5 Must Do Topics of Quantitative Aptitude for IBPS PO Prelims

How to clear Quant Section Cut Off in IBPS Exam

Here we will share with you some most important and must do topics of Quantitative Aptitude Section for IBPS PO Prelims 2017 Exam. IBPS PO Recruitment exam have 3 major sections/subjects- Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. Quant section will have 35 questions out of a total of 100 questions in the IBPS Preliminary paper. You have to manage time of 1 hour yourself, and thus you must practice enough to complete quantitative aptitude section within 25 minutes. For this, you must practice these must-do 5 most frequently asked topics in Quantitative Aptitude section of Bank recruitment exams.

The sectional cut off for Quantitative Aptitude Section in 2015 and 2016 were 7.75 and 8.25 respectively. The first and most basic tip to help you clear quantitative aptitude section’s cut off is that you should work on your calculation speed. If you want to score in Maths you know you must calculate faster. In fact, this section is most scoring if you have practiced enough as you cannot be sure of your answers in language section and you might trip while solving puzzles but whereas questions of arithmetic are concerned you can be sure if you can solve it, if your answer is right or not.

1. Simplification & Approximation

Level: Easy

Expected No. of Questions: 3 – 5

Mental calculation sharpens the mind and increases mental agility and intelligence, enhancing the precision of thought. To save time and to score in quant make sure you are good enough to solve a question of simplification or approximation in a minute. These questions are your escape routes that will help you clear quant cut off in case of a tough paper.

Simplification (Practice Quiz)

Directio: Simplify the given question and identify what value should come in the place of question mark (?) in the questions given below?
Q. 3.5% of 40 + 3.5% of 80 = ?% of 10
(a) 49
(b) 56
(c) 64
(d) 66
(e) 42


Approximation (IBPS PO Pre 2016, SBI PO Pre 2017, IBPS PO Mains 2016)

Direction: What approximate value should come in the place of question mark (?) in the questions given below?
Q. 23.001 × 18.999 × 7.998 = ?
(a) 4200
(b) 3000
(c) 3500
(d) 4000
(e) 2500

2. Number Series

Level: Easy- Moderate

Expected No. of Questions: 5

Practice enough to be able to solve a question of Number Series within 30-50 sec. With adequate practice and faster calculation speed you’ll be able to easily identify the trick or pattern of Number Series questions. In case it takes too long for you to get to the pattern of series, then during exam you may skip that question. Learn Tables, squares, cubes, sq. roots and cube roots.

Missing Number Series (SBI PO Prelims 2017, IBPS Clerk Mains 2016, IBPS PO Prelims 2016)

Direction: What will come in place of the question mark (?) in each of the following series?
Q. 14, 8, 9, 14.5, 30, ?
(a) 75
(b) 76
(c) 60
(d) 65
(e) None of these

Wrong Number Series (IBPS PO Mains 2016)

Direction: Find the wrong term in the following series.
Q. 33, 39, 56, 85, 127, 185, 254
(a) 39
(b) 254
(c) 185
(d) 85
(e) 56

3. Inequality

Level: Moderate

Expected No. of Questions: 3 – 5

SBI last year introduced a new type of Inequality based on two quantities and the same has been seen to surface in this years’ SBI PO exam as well. There are high chances that you might face it in IBPS PO seeing the changes in pattern. Apart from the new type you must also practice enough to master to solve quadratic equations. This topic is relatively easier.

New Pattern Inequality (SBI PO Mains 2017 and IBPS PO Mains 2016)

Q. There are 63 cards in a box numbered from 1 to 63. Every card is numbered with only 1 number.
Quantity I: Probability of picking up a card whose digits, if interchanged, result in a number which is 36 more than the number picked up.
Quantity II: Probability of picking up a card, the number printed on which is a multiple of 8 but not that of 16.
(a) Quantity I > Quantity II
(b) Quantity I < Quantity II
(c) Quantity I ≥ Quantity II
(d) Quantity I ≤ Quantity II
(e) Quantity I = Quantity II or No relation

Quadratic Equation (IBPS PO Prelims 2016)

Direction: Two equations (I) and (II) are given. You have to solve both the equations and give answer
Q. I. 3x² – 22x +7 = 0
II. y² – 15y + 56 = 0
(a) if x > y
(b) if x ≥ y
(c) if x < y
(d) if x ≤ y
(e) if x = y or relationship between x and y cannot be established

4. Data Interpretation

Level: Moderate-Difficult

Expected No. of Questions: 15-20

Data Interpretation is a major part of Quantitative Aptitude section for any banking exam.  Following are the type of DI that you must practice for IBPS exams

1. Pie Charts (Practice Quiz)

2. Line Graph (Practice Quiz) 

3. Bar Graphs (Practice Quiz)

4. Tabular (Practice Quiz)

5. Radar DI

6. Caselet DI (Practice Quiz)
7. Missing DI (Practice Quiz)

As IBPS has picked up on SBI’s exam pattern it will be a wise decision to also have a good look at the changes seen this year in SBI PO exams. Quant section in SBI PO had a big change where SBI introduced Arithmetic Topic based Data Interpretation questions in Mains Exam. Usually, DI were based on concepts of Percentage, Average, Ratio but this time in SBI PO Mains 2017 DI was based on Time and Work and Profit and Loss. So be prepared with the new pattern as well as with the conventional one.

5. Arithmetic Questions (Word Problem)

Level: Moderate-Difficult

Expected No. of Questions: 10

For word problems, you need to prepare and practice the arithmetic portion of quant. This part may include various chapter – Profit and Loss, Average, Ratio and Proportion, Speed Distance & Time, Time and Work, Probability, Pipes and Cistern, Permutation and Combination, Compound Interest and Simple Interest. The best possible way to tackle these is practice and attempt questions of those topics you are confident and comfortable in. Try not to spend more than 2 minutes on a word problem. These can kill your time so you must be strict with your time management.

5 Must Do Reasoning Questions for IBPS PO Prelims

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