Imagine doing extremely well in VARC, only to see your IIM chances weaken because Quant becomes the section that pulls your percentile down. This is a common problem for CAT aspirants who are naturally stronger at reading and language but struggle with numbers, formulas and application-based questions. With CAT 2026 scheduled for November 29, there is still time to turn Quant from a liability into a cutoff-clearing section. But you do not need to master every difficult question. The real challenge is figuring out which Quant topics to prioritise and how much is enough.
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The Quantitative Ability section in CAT has changed noticeably over the last few years. As per trends, questions asked in CAT are more concept- and logic-focused. Rather than lengthy calculations, candidates have to keep these CAT Quant Logics at their fingertips.
Topic | Expected Questions | Difficulty Level (Based on Trends) | Trend Analysis | Preparation Priority |
Arithmetic | 8–10 | Moderate | Highest-weightage area in recent CAT papers. Questions test concept application rather than calculations. | Very High |
Algebra | 5–7 | Moderate to High | Strong presence in every paper. Linear equations, quadratics, inequalities, and logarithms appear regularly. | Very High |
Geometry & Mensuration | 3–5 | Moderate | Questions are fewer but often require strong conceptual understanding of basic theorems. | High |
Number System | 2–3 | Moderate to High | Asked less frequently, but questions can be tricky and involve divisibility or remainders. | Medium |
Modern Mathematics | 1–2 | Easy to Moderate | Lowest weightage. Probability and Permutation & Combination appear occasionally. | Medium to Low |
The number of Quant questions required for a particular percentile changes every year because the CAT question paper varies in difficulty and scores are scaled. Instead of aiming for a fixed score, candidates should focus on the number of correct answers with high accuracy. In recent CAT exams, attempting fewer questions with good accuracy has been more effective than attempting many questions with frequent mistakes.
Target Quant Percentile | Recommended Attempts | Correct Answers | Target Accuracy | Approximate Raw Score |
90 Percentile | 10–12 | 8–9 | 80–85% | 22–26 |
95 Percentile | 12–14 | 10–11 | 85–90% | 28–32 |
98 Percentile | 14–16 | 12–13 | 85–90% | 34–38 |
99 Percentile | 16–18 | 14–16 | 90%+ | 40–46 |
Let’s have a look at the past 5 years’ weightage of Quantitative Aptitude in the CAT exam below.
Year | Total CAT Questions | Quant Questions | Quant Weightage (in %) | Total Marks |
2025 | 68 | 22 | 32.35 | 204 |
2024 | 68 | 22 | 32.35 | 204 |
2023 | 66 | 22 | 33.33 | 198 |
2022 | 66 | 22 | 33.33 | 198 |
2021 | 66 | 22 | 33.33 | 198 |
2020 | 76 | 26 | 34.21 | 228 |

The above clearly shows the weightage of the quant section in the total CAT paper. The trend has be shown from CAT 2020 to CAT 2025.
Candidates who are not comfortable with mathematics should avoid starting with advanced topics such as Permutation & Combination or Probability. The better approach for CAT 2026 preparation is to begin with chapters that have simple concepts, regular question patterns, and high weightage in the CAT.
Topic | Why Start with It? | Difficulty Level | Expected Weightage* |
Forms the base for many Arithmetic topics such as Profit & Loss and SI-CI | Easy | 1–2 Questions | |
Ratio, Proportion & Partnership | Frequently used in Arithmetic and easy to understand with practice | Easy | 1–2 Questions |
Averages & Mixtures | Formula-based and requires basic calculations | Easy | 1–2 Questions |
Direct application of percentages and commonly tested | Easy to Moderate | 1–2 Questions | |
Standard concepts with predictable question types | Moderate | 1–2 Questions | |
Important Arithmetic topic with regular CAT questions | Moderate | 1–2 Questions | |
Simple & Compound Interest | Short formula-based questions that are easy to master | Easy to Moderate | 1 Question |
Linear Equations | Builds the foundation for Algebra | Moderate | 1–2 Questions |
One of the first Algebra topics to learn | Moderate | 1–2 Questions | |
Geometry Basics | Helps understand figures, angles, triangles, and circles before moving to advanced Geometry | Moderate | 2–3 Questions |
There is no fixed study-hour ratio for VARC and Quant because the right allocation depends on a candidate's current level. However, candidates must do a proper mock test analysis to know how much time they are spending on weaker sections as compared to stronger ones.
Candidate Profile | Daily VARC Time | Daily Quant Time | Why This Works |
Strong VARC, Weak Quant | 45–60 minutes | 2–2.5 hours | Quant requires concept building and repeated practice. VARC skills are maintained through daily reading and RC practice. |
Weak VARC, Strong Quant | 2 hours | 1–1.5 hours | Reading speed and comprehension improve gradually, making regular VARC practice essential. |
Weak in Both Sections | 1.5–2 hours | 1.5–2 hours | Balanced preparation ensures steady improvement across both sections without creating a large gap. |
Strong in Both Sections | 1–1.5 hours | 1–1.5 hours | Focus shifts from learning concepts to mocks, revision, and accuracy improvement. |
Many CAT aspirants find Quantitative Ability difficult, especially if they have not studied mathematics for a few years or come from a non-engineering background. The right CAT books help build concepts step by step instead of starting with difficult questions. Go through the section below to get best books to aid your CAT preparation strategy.
Book | Author |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Arun Sharma |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh K. Verma |
Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
The Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | Dinesh Khattar |
Fast Track Objective Arithmetic | Rajesh Verma |
NCERT Mathematics (Classes 8–10) | NCERT |
Yes, a strong VARC score can help candidates improve their CAT percentile. However, it cannot fully compensate for your weak score in Quant. The reason being that leading MBA colleges consider both overall percentile and sectional percentile for final selection.
Let's understand this with an example, suppose a candidate has scored CAT 99 percentile in VARC, but he does not qualify for the Quant sectional cut off. Then, the top IIMs will reject his application at the very instant. However, other candidates who have just scored a medium score in Quant but an exceptional score in VARC and DILR still have the chance to score in the 98 to 99th percentile.
Candidates looking to qualify for CAT 2026, even though they are weak in the Quant section, must also refer to popular ebooks. These Careers360 ebooks cover each section in detail and also provide practice questions to master the exam with high marks.
| eBook | Download |
|---|---|
| The CAT Arithmetic Hackbook PDF: Zero Math Background? No Problem – Concepts, Questions | Download Now |
| CAT Algebra Handbook 2026: Everything You Need to Master Algebra – Concepts, Practice Questions | Download Now |
| CAT 2026 Number System PDF Handbook: Complete Concepts, Practice Questions & Solutions | Download Now |
| CAT 2026 Geometry & Mensuration PDF: Important Concepts, Shortcuts & Practice Questions | Download Now |
| CAT 2026 Modern Maths PDF Handbook: Key Concepts, Tricks & PYQ-Based Practice | Download Now |
| CAT 2025 Slot-by-Slot Master Weightage Matrix PDF | Download Now |
| 15 CAT Myths That Waste Months of Preparation | Download Now |
| 8 Expert-Curated Philosophy Editorials with CAT-Style Questions | Download Now |
| CAT Quant PYQs – Complete 5-Year Question Bank (2021–2025) PDF | Download Now |
| CAT 2026: AI vs Coaching – Which is Better | Download Now |
| CAT DILR PYQs Complete 5-Year Question Bank (2021–2025) | Download Now |
| CAT VARC PYQs – Complete 5-Year Question Bank (2021–2025) PDF | Download Now |
| CAT RC 2026: 12 Tones That Can Change Your Answer | Download Now |
| CAT 2026: 10 Most Repeated Concepts in Quant | Download Now |
| CAT Time & Work: Top 30 Practice Questions with Answer Key & Detailed Solutions | Download Now |
| CAT Quadratic Equations: Top 30 Practice Questions with Answer Key & Detailed Solutions | Download Now |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, you can crack the CAT if you are good at VARC but weak in Quant. However, you might not get selected in a good IIM or B-school since colleges consider overall marks.
Start with Arithmetic topics such as Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Time, Speed and Distance, Averages, Ratio and Proportion, and Simple & Compound Interest. These topics form a major part of the CAT Quant section.
If Quant is your weak area, dedicate 1.5 to 2 hours daily to learning concepts, solving topic-wise questions, and analysing your mistakes.
No, a strong VARC score can improve your overall percentile, but you still need to perform well in Quant. Work on improving your basics and aim to clear the Quant sectional cutoff while maintaining your VARC performance.
Start by understanding the basic concepts and practise questions every day. Solve previous years' CAT questions, take regular sectional tests, and review your mistakes after each test.
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