Ratio, Proportion and Variation is one of the most consistently tested QA chapters in CAT, appearing in 14 of 18 slots across 2020–2025. With an average of 1.4 questions per slot at Easy-Moderate difficulty, it contributes meaningfully to your QA score in almost every paper.
| Year | Slot | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2020 | 2 | 1 | Moderate |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2021 | 3 | 1 | Moderate-Difficult |
| 2022 | 1 | 3 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2023 | 2 | 2 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | Easy |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | Moderate |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | Moderate |
| 2025 | 3 | 2 | Moderate |
High frequency and manageable difficulty make Ratio, Proportion and Variation one of the best return-on-investment chapters in CAT QA. If you can achieve solid proficiency here, the marks contribution across multiple slots adds up significantly.
Ratio, Proportion and Variation has appeared in 14 of 18 CAT slots from 2020 to 2025, averaging 1.4 questions per slot at Easy-Moderate difficulty. It is one of the most reliably tested chapters in CAT QA.
Based on the available slot data, Ratio, Proportion and Variation has trended slightly harder in recent papers (2023–2025) compared to earlier years (2020–2021). This is not always uniform — individual slots vary — but the general pattern suggests increased difficulty.
Yes — high frequency and manageable difficulty make Ratio, Proportion and Variation a top-priority chapter. It appears in almost every slot and the questions are approachable with thorough preparation. This is one of the safest bets for marks in CAT QA.