Dealing With Fear: Quantitative Aptitude

Syllabus:

• Percentage
• Ratio and Proportion
• Averages
• Profit and loss
• Time and work
• Time and Distance
• Mixture and alligation
• Boat and Stream
• Series
• Quadratic Equation
• Data sufficiency
• Probability
• Data Interpretation

Now you all must be thinking that the same syllabus is available everywhere and what is new in it. The answer is yes, it is no different from past year syllabus but have you ever thought that it is still hard for most of us to get more marks in the same. Yes friends, this exam is such that even if you master one subject, you will have to attempt other sections as well in order to cross the individual cut-off. But friends, the main motive is to clear both individual as well as overall cut-off in order to get selected. Below is the graph depicting the break-up of this section in the past and we can expect the same in the future.

From the above pie chart, it is evident that the DI will dominate the quant section in the exam. So it clearly suggests that you should improve your Calculating speed. It might seem silly at this point of time but can make a huge difference. You should also make a strategy to follow in the exam. Let us have a look at the previous year cut-off where the paper was a bit difficult.

IBPS PO 2014 Cut-Off
Catageory	Overall Cut-Off	Sectional Cut-Off
General	82	7
OBC	80	4
SC	70	4
ST	56	4

Strategy That One Can Follow

Step I - Go for quadratic equations first

These five questions are the easiest of all the quant section. If a student get a good grip on such questions, then he or she can easily do it within 3-4 minutes. If you are taking longer than this, then friends, start practicing because these few minutes can save you from a lot of trouble.

Step II - Go for Data Interpretation

This part is really very important from a student's point of view. For attempting DI, a student must be well versed with Average, Percentage, Ratio-Proportion and Calculating speed. This is what you need to solve DI. And those who feel like they have not practiced missing DI, we would like to say that it is no different from normal DI. So those who sees it differently have no reason to get afraid of. Out of 20 questions, 12-15 are the doable ones. This does not mean that the rest 5 are not doable. This simply means that they will take more time which we have no liberty to lose.

Step III - If time permits, go for Series or Probability or Miscellaneous

Series and Probability are one of the part of this section which can be done in less time and believe me friends, the time is the real deal in the exam. To surpass others in the exam, you should know what to leave and what to attempt. Out of 10 questions in Series and Probability, 6-7 can be done easily. Again, the time will be the factor in the exam and your attempts will depend on the difficulty as well.

The above strategy can be followed and if you feel like doing something different, then we would like to suggest that do practice it at home because doing something new in the exam may get you in trouble. This strategy depends from person to person. We would just like to say that Practical Assumption is always harsh than Theoretical Assumptions. So just hope for the best and give your 100%.