Students planning for the CAT 2025 exam should know about the Quantitative Ability (QA) section. A topic called Progression and Series is often tested in this part of the exam. This chapter usually has 1 to 2 questions in each exam slot. It is an easy part to score marks in.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national level entrance exam in India. Students take this test to get admission into Master of Business Administration (MBA) and other management programs. These programs are offered by top business schools across the country, including the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) .
About the CAT Quantitative Ability (QA) Section
The Quantitative Ability (QA) section tests a student's math skills. It includes topics from arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and modern math. Students need to solve problems based on these areas. This section aims to check how well a student can use numbers and logic to find solutions.
Progression and Series: What to Know
Progression and Series is an important part of the algebra section in CAT QA . This topic deals with patterns of numbers. Students learn about different types of sequences and how numbers in these sequences relate to each other. Understanding the core formulas is key for this chapter.
Main Types of Progressions to Study:
- Arithmetic Progression (AP): Here, the difference between any two consecutive numbers is always the same. For example, 2, 4, 6, 8...
- Geometric Progression (GP): In this type, each term after the first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero number. For example, 2, 4, 8, 16...
- Harmonic Progression (HP): This is a sequence where the reciprocals of the terms form an Arithmetic Progression.
Knowing these basic types and their formulas helps students solve problems quickly. This chapter is often seen as a scoring area because the questions are direct if one knows the concepts well.
Expected Questions for CAT 2025
By looking at past exams, students can get an idea of how many questions to expect from Progression and Series in CAT 2025 . The trend over the last three years shows a consistent pattern.
| Year | Number of Questions (Per Slot) |
| 2025 (Expected) | 1-2 |
| 2024 | 1-2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1-3 |
The table shows that Progression and Series questions are regularly asked in the CAT exam . In 2024 and 2023 , there were typically 1 to 2 questions or 2 questions in each exam slot. In 2022 , the range was from 1 to 3 questions . Based on this steady pattern, students preparing for CAT 2025 can expect to face about 1 to 2 questions from this topic.
How to Prepare for Progression and Series in CAT 2025
To score well in the Progression and Series chapter for CAT 2025 , students can follow these steps:
- Understand Core Concepts: Start by clearly understanding the basic ideas behind Arithmetic Progression (AP) , Geometric Progression (GP) , and Harmonic Progression (HP) . Learn all the key formulas related to terms and sums for each type.
- Practice Previous Year Questions: Solve as many questions as possible from past CAT exam papers . This helps students understand the type of questions asked and improves their problem-solving speed and accuracy.
- Solve Different Question Types: Do not stick to just one type of problem. Practice various kinds of series questions, including those with different difficulty levels. This prepares students for any question pattern they might see in the exam.
- Focus on Accuracy: While practicing, aim for correct answers. Check solutions to understand mistakes. Building accuracy is as important as speed.
- Set Aside Study Time: Give dedicated time each week to practice this topic. Since it is considered an easy and scoring area, consistent practice can help boost the overall score in the QA section .
By preparing well for Progression and Series , students can secure easy marks in the CAT 2025 Quantitative Ability section .
