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Mastering numerical reasoning for prelims exams is a vital skill that can significantly impact your overall performance. This section of competitive exams tests your ability to analyze, interpret, and solve problems involving numbers under time constraints. By employing the best strategies to improve numerical reasoning, such as practicing regularly, enhancing accuracy, and managing time efficiently, you can approach these questions with confidence. This guide offers a step-by-step approach, highlighting common mistakes to avoid and recommended resources to perfect your problem-solving skills for numerical reasoning questions in prelims..

Read on to:

✓ Learn and apply our experts’ strategies and methods for efficient question solving

✓ Learn easy ways to make shorter, faster, more accurate calculations

✓ Improve your abilities with our expert breakdown of example questions & answers

Test Anxiety & Mental Overload: How to Overcome Panic

When most people encounter a numerical reasoning question, they are overloaded by visual, numerical, and textual data. The typical reaction is panic. The thought is they must fully understand every detail at once.

This causes people to feel as if they are facing insanely ‘difficult’ or ‘complicated’ questions. However, in most cases, that is simply not the case. So remember to breathe.

When solving a numerical reasoning question, address only what’s relevant to the question. Don’t try to attack an entire army of numbers and words at once. Instead, be strategic and take on one problem or variable at a time. It is our mission to teach you how.

A few things worth noting before we dive in:

Time is everything:

There is no complex math in numerical reasoning tests. The difficulty lies in the short 45-75 seconds solving time given per question. Most of the strategies you’ll see on this page will help you shorten your solving time.

Estimation is key:

Frequently, numerical reasoning tests are presented in multiple-choice. Therefore, estimation is key and an answer close enough is good enough!

Strengthening your mental muscles is a MUST:

Forget about ‘you either have it or you don’t’. More than any other type of aptitude test, numerical reasoning crucially depends on training and practice. You train, you get better – it’s simple maths.

The format of multiple-choice questions combined with rigorous time constraints gives an advantage to those who practice seriously.

Tackling Numerical Reasoning Questions:

This is our personal ‘world-famous’ method to completely destroy most numerical reasoning questions.

It consists of 4 stages:

Detect –

what is the question asking

Observe–

separate the relevant from the irrelevant information

Focus –

focus on the relevant information and perform the necessary calculations

Eliminate and Solve –

use estimations and quick calculation methods to eliminate incorrect answers and solve the question

Solving Techniques When You Can’t Use a Calculator

Facing a test without a calculator is like facing a dragon without a sword. For such a frightening occasion, we’d like to equip you with mathematical techniques used while solving problems calculator-less. Good luck!

Note: The methods presented here may not be the most intuitive ones, but oftentimes they are easier and shorter than straightforward calculations. As with any other solving method, experiment with them and see if they suit you personally.

Multiplication by 5:

When you need to multiply a number by 5, divide it first by 2 and then multiply by 10.

Example: 168 x 5 = ?

Use the Last Digit for Multiplication

Looking at the last digit of a multiplication can help you get to the correct answer without calculating.

Example: 123 x 429 = ?

A) 50,222 B) 52,767 C) 63,448 D) 55,409

Estimate Compound Growth Without a Calculator (Advanced Technique): Use first-order and second-order elements to closely estimate growth/decrease.

Example: You put £1,500 in the bank at the beginning of 2010. How much will you have by 2020 if the interest rate is 5%?

A) £1,750.25 B) £2,225 C) £2,355.60 D) £2,443.20

Expert Tricks to Help You Avoid Unnecessary Calculations

The biggest problem that many face during numerical reasoning tests is the time limit. Learning how to draw conclusions quickly enables you to answer more questions accurately and confidently.

Ignore multiplication factors: If you multiply and then divide by the same number, it can be ignored altogether.

Example: A family’s monthly petrol expense in year 1 is £250. What will be the percentage change of their annual petrol expense in year 2 if their monthly expense is £180?

The ‘-1’ percentage calculation: If you’re looking for a change in percentage, take the ratio values and subtract one.

Example: Change = (180/250)-1 = 0.72-1 = -0.28

Create a calculation template:This might seem like a long process at first, but if you practice to perfection, it will save you valuable calculation time.

Example: In 2008, a total of 400 contracts were offered for £22,200 each. In 2009, contract value increased by 7%. In addition, there was a 25% decrease in the number of contracts.

How much more money than Buildingo did Roads do in 2009?

A. 192,543 B. 217,386 C. 321,654 D. 423,964 E. 213,786

Ten Top Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Numerical Reasoning Test

Practice as much as possible:

The first tip is the most important one: you need to practice numerical questions if you want to improve your performance.

Make a study schedule:

Making a study schedule will ensure that you stay organized and on top of things, reducing stress.

Use your preparation time effectively:

Make a schedule that reflects your time realistically, so you can use it most effectively.

Practice like it’s the real thing

Replicate the actual conditions of the test during practice.

Get used to the time restriction:

Becoming more comfortable working under time pressure will make a huge difference.

Familiarize yourself with common questions:

Get used to common equations and ways to simplify ratios and calculate percentage changes.

Research the test:

Knowing the test publisher can help you discover specific requirements.

Incorporate numerical reasoning into your daily life:

Reading publications like The Financial Times and The Economist helps.

Take care of yourself:

Stress and anxiety are major contributors to poor performance, so it’s important to relax and feel confident.

In conclusion, excelling in numerical reasoning for prelims exams requires a combination of consistent practice, strategic time management, and a clear understanding of problem-solving techniques. Focus on improving accuracy by revising concepts regularly and identifying patterns in common question types. Avoiding common mistakes and leveraging recommended resources will further enhance your preparation. By systematically working on these aspects, you can master numerical reasoning and secure a competitive edge in the prelims exam.

If your math-o-phobia monster is still haunting you, call Edzorb ASAP. We have all types of questions covered in our courses. Happy studying!

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