Struggling With CAT Quant? This One Strategy Can Change Everything
Many CAT aspirants excel in VARC, and perform decently in DILR, but find themselves stuck in the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section. If that sounds like you—maybe you score 95+ percentile in VARC, 70–80 in DILR, but Quant drags you down to 40–50 percentile—this blog is for you.
This isn’t just another generic tip. It’s a game-changing strategy that will turn your CAT preparation around.
The Game-Changer – Solve All CAT PYQs (Previous Year Questions)
Yes, that’s it. It might sound too simple—but it’s powerful.
Start solving all the QA questions from previous years’ CAT papers. Not just a few. Not just recent ones. Go back 5, 10, even 20 years if you can.
Why This Strategy Works
- CAT QA doesn’t reinvent itself every year: The same types of questions repeat. Once you’ve solved enough, you’ll begin to recognize patterns.
- It’s real, relevant practice: Unlike random coaching material, CAT PYQs reflect the actual exam level and structure.
- It builds confidence: As you solve more real CAT problems, you stop fearing Quant and start mastering it. You would have also gained confidence by thoroughly covering the entire spectrum of QA questions.
- You learn smart techniques: Many CAT Quant questions can be cracked faster using options and approximation. PYQs are the best place to learn this.
- Quant is a Confidence Game: For most students, the fear of Quant isn’t about numbers—it’s about confidence. And that confidence comes only when you face real questions and figure out how to solve them. That’s what PYQs help you build: not just accuracy, but belief in yourself.
Treat QA Like a Board Exam
Quant has a defined syllabus—unlike VARC or DILR which can be unpredictable. So treat it like your Class 12 board exams:
- Solve previous papers.
- Track patterns.
- Practice until it clicks.
This is the simplest, most high-leverage advice anyone can give you. And it works.
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Year-wise Slot Distribution of QA Questions in CAT (2017–2024)
| Year | Slot 1 QA | Slot 2 QA | Slot 3 QA | Total QA |
| 2017 | 34 | 34 | – | 68 |
| 2018 | 34 | 34 | – | 68 |
| 2019 | 34 | 34 | – | 68 |
| 2020 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 78 |
| 2021 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 78 |
| 2022 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 66 |
| 2023 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 66 |
| 2024 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 66 |
| Total | 220 | 220 | 140 | 580 |
You’ll get 580 QA questions from previous CAT papers alone, covering the full range of question types that have appeared.
What If You Haven’t Completed the Theory Yet?
That’s okay. You don’t need to wait.
Start solving anyway. If you don’t know how to approach a question, use it as a trigger to learn that specific concept. This is active learning—and it’s more powerful than reading theory in isolation.
Most platforms also offer video solutions for the questions, which can further enhance your understanding of the concepts.
Even if it takes 10–15 minutes to solve one question by studying and struggling with it, that learning sticks. You’ll remember that concept far better.
Think of your brain as a pattern recognition machine. The more quality input you feed it, the smarter it becomes.
Where to Find CAT PYQs
You don’t need to buy any special books. Most coaching institutes offer them for free on their websites.
Just create a free account and look for CAT papers from the last few years. Go as far back as the available archive allows. Check out the following links:
How to Practice Them Effectively
- Start from the latest year and work backward. Alternatively, you could choose to complete all the questions from a single topic if you feel comfortable with it.
- Maintain a notebook or digital log of tricky questions and concepts.
- Set a daily goal — even 10–20 questions per day is great if done consistently.
- Don’t worry about speed at first. Focus on learning.
Take the 30-Day Challenge
Start today. Make it a personal mission to solve at least 10–20 PYQ Quant questions per day for the next 30 days.
Leave a comment below saying:
“Yes, I’m starting PYQ practice today.”
Then return in a week and say:
“I’ve solved 10 QA questions already!”
Let’s build momentum. You’ll be surprised how far you can go in a month.
Your Authors
Along with Darpan Saxena, this article has been co-authored by Om Kasarkhedkar.
Om is a marketing enthusiast with strong leadership skills, creativity and a knack for helping students with their CAT preparation. As an aspirant himself, he had received interview calls from the prestigious MDI Gurgaon and MICA, Ahmedabad.
