Let’s be honest—if you’re reading this, you’re either:
- Procrastinating in Olympic-level fashion and just realized the exam is around the corner.
- A chill genius who always preps last-minute and somehow aces it (teach us, senpai).
- Or someone in panic mode, trying to salvage the Logical Reasoning (LR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections before they tank your CMAT score.
Whatever your vibe, breathe. You’re not alone, and no, it’s not too late.
CMAT isn’t JEE-level brutal, but it’s no cakewalk either. It’s like that quiet kid in class who looks harmless but surprises you in finals.
And Logical Reasoning & Quant? Those two can make or break your percentile if you mess around. So let’s not mess around.
Here’s your no-bs, last-minute cheat sheet to not just survive but actually score well in LR and QA—without losing your mind.
Table of Contents
Quick Reality Check: What You’re Dealing With
Before diving into the tips, let’s quickly decode the battlefield:
Logical Reasoning (20 Questions)
- Topics: Blood relations, coding-decoding, syllogisms, arrangements, series, assumptions, puzzles, etc.
- Vibe: A mix of speed and pattern recognition. Not exactly tough, but twist-happy.
Quantitative Aptitude (20 Questions)
- Topics: Arithmetic (the GOAT), geometry, algebra, number system, modern math.
- Vibe: Looks easy on paper, but one dumb mistake and… bye-bye accuracy.
CMAT is speed-based, with no sectional time limit. You’ve got 180 mins for 100 questions, which means around 1.8 mins per question. But don’t do that math right now. Focus.
Tips for CMAT Logical Reasoning — The Smart Way
Let’s be honest: Nobody becomes Sherlock in 24 hours. But with the right hacks? You can fake it convincingly.
1. Blood Relations: Your Daily Soap Opera Skills Help
- Visualize like a family tree. Seriously. Draw arrows if needed.
- Keywords like maternal/paternal, niece/nephew—get comfy with them.
- Common trick: They love throwing reverse relationships. Don’t panic.
📌 Last-minute Hack:
Practice 5 blood relation sets with pen & paper. You’ll get the hang of it fast.
2. Syllogisms: Not as Scary as It Sounds
- Use Venn diagrams for clarity (unless you enjoy confusion).
- Focus on conclusions that must be true, not might be.
📌 Hack:
Use “Some + Some = Nothing definite” logic. Saves time and prevents silly mistakes.
3. Series, Coding-Decoding & Number Puzzles
- These are patterns. If you don’t see it in 20 seconds—skip and come back.
- Trust your instinct; your brain is smarter than you give it credit for.
📌 Crash Code:
- Odd-Even sequences
- +1/-1 or ×2/÷2 progressions
- Alphabet positions (A=1, Z=26)
Just scribble and decode like you’re breaking into NASA.
4. Statement-Conclusion & Assumptions: Don’t Overthink
- They’ll mess with your head. Read slowly.
- Ask yourself: “Is this conclusion guaranteed?” If not—eliminate.
📌 Quick Tip:
Go with the literal meaning. Don’t bring in your personal opinions or real-world logic. CMAT logic is often emotionally dead.
Tips for CMAT Quant: The Real “Do or Die” Section
Math haters, I see you. But we’re not running—we’re sniping the easy marks first.
1. Arithmetic is Bae
- Focus on:
- Time-Speed-Distance
- Profit & Loss
- Ratio-Proportion
- Percentages
- SI & CI
- Averages & Mixtures
These make up at least 40–50% of QA most years. They’re formula-based and manageable even with sleepy brains.
📌 Revise:
One formula sheet. One glance. That’s all you need right now. If you don’t have one, make one now. Like, right now.
2. Geometry & Mensuration: Doable if Visual
- Don’t go deep into properties now.
- Focus on basics: area, perimeter, volume formulas.
- Know how to draw and label figures fast.
📌 High-Reward Tip:
Cylinders and spheres show up often. Revise their volume/surface area stuff.
3. Number System: Don’t Get Stuck
- These can be weird. Divisibility, remainders, LCM-HCF type.
- If it takes more than 90 seconds—leave and come back.
📌 Hack:
Last digit, unit digit, or factor-based logic—use only if you’re confident. Don’t experiment during exam time.
4. Data Interpretation (DI)
- Comes under Quant but is half LR vibes too.
- Expect bar graphs, tables, pie charts.
- Focus on calculation speed and approximation.
📌 Mental Math Hack:
Round off smartly. Don’t multiply 179 × 27 in your head. Use 180 × 27 or break it into manageable chunks.
The “Don’t Do This” List (Trust Me, I Tried)
- Don’t try to learn new topics now. You’ll just waste time.
- Don’t solve 50 questions back to back without reviewing mistakes.
- Don’t obsess over one tough topic. It’s like arguing with a wall.
- Don’t compare yourself to that one friend who finished all mocks. They probably cried last night too.
The 2-Hour Power Drill (The Only Plan You Need Now)
If you’ve got just 2 hours left today, here’s what you do:
Hour 1:
- Revise Arithmetic Formulas
- Solve 5 QA questions from each core topic
- Skim DI and practice 1 graph set
- Review 3 LR topics (syllogism, blood relation, arrangements)
Hour 2:
- Take 1 section-wise mock (just QA + LR)
- Time yourself
- Check your accuracy and revise ONLY the ones you got wrong
- Chill. Don’t spiral.
📌 Pro tip: Use stopwatch, not timer. Feels less aggressive.
“But What About Accuracy?” (Glad You Asked)
CMAT has no negative marking, so yes—attempt all questions. But don’t randomly bubble.
Use educated guessing:
- Eliminate obvious wrong ones.
- Choose between 2 remaining.
- Mark and move on.
Even a 50% accuracy in guessed questions = bonus marks with zero risk.
How Toppers Game the System (Without Studying 24/7)
- Focused last-minute revision > random new topics
- Prioritize speed over perfection
- Stick to your strengths
- Don’t fall for the trap of panic-prepping
Honestly, CMAT rewards clarity and calm, not cram-and-choke.
Quick Summary — Your Last-Minute CMAT Lifeline
✅ Prioritize Arithmetic in Quant
✅ Stick to basic reasoning types in LR
✅ No overthinking in Syllogisms & Statement-Conclusion
✅ Take 1 sectional mock with timer
✅ Revise from your formula notebook (or cheat sheet)
✅ Don’t aim for 100% accuracy—aim for high attempts with decent hit rate
✅ Stay cool—it’s just one exam, not a personality test.
Heads-Up: CMAT Scoring Basics (FYI)
- Each question = 4 marks
- No negative marking (this year)
- 100 questions total (25 each in 4 sections)
- Good attempt = 80+ with 85%+ accuracy = Great percentile
- Safe zone score = 300+ for top B-schools
TL;DR — Your CMAT Prep at Warp Speed
- LR: Focus on blood relations, series, assumptions
- QA: Prioritize arithmetic, revise key formulas
- No new chapters now
- Use logic + educated guesses
- Take one timed drill before sleeping
- Breathe. You got this.
That’s It. Now Close This Tab and GO Prep.
Unless you want to reread this because reading this feels more productive than actually prepping (we’ve all been there). But seriously, stop scrolling.
Or chill for 5 more minutes. I won’t tell anyone.
What’s the weirdest logical reasoning question you’ve ever seen in an exam? Drop it in the comments—I need a new reason to laugh at 3 a.m.
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