(Image courtesy: Luis Argerich)

Quantitative ability and data interpretation questions make CET a speed game. Getting a good accuracy in this part of the paper is not that difficult a task, doing it quickly is. The time saved while solving these kind of questions can be utilised for solving other questions which require some thought (Visual Reasoning, Parajumbles, etc.). With a weightage of around 25-40 questions, time saved here can help you get a better accuracy and also, help you solve a few more questions than you normally would.

There are various methods you can use to save time. All of these cannot be defined and are based primarily on instinct. A few which are tangible and used commonly in entrance tests would be:

Option elimination

This is an age old technique which almost all of you would be familiar with. Looking for the last digit of an equation, calculating the approximate values et al are the tricks to be used.

For example, say you are asked to find 3257+568944-69963-9863+56, you can calculate the last digit to be 1. If there is only one option ending with 1, you mark that one. If there are two options which end with the same digit but are far apart, you can use a bit of approximation. Now, 569000+3000-10000-70000 would be around 492001. So, you can mark the closest option. The original answer in this case would be 492431.

Approximations

There is a set commonly seen in CET papers, where in, you have to solve an equation and then calculate the approximate value. In such kind of questions, you have to use approximations right from the start. Say for example, one of the parts of the equation contains square root of 225.06, you have to take it as 15 and proceed with the equation. The answer options are fairly distinct and so, taking an approximation would not affect your choice by much.

Is it necessary to learn Vedic Maths now?

Well, knowing Vedic maths and being comfortable with it is an asset for sure. It might save you the extra 3-4 seconds. But it is better to know Vedic maths properly than just in bits as incomplete knowledge can get you into more trouble. In fact, with such high stakes, you might actually end up solving the same thing again just to cross-check if whatever you have done by your newly learnt method is indeed correct. The thing here would be to stick to the method you are comfortable with. A comfortable method would be one which you’ve been using for the last few months, if not years consistently. There is little use learning a new technique in these last few days.

Equating various operations

In these type of questions, there will be five operations provided, four of which, will give the same result and one will be different. The candidate is expected to spot the odd one out. It is not required to solve all the five options. Once you get two different resultant values, you can spot the easiest equation, solve it and eliminate the other option without even checking for the other two options. It is not necessary that the first two options you check should be different but, this strategy gives you a better chance of reaching the answer faster.

The things you need to know for this type of questions are:

1. (a+b)^2=a^2+2ab+b^2

2. (a+b)(a-b)=a^2-b^2

3. (a+b)^3=a^3+3ba^2+3ab^2+b^3

4. a^3+b^3=(a+b)(a^2-ab+b^2)

5. a^3-b^3=(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)

6. (a+b+c)^2=a^2+b^2+c^2+2(ab+bc+ac)

7. a^3+b^3+c^3-3abc=(a+b+c)(a^2+b^2+c^2-ab-bc-ca)

Data Interpretation caselets

These are usually not the difficult ones, compared to those in the other entrance tests they figure in. Most of the time, there would be a single graph to be interpreted and calculated. The numbers are whole numbers most of the time and the options are unambiguous. So, all these things make DI sets a cakewalk for the aspirants. There is little to differentiate between two candidates in these questions. Almost everyone attempting these questions will get them right. Again, the emphasis would be on the time taken to solve these questions.

There can also be basic table-based DI sets to be solved. In these questions, you have to be careful about what is asked. It is advised to solve the questions carefully and not lose marks due to carelessness. The options would be carefully placed so as to entice candidates into committing errors.

The topic-wise questions commonly seen from the following areas are:

Permutations and combinations and probability

Singlets are rarely seen in these type of questions. The questions can be on linear or cyclic arrangement and are straightforward if you have practised enough.Things to know are basic formulae for finding the number of permutations and combinations. Also, there might be questions on finding probability of mutually exclusive events and collectively exhaustive events. Just practise these type of questions from mocks and it would help you get familiar with the topic.

Time, speed, distance and Time and work

Again, easy topics and easy questions. Nothing out of the ordinary is asked. Relative motion might be asked in time, speed and distance type. Time and work is again of a very basic level. The only thing you have to be careful of is to read the question carefully. There can be a few traps designed into these questions.

Sets and Venn diagrams

Nothing different from what is commonly asked. The only major formula to remember would be

n(A U B)=n(A)+n(B)-n(A n B)

A basic knowledge of how to work around with Venn diagrams should be enough to tackle these type of questions. Also, you need to be well-versed with the usage of complement of a set.

Averages, mixtures and alligations

Simple questions on averages which can be designed in any format can be asked. Similar goes with mixtures and alligations. If you have done your basics well, you can easily crack these kind of questions.

Simple interest and compound interest

Again, knowing the formula and being comfortable with the various sub-types would help solve these questions. The calculations aren’t that difficult and you can get a cent-percent accuracy in these questions.

Percentages

If not individual questions, there can be questions which are word-based and require finding the answer. In order to tackle such questions, you have to be well-versed with the basic percentages and fractions.

Ratio and proportion

These questions can again range from direct questions to word-based questions. Commonly-asked questions would be on profit shares based on investment and similar types.

Calendars and clocks

Here, you have to be thorough with the concept of leap years. Also, you can easily calculate the particular day of the week based on the concept that, the 365 days of a year would give 52 weeks and 1 day. So, the day corresponding to the same date would be pushed by one in a normal year and by two in case of a leap year.

For clock based questions, you have to be clear about the speeds of the hour and minute hands and the distance (in degrees) travelled by both of them in the course of a minute and an hour.

Strategy

The only strategy here would be to crack the logic of the question in the first attempt and following a predetermined course of action. Cracking the logic of a question comes with experience. The second part too needs practice. You have to have a definite method to crack a question and be so well-versed with it that you can solve the question subconsciously. These things can help build up a good speed. Also, you need to be a bit careful while solving the questions and be sure of what is asked. Accuracy is never a problem in these questions but speed is. Once you get exposed to many types of problems and if you have a method, you can solve questions a lot more quickly, than in normal circumstances.

All the articles posted on CET 11 prep can be accessed through this link.

Cracking Maharashtra CET 2011

Any suggestions for what the next article should focus on are welcome. You can mail me on [email protected]