Entrance Exams Decoded (Part 1) – Tackling the Quantitative Section

Entrance exams are the most crucial hurdles that a student requires to cross in the path to a successful career.

Preparing for entrance exams is often met with a lot of anxiety. Sometimes students do not know where to begin and what to expect in the exam and this often leads to them underachieving in such tests. Becoming familiar with the demands of such tests and practicing in test-like conditions can go a long way in getting accustomed to the pressures of the actual test situation.

This 2 part article will help students get oriented with the Quantitative and English sections of most entrance exams after 10+2, including Engineering or Medical entrance exams.

In this article, we attempt to de-mystify these entrance exams as we focus on:
– The important topics in Maths and English commonly seen in such exams
– Examples of types of questions within each section
– Ways to prepare along with tips on building aptitude in the said areas

THE QUANTITATIVE SECTION

This is the most crucial section in any competitive entrance exam because it is the most scoring. Since it is possible to get even a 100% in this section, students would do good to go fully-prepared.

Types of Questions in the Quantitative Section of Entrance Exams

1. Simple Arithmetic Problems: These include profit and loss, percentages, ratio, averages etc. involving simple calculations, which, with a little practice and basic aptitude, can be solved correctly.

2. Questions involving multiplication or division up to 5 or 6 decimal points: In this category of questions, if the candidate actually sets out to attempt entire calculations, he/she is sure to lose out on valuable time. With a little practice and smart strategy, candidates can easily eliminate most of the choices and arrive at the solution even without any calculations.

3. Questions testing common sense: This category of questions is aimed at testing the common sense of the candidate rather than his/her sheer ability to calculate. There is hope for all the students out there who perceive themselves to be lacking in their basic flair for numbers. Regular and consistent practice with a focused approach can go a long way in building an aptitude for these types of questions.

Popular Topics in the Quantitative Section of Entrance Exams

There are several topics/concepts in Maths that typically get tested in entrance exams.
* Geometry (Lines, Angles, Triangles, Spheres, Rectangles, Cubes, Cones etc.)
* Ratio and Proportion, Ratios, Percentages, In-equations etc.
* Quadratic and Linear equations
* Algebra
* Profit & Loss
* Averages, Percentages, Partnership
* Time-Speed-Distance, Work and Time
* Number System: HCF, LCM, Geometric Progression,
* Arithmetic Progression, Arithmetic Mean, Geometric Mean, Harmonic Mean, Median, Mode
* Number Base System, BODMAS
* Mensuration, Alligation & Mixtures
* Simple Interest & Compound Interest
* Set Theory, Venn Diagram
* Probability, Permutations & Combinations

Important Tips to Remember Here are some simple points that you need to keep in mind as you prepare for the Quantitative section in any entrance exam: 1. Check whether you can work backwards by using the alternatives instead of solving the question the classical way. Consider this example–> 2. Learn up your tables up to 20. They will help you reduce the time spent on calculation. 3. Whether you are on your way to school or are at home sitting idle, think of numbers randomly and try to perform mathematical operations on them. This will help you make calculations mentally. Remember that calculators are not allowed in most exams. 4. Work on increasing your speed without losing your accuracy. This can be achieved only with a lot of practice.

Part 2 > Tips For Verbal Section

Part 2 > Tips For Verbal Section