Preparing for the Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT can be overwhelming without the right resources and a clear strategy. To help aspirants, I’ve divided the preparation journey into three stages: Beginner, Moderate, and Advanced.
Personal Advice Before You Begin
If you have little or no prior knowledge of Quant, start by building a solid foundation before enrolling in any coaching institute, whether online or offline. Your basics are the bedrock of your preparation. If you're only strong in one domain and weak in Quant, don’t rush; focus on strengthening your Quant basics first. No coaching can compensate for weak fundamentals. That’s the truth.
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Beginner Stage
This stage is for those with minimal or no exposure to Quant. Begin with basic arithmetic, including speed math, tables, and fraction conversions. Once comfortable, pick a simple topic like percentages. Use YouTube to understand the concepts and then move on to solving beginner-level problems.
Foundational Resources:
Career Definer (YouTube Channel)
Testbook App (Minimal yearly subscription)
Adda 247 (Problem-solving focus)
Career Ride (Concepts and problems)
Indiabix (Practice problems)
Moderate Stage
Once your basics are strong, begin solving moderate-level problems independently. After attempting, watch explanation videos to explore unconventional problem-solving methods. This stage is crucial for developing clarity, learning from mistakes, and visualizing problems efficiently.
Notes for Coaching Students:
After building your foundation, use your coaching materials to solve basic problems again—preferably twice. Then move on to moderate-level problems using both the resources listed above and your coaching materials. Aim to understand and apply concepts in innovative ways.
Notes for Self-Study Aspirants:
At this stage, start using Arun Sharma's Quantitative Aptitude books. They include CAT-level and advanced problems. Combine this with practicing previous year CAT questions. Begin taking one mock test per week, increasing to two per week if time allows. Always analyze your mocks either the same day or the next day.
Advanced Stage
When you're comfortable with moderate problems, it's time to tackle CAT-level and above-CAT-level questions. Continue solving from Arun Sharma’s material and previous year CAT papers.
Resources for Previous Year Papers:
Cracku (Includes video explanations)
2iim
IMS YouTube Channel
Arun Sharma YouTube Channel
Mock Tests and Test Series
If you can afford it, invest in a test series after completing the moderate-level practice. Recommended test series include:
- TIME
IMS
iQuanta
Cracku - If you're on a tight budget, wait for discounts in the penultimate month before CAT. Focus on giving as many mocks as possible during this time and analyzing each test thoroughly. In the final month, shift your focus to mock analysis, concept revision, and key problem types.
Final Thoughts
Consistency and clarity are key. Build strong fundamentals, solve problems at all levels, analyze your mocks rigorously, and keep revising. With dedication and the right strategy, you'll see significant improvement.
Good luck, future CAT Aspirants
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