In one line: CAT Part 4: QA rewards chapter-prioritisation: arithmetic alone is ~40% of the paper, and the arithmetic-plus algebra block is two-thirds. This note maps.

QA rewards chapter-prioritisation: arithmetic alone is ~40% of the paper, and the arithmetic-plus algebra block is two-thirds. In fact, this note maps the high yield chapters, the method per family, and the 40-minute execution.

Quick Answer: QA rewards chapter-prioritisation: arithmetic alone is ~40% of the paper, and the arithmetic-plus algebra block is two-thirds. Moreover, this note maps the high yield chapters, the method per family, and the 40-minute execution.

Table of Contents.

1. Therefore, the Weight Map: Where the Marks Are
2. The Arithmetic Core
3. The Algebra Block
4. Geometry and the Remainder
5. The 40-Minute Execution
6. How Exams Probe This Topic
7. Quick Revision: One-Glance Facts

1. The Weight Map: Where the Marks Are.

• Meanwhile, the distribution (recent CATs).** Arithmetic ~40% (9-10 of 22) : percentages, ratios, profit-loss, time-work, time-speed-distance, averages-mixtures, simple compound interest. Algebra ~25-30% (6-7) : equations, inequalities, functions, logarithms, progressions, quadratics. Geometry ~15-20% (4-5) : triangles-circles-polygons-coordinate; Number theory + modern math (~10-15%)**: divisibility, remainders, permutation-combination-probability.
• The strategy consequence. As a result, a candidate who has mastered arithmetic and algebra to 90% accuracy attempts 15-17 questions — a 99-percentile ceiling — before touching geometry’s hardest theorems. Meanwhile, the “do everything equally” plan wastes the distribution.

2. The Arithmetic Core.

• Percentages-ratios (the root chapters — everything else compounds on them): fraction percentage conversions automatic (1/8 = 12.5%…). Successive change (a + b + ab/100); the multiplier habit.
• Profit-loss-discounts: the CP-SP-MP triangle; successive discounts; the dishonest merchant (false-weight) setups.
• Time-work: the LCM of days units method (work = LCM. Rates become integers) — pipes and cisterns identical with negative rates.
• Time-speed-distance: relative speed (sum/difference), trains (the length to cover rule), boats (the half-sum/half difference shortcuts), the average speed trap (never the mean).
• Averages-mixtures-alligation: the weighted average cross; replacement ((1−1/x)ⁿ).
• Simple compound interest: the difference identities; the fraction rate tables.
• In other words, the arithmetic mindset: these are 1.5-2-minute questions — if your method takes 4 minutes. Moreover, it is the wrong method; drill shortcuts, not just solutions.

3. The Algebra Block.

• Quadratics-and equations: the sum product identities; the discriminant’s nature-of roots; the max-min of quadratic expressions (completing the square).
• Inequalities-and modulus: the wavy curve (sign-chart) method; the modulus’s distance interpretation; AM-GM basics for min-max.
• Functions-graphs-logarithms: function-composition; the log identities and the domain discipline; the even-odd symmetric properties questions exploit.
• Progressions: AP-GP formulas plus the sum and difference tricks. Notably, the series telescoping patterns; the HP’s harmonic mean trap.
• Indeed, the algebra mindset: manipulation fluency — factor and simplify beats expansion every time.

4. Geometry and the Remainder.

• Geometry’s core: the triangle families (similarity, the centroid-orthocentre incentre properties, the right triangle theorems), circles (the tangent-chord angle relations. Specifically, the common tangent lengths), polygons’ area angle formulas, coordinate basics (distance-section-slope, the line pair positions).
• The strategy note. Geometry’s yield per hour is the lowest (many formulas, few questions) — master the core theorems, skip the exotic (3D-combined solids rarities) unless time permits.
• Numbers-and modern-math: the divisibility remainder rules, the HCF-LCM word problems. P&C-probability’s conditional and arrangement standard setups — the last mile chapters.

5. The 40-Minute Execution.

• Similarly, the three pass method.** Pass 1 (~15 min): the clearly solvable (your strong chapters’ standard patterns) — bank 8-10. Pass 2 (~15 min): the moderate (multi step arithmetic, standard algebra). Pass 3 (~8 min):** the remaining, with the TITA-free guess rule; the last 2 minutes for review.
• Overall, the skip trigger: no approach in 45 seconds → mark and move. Meanwhile, the 2-minute per question average is a ceiling not a floor — the 30-second solve balances the 4-minute marathon question.
• Consequently, the attempt maths: 14-16 attempts at 85-90% ≈ 99 percentile. Indeed, the −1 punishes the hopeful guess on MCQs — eliminate to two, then decide.

6. How Exams Probe This Topic.

• Furthermore, the practice regime: chapter wise drills in the weight order (arithmetic → algebra → geometry), then mixed 22-question sectionals. Meanwhile, the error-log by chapter and by error type (concept-gap vs calculation slip vs misread) drives the final month plan.
• Cross-reference: Part 5’s mock analytics and Part 6’s working professional schedule both assume this chapter priority sequence.

7. Quick Revision: One-Glance Facts.

• Arithmetic ~40%, algebra ~25-30%, geometry ~15-20%, numbers modern ~10-15%.
• LCM-units for time-work; successive change formula; wavy curve for inequalities; relative speed rules.
• Three-pass; 45-second skip trigger; 14-16 attempts at 85%+; TITA always attempted.

QA is a prioritisation exercise: arithmetic first mastery, the algebra block second, geometry’s core only third — executed in three passes with ruthless skipping. Likewise, the distribution guarantees that your best spent 100 hours are in the first two blocks. Spend them there and the 99-percentile QA score is arithmetic and algebra doing the heavy lifting.

Practice Corner: Five Weight Checks (with Answers).

1. Arithmetic’s approximate QA share? — ~40% (9-10 of 22 questions) .
2. In short, the two blocks that cover two thirds of the paper? — Arithmetic plus algebra .
3. The pass-1 mandate? — Bank 8-10 clearly solvable questions in ~15 minutes .
4. The skip trigger? — No approach in 45 seconds — mark and move .
5. The TITA rule? — Always attempted — no negative marking on TITA .

The Arithmetic Shortcut Set (One Line Each).

Successive percentage change: a + b + ab/100. Restore-original: +25% pairs with −20% (multipliers multiply to 1). Time-work: work = LCM of the days; rates become integers; outlets are negative rates. Relative speed: sum head on, difference overtaking. Average speed: total distance —total time — never the mean of speeds. Profit: the CP-SP-MP triangle with successive discounts composed by the multiplier method. Alligation: the cross gives the mixture ratio without algebra. Replacement: (1 − 1/x)ⁿ survives after n replacements of fraction 1/x. Eight lines, each worth a recurring question every year — and the reason arithmetic drills repay themselves faster than any other QA investment.

The Arithmetic-Chapters’ Worked-Deep-Dive (Two-Case-Files).

Subsequently, the profit-and dishonesty-case : the merchant-sells-at cost-but uses-a-900-g-weight-for a kg — the gain = 100/900 = 11.11% (the false-weight’s formula: the error over the true-weight). In other words, the successive-markup-and discount’s composition (the 60%-markup and the 25%-discount = 1.6 ×0.75 = the 20%-gain). And the two-discounts’ equivalence (the 20%-and the 20%’s single-discount-36% — the a plus-b-plus-ab-over hundred’s application with the sign-caution). the case’s lesson: the profit-family’s every question is the CP-SP-MP-triangle’s multiplier arithmetic — the three points and the two-paths’ discipline. Notably, the time-speed-distance’s exam-classics : the late and the early case (the 4/5-speed’s-10-minutes late → the usual-40-minutes — the time-ratio’s inverse). The two-trains’ meeting point (the distance-proportional to the speeds — the 300-km and the 3:2 → the 180 and the 120). The effective-speed of the stream’s combined cases (the up and the down’s total time the harmonic-mean’s disguise). And the relative-speed’s overtaking (the 5-m/s and the 4-m/s’s difference the 100-m-train’s-100-seconds). the family’s common-thread: the multipliers and the ratios-first, the equations-never — the candidate-who equations the TSD-loses-90-seconds-a question to the one-who-ratios it.

The Geometry-Decision (The Honest-Costing).

the geometry-chapter’s investment-mathematics: the ~4-5-questions’ yield against the ~40-hours’ mastery cost (the theorems’ bank: the triangles’ similarity-and centres. In fact, the circles’ tangent-and chord; the polygons’ area and angle-formulas; the coordinate’s line-and circle) — versus the arithmetic-and algebra’s-~16-18-questions for the ~60-hours. the strategy’s honest-bifurcation: the engineering-and maths-background (the geometry’s school fresh — the 20-hours’ refresh and the 4-questions’ near-banked) versus- the commerce-and arts-background (the geometry’s cold — the ~4-questions’ expected-yield-2 — the hours-better in the algebra’s logs-and functions). the decision-rule: the geometry’s core theorems and the standard-diagrams only (the ~15-facts’ bank). Indeed, the exotic (the 3-D-combined and the locus)-never — the costing’s discipline the quant-strategy’s last-word.

The Chapter-Portfolio Review (The Weekly Rebalancing).

Treat QA chapters like an investment portfolio, rebalanced weekly: each chapter is a holding whose yield (marks per hour of drill. Moreover, from your error-log) and risk (forgetting curve decay without maintenance) determine allocation. High-yield and decaying (arithmetic’s early chapters, mastered in month one) get maintenance doses — one ten question set weekly. High-yield and underweight (the chapter whose yields are rising but whose hours lag) gets the next incremental investment. Low-yield and heavy (the geometry enthusiasm that yields two questions) gets trimmed, its hours redeployed. Specifically, the review takes ten minutes every Sunday with the error-log open. It prevents the classic imbalance: hours following preference rather than yield. Similarly, the portfolio framing’s real gift is emotional — it replaces “I should be doing more geometry” guilt with a neutral rebalancing decision. Preparation decisions made calmly are better than ones made anxiously.

Read next: SNAP Part 8: The 8-Week Plan with CAT Overlap, Exam-Ready Notes

Related exam guides.

• SNAP Part 8: The 8-Week Plan with CAT Overlap, Exam-Ready Notes.
• SNAP Part 7: GE-PI-WAT — The SIBM Interview Loop, Exam-Ready Notes.
• SNAP Part 6: Retakes — The Multi-Attempt Rule and How to Use It, Exam-Ready Notes.

Frequently Asked Questions.

What should you know about 1. The Weight Map: Where the Marks Are?

Therefore, the distribution (recent CATs).** Arithmetic ~40% (9-10 of 22) : percentages, ratios, profit-loss, time-work, time-speed-distance, averages-mixtures, simple compound interest. Algebra ~25-30% (6-7) : equations, inequalities, functions, logarithms, progressions, quadratics. Geometry ~15-20% (4-5) : triangles-circles-polygons-coordinate; Number theory + modern math (~10-15%)**: divisibility, remainders, permutation-combination-probability. The strategy consequence. Overall, a candidate who has mastered arithmetic and algebra to 90% accuracy attempts 15-17 questions — a 99-percentile ceiling — before touching geometry’s hardest theorems. The “do everything equally” plan wastes the distribution.

What should you know about 2. The Arithmetic Core?

Percentages-ratios (the root chapters — everything else compounds on them): fraction percentage conversions automatic (1/8 = 12.5%…). Successive change (a + b + ab/100); the multiplier habit. Profit-loss-discounts: the CP-SP-MP triangle; successive discounts; the dishonest merchant (false-weight) setups. Time-work: the LCM of days units method (work = LCM. Rates become integers) — pipes and cisterns identical with negative rates.

What should you know about 3. The Algebra Block?

Quadratics-and equations: the sum product identities; the discriminant’s nature-of roots; the max-min of quadratic expressions (completing the square). Inequalities-and modulus: the wavy curve (sign-chart) method; the modulus’s distance interpretation; AM-GM basics for min-max. Functions-graphs-logarithms: function-composition; the log identities and the domain discipline; the even-odd symmetric properties questions exploit.

What should you know about 4. Geometry and the Remainder?

Geometry’s core: the triangle families (similarity, the centroid-orthocentre incentre properties, the right triangle theorems), circles (the tangent-chord angle relations. Meanwhile, the common tangent lengths), polygons’ area angle formulas, coordinate basics (distance-section-slope, the line pair positions). The strategy note. Geometry’s yield per hour is the lowest (many formulas, few questions) — master the core theorems, skip the exotic (3D-combined solids rarities) unless time permits.

What should you know about 5. The 40-Minute Execution?

As a result, the three pass method.** Pass 1 (~15 min): the clearly solvable (your strong chapters’ standard patterns) — bank 8-10. Pass 2 (~15 min): the moderate (multi step arithmetic, standard algebra). Pass 3 (~8 min):** the remaining, with the TITA-free guess rule; the last 2 minutes for review. Consequently, the skip trigger: no approach in 45 seconds → mark and move. The 2-minute per question average is a ceiling not a floor — the 30-second solve balances the 4-minute marathon question.

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