The IBPS SO Prelims exam 2021 will be held on December 26, 2021. If you want to ace this exam, you must prepare for all the subjects assessed in the exam, namely Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning and English Language, properly.
Quantitative Aptitude is assessed in the Prelims paper for all streams. Please note, Quantitative Aptitude is not tested in the Prelims exam for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari.
In this article, we are going to understand how we should approach this subject. We often hear from our students that this subject is quite challenging for them. In order to break this myth and simplify your preparation, we have put together some tips and tricks that you can use to prepare for the exam.
Recent Question Trend
Take a look at the weightage given to each topic in the last 4 years. It will allow you to draw a fair idea of the number of questions you may expect per topic this year.
| Subject | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Simplification/Approximation | 5Q | 5Q | – | 5Q |
| Quadratic Equation | 5Q | 5Q | 5Q | 5Q |
| Number Series (wrong) | 5Q | 5Q | 5Q | 5Q |
| Data Interpretation | 15Q | 20Q | 20Q | 15Q |
| Data Sufficiency | 5Q | 5Q | – | 2-3Q |
| Miscellaneous(Arithmetic) | 15Q | 10Q | 15Q | 17-18Q |
| Quantity Based Q | – | – | 5Q | – |
Tips for Quantitative Aptitude Preparation.
- Start with easy topics
- Learn shortcut Tricks
- Learn Squares up to 40
- Learn Cubes up to 20
- Learn Tables up to 20
- Learn Percentage fractions up to 20
- Practice 20 questions each of simplification/ Series/Quadratic Equations every day.
- Practice 4-5 sets of DI every day
- Touch base on all Arithmetic Chapters. The most important Arithmetic topics are Percentage, Profit & Loss, Alligation, Time and work, Time and Distance.
- Easy Arithmetic chapters: Partnership. Ages, Ration & Proportion, Average
- Be sure to also prepare topics like Number System, HCF LCM, Permutation & Combination, Mensuration and Probability. You may expect a few questions from these.
- Practice with the help of IBPS SO Prelims mock tests every week.
- Watch ixamBee’s free study videos on YouTube.
How to Approach Quantitative Aptitude in the Exam?
- Try to solve the questions you find easier before you move on to the moderate/difficult ones.
- Generally, questions asked on Approximation/ Simplification, Quadratic Equations and Number Series are quite easy. So, check if you want to attempt those first.
- Don’t spend too much time analyzing any question, particularly the number series questions. If you cannot figure out the pattern, move on and revisit the question at the end.
- DI questions can be quite time-consuming so ensure you practice them enough.
- While speed is an important component in every exam, accuracy is the deal maker. So, do not make blind guesses as wrong answers carry negative marks.
Solved Sample Questions
We have provided some solved examples for your benefit below. Please take a look.
- Simplify the following equation:
? × 18 = (3564 + 1556) ÷ 16 + 222 + (8/11) of 1320
- 98
- 60
- 91
- 65.2
- 76
Ans: a)
Explanation: 18x = (5120/16) + 484 + (8/11) × 1320
18x = 320 + 484 + 960
x = 1764/18 = 98
- What should come in place of the question mark (?) in the following number series?
16, 18, 31, 68, ?, 544
- 188
- 158
- 148
- 178
- None of these
Ans: d)
Explanation: *1+2, *1.5+4, *2+6, *2.5+8, *3+10…………
- 1/5th of the voters promised to vote for Kishan and the rest promised to vote for Karan. Of these, on the last day 30% of the voters went back on their promise to vote for Kishan and 20% of voters went back on their promise to vote for Karan, and Kishan lost by 500 votes. Then, the total number of voters is?
- 50000
- 1250
- 4375
- 16000
- None of these
Ans: b)
Explanation:
Let x be the total number of voters
Voters promised to Kishan = x/5
Voters backed out = 30% of x/5
Voters promised to Karan = 4x/5
Voters backed out = 20% of 4x/5
Total No. of votes for Kishan = x/5 – 30% `xx` x/5 + 20% `xx` 4x/5 = 30x/100
Total No. of votes for Karan = 4x/5 – 20% `xx` 4x/5 + 30% `xx` x/5 = 70x/100
70x/100 – 30x/100 = 500
x = 1250
- Read the given statements and compare the two given quantities on it basis.
The cost price of a belt is Rs 100. A shopkeeper sold them after giving two offers at two different marked prices of the belts.
Quantity I: What is the marked price of a belt? If A shopkeeper gives 43% discount on the marked price and 1 belt free with 1.5 dozen belts bought and still gains 62%.
Quantity II: How much profit would he make on selling the belt at marked price? If after giving the discount of 35 Rs, a shopkeeper makes a profit of 70%.
- Quantity I > Quantity II
- Quantity I < Quantity II
- Quantity I ≥ Quantity II
- Quantity I ≤ Quantity II
- Quantity I = Quantity II or relation cannot be established
Ans: a)
Explanation:
Quantity I:
MP x (57/100) x (18/19) = (162/100) x CP
MP = 3 x CP
MP = 3 x 100 = Rs. 300
Quantity II:
MP – 35 = (170/100) x 100
MP = 170 + 35 = 205
Profit made on selling at MP = 205 – 100 = Rs 105
Quantity I> Quantity II
- There are three categories of jobs: HR, CA and PA. The average salary of the student who got the job of HR and CA category is 15 lakhs per annum. The average salary of student who got the job of CA and PA category is 44 lakhs per annum and the average salary of those students who got the job of HR and CA category is 34 lakhs per annum. What is the average salary of all three categories of jobs? (in lakhs per annum)
- 21.67
- 31
- 33
- 25
- None of these
Ans: b)
Explanation:
Let the salary of students who got the jobs of HR, CA and PA categories are A, B and C respectively.
The average salary the student who got the job of HR and CA category = 15 lakh per annum
i.e. (A+B)/2 = 15 lakh per annum
therefore, A + B = 15 × 2 = 30 lakh per annum……..(i)
the average salary the student who got the job of CA and PA category = 44 lakh per annum
i.e. (B+C)/2 = 44 lakh per annum
therefore, B + C = 44 × 2 = 88 lakh per annum………(ii)
the average salary the student who got the job of PA and HR category = 34 lakh per annum
i.e. (C+A)/2 = 34 lakh per annum
therefore, C+ A = 34 × 2 = 68 lakh per annum…………(iii)
Adding (i), (ii) and (iii)
2(A+B+C) = 30 + 88 + 68
2(A+B+C) = 186 lakh per annum
A+B+C = 93 lakh per annum
Which means total salary of HR, CA and PA is equal to 93 lakh per annum
Average salary of HR, CA and PA = (A+B+C)/3 = 93/3 = 31 lakh per annum
Take a look at more such questions for in ixamBee’s IBPS SO Previous Year Papers.
Practice Question
I. Study the information carefully to answer the questions that follow.
A shopkeeper purchased glasses and vases in the ratio of 11:9. After opening the box, he noticed that some of the vases and glasses were broken. The ratio of the number of broken articles to that of unbroken articles was 1:2 and the ratio of unbroken vases to unbroken glasses was 2:7. Total number of articles he purchased was 540.
- Number of broken glasses is approximately what percent of the number of broken vases?
a) 12
b) 8
c) 10
d) 16
e) None of these
2. What is the ratio of the number of unbroken vases to the total number of unbroken items?
a) 2:9
b) 9:2
c) 2:7
d) 3:2
e) None of these
3. What is the difference between the number of unbroken vases and the number of unbroken glasses?
a) 120
b) 200
c) 210
d) 100
e) None of these
II. Ram, Ankit and Shivam together can do a piece of work in 10/3 days. Ram could do it alone in 6 days and Ankit could do it alone in 12days. In how many days could Shivam do it alone?
a) 10 days
b) 20 days
c) 15 days
d) 25 days
e) None of these
III. The price of wheat has increased by 35%. Nikhil has decided to spend only 8% more than what he initially did on buying wheat. What is the percentage decrease in Nikhil’s wheat consumption?
a) 20%
b) 32%
c) 28%
d) 10%
e) None of these
Looking for the answers? Find the answers to these 3 questions in ixamBee’s IBPS SO Prelims mock test #1
IV. What will come in place of the question mark (?) in the following question?
19 × ? =361 ÷ 19
a) 5
b) 3
c) 4
d) 1
e) None of these
- How much time does a train 100 metres long running at the speed of 72 km/hr take to cross a bridge 180 metres in length?
a) 22 seconds
b) 14 seconds
c) 28 seconds
d) 12 seconds
e) None of these
Find the answers to questions 4 and 5 in ixamBee’s IBPS SO Prelims mock test #2
Team ixamBee wishes you the very best!
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