How CAT4 Quantitative Reasoning works
The CAT4 exam is made up of four different modules, which GL refer to as batteries.
The question types are very specific, which makes mock preparation even more valuable than other exam types. CAT4 tests are shorter and have fewer questions than other entrance exams. This may sound positive, but in reality it means that each question holds greater value and there is far less room for error. The challenge in CAT 4 is confidence and familiarity with particular question types.
Let’s take a look at Quantitative Reasoning
Firstly, it sounds a lot scarier than it actually is. That’s the case for most CAT4 questions. Once you have practised and familiarised with the question types, there are no surprises - a claim no other entrance exam can make.
There are two types of Quantitative Reasoning questions in CAT4:
Number Series and Number Analogies
Put simply, work out the missing number in this sequence.
These could be extremely simple: 3, 6, 9, 12, ? > The number is rising by 3 each time, so the answer is 15.
Or more complicated, using a variety of mathematical rules:
2, 4, 6, 10, ? > Each number is the sum of the two numbers before it, so the answer is 16.
5, 10, 20, 40, ? > Each number is doubled, so the answer is 80.
25, 36, 49, 64, ? > Here we have 5², 6², 7² and 8²; so the answer is 9² (81).
Any mathematical rules could apply (within reason), including halving, trebling or dividing.
Some things to remember
The question mark isn’t always at the end:
7, ?, 175, 875, 4375 > The number is multiplying by 5 on each occasion. Although this is less clear as the missing number (35) is the second in the sequence.
The sequence can alternate:
5, 15, 10, 20, 15, ? > Here the rule is add 10, subtract five (repeat), so the next number in the sequence is 25.
The sequence can build:
0, 6, 18, 36, 60, ? > In this sequence we are adding multiple of 6: 1x6 (6), 2x6 (12), 3x6 (18), 4x6 (24), and so on. So the answer is 90.
Almost any mathematical rule could apply:
Numbers could be dividing, multiplying, squaring, adding to the previous numbers or even adding to an arbitrary number. But, there will always be a sequence - and when you spot it - you can find the answer.
At first, Number Series can feel a little overwhelming. But with practise the rules become easier and easier to spot!.
Good news. Once you’ve become familiar with Number Series then you will find Number Analogies are very similar.
Work out the relationship between the numbers, and apply the rule.
Here’s an example:
3>9 4>16 5>? 3² is 9, 4² is 16; so the rule is to square the number. The next number is 5, so 5>? becomes 5>25, so the answer is 25.
We could multiply:
7>42 9>54 11>? Each number is being multiplied by 6, so the answer is 66.
Add/subtract:
11>130 19>138 17>? The rule here is to add 119 to the number, so the answer is 17+119, 136.
Or divide:
112>56 2110>1055 898>? Each number is dividing by 2, so the answer is 449.
Spot the pattern, solve the question!
Head over to our CAT4 pages for dedicated modules on Quantitative Reasoning and complete exams covering all the GL batteries, just like the real thing.
