IBPS RRB PO (Scale I) 2023 Prelim and Main – Preparation and Strategy for the Quantitative Aptitude Section

This section of the RRB PO Prelim exam comprises 40 Qs. The total time allotted for the Quantitative Aptitude Section and the Reasoning section is 45 minutes. There is no sectional time limit. One may allot 20-25 minutes of time for the Quantitative Aptitude section.

The Quantitative Aptitude section of the RRB PO Main exam comprises 40 Qs, but the maximum marks are 50. One may allow around 30 minutes for this section though there is no sectional time limit.

There is a negative marking scheme for both Prelims and Mains exams, where 1/4th of the marks assigned for a question are deducted for each wrongly marked response. For Prelim and Main exams, there are minimum qualifying marks for individual tests. For the main exam, just qualifying in the individual test may not be sufficient to score enough marks for getting qualified for the interview. A student should also score sufficiently high in total marks.

The students should focus on the following question types, for both Prelim and Main exams.

• Simplifications
• Approximations
• Number Series (Missing and Wrong Numbers)
• Data Interpretation
• Quadratic comparisons
• Individual quant questions on Arithmetic
• Data Sufficiency (Important for the Main exam; very rarely asked in the Prelim exam)
• Data Comparison (Important for the Main exam) 

Data Interpretation: Questions on Data Interpretation carry more weightage in the Main exam than in the Prelim exam. In the main exam, at least 50% of the questions are on Data Interpretation.

In the Prelim exam, questions on single graphs like Table, Bar Graph, Line Graph, and Single Pie chart are asked whereas in the Main exam, question types include a combination of graphs like Table + Bar Graph, Table + Line graph, two pie charts, Caselets etc. Five questions on caselet are asked almost every year. The questions based on Caselet should be attempted at the end. There is a possibility that questions on Quant-based DI like Time & Distance, Time and Work may also be asked. One must be thorough with the basic concepts of Quantitative Aptitude in order to attempt these question types accurately.

Simplifications & Approximations:

Questions based on Simplifications and Approximations are asked quite frequently in the Prelim exam and these are up to ten questions. In the main exam, no such questions were asked in the last three years. However, these may be asked anytime. These questions are easy to solve and hence, students should not skip them.

To answer the questions on Simplifications & Approximations and Data Interpretation, students should learn and practice the following:

• Multiplication Tables (20X20)
• Squares of the first 25 Natural numbers
• Cubes of the first 20 Natural numbers
• Powers of 2 (Up to 12)
• Powers of 3 (Up to 7)
• Fraction / Reciprocal values (Up to 12)
• Complements of 100
• BODMAS
• Rules of Indices
• Basic % concepts

Arithmetic Questions:

Questions here test the knowledge of a student in fundamental concepts. These questions are important for both the Prelim and the Main examinations.

Important topics include – Ages, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Time & Work, Boats & Streams, Trains, Mensuration, Simple & Compound Interest, Averages, Mixtures & Alligations, Permutations and Combinations, Probability etc.

Number Series and Quadratic Comparisons: Generally, five questions each on Number Series (Missing or Wrong No.) and Quadratic Comparisons are asked. These are important for both the Prelim and the Main examinations. Questions on Quadratic comparisons are easy to attempt. Hence the student should certainly attempt these questions. In the last three years in two of the four slots, five questions each on Quadratic Comparison were given in the Prelims exam.

Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison: Questions based on Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison are in general a part of the Main exam. These questions demand a thorough understanding of the basics and are tricky to solve. These two question types at times can be asked in the Prelim exam as well, but their difficulty level would certainly be much lower, keeping in mind the basic nature of the exam.

The following table presents a topic-wise split of question types asked in the RRB PO 2022, 2021, & 2020 exams (Prelim & Main). [This is based on the feedback given by T.I.M.E. students who have appeared for such exams earlier.]

Area (Quantitative Aptitude)	RRB PO 2022 Prelim (Comprising of all slots)	RRB PO 2021 Prelim (Comprising of all slots)	RRB PO 2020 Prelim (Comprising of all slots)	Overall (Comprising of all slots)
Data Interpretation	13 - 16 (Table, Bar, Line, Pie, Caselet)	10 – 17 (Table, Bar, Line, Double Pie, Caselet)	10 - 18 (Table, Bar, Line, Pie, Caselet)	10 – 18 (Table/Bar, Line, Caselet)
Number series	3 - 6 (Missing/Wrong)	0 – 6 (Missing/Wrong)	5 – 6 (Missing/Wrong)	0 - 6 (Missing/Wrong)
Individual Quant Questions	9 - 14	10 - 14	10 - 17	9 -17
Quadratic equations	0 - 5	0 - 6	4 - 6	0 - 6
Speed Maths	5 - 6	0 - 8	3 - 6	0 - 8
Total	40 questions	40 questions	40 questions

 

Area (Quantitative Aptitude)	RRB PO 2022 Mains	RRB PO 2021 Mains	RRB PO 2020 Mains	Overall
Data Interpretation	15(Table, double Pie, Caselet	15 (Table, Line, Caselet)	20 (Table + Pie - 5 Qs, Table (Missing Data) - 5 Qs, Caselet (Profit & Loss based) - 5 Qs, Caselet - 5 Qs)	15 – 20 (Missing Table + Bar graph + Pie-Chart + Caselet)
Number series	4	4 (Missing No)	5 (Missing No)	4 – 5
Individual Quant Questions	9	11	10	9 – 11
Quadratic equations	5	5	0	0-5
Data Sufficiency	4(2 stmt)	0	5 (3 stmt)	0 – 5
Data Comparison	0	5 (2 Qty)	0	0 – 5
Speed Maths	3	0	0	0 - 3
Total	40 questions	40 questions	40 questions

Strategy & Time Management:

To maximise the score and to manage time effectively, we recommend the below-mentioned plan for attempting questions.

It is advisable to attempt questions on - Simplifications & Approximations, Number Series, Quadratic Comparisons, and Individual questions on Arithmetic, Data Comparisons and Data Sufficiency - first, in the same sequence, before moving on to those on Data Interpretation.

Questions on Data Interpretation should be attempted at the end. Among these questions, Quant-based DI and Caselet-based questions should be attempted last.

Some useful Tips:

• Going through the Analyses of previous years’ papers will help you understand what topics were asked in the exams, the weightage of questions from each topic, the pattern of questions etc.
• Whether sectional time limit is specified or not, time management, speed, and accuracy play an important role in helping you clear your exams. Therefore, you have to work on improving your speed and accuracy.
• Practice questions daily. This will give you an edge over others, who are appearing for these exams.
• Tracking your performance on a regular basis helps you identify the areas/topics in which you are weak and need to boost up your preparation.
• Answering the questions in a particular sequence, to maximise your attempts and your score, is very important. See the order given above.
• Take ample online tests, topic-wise, as well as Mock Tests. This will help you measure your preparation levels and assist you in time management so that when you go for the actual exam, you give it a shot with confidence.

All the Best!!