On November 28, 2021, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad will conduct CAT 2021 in a computer-based mode. In the last few weeks, all candidates who will appear for the CAT entrance examination have been busy taking CAT mock exams and analysing their preparation. Candidates must study thoroughly and ace every section of the CAT exam 2021 in order to gain admission to management programmes at the country’s top universities. Candidates are advised to create a preparation plan specific to each section from which questions are expected in order to crack CAT 2021 with a decent percentile in the IIM CAT 2021. One of the sections is Quantitative Aptitude which is counted as one of the most unpredictable and time-consuming as well.
Candidates must prepare the major topics and create a CAT preparation strategy to cover all of them thoroughly in order to ace the Quantitative Aptitude section. Choosing the best books for the CAT QA section is also an important factor that allows candidates to stand out among the thousands of other students and secure coveted seats in management programmes. The Quantitative Aptitude section of the IIM CAT test, like the other sections, has some preparation tips. They can be found here and can be referred to by candidates.
Important dates of CAT 2021
| CAT events | CAT 2021 dates |
| Availability of CAT 2021 admit card | October 27, 2021, at 5 PM |
| CAT 2021 exam date | November 28, 2021, Sunday |
Strategies to prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Plan preparation schedule
To get started, the candidate needs a clear schedule that he or she must stick to to the letter. Make no plans to follow up on a monthly basis because it will be difficult to do so for an extended period of time. Rather, the candidate can make a weekly plan for Quantitative Ability preparation by breaking down the daily to-do list and acting on it.
- Start with the basics
Candidates preparing for the CAT entrance exam in 2021 should start with the fundamentals and work their way up to more complex concepts. Dealing with the complex concepts will be simple once the candidate has a clear understanding of the basic concepts. Similarly, the easier questions should be attempted first, followed by the more difficult questions.
- Work on shortcut techniques
Finding ways to solve the section’s questions in the allotted time is one of the most important strategies for getting higher marks in the QA section. To manage their time during CAT 2021, candidates should look for simple but quick ways to answer CAT questions. To complete all of the questions in the allotted time, students taking the CAT exam must understand the formulas that will allow them to attempt and solve each question without wasting time.
- Focus on weak areas
It is recommended that candidates identify their respective weak areas and devote more time to improving them during the early months of preparation for the IIM CAT test 2021. As a result, more time should be spent on the section’s weaker aspects when preparing for the QA sections. However, if the preparation begins late, students should concentrate on the main and important topics rather than working on the weaker areas.
- Practice with sectional time
It is critical to complete each section of the CAT test 2021 in the time allotted, which is 40 minutes. This will assist students in completing the exam in the allotted time. To do so, candidates should practise each section for at least 40 minutes during the preparation period. Candidates will be able to keep track of time on exam day if they practise this.
- Solve CAT mock tests and previous year papers
One of the most important tips for passing the CAT exam in 2021 is to take the mock test several times. This procedure will undoubtedly enable candidates to comprehend the types of questions that may appear on the CAT, as well as to complete the exam in the allotted time. It is recommended that you take the mock test on a daily basis to gain a better understanding of the QA section. Attempting previous year’s question papers is also beneficial because it allows you to analyse the exam’s pattern as well as the difficulty of the questions.
Major Topics covered under CAT Quantitative Ability
| Quadrilaterals | Polygons | Harmonic Progression |
| Factorials | Shortcuts in Averages | Properties Of Ratio, Proportion |
| Conditional Probability | Infinite Geometric Progression | Derangement |
| Remainder Concept | Number System | Permutation |
| Combination/Probability | Statistics | Weighted Average |
Best Books on How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability Section
| Book Title | Author/Publisher |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha |
| How to prepare for Quantitative Ability for CAT | Arun Sharma |