The date of Prelims for IBPS Clerk is just a couple of weeks away and we’re sure that by now this exam would have put you on your toes for the preparation. After all there will be lakhs of aspirants vying for 7,275 vacancies.
The selection process is strenuous and so you should be prepared with all your might for the test and should have done enough practice. Taking mock tests on a regular basis gives you a look and feel of the actual exam and makes you ready beforehand.
Mock tests also highlight your weak areas which you can work and improve on. In this article we will be discussing the most scoring 5 topics of Quantitative Aptitude which you can’t afford to miss.
Data Interpretation
One of the must-asked topics, these kinds of questions come with some data in the form of line graph, pie chart, table, radar graph etc. This data is followed by a number of questions based on the data. You need to be dexterous when dealing with different type of charts, tables & graphs.
Very often these questions involve the concepts of percentages, averages and ratio so firstly have your concepts crystal-clear and secondly get a good understanding on the shortcuts of these concepts. Use approximation wherever there is a considerable difference in the values of different options.
Simplification | Approximation
Questions on simplification/approximation check the speed of your calculation while maintaining a decent accuracy and checking how good are your approximation skills. Review the tricky situations of BODMAS rule.
Make a note of how much time are you taking while solving these questions in mock tests. Ideally, you shouldn’t be taking more than 20-22 seconds to solve a question. Also, don’t forget to memorize squares of numbers up to 40 and cubes of numbers up to 20. If practiced well, these questions take less time, are scoring and you can maintain good accuracy.
Number Series
Questions on number series are based on pure logic and require the skill of putting quick combinations to see which one works. Questions can be about finding a missing number in the given series or locating a wrong number in the given series. Once again, you need to be thorough with squares of numbers up to 40 and cubes of numbers up to 20.
Keep in mind that if a number series has an increasing trend, the multiplication and/or addition operators would have been used. And division and/or subtraction factors can be in the play if the series has a decreasing trend. If the series is uneven, there can be a combination of these factors. The bottom line is that there isn’t any hard & fast rule to solve this. The more you practice, the more adept you become.
Quadratic Equation
A handful of questions are asked from this topic. Generally, two equations are given and you are asked to compare the value of variable(s) of one equation with that of the other one. The basics of solving a quadratic equation lie in multiplying the coefficient of x^2 with the constant and thinking of two numbers in such a way that their addition/subtraction is the variable of x.
You need to be extra careful since positive/negative signs are also at play here. With enough practice, you can solve these questions without picking up a pen. There are some new types of questions (for eg. involving equations with two variables and equations with coefficients as fractions) which you can practice while solving mock tests.
Quantitative Comparison
This kind of questions include two different problems, both of which you need to solve and figure out if the solution of the first problem is greater/lesser/equivalent than the answer of the other problem. Problems can be on any topic such as P&L, percentage, time, speed & distance, equations, time and work.
So, you need to be thorough with all the topics. There isn’t any specific shortcut to solve these questions. Practicing well in advance and increasing your speed without sacrificing on accuracy will help you answer these questions fast.
So these were the 5 important topics in the Quantitative Aptitude section. Remember that there is no substitute for practice. Wishing you all the best for your preparation!
