Paper 3 · 100 marks · 3 hours

CA Foundation Quantitative Aptitude

The full ICAI syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude, every past paper with official Suggested Answers, and free AI-graded practice so you know exactly where you stand before exam day.

ICAI Study Material

Syllabus — Quantitative Aptitude

All 3 chapters, per ICAI's New Scheme of Education and Training.

1 Part A: Business Mathematics — Ratio and Proportion, Indices, Logarithms; Equations; Linear Inequalities; Mathematics of Finance; Permutations and Combinations; Sequence and Series; Sets, Relations and Functions; Basic applications of Differential and Integral Calculus
2 Part B: Logical Reasoning — Number Series, Coding-Decoding and Odd Man Out; Direction Tests; Seating Arrangements; Blood Relations
3 Part C: Statistics — Unit I: Statistical Representation of Data; Sampling; Measures of Central Tendency and Dispersion; Probability; Theoretical Distributions; Correlation and Regression; Index Numbers

How to study Quantitative Aptitude

Where the marks tend to concentrate

Business Mathematics (ratio & proportion, equations, permutations/combinations, sequences and series, sets/relations/functions, basic calculus) and Statistics (measures of central tendency, dispersion, correlation, index numbers, probability) together make up the bulk of the paper, in roughly comparable proportion to each other.
Logical Reasoning (number/letter series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, seating arrangements, syllogisms) is the smallest of the three sections but is a reliable, fast-scoring block if drilled.

Common mistakes to avoid

Spending too long on a single lengthy calculation instead of moving on and returning to it — this paper is time-boxed and speed compounds across 100 MCQs.
Weak formula recall under pressure for Statistics topics like correlation and index numbers, which are formula-heavy and easy to mix up.
Neglecting Logical Reasoning because it feels "less academic" — it's often the fastest section to gain marks per minute once the patterns are familiar.

How ICAI marks this paper

Quantitative Aptitude is a fully objective, MCQ-based paper with the same 0.25-mark negative-marking rule as Business Economics — wrong attempts cost a quarter mark, unattempted questions cost nothing, and there is no credit for workings since only the selected option is evaluated.

Weightage patterns are aggregated from past ICAI papers, not an official ICAI table — treat as directional guidance.

Past papers — Quantitative Aptitude

Official ICAI Suggested Answers, Examiner Comments, and Question Papers, session by session.

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