CAT Preparation 2026: How to Approach Quantitative Aptitude Section
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
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4 Nov '26 - 29 Nov '26
Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT exam is 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 2026. By Deekshant Sehrawat
CAT Quant preparation has to be regular and consistent only then you will be able to crack it. If you have already started preparing for CAT 2026, you may have checked the topics and types of question there are. In this article, I'll share some micro-level CAT preparation tips for Quantitative Aptitude.
As CAT exam 2026 will get closer, the value of every single day and every single hour being invested will go up drastically. So, it is better to have a clear plan of action from the very beginning. Since Quantitative Aptitude is calculation intensive candidates need to have an exhaustive plan which should include syllabus coverage, practice sessions, sectional mocks and analysis, and revision.
Even though the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section has only 22 questions, you need to study a lot of topics . Ensuring a good start to CAT will help you feel more confident in solving the last section.
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- Let’s Start With Your Strategy for CAT Quant Preparation
- Topic-Wise Break Up of Quantitative Aptitude Section of CAT
- Number of Hours to Spend on CAT Quantitative Aptitude Topics
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 2026 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 – CAT Quantitative Aptitude.
Also read:
- CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
- CAT quant topic wise weightage
- 6 strategies for quant preparation
Topic-Wise Break Up of Quantitative Aptitude Section of CAT
CAT Quantitative Aptitude syllabus is dominated by 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:
| CAT Quants Topics |
Hours to Devote |
|---|---|
| Number Systems |
12 |
| Arithmetic |
28 |
| Algebra |
30 |
| Geometry |
30 |
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 syllabus. 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.
| CAT Quatitative Aptitude Topics |
Hours |
|---|---|
| Number Systems |
15 |
| Arithmetic |
35 |
| Algebra |
24 |
| Geometry |
26 |
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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.
| Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice | Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice | Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice |
Do not ignore tough topics of Quantitative Aptitude: 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.
Don't overspend time on strong areas: 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.
Strike a balance between strengths and weaknesses: 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 2026 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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Commonly asked questions
CAT is a speed-based test of analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or Commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advanced-level problems.
However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.
Hope it was helpful!!!
Yes CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.
Maximum marks in CAT is 204. There are 68 questions each carrying 3 marks. VARC is of 72 marks and DILR and Quants are of 66 marks each.
To prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, stick to the traditional path of concepts first and practice later. Study English grammar and Verbal Ability first to understand the concept. Then practice a number of sample questions of different kinds to gain confidence, speed and accuracy. For RC passages, develop the habit of reading from early stages. Read books from all walks of life.
Practicing sample Reading Comprehension passages and questions in a crucial part of VARC preparation. This will help you understand the types of questions and RC passages asked in various entrance exams.
As an aspirant, you will be appearing for more than one entrance exam, thus you need to have the practice of different types of RC passages.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
No, according to the estimated data, you would need a CAT cutoff of atleast 94 percentile to be qualified for final admission offer. Note that this percentile is not official and is only an estimate, since the institute does not release the cutoff publicly.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, you can join IIM Kashipur without CAT, depending on the desired programme. You can get admission to any of the offered courses except MBA. Check the list below to know which exam is accepted for which programme.
- Executive MBA (EMBA): GMAT, IIM Kashipur EMAT (Executive Management Aptitude Test).
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Candidates must maintain a dedicated formula sheet for properties of polygons, circle theorems, and mensuration formulas. Instead of memorising blindly, candidates must solve 15-20 problems for each sub-topic to understand how and when to apply each formula.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
It is technically possible to get 99 percentile in CAT Quants if a candidates obtains a perfect score in Arithmetic and Algebra. However, it can be highly risky as CAT exam often has Geometry questions aligned with Algebra or Coordinate systems. Sometimes candidates must know two different concepts
D
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
Triangles (properties, similarity, congruence, and theorems) is the most heavily tested sub-topic in CAT exam. Other high-yield areas include Circles (tangents, chords, and cyclic quadrilaterals), Mensuration (area and volume of 2D/3D shapes), and Coordinate Geometry.
R
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
Geometry is a an important topic in the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section. Candidates can typically expect 3 to 5 questions out of the 22 total QA questions, making up roughly 15% to 20% of the section.
B
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
Candidates should first understand basic concepts, including divisibility rules, prime factorisation, HCF and LCM, and remainders. They should then solve topic-wise practice questions and previous years' CAT questions to improve accuracy and problem-solving speed.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
There is no fixed number of questions from the Number System in CAT. The number of questions varies across exam slots and years. Candidates should prepare the topic along with other important areas of Quantitative Aptitude.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, the Number System is an important topic for CAT Quantitative Aptitude. Questions may test concepts such as divisibility, remainders, factors, and properties of integers. Candidates should also practise applying these concepts to different question types.
J
Contributor-Level 7