CAT Simple and Compound Interest is an important topic in the Arithmetic chapter of the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section of the Common Admission Test (CAT). It covers interest calculations, growth and compounding. Practising CAT Simple and Compound Interest 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, Simple and Compound Interest 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:
| 21 Simple and Compound Interest questions in the PDF | 3.6% Five-year QA Share (2021-2025) |
The PDF holds 21 Simple and Compound Interest questions from CAT 1991-2025, grouped by year and slot. Answer keys and solutions are not included.
CAT Simple and Compound Interest PYQ Statistics (2021-2025)
The following figures represent the aggregated number of Simple and Compound Interest 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 | 2 | 0.67 | 3.03% | −1.52% |
| 2024 | 3 | 1.00 | 4.55% | +1.52% |
| 2023 | 2 | 0.67 | 3.03% | −1.52% |
| 2022 | 3 | 1.00 | 4.55% | +1.52% |
| 2021 | 2 | 0.67 | 3.03% | — |
| 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 Simple and Compound Interest across the whole PDF was CAT 2024, with 3 questions.
CAT Simple and Compound Interest PYQ Question-Type Distribution
CAT Simple and Compound Interest 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, 9 of the 12 Simple and Compound Interest questions were MCQs and 3 were TITA. In the full PDF of 21 questions, 11 are MCQs and 10 are TITA.
| Question Type | Questions in CAT 2021-2025 | Share | Questions in the full PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) | 9 | 75.0% | 11 |
| TITA (Type In The Answer) | 3 | 25.0% | 10 |
| Total | 12 | — | 21 |
Where Simple and Compound Interest Fits in CAT Arithmetic
Simple and Compound Interest accounts for 21 of the 363 questions in the Arithmetic chapter PDF, about 5.8%.
| Chapter | Questions in chapter PDF | Questions on this topic | Share of chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 363 | 21 | 5.8% |
Difficulty Level of CAT Simple and Compound Interest PYQs
By the difficulty tag in our question bank, 16 of the 21 Simple and Compound Interest questions are medium, 5 are hard and 0 are easy.
| Difficulty | Typical question characteristics | Preparation focus | Questions in PDF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Direct application of one standard formula or rule | Formula recall and accuracy | 0 |
| Moderate | Multi-step problems that need two or three ideas | Concept selection and efficient calculation | 16 |
| Difficult | Questions that combine several concepts or need case analysis | Case analysis and alternative solving methods | 5 |
How to Prepare for CAT Simple and Compound Interest Using PYQs
Follow a three-stage preparation plan to get the most out of the question bank.
- Build conceptual clarity: Revise interest calculations, growth and compounding before attempting timed practice.
- Practise topic-wise PYQs: Solve the 21 CAT Simple and Compound Interest questions in this PDF. Record the year and slot, your accuracy, and the time taken.
- Attempt mixed sets: Once Simple and Compound Interest 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 Simple and Compound Interest 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 Simple and Compound Interest PYQs FAQs
Ques. How many Simple and Compound Interest questions are asked in CAT?
Ans. Based on 2021-2025 analysis, Simple and Compound Interest accounts for 12 out of 330 QA questions, representing approximately 3.6%. The number varies across exam years and slots.
Ques. What does CAT Simple and Compound Interest cover?
Ans. It covers interest calculations, growth and compounding.
Ques. How can I practise CAT Simple and Compound Interest questions PYQ topic-wise?
Ans. Solve the 21 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 Simple and Compound Interest PYQ PDF include solutions?
Ans. No. The PDF contains the 21 questions with their year, slot and source question number, without answer keys or solutions.
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