Master Your Interview: 25 Key Quantitative Aptitude Questions

In India, aptitude tests include a mandatory and essential component of quantitative ability. The exam evaluates not only logical and analytical skills but also numerical ability. Quantitative aptitude assesses candidates’ range of handling strategies and problem-solving abilities. Be it the CAT, GRE, GMAT, or government entrance exams such as Bank PO, Defence Exam, SSC CHSL, Railways, UPSC, and more. Various academic institutions, and esteemed organizations, in search of a talented pool conduct quantitative ability exams.

During exams and interviews, candidates are evaluated on their quantitative reasoning, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. These assessments emphasize their skills in interpreting data, performing calculations quickly, and applying mathematical concepts to practical situations. Employers and academic institutions value these skills highly, as they indicate an individual’s capability to handle numerical challenges with proficiency and efficiency. Strong quantitative aptitude skills not only demonstrate competence in mathematics but also reflect an aptitude for analytical thinking and decision-making. Therefore, candidates who excel in these areas often stand out in competitive job markets and academic admissions processes.

For aspirants trying to crack the Quantitative Aptitude, this blog provides not only a deep dive into essential topics but also valuable tips to enhance performance. From solving intricate problems to mastering time management strategies, our goal is to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in Quantitative Aptitude assessments.

Types Of Quantitative Aptitude Tests

Abstract Reasoning Test

The abstract reasoning test is a type of quantitative aptitude that assesses the mental ability to generate unique real-time ideas, understand changes in shapes and create sketches. It also tests the ability to derive logical connections between sets of data.

Numerical Test

Numerical tests assess your ability to work with numbers and make decisions based on statistical data. These tests often include questions on fractions, graphs, and other numerical information. They help employers gauge how well you handle quantitative information, solve numerical problems, and interpret data accurately. Practicing numerical tests can improve your confidence and performance in such assessments, ensuring you’re well-prepared to demonstrate your numerical aptitude and analytical skills during job applications or academic evaluations.

Verbal Reasoning Test

A verbal reasoning test is useful to test comprehension and communication skills. The candidate is asked to read a passage thoroughly, retain all the information, and then answer MCQ-based questions based on a passage. An individual’s complete presence of mind is checked during these tests.

General Aptitude Test

The general aptitude test provides a set of relevant subject questions and analyzes the strong and weak learning areas of a student, hence knowing how much they are prepared for their exams.

Logical Reasoning Test

Logical reasoning tests evaluate the ability to draw sensible conclusions from statements and information, they test students on their creative and logical thinking capability. This trait even helps to navigate through daily life without any obstructions for further.

Topics of Quantitative Aptitude

Here’s a concise description of each numerical aptitude topic:

1. Numbers – Practice problems on properties of integers, factors, and divisibility rules.
2. LCM and HCF – Solve questions involving least common multiples and highest common factors.
3. Work and Wages – Calculate work efficiency, time, and corresponding wages.
4. Pipes and Cisterns – Analyze flow rates and time taken to fill or empty tanks.
5. Time, Speed, and Distance – Master relationships between time, speed, and distance.
6. Trains, Boats, and Streams – Tackle problems involving relative speed in different scenarios.
7. Percentage – Apply percentage concepts to growth, discount, and comparison problems.
8. Ratio, Proportion, and Partnership – Solve problems involving ratios and profit-sharing.
9. Mixture and Alligation – Mix quantities and find cost or concentration proportions.
10. Algebra – Handle equations, expressions, and variable-based problems.
11. Averages – Find the mean of numbers across sets and scenarios.
12. Age Problems – Solve puzzles involving the ages of individuals or groups.
13. Profit and Loss – Calculate profits, losses, and discounts in transactions.
14. Simple Interest – Solve for interest on principal over time at fixed rates.
15. Compound Interest – Work with interest applied on both principal and accrued interest.
16. Mensuration 2D – Calculate perimeter and area of 2D shapes.
17. Mensuration 3D – Find surface area and volume of 3D objects.
18. Trigonometry & Heights and Distances – Use trigonometric ratios to measure heights and distances.
19. Progressions – Solve arithmetic, geometric, and harmonic progression problems.
20. Logarithms – Work with logarithmic operations and equations.
21. Permutations and Combinations – Handle arrangements and selections of objects.
22. Probability – Calculate the likelihood of events occurring.
23. Geometry – Solve problems on shapes, angles, and theorems.
24. Clocks – Analyze clock-based time and angle problems.
25. Calendars – Calculate day and date-based problems.
26. Coding-Decoding – Solve logic-based pattern recognition problems.
27. Races – Analyze time or distance required to win races.
28. Simplification and Approximation – Simplify complex equations for quick answers.
29. Time and Work – Manage multiple workers completing tasks together.
30. Data Interpretation – Analyze and interpret data from graphs, charts, and tables.

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

The quantitative aptitude syllabus includes various components, some of which are listed here.

Coordinate Geometry	Points, Lines, and Planes	Points, Lines and Planes
Mensuration	Ratio, Proportion & Variation	Geometric Progression
LCM & HCF	Compound Interest	Graphical Division Geometry
Factorials	Relatives Speed	Properties of Ratio
Remainder Concepts	Quantitative Aptitude Questions	Complex Numbers

Why You Should Practice Quantitative Aptitude Questions?

Quantitative aptitude boosts your mental alertness. Complex challenges are a part of the routine in the business world. Hence, a person with great quantitative skills will have a sharp mind. A person with a good quantitative aptitude can handle problems in a better way as he/she has a knack for finding solutions to problems.

Numbers play an important role in businesses and commerce. Balance sheets, investment analysis, profit and loss calculations, etc., require the individual to be comfortable with numbers. A person with a good level of quantitative aptitude will be better at the analysis and interpretation of data given.

Common Aptitude Questions for Interview For Freshers

1. On lending a certain sum of money on compound interest, one gets Rs.9050 in 2 years and Rs.9500 in 3 years. What is the rate of interest?

Answer:  Rate of interest(r):

r= (Y-X)*100/X

Y= Rs. 9500

X = 9050

On substituting values, r = 5%

2. A mother is twice as old as her son. If 20 years ago, the mother’s age was 10 times the age of the son, what is the mother’s present age?

Answer:

Let the age of the son = X years

∴age of the mother would be

=2X

As per the question 20 years

years ago;

10 (X -20) = 2X – 20

10X – 200 = 2X – 20

10X – 2X= – 20 + 200

8X = 180

X= 22.5 years

∴Age of mother = 22.5 * 2 = 45 years

3. Two numbers are in the ratio 5:4. Shreya subtracts 12 from each. The new number is in the ratio of 4:3. Find the smaller number.

Answer: Let the two numbers be 5x and 4x.
(5x – 12) ÷ (4x – 12) = 4 ÷ 3

3(5x – 12) = 4(4x – 12)
15x – 36 = 16x – 48

x = 12
The smaller number is 48.

4. What is the probability of rolling a die and showing a multiple of three?

Answer: sample space when you roll a die is:

S = (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

the probability when you roll a die is:

Total number of favorable outcomes ÷ Total number of outcomes

Probability = 2/6 = 1/3

5. A train moving at 80 km/hr speed crosses a pole in 7 seconds. Find the length of the train.

Answer:

find the distance traveled by train in 7 seconds by applying the following formula:

Distance= Speed x Time

Speed is given in Km/hr so we will convert it into m/s as answers are given in meters.

Speed=90* 5/18= 25 m/s

Time = 7 seconds

Distance = 25 * 7= 175 meters

7. A group of 15 students learning foreign languages. 7 of them have studied Latin, 8 are students of Greek, and 3 in the group have not studied either language. How many students have studied both languages?

Answer: 3

8. A right triangle with sides 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm is rotated on the side of 3 cm to form a cone. The volume of the cone so formed is:

Answer: r = 3 cm and h = 4 cm.

using 1/3(pir² h), we get 12pi cm³ as the volume

9. A clock shows 8 a.m. Through how many degrees will the hour hand rotate when the clock shows 2 p.m.?

Answer: (360*6)/12 = 180 degrees

10. How many times are the hands of a clock at a right angle in a day?

Answer: They are at 22 right angles in 12 hours.

in 24 hours, they are at right angles 44 times.

11. A country football club won 30% of the 60 games they played. Their average increased to 50%. How many games in a row did the team have to win to reach this level?

Answer: 24

12. If today is a Monday, what day of the week will it be after 61 days?

Answer: Saturday

13. A: B: C is in the ratio of 3: 2: 5. How much money will C get out of a total of Rs 1260?

Answer: C = (5/10) * 1260
money which C gets = 630

14. What is the market price of a 9% share when a person invests Rs. 4000 and gets 180?

Answer:

value of the share = Rs. 100
Dividend per share = 9

an income of Rs. 9 is obtained from an investment of Rs. = (4000/180) * 9 = 200

market price of the share = Rs. 200

15. A chef receives 60 orders of pasta, it takes 30 minutes to cook pasta and season one-third of the orders with jalapeno. find out how many pastas can the chef cook in two hours.

Answer:
60 ÷ 3 = 20
the chef completes 20 pastas in 30 minutes.

in 2 hours or 120 minutes, the chef can cook four batches.
4 x 20 = 80 pastas

16. Which of the following is the odd one?

Money notes, cheques, debit cards, coins, letters

Answer: letters

17. 3 pumps operate 8 hours a day and can empty a tank in 2 days. How many hours a day must 4 pumps work to empty the tank in 1 day?

Answer:

Let the number of working hours per day be x.

Fewer days, More working hours per day

4 x 1 x x = 3 x 2 x 8

x = 12.

18. With 7 constants and 4 vowels, find out how many words of 3 constants and 2 vowels can be formed.

Answer:

when we combine 3 consonants and 2 vowels out of 7 consonants and 4 vowels, using combinations

⁷C₃ * ⁴C₂ = = 210

Every group consists of 5 words hence the possible arrangement of the letters is 5!

Or, 5! = 120 ways.

The required number of words = 210*120 = 25200.

19. The cost of ten apples, eight kiwis, and 12 papayas is ₹240. It is given to you that the cost of eight apples, six kiwis, and ten papayas is ₹ 180. Find the cost of one apple, one kiwi, and one papaya.

Answer: let cost of apple = x, kiwi = y, papaya = z

according to the question
10x + 8y + 12z = 240
8x + 6y + 10z = 180
Solve these equations
x + y + z = 30
thus the cost of one apple, one kiwi, and one papaya is 30.

20. Find out in how many different ways can the letters of the word ‘LEADING’ be arranged in a way so that the vowels come together always.

Answer:

When the vowels EAI are always together, they can form one letter.

now we have to arrange the letters LNDG apart from (EAI).

5 i.e. (4 + 1 = 5) letters can be arranged in 5! = 120 ways.

The vowels (EAI) can be arranged in 3! = 6 ways.

hence required number of ways for our required arrangement = (120 x 6) = 720.

21. Find the odd one out in the series: 53, 59, 61, 73, 79, 87, 89

Answer: 87 because the other numbers are prime numbers, but 87 has other factors.

22. It is given that the speed of a boat in still water is 5km/hr. If the speed of the boat against the stream is 3 km/hr, what is the speed of the stream?

Answer:

Suppose the speed of the stream is X km/hr

The speed of the boat is 5 km/hr

Speed upstream is given to be 3km/hr

Speed upstream = speed of the boat – speed of the stream

3 = 5 – X

X = 5 – 3 = 2 km/hr

23. Find the value of 5^1/4 x (125)²⁵

Answer:

5^1/4 x (125)^0.25
5^1/4 × (5³ )^1/4= 5

24. How can the letters of the word “RUMOUR” be arranged?

Answer:

Required number of permutations =
Or, = 180

180 words can be formed.

25. Find how many numbers can be formed from the digits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 which are divisible by 5 in such a way that digits do not repeat.

Answer:

A number is divisible by 5 only if it ends with 0 or 5, since we don’t have 0 in the given digits that means 5 should come at the unit place.

The remaining 5 digits (2, 3, 4, 6, and 7) can come at the tens place.
In the same way, fill the hundreds place with one of the remaining 4 digits.
The thousands place can be filled by one of the remaining 3 digits.

Therefore, the required number of the numbers = 1*5*4*3 = 60.

7 Successful Tips to Solve Quantitative Aptitude Questions in Interviews

1. Clear Concepts

Concepts are the core of mathematics, and to ace your quantitative aptitude exam it is important to understand the concepts to improve your score. The main step is to practice a lot of mathematical questions, and once your grasp is strong on it, you can easily ace any question.

2. Gauge Your Strength and Weakness

In the process of test preparation for Quantitative Aptitude exams, an essential skill is the ability to recognize both strengths and weaknesses. This fundamental skill significantly enhances the preparation journey. Once students gain a clear understanding of where they need to concentrate more, they can tailor their preparation accordingly. Given that quantitative aptitude revolves around solving mathematical problems, adopting a strategic and intelligent approach is the key to success.

3. Note Down the Notes

Always make notes and summarise all formulas so that they can be revised frequently and they are of utmost importance, especially on the night before the exam. Keep in mind that grasping solutions or rote learning is not as important as understanding concepts, as only better concepts will lead to better quantitative aptitude abilities.

4. Count Your Seconds

Employers expect candidates to complete quantitative aptitude tests in a fixed time frame. So, while solving quantitative aptitude questions see the time frame and manage accordingly to answer as many questions as you can.

5. Check Your Accuracy

Keep a record of your timing and note the number of quantitative aptitude questions that you were able to answer correctly as this will keep you motivated to improve the accuracy and reduce the time, thus charting your success to keep your morale up.

6. Enhance English

Quantitative aptitude questions for interviews are nothing but a play on English grammar. In such a situation having impeccable English skills would only be an advantage for you hence, remember to brush up on your grammar.

7. Bring Your Books Out

There are books and study materials both online and offline as well as thousands of websites offering training materials for improving quantitative aptitude skills, you can join a series of online tests for better results. Not only these, but many educational institutions provide training opportunities to candidates preparing for the quantitative aptitude exams.

Suggested Reads
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Tips for Preparation

1. Practice with Sample Problems
   • Work on practice questions to get better at solving problems.
   • Use textbooks, websites, or study groups to find problems to practice.
2. Take Timed Quizzes
   • Try quizzes with a time limit to feel like you’re in an exam.
   • This helps you learn to answer questions faster and manage your time well.
3. Use Study Apps and Online Resources
   • Download study apps or visit websites that have lessons and practice questions.
   • These tools often explain things in detail and show you how you’re doing.
4. Focus on Weak Areas
   • Figure out which topics are hard for you and spend more time on them.
   • Look at your mistakes to understand what went wrong, and ask for help if you need it.

Common Mistakes during Quantitative Aptitude

Misinterpretation of Questions

• Description: Many students struggle with understanding what a question is really asking. This can lead to incorrect answers, even if the calculations are right.
• Solution: Take your time to read each question carefully. Break it down into simpler parts if needed, and make sure you understand the requirements before attempting to solve it.

Calculation Errors

• Description: Simple mistakes in calculations can cost you valuable points. These errors often occur due to rushing through problems or not double-checking your work.
• Solution: Practice basic arithmetic and check your calculations before finalizing your answers. Develop a habit of reviewing your work to catch any mistakes.

Lack of Time Management During Exams

• Description: Many students run out of time during exams because they spend too long on difficult questions or don’t pace themselves properly.
• Solution: Practice timed quizzes to get a feel for how much time you should spend on each question. During the exam, keep track of time and move on if you get stuck, returning to tough questions later if time allows.

Qualify Your Quantitative Aptitude

Preparing thoroughly for the quantitative aptitude test is crucial for success in entrance examinations. This test assesses problem-solving abilities, including cognitive skills like reasoning and decision-making, as well as tasks such as error spotting and pattern recognition. Candidates benefit greatly from practicing various types of numerical and quantitative aptitude problems and familiarizing themselves with the format of the test. By doing so, they can build confidence in their abilities and improve their readiness to tackle the challenges presented. Diligent preparation not only enhances their performance during the test but also boosts their overall chances of achieving a competitive score necessary for admission or employment opportunities.

Explore more such informational and latest resources in our Interview Tips section.

Conclusion

Mastering quantitative aptitude is a crucial skill for anyone aiming to excel in competitive exams and various professions. By gaining a solid understanding of math concepts and logical reasoning, you can confidently solve complex problems. In this article, we’ll guide you through every aspect of quantitative aptitude, offering a mix of basic and advanced concepts along with plenty of practice questions to help you prepare effectively.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)