Quant in CLAT

Quant in CLAT – Target a dozen from a Score (12/20)!
Its that time of the year when the plot thickens for a Class XII student. School work has reached a crescendo with the first term exams just over, and pre-boards looming on the horizon in the next couple of months. There is the typical frenzy of tuitions and unit-tests to boot.
For students aspiring for a career in law in India, these months can be crucial in boosting their preparedness, mindset and confidence – each of these key towards cracking the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) in May.
About the Quant Section
Undeniably the focus must be on the critical areas of Legal Aptitude & General Awareness – a high score in CLAT is almost directly proportional to the time spent in these months on GK!
Rarely though, is any thought given to the “Quantitative Aptitude” section; it has the least number of questions (A score or 20) in the CLAT and has the tendency of sending shivers down the spine of even the strong-willed students.
The Quant section, though, must be viewed as a score booster. It is well within the realm of the possible to be able to score at least 10-15 marks in this section with a little positivity and foresight. Easier said than done right?
Well let me break it down for you then. There are three broad chapters that populate most questions – these are number properties, word problems and arithmetic. Focus your prep on these areas and assure yourself of familiarity with at least two-thirds of the section:
Number Properties

•   Basic areas – Number classification, BODMAS, Divisibility rules, Arithmetic Identities, Exponents & Roots and Progressions
•  Advanced areas – Division, Remainders, Last Digit and Counting Multiples

In any aptitude test there are at least 3-5 questions from number properties. You should really kick yourself if you miss out on questions from the basic areas mentioned above as these will be very easy. Besides, it is usually very easy to get around these problems by using techniques such as “Plugging-in” and “Option Elimination”. Revise the classification, rules and identities every week just to breed familiarity.
Word Problems

•  Coins & Denominations, Age problems, Rate problems, Ratio Problems

These questions are typically situations described in words that can be formulated into one or more linear equations. Every test will have at least a couple of word problems - the question types vary little and can be handled with ease after repeated practice. Here as well, plugging-in and checking the options are techniques which must be top of mind when taking the test. The trick here is to treat these questions almost like an RC – read the question carefully, identify the question-type and associated variables and string them into an equation.
Arithmetic

•  Basic areas - Percentages, Averages, Partnerships, Trains, Boats and Streams
•  Advanced areas – Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Mixtures and Work

With the growing currency of corporate law, a law aspirant needs to be comfortable with commercial arithmetic that will help in understanding the business world. There can be as many as 5-8 questions from this area. About half of these are of rudimentary level and based on a single concept or formula. Arithmetic is an area where a little bit of work at this juncture will actually be extremely beneficial even later on in life.
Make your 4-week plan
As mentioned right at the start, the next month is crucial in getting a competitive edge over the multitude by starting early and preparing smartly. Devote a week to each of the three chapters mentioned above and practice questions for an hour daily. Choose a comprehensive source of practice questions that comes with detailed and meaningful explanations. Eptitude offers a comprehensive package with concept books, practice workbooks, online topic and term-tests and Full Length mock tests.
The mantra for the next month must be to practice and breed familiarity with at least 15-20 question types, and at the same time developing the habit of seeking these questions out from the Quant Section. Take a full length mock test every week – keep identifying question types which you find tough from the Quant section and address these areas at least once in your weekly plan.
And above all don’t expect miracles to happen overnight – your score will only gradually increase so the challenge is to maintain the momentum and your own motivation. All the very best!

Anand Venkatesan
CEO and Quant Mentor, Eptitude