If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re somewhere in the middle of your CAT prep or just about to dive in and Quant is already starting to feel like a rollercoaster. Trust me, I’ve been there. More than once. And every time I sat for CAT, there were new lessons I wished I had known earlier. Quant looks doable on paper, but in the exam hall, it’s a different ball game. So here's a breakdown on pitfalls to avoid during your preparation.
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Top mistakes in CAT QA Section
1. Stop Jumping from one material to another
The Mistake:
“I’ll do 100 imp question + TIME modules + YouTube + that Telegram dump + some 1000 question PDFs.”
Sounds satisfying doesn’t it? But it’s not when you have nothing to count. You spend more time collecting material than actually solving it. And then it hits hard.
What To Do Instead:
Pick one source. Stick with it. Don’t care if your friend is doing something else. Whether it’s your coaching notes or a YouTube playlist, finish what you started. Once your basics are strong, you can solve anything from anywhere. FOMO doesn’t help!
2. Untimed Practice doesn’t mean you have aced!
The Mistake:
Sitting with 20 QA questions, solving them one by one, no timer running. You think you’re doing great. Then the mock hits. Timer starts. Our brain freezes after 5 questions.
What To Do Instead:
Start solving with a timer from Day 1. Not just mocks even practice sets. Set 15–20 minute clocks, this trains your brain to think faster under pressure. And when the actual exam comes, you won’t panic.
3. Not Reviewing Mistakes
The Mistake:
I got this wrong, let’s see the solution... okay, got it. And you move on. Next topic, but what ends up happening is you repeat the same mistakes again and again. Nothing really improves.
What To Do Instead:
Create an Error Log (fancy term, simple thing). For every wrong answer, note:
Was it a conceptual error (you didn’t know the topic)?
Was it a silly mistake (calculation/time pressure)?
Review this log weekly.
4. Skipping the Major part(Arithmetic + Algebra)
The Mistake:
You ignore the 50-60% of the paper that’s guaranteed to come, and keep doing the smaller topics, which itself is not an issue but it would be better to focus your energy first at the major topics and then keep moving down the ladder.
What To Do Instead:
Master Arithmetic and Algebra. These two sections dominate CAT QA.Also, don’t just “complete” the chapters track how you perform in mocks on these chapters. That’s the real test.
Look, solving 1,000 questions doesn’t mean you’ll ace the exam. What matters is how efficiently you can process a question, identify the type, and solve (or skip) in seconds. That only happens when you build habits. Daily reps. Timed practice. Regular mock reviews. Simple.
Summary
- Choose one good source and finish it—depth > breadth.
- Practice with a timer, even during early prep.
- Maintain an error log and reflect on it.
- Focus on Arithmetic + Algebra first.
- Track your progress, don’t just “study.”
Final Words:
Everyone feels Quant is tough at some point. Doesn’t matter if you’re an engineer or not. But if you focus on building systems instead of just chasing questions, you’ll see the improvement for sure.
So stop overthinking, start solving, and keep showing up. You've got this?
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