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Quantitative Ability is the most difficult section of the CAT for most candidates. There are many common CAT Quant traps that candidates need to avoid. You can find the steps to start your CAT Quantitative Preparation by clicking here. You should have a good idea of your strengths and weaknesses during preparation or at least the full-length test-practice stage. Do it now if you don’t have the time! It’s important to understand your strengths and weaknesses. To see where you stand, take the diagnostic test.
There are many reasons that the Quant Section is one of the most difficult to crack. This section has the most syllabus. The majority of students can grasp the basics. However, students are unable to grasp complex questions. Many students have trouble managing their time. Many students would have lost touch after high school with Quant basics. Some people can’t calculate and form equations at the speed that math whizzes take as a given.
These are the most common CAT Quant pitfalls and traps that you should avoid. These pitfalls can be dangerous on the day of your exam. These tips should not be ignored. These tips may be necessary to review during the practice test stage and possibly even during preparation. This will allow you to identify and correct your “favorite mistake” area.
YOU VS. THE PROBLEM
The CAT test makers are skilled at mixing difficult and easy questions. You will discover that the CAT has a few very easy questions that you can’t solve when you were in 7 standards. There will be questions that you find extremely difficult. This isn’t done to select math majors. Because it is a real-life situation, there will be a mix of difficult and easy questions. You must choose the most important ones, as you have a deadline.
There will be many difficult problems in the CAT. You might get stuck at one point and then realize that you haven’t made any progress. What should you do? Let it be, and then move on to the next question.
What can you do instead? You can spend another three minutes trying to solve the problem. This is where Ego takes over, and it becomes difficult to avoid. This is the most common trap. It is possible to get into a “fight” with the problem. In this case, solving one problem can be more important than getting a good overall score. This is a sure way to lose time that could be used productively elsewhere.
How can you avoid falling for this trap? It is important to be aware that it can happen. If you find that you have spent too much time trying to answer a question and are still not getting the right answer, it’s time to move on. How can you tell if you’re falling into this trap?
THESE INDICATORS MIGHT HELP YOU MAKE A DECISION.
- Your equations get more complicated and more ugly.
- You’ve filled half of the rough sheet but have not made any real progress.
- None of the elimination or substitution tricks seem to work.
- You return to the question multiple times.
- The clock is ticking, and you realize you have not completed the majority of the section.
- Most importantly, you’ve spent five minutes answering this question and are still at the beginning.
What should you do? Are you going to panic and give in? This will cause you to feel defeated and affect your Quant Section and the Verbal Section. You can’t spend time on the same question.
This CAT Quant trap can be avoided by not allowing it to occur in the first place. You should first pick the easiest questions and then send them off. Next, you can move on to the more difficult questions that you feel are possible with a little effort.
Only after you have answered all the questions, whether they are easy or difficult, should you consider asking questions about areas that you don’t feel comfortable answering. Keep calm throughout the section. Identify when you should give up, and then move on to the next question. Although it might be difficult for you to control your Ego, it is not worse than ignoring the last question.
UNDERSTANDING A FORMULA IS NOT THE SAME THING AS UNDERSTANDING IT.
Many students, particularly in the latter stages of their preparation, claim that they are very familiar with all concepts. Still, they struggle to solve problems when it comes down to question interpretation or formulation. You know what the modulus is for a number, for example. You know all the definitions and even the textbook example. Although you know how to solve every type of equation, it isn’t easy to see how you can solve an equation like the one below.
Ask yourself these questions: Does it mean you “understand” the topic if you know all the formulae and theorems?“Understanding” does not mean reproducing or duplicating a stated theorem or a solved example.
When you can visualize a concept, it is understood. Use your imagination to create and get a non-mathematical model for something as “dry,” such as a modulus equation.
A – b The distance between the point “2x” and point “5” is greater than two units. Or “2x” can be greater than seven or lower than 3. Try to find a visual parallel for every concept. This will save you time and give you clarity.
This is the most important trap to avoid from all CAT Quant traps. Quant problems on CAT are more important than memory. These tests assess your ability to adapt to different situations and apply simple concepts in complex situations. This should be considered at an early stage of preparation. Focus more on the basics. You can always re-examine a concept until you understand it. This is far more important than answering a dozen questions using a formula.
POOR TIME MANAGEMENT.
Most test-takers fall in the CAT Quant trap. Lack of time management. There are only 30 questions per section, and over 2 lakh students take the CAT. This means that the difference between a high percentile and a low percentage could be as small as one question. It is important to ensure that you have attempted at least one section of the questions. You should not skip the easy questions at the end.
This requires lots of practice. Practice as many full-length tests as you can, and then get used to the demands of a full-length exam. The test requires you to maintain your concentration throughout the duration. You also need to keep up with the pace and finish the test with the same energy as you started.
Don’t leave too many questions at the end.
INCORRECT INTERPRETATION OF THE QUESTION.
Sometimes, you can solve a whole question incorrectly to realize that you made a mistake when you read the question. Your answer was incorrect, even though you had done everything correctly. It looks like reading or interpreting errors indicate a lack of focus during the initial part of the solution.
It is possible to slow down and read the question twice in order to understand it fully. Don’t try to save time at this stage. It might be worth considering how to build daily reading habits, which is essential for the VARC Section.
You should pay particular attention to the meaning of the questions. An incorrect interpretation could lead to a drastic change in the answer. Examples of such words include: Distinct, Integer / Negative/ Non-negative At least / Maximum Odds in favor / Odds Against, Some / All and, Never less than / Never higher than
You can also verify your answer after you have solved the question. While you may not have the time to check every answer in detail, you can still exercise this option if you are in doubt.
Read the question again after you have received the answer. It may ask you to think through the solution before coming up with it. You may have solved the equation for x, but the question might ask you to calculate x + 10. To be certain, reread the question.
SILLY MISTAKES
This is the most frustrating CAT Quant trap. Your solution was perfect, but you made a stupid addition error in the last step. You lost everything. It is not uncommon for us to make mistakes in calculations or solve problems.
Are you able to improve accuracy and decrease the number of stupid mistakes? Yes. You can slow down when solving equations or be more careful with calculations. Practice a lot. Master the ratio charts and multiplication tables. Keep at it. This is enough preparation. However, will this help eliminate all calculation errors? It is unlikely. Best cat online coaching
Calculations can go wrong. It is impossible to eliminate all errors in calculation and solution. However, you can improve accuracy and decrease the time it takes to calculate. Here’s what you can do.
IDEAS TO AVOID SILLY MISTAKES IN CALCULATION
- Find your weakest and strongest areas. Find out what areas need the most improvement. Are you referring to multiplication tables? Are quadratic equation solutions the answer?
- You should work hard to improve your speed and accuracy in these areas. It is worth continuing to work on this daily. You will see an improvement in your performance.
- Practice, Practice, and Practice.
- Accept that mistakes may still happen on the day of your test. You should allow for some error but be more careful in those areas where you are certain of your weaknesses. Double-check your answers using the reverse approach to the answer options.
These things are not easy to do. It is easier to look back and make a list than to record your mistakes and practice daily. You can always, and always, improve on your starting point, no matter what it is. No matter what level of preparation you have, it will pay big dividends.
DEVELOP YOUR EYE FOR DETAIL.
Learn to pick anomalies consistently. We have moved from point 4 to 6 on this list, in case you didn’t notice. Make a mental note to pay attention every time something like this passes you by. With practice, you can become more “switched on” and make a huge difference.
This video is essential to nail
your Quant Section with relative ease.
Good luck with your CAT Preparation. You can bridge the gap between a 95 percentile and a 99+ percentile if you know how to avoid common pitfalls and traps in your Quant Section.
