The Quantitative Ability (QA) part of the Common Admission Test (CAT) is an important section of the test that measures a student's mathematical capability, ability to problem-solve, and requisite skills to work with numbers. For students who aspire to gain admission into the top IIMs and other premier B-schools through CAT 2025 exam, mastering the QA section is a must. Practice with well-organized CAT QA sample paper PDFs can lead to significant boosts in speed and accuracy.
The CAT QA section has questions that are based on vital topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems, and Modern Math. Practicing CAT-level QA questions regularly will familiarize your ability to differentiate types of questions and agree to a certain level of the question’s complexity since the paper has MCQs & TITA-Type It At Answer questions.
In order to enhance your CAT preparation for Quantitative Ability, we have included downloadable CAT QA sample paper PDFs with solutions. Each perfect timing sample paper PDF serves to provide you with a mock experience and it is best for both topic-wise and full-length practice. Scroll down to download the sample paper PDFs, read tips on how to solve CAT QA sample paper questions with efficiency, and have practice, practice, and there are many more practices to help enhance your preparation strategy.
CAT QA Sample Paper PDF
Students can refer to the following to directly download the CAT QA sample paper PDFs.
Level | CAT QA Sample Paper PDF | Sample Paper Solution PDF |
Easy | ||
Medium | ||
Difficult |
Tips to Solve CAT Quantitative Aptitude Sample Papers
- Start with easier topics: Begin with subjects and chapters that you are most confident with to build your confidence and momentum.
- Time yourself, as you would in the actual exam: While practicing try to time each section and/or the full-length paper too.
- Make good use of rough work sheets instead of panicking: Practise your calculations in an orderly manner so that everything is easy to follow.
- Leave TITA Questions for the last: If running out of time, these questions can be left until the end since they are the only ones which are Modes of Non-MCQs.
- Accuracy matters more than speed: Make sure you do not rely too much on guesswork; try to have consistency in your accuracy first.
- Familiarize yourself with the mistakes you made: look back through the questions you got wrong and realize why you made the errors - was it conceptual or calculation.
- Create your own list of shortcuts: create a cheat sheet of equations and tricks to help remember for revising that you can check when needed.
- Practice a mix: Use past papers that mix up the different topics like "Arithmetic", "Algebra", "Geometry", and "Modern Math".
- Limit the use of calculators: the CAT does not allow calculators and you will need to develop your capacity for mental maths.
- Take sectional tests every once in a while: this will improve your performance in all areas overall and also have an impact in performance in specific areas as stamina will improve.
Also Get: CAT VARC Sample Paper 2025 PDF Here
Additional Practice Resources for CAT QA Section
Refer to the following to learn more about additional learning resources for the Quantitative Ability section of the CAT exam.
Resource Name | Type | Usage |
Arun Sharma - How to Prepare for QA for CAT | Book | Comprehensive topic-wise practice & theory |
Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K Verma | Book | High-difficulty level problems for CAT |
Handa Ka Funda (QA Course) | Online Course | Concept videos + sectional tests |
2IIM QA Practice Platform | Online Platform | Chapter-wise tests + mock analysis |
Career Launcher QA Sectional Mocks | Test Series | Timed mocks with detailed solutions |
TIME QA Study Material | Offline/Online Resource | Concept modules and sectional tests |
IMS QA Drill-Down Tests | Test Series | Topic-based sectional tests |
Previous Year CAT QA PDFs | Free PDF | Practice with actual CAT questions |
YouTube: Rodha, CATKing, Unacademy (QA playlists) | Free Video Resources | Topic explanations & shortcuts |
Note: The best way to build performance on any section of the CAT exam, in this case Quantitative Ability, is to practice focused and consistent with the CAT QA sample papers. The CAT QA sample papers will allow you to understand the type of questions and level of difficulty you will encounter, as well as teach you time management and improve the rate of answering questions in the allotted time.
Further, you can use these practice sets to determine areas of weakness with additional practice, returning to concepts you need to work through, and re-enforcing problem-solving strategies. And remember, although quantity has its benefits, quality beats quantity; you would be better off working through the process of taking two or three sample papers in detail as opposed to doing ten or fifteen sample papers pressing to meet a certain completion time.
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