching institutes provide you with, you would do well to read such works as 'Trishna's Book on Quantitative Ability', published by Pearsons. 

What if I cannot solve some problems?

This is a common dilemma. First, check your fundamentals and concepts once again ,and see which concept should be applied to get the right answer. If you still cannot solve it, let it go for that day; the better thing is to sleep on it and come back to it the next day. Sometimes even the simplest of questions elude you, and you may get frustrated. You just have to remember that even the best of mathematicians face the same problems, and it is best to leave them for another day.

If the next day you still cannot solve the problem, get back to a faculty member and ensure that you understand the logic behind the answer. Do not look at the solution and think that you have understood the problem. Spend time on it, and review the same or similar questions once more after a few days, so that you are sure of that area.

What else should be done?

Each time an AIMCAT (All India Mock CAT) is taken, you have to analyze your performance in each of the areas. In the quantitative section, you should identify the topics and number of questions asked from each topic. Over a series of AIMCATs the student should try and analyse whether he/ she is falling into a particular pattern with regards to the type of questions attempted, or faltered at. Once such areas are identified, you should look to further strengthen the strong areas, and improve the basics in the weak areas.

To build upon the strong areas, you should solve exercises and questions from those areas again and agai in the AIMCAT. To improve on weak areas, you should get back to the basic reading material, solve the simple examples, and try gaining confidence.

Make sure to solve every question of the quant section in each AIMCAT after returning home, without imposing any time limit on yourself, and before going through the solutions. This will give you the confidence that given sufficient time you can answer almost all the questions. After this, it is just a case of fine-tuning your strategy for the exam, wherein you select those questions that seem easy, or are not lengthy, and ensure that you get your required marks.

It would be heartening to note that in CAT the cutoff for quant never goes beyond 12 marks (out of 50) or 36 (out of 100 in CAT 2006, and it was an easy paper!). There have been years where the cutoff for quant sections was as low as 8 marks (out of 50). And the fact that you would have close to 40 or 45 minutes to attempt this section, and score in the range of 12 to 15 would give you enough confidence.

Final Word

There is no short cut to success. There are no shortcuts in Math either. Speed techniques and supposed shortcut formulaes won't help in CAT. CAT tests your ability to understand the fundamentals of each of these areas. Hence, you need to spend time on the basics as much as possible, so that you are ready for this section.

Wish you all the best!

Part I -- How to ace Quantitative Ability

M-Calcutta alumnus ARKS Srinivas is the director of  T.I.M.E, an organisation that prepares candidates for courses like the MBA and the MCA and competitive examinations like CAT, the GRE and GMAT.