IIM Professor’s Smart Quant Strategies for CAT 2025 Applicants

An IIM professor has shared smart and practical strategies to help CAT 2025 aspirants master the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section, according to a recent report in The Times of India. With the CAT Exam being highly competitive, the professor emphasised a balanced approach combining speed, accuracy, and strong conceptual clarity. The CAT 2025 exam follows the familiar structure: 68 questions in total, divided into three sections — Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC). Each section has a strict 40‑minute time limit, making effective strategy critical.

Focus on Fundamentals Before Speed

The professor strongly advises students to reinforce basic concepts before attempting to solve questions faster. Rather than memorising long formulas, aspirants should build a deep understanding of high‑yield QA topics, such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Number Systems. He recommends solving concept-based problems regularly, tracking recurring problem patterns, and maintaining a notebook of key formulas and shortcuts. This foundation helps maintain accuracy even under time pressure.

Smart Mock Analysis & Time Management

According to the expert, simply taking mock tests is not enough — effective mock analysis is where real gains happen. After each test, students should:

• Review every incorrect or skipped QA question
• Identify recurring errors or weak topic areas
• Note down patterns in time loss (which question types take too long)
• Adjust their strategy accordingly for future mocks

He also suggests a sectional time-management technique: once the 40 minutes for QA start, spend the first few minutes scanning all questions, decide which ones to attempt first, and then follow a two-pass strategy — first solve easier or high‑confidence questions, then return to the rest.

Accuracy Over Attempts

One of his strongest pieces of advice is: accuracy matters more than number of attempts. He warns students against attempting too many difficult questions just to maximize attempts. Instead, he encourages a risk-controlled approach — choose problems that you are confident about, and avoid getting trapped in time-consuming, low-probability questions. This method reduces careless mistakes, helps maintain a higher correct-answer rate, and builds confidence during the real exam.

Mental Preparation for Exam Day

The professor also highlights the importance of mental readiness. He suggests:

• Prioritise short but focused revision over exhaustive last-minute learning
• Maintain a clean, organised formula and error-log book for the final days
• Simulate exam conditions in mocks to build time-discipline and reduce anxiety

Together, these practices help aspirants remain composed under pressure, which is often the difference between a good and a great CAT score. Follow KollegeApply for the latest updates on College Admissions, Courses, Exam Dates, Results, Scholarships, Career Guidance, Education News, and Policy Changes — everything needed to stay ahead in the education journey