Many CAT aspirants find themselves stuck at attempting only 12–15 Quant questions, regardless of how many chapters they complete or how many hours they study. If this sounds familiar, the problem may not be your knowledge—it may be your approach.
One common mistake is spending too much time on difficult questions. Many students enter the Quant section determined to solve every problem they start. As a result, they burn valuable minutes on tough questions and miss several easier opportunities later.
Another reason is weak question selection. CAT Quant is not just a test of mathematics; it's a test of decision-making. Top scorers quickly identify which questions are solvable, which are time-consuming, and which should be skipped.
Key Insight / Strategy
Accuracy also plays a role. Students who make frequent calculation errors often lose confidence during the section, leading to slower decision-making and fewer attempts.
So how do you break through the 12–15 question barrier?
Start by analyzing your mocks. Identify questions you should have solved but didn't attempt. Track how much time you're spending per question. Build the habit of leaving difficult questions early and moving on. Focus on increasing the number of "easy wins" rather than chasing every tough problem.
Remember: moving from 12–15 attempts to 18–20 quality attempts can significantly improve your CAT Quant percentile. The goal isn't to solve more questions—it's to solve the right questions.
