How to Solve Quantitative Aptitude Section in Competitive Exams to Score good marks?

How to solve quantitative aptitude in competitive exams for scoring high. In this blog, you can learn approaches for better results in the aptitude section.

Quantitative Aptitude is a common section in any government sector recruitment examination and it is there in both the prelims and the mains exams of the bank and insurance recruitment examinations. 

The most disturbing fact regarding this section is that a lot of candidates fail to score well in this section since they are very afraid of mathematics and calculation. With the requirement of solving problems accurately within a given time, it becomes all the more difficult to attempt this section for the students. 

However, actually, this section is the most scoring part in the whole paper where you have got hardly nil chances of getting negative marks if you are good at it and at the same time, you can score pretty well in the exam if you score well in quantitative aptitude section.

I hope you preparing Reasoning also for competitive exams. If you preparing, you can visit here to learn how to prepare reasoning general intelligence section for upcoming competitive exams

I am going to share with you the strategy to attempt aptitude section in any competitive examination so that you can score well in Quantitative Aptitude section.

What are all there in Quantitative Aptitude Section?

Quantitative Aptitude Section carries the maximum weightage in any recruitment examination these days since recruiters are keen to get candidates who are good at logical thinking and have analytical bent of mind. Generally, the questions in this section are asked from the following topics:

→ Profit and Loss 

→ Average and Ages 

→ Time and Distance, Time and Work, Pipe and Cistern etc. 

→ Mixture and Alligation 

→ Simplification and Number System 

→ Indices and Surds 

→ Simple and Compound Interest 

→ Partnership and Percentage 

→ Ratio and Proportion 

→ Permutation and Combination 

→ Probability (Basic Theories of Probability)

→ Linear Algebra 

→ Quadratic Equation and Polynomials 

→ Mensuration (Both 2D and 3D figures)

→ Geometry 

→ Trigonometry 

→ Data Interpretation (Line graph, bar chart, pie chart, histogram etc.)

Mostly in bank examinations, geometry, mensuration and trigonometry questions are not asked whereas in SSC CGL and CHSL Examinations, all these questions are asked. 

How to solve quantitative aptitude section? – Approach to score well

Now that you are well acquainted with the syllabus of the Quantitative Aptitude Section in the competitive exams, let us explain in detail how you should approach this section, chapter-wise so that you are ready for the individual chapters as well. Keep in mind that you have to be good at all the chapters so that you don’t miss out on any question in the exam. 

Arithmetic: 

In case of all the arithmetic chapters such as profit and loss, time and distance, time and work, you need to relate the question to the formula for that particular chapter. This comes from practice. Suppose you are going through a question from the chapter ‘Profit and Loss’ and you know the formulae related to the chapter but after going through the question, you don’t understand how to use the formulae. It will be of no use. You need to prepare your brain in the way so that while going through the question, it can calculate in the mind the necessary calculations 

Algebra: 

In the algebra chapters, learn all the formulae very carefully since, during the examination, it is really difficult at times to identify the formula that will come into play in a particular question. Or the formula is given in a way that you are not able to identify it though you have learned it quite well. Again if you have learned the application of the formula you will be able to solve any question based on it but with only knowledge about the formula, you will definitely lose marks despite knowing the particular formula.

Geometry:

In the case of geometry, try to be ready in a way that when you see the question, the applicable property readily comes to your mind. For example, you know the Pythagoras’ theorem and you are asked to find out the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle while the other two sides are given. While going through the question, you should understand that the applicable formula will the Pythagoras’ Theorem. It will save a lot of time during the examination. Same is the case with mensuration. You know all the formulae for finding out the area of a triangle but you should also know in which situation you should use which formula. 

Trigonometry: 

For Trigonometry questions, you should be able to draw picture properly in case of the height and distance questions. Apart from that, you should know the relationship between all the quantities in trigonometry because in certain questions, you will have to apply them without much time in hand to think and try while attempting questions in the actual examination 

Data Interpretation: 

It involves both analytical reasoning and application of simple calculations. This is time consuming given the fact that so many calculations are involved.

Calculations: 

The most important thing about this section is that you need to be very good in mind calculation. Once you can do half the calculation in your mind, it will save a lot of your time 

Maintain Speed: 

Don’t get stuck in one question in Quantitative Aptitude and avoid lengthy questions in the beginning. It will ruin your rhythm and also will slow you down 

Shortcuts: 

Don’t try shortcuts unless you are not too sure about them. They save time if you know how to use them properly and not by mere using it. Lengthy calculations can also be used provided that you are comfortable with that.

Solve Last: 

In any examination, please keep this section for the end since starting with this section will slow you down and you will keep on thinking about the un-attempted questions while answering other sections thereby increasing chances of making errors 

Lengthy calculations: 

In the data interpretation questions, there are 2 or 3 questions that involve lengthy calculations. Identify them and don’t give too much time to such questions initially. If you get time after finishing the whole section or the whole paper, you may try these questions.

Easy Questions: 

Keep in mind that you need to go through all the questions in this section lest you should miss any easy question. One easy unattempted question can cost you the final selection 

Accuracy: 

Try to keep in mind that you need to attempt questions accurately and not just attempting them. It is better to attempt 5 questions less rather than solving 10 questions wrong.

Bottom Line: 

Quantitative Aptitude Section is a very important part for your selection in any competitive examinations. You need to practice all the chapters time and again during your preparation so that you know the applications of all the formulae rather than knowing only the formulae. 

Keep it in mind that you need to be able to apply any formula that you have learned since nobody will ask you a formula directly in any examination. Hence, practice as much as possible so that you are acquainted with all the topics very well. It will make you comfortable while taking the exam. This will help you score well as well. 

I really hope that the above-mentioned tips will help you in scoring well in the Quantitative Aptitude section in any exam. If you have any doubts, you can ask me in the Comment Section.

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All the Best!!