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    Good at VARC but Weak in Quant? CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy to Clear Quant Sectional Cutoff
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    • Good at VARC but Weak in Quant? CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy to Clear Quant Sectional Cutoff

    Good at VARC but Weak in Quant? CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy to Clear Quant Sectional Cutoff

    Hitesh SahuUpdated on 16 Sep 2026, 11:28 PM IST

    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.

    This Story also Contains

    1. CAT Quant Topic-Wise Difficulty Analysis (Based on Recent CAT Trends)
    2. How Many CAT Quant Questions Should You Target for 90, 95 and 99 Percentile?
    3. CAT Quant Weightage Trends
    4. Top Quant Topics to Master First If You're Weak at Maths
    5. How Much Time Should You Spend on VARC vs Quant?
    6. Best Books of CAT Quant for Beginners
    7. Can Strong VARC Compensate for Weak Quant?
    8. Free Resources to Improve CAT Quant Preparation
    Good at VARC but Weak in Quant? CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy to Clear Quant Sectional Cutoff
    Good at VARC but Weak in Quant? CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy to Clear Quant Sectional Cutoff

    CAT Quant Topic-Wise Difficulty Analysis (Based on Recent CAT Trends)

    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

    How Many CAT Quant Questions Should You Target for 90, 95 and 99 Percentile?

    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

    CAT Quant Weightage Trends

    Let’s have a look at the past 5 years’ weightage of Quantitative Aptitude in the CAT exam below.

    CAT Quantitative Aptitude Weightage Trend (2020 - 2025)

    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


    1784184172795

    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.

    Top Quant Topics to Master First If You're Weak at Maths

    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*

    Percentages

    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

    Profit & Loss

    Direct application of percentages and commonly tested

    Easy to Moderate

    1–2 Questions

    Time, Speed & Distance

    Standard concepts with predictable question types

    Moderate

    1–2 Questions

    Time & Work

    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

    Quadratic Equations

    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

    How Much Time Should You Spend on VARC vs Quant?

    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.

    Best Books of CAT Quant for Beginners

    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

    Can Strong VARC Compensate for Weak Quant?

    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.

    Free Resources to Improve CAT Quant Preparation

    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.

    eBookDownload
    The CAT Arithmetic Hackbook PDF: Zero Math Background? No Problem – Concepts, QuestionsDownload Now
    CAT Algebra Handbook 2026: Everything You Need to Master Algebra – Concepts, Practice QuestionsDownload Now
    CAT 2026 Number System PDF Handbook: Complete Concepts, Practice Questions & SolutionsDownload Now
    CAT 2026 Geometry & Mensuration PDF: Important Concepts, Shortcuts & Practice QuestionsDownload Now
    CAT 2026 Modern Maths PDF Handbook: Key Concepts, Tricks & PYQ-Based PracticeDownload Now
    CAT 2025 Slot-by-Slot Master Weightage Matrix PDFDownload Now
    15 CAT Myths That Waste Months of PreparationDownload Now
    8 Expert-Curated Philosophy Editorials with CAT-Style QuestionsDownload Now
    CAT Quant PYQs – Complete 5-Year Question Bank (2021–2025) PDFDownload Now
    CAT 2026: AI vs Coaching – Which is BetterDownload Now
    CAT DILR PYQs Complete 5-Year Question Bank (2021–2025)Download Now
    CAT VARC PYQs – Complete 5-Year Question Bank (2021–2025) PDFDownload Now
    CAT RC 2026: 12 Tones That Can Change Your AnswerDownload Now
    CAT 2026: 10 Most Repeated Concepts in QuantDownload Now
    CAT Time & Work: Top 30 Practice Questions with Answer Key & Detailed SolutionsDownload Now
    CAT Quadratic Equations: Top 30 Practice Questions with Answer Key & Detailed SolutionsDownload Now

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Can I crack CAT if I am good at VARC but weak in Quant?
    A:

    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. 

    Q: Which Quant topics should I prepare first for the CAT exam?
    A:

    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. 

    Q: How much time should I dedicate to Quant preparation every day?
    A:

    If Quant is your weak area, dedicate 1.5 to 2 hours daily to learning concepts, solving topic-wise questions, and analysing your mistakes. 

    Q: Should I focus more on VARC or spend extra time improving Quant?
    A:

    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. 

    Q: What is the best strategy to improve Quant accuracy before CAT?
    A:

    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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