Quantitative Ability has 22 questions and 66 marks. The level is Class 10-12 maths, but the questions are built to take time, so strategy matters as much as concepts.
This analysis uses the pattern of recent papers to show where marks usually come from, so you can plan which topics deserve most of your practice time.
QA section snapshot
Topic-wise distribution (indicative)
Weightage is indicative, based on trends in recent papers. It is not an official figure and can change every year.
Difficulty pattern
Direct arithmetic and simple algebra. These are your guaranteed marks, so finish them first.
Need one or two steps. Accuracy decides your score here.
Lengthy or tricky. Attempt only if time remains.
Strategy that works in QA
- 1Spend the first 2 minutes scanning all 22 questions and mark the ones you can solve quickly.
- 2Solve the easy questions first, then the moderate ones. Skip anything that needs more than 3 minutes.
- 3For TITA questions there is no negative marking, so make an educated attempt.
- 4Use the on-screen calculator only for the final step, and do rough work on the scratch paper.
- 5Keep the last 5 minutes to revisit marked questions.
Common mistakes
- Getting stuck on one difficult question and losing 6-8 minutes
- Ignoring TITA practice and being unable to get an exact answer without options
- Skipping Geometry and Number System entirely, which loses easy marks
- Making calculation errors under time pressure
Tip: Practise with a timer from day one; speed comes from timed practice, not from learning more topics.
CAT 2026 QA Paper Analysis FAQs
How many good attempts are needed in QA for a 99 percentile?+
It changes every year, but a section score of about 40-45 marks with high accuracy is a common target. Check mock analysis for your own benchmark.
Is QA the easiest section?+
For many students yes, since it is based on school maths. But the time limit makes it harder than it looks.
More on CAT 2026
Source & Disclaimer
Official source: iimcat.ac.in
Information on this page is compiled from the official CAT notification at iimcat.ac.in and trends from earlier cycles. Dates marked Expected are estimates, not official announcements. Please confirm all details on the official website.