CAT Profit, Loss and Discount is an important topic in the Arithmetic chapter of the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section of the Common Admission Test (CAT). It covers cost price, selling price, discounts and profit margins. Practising CAT Profit, Loss and Discount PYQs helps candidates understand question patterns, improve calculation speed, and identify concepts that appear frequently. Based on a five-year analysis of CAT 2021-2025, Profit, Loss and Discount accounted for 12 out of 330 Quantitative Aptitude questions, or approximately 3.6% of the questions analysed.
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The following guide covers the year-wise weightage trend, question types, where the topic fits within Arithmetic, difficulty level, and preparation strategy.
This PDF includes:
| 29 Profit, Loss and Discount questions in the PDF | 3.6% Five-year QA Share (2021-2025) |
The PDF holds 29 Profit, Loss and Discount questions from CAT 1996-2025, grouped by year and slot. Answer keys and solutions are not included.
CAT Profit, Loss and Discount PYQ Statistics (2021-2025)
The following figures represent the aggregated number of Profit, Loss and Discount questions across all three slots of CAT each year, not the count in an individual slot.
| Year | Total Questions (All Slots) | Average per Slot | Weightage in QA | Change in Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 1.00 | 4.55% | 0.00% |
| 2024 | 3 | 1.00 | 4.55% | −1.52% |
| 2023 | 4 | 1.33 | 6.06% | +4.55% |
| 2022 | 1 | 0.33 | 1.52% | 0.00% |
| 2021 | 1 | 0.33 | 1.52% | — |
| Total | 12 | 0.80 | 3.64% overall | — |
Weightage is the share of the 66 Quantitative Aptitude questions across the three slots in that year. Change in weightage is the difference in percentage points from the previous year. The busiest year for Profit, Loss and Discount across the whole PDF was CAT 2017, with 5 questions.
CAT Profit, Loss and Discount PYQ Question-Type Distribution
CAT Profit, Loss and Discount questions in the Quantitative Aptitude section can appear as Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) or Type In The Answer (TITA) questions.
Across the 15 slots of CAT 2021-2025, 8 of the 12 Profit, Loss and Discount questions were MCQs and 4 were TITA. In the full PDF of 29 questions, 24 are MCQs and 5 are TITA.
| Question Type | Questions in CAT 2021-2025 | Share | Questions in the full PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) | 8 | 66.7% | 24 |
| TITA (Type In The Answer) | 4 | 33.3% | 5 |
| Total | 12 | — | 29 |
Where Profit, Loss and Discount Fits in CAT Arithmetic
Profit, Loss and Discount accounts for 29 of the 363 questions in the Arithmetic chapter PDF, about 8.0%.
| Chapter | Questions in chapter PDF | Questions on this topic | Share of chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 363 | 29 | 8.0% |
Difficulty Level of CAT Profit, Loss and Discount PYQs
By the difficulty tag in our question bank, 18 of the 29 Profit, Loss and Discount questions are medium, 10 are hard and 1 is easy.
| Difficulty | Typical question characteristics | Preparation focus | Questions in PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Direct application of one standard formula or rule | Formula recall and accuracy | 1 |
| Moderate | Multi-step problems that need two or three ideas | Concept selection and efficient calculation | 18 |
| Difficult | Questions that combine several concepts or need case analysis | Case analysis and alternative solving methods | 10 |
How to Prepare for CAT Profit, Loss and Discount Using PYQs
Follow a three-stage preparation plan to get the most out of the question bank.
- Build conceptual clarity: Revise cost price, selling price, discounts and profit margins before attempting timed practice.
- Practise topic-wise PYQs: Solve the 29 CAT Profit, Loss and Discount questions in this PDF. Record the year and slot, your accuracy, and the time taken.
- Attempt mixed sets: Once Profit, Loss and Discount is comfortable, mix it with other Arithmetic questions. Review incorrect answers and identify whether the mistake came from concept selection, calculation, or time management.
Because Profit, Loss and Discount contributed 3.6% of the five-year QA dataset analysed, give it time in proportion to its share, and keep preparing the other QA chapters as well.
CAT QA Formula Sheet PDF
CAT Profit, Loss and Discount PYQs FAQs
Ques. How many Profit, Loss and Discount questions are asked in CAT?
Ans. Based on 2021-2025 analysis, Profit, Loss and Discount accounts for 12 out of 330 QA questions, representing approximately 3.6%. The number varies across exam years and slots.
Ques. What does CAT Profit, Loss and Discount cover?
Ans. It covers cost price, selling price, discounts and profit margins.
Ques. How can I practise CAT Profit, Loss and Discount questions PYQ topic-wise?
Ans. Solve the 29 questions in this PDF in order, noting the year and slot. Note the concepts or calculation methods you find difficult, then practise mixed Arithmetic questions under timed conditions.
Ques. Does the CAT Profit, Loss and Discount PYQ PDF include solutions?
Ans. No. The PDF contains the 29 questions with their year, slot and source question number, without answer keys or solutions.
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