Quantitative Ability MCQs: Percentage, Ratio, Profit and Loss Shortcuts for NTS and PPSC

Quantitative ability MCQs decide your rank in NTS, PPSC, FPSC and most job tests in Pakistan, and three topics carry most of the marks: percentage, ratio and proportion, and profit and loss. You can solve almost every question from these topics in under 40 seconds if you know the right shortcut. This guide gives you the formulas, the tricks examiners repeat every year, and solved quantitative ability MCQs with step-by-step answers, so you can practice today and walk into your test with confidence.

What Are Quantitative Ability MCQs?

Quantitative ability MCQs test your basic arithmetic and number sense. They do not ask advanced mathematics. Instead, they check how quickly and accurately you handle everyday calculations like discounts, salary increases, sharing money and business profit.

NTS GAT, NTS job tests, PPSC one-paper exams and FPSC screening tests usually include a quantitative or “basic maths” section. In NTS tests, this section often carries 20 to 30 percent of the total marks. In PPSC papers, you can expect 5 to 10 arithmetic questions mixed with general knowledge. Since every candidate faces the same time pressure, the person who knows shortcuts wins.

Why Percentage, Ratio and Profit and Loss Matter Most

These three topics connect to each other. Profit and loss questions use percentage formulas, and ratio questions often appear inside percentage problems. Once you master percentage, the other two become much easier.

Past papers also show a clear pattern. Examiners repeat the same question types, such as successive percentage change, dividing money in a given ratio, and selling two items at the same price with equal gain and loss. Learn these patterns and you cover most of the arithmetic portion of your paper.

Percentage Shortcuts and Solved MCQs

Percentage simply means “out of 100.” Keep these four shortcuts in your mind:

Shortcut 1: x% of y = y% of x. So 8% of 50 equals 50% of 8, which is 4. This trick turns hard calculations into easy ones.

Shortcut 2: Successive change. When a value changes by a% and then by b%, the net change is a + b + (ab/100). Use a minus sign for a decrease.

Shortcut 3: More than and less than. If A is r% more than B, then B is less than A by r ÷ (100 + r) × 100 percent.

Shortcut 4: Price rise and consumption. If a price rises by r%, a family must cut consumption by r ÷ (100 + r) × 100 percent to keep spending the same.

MCQ 1: What is 15% of 40?
(a) 4 (b) 6 (c) 8 (d) 5
Answer: (b) 6. Use 40% of 15, which is 6.

MCQ 2: A salary increases by 10% and then decreases by 10%. What is the net change?
(a) No change (b) 1% increase (c) 1% decrease (d) 2% decrease
Answer: (c) 1% decrease. Apply 10 − 10 − (100/100) = −1.

MCQ 3: Ali’s salary is 25% more than Bilal’s. By what percent is Bilal’s salary less than Ali’s?
(a) 25% (b) 20% (c) 15% (d) 30%
Answer: (b) 20%. Calculate 25 ÷ 125 × 100 = 20.

MCQ 4: The price of sugar rises by 25%. By how much should a family reduce consumption to keep its expense the same?
(a) 25% (b) 15% (c) 20% (d) 30%
Answer: (c) 20%. The same formula from Shortcut 4 gives 25 ÷ 125 × 100 = 20.

For more practice, solve the full set of Percentage MCQs on MCQsDrive.

Ratio and Proportion Shortcuts and Solved MCQs

A ratio compares two quantities of the same kind. Proportion means two ratios are equal. Remember these rules:

Shortcut 1: Dividing an amount. To divide an amount in the ratio a:b, add the parts, divide the amount by the total, then multiply by each part.

Shortcut 2: Combining ratios. If a:b = 2:3 and b:c = 4:5, make b equal in both ratios. Multiply the first ratio by 4 and the second by 3. You get a:b:c = 8:12:15.

Shortcut 3: Mean proportional. The mean proportional between a and b is the square root of a × b.

MCQ 5: Divide Rs. 1,200 in the ratio 3:5. What is the larger share?
(a) Rs. 450 (b) Rs. 700 (c) Rs. 750 (d) Rs. 800
Answer: (c) Rs. 750. Total parts = 8, one part = 150, larger share = 5 × 150.

MCQ 6: If a:b = 2:3 and b:c = 4:5, then a:c equals:
(a) 2:5 (b) 8:15 (c) 4:5 (d) 6:5
Answer: (b) 8:15.

MCQ 7: What is the mean proportional between 4 and 16?
(a) 8 (b) 10 (c) 12 (d) 6
Answer: (a) 8. The square root of 64 is 8.

MCQ 8: Two numbers are in the ratio 3:4 and their sum is 63. What is the larger number?
(a) 27 (b) 32 (c) 36 (d) 40
Answer: (c) 36. One part = 63 ÷ 7 = 9, so the larger number is 4 × 9.

Practice more questions in the Ratio and Proportion MCQs section.

Profit and Loss Shortcuts and Solved MCQs

Profit and loss questions use two terms: cost price (CP), the price you pay, and selling price (SP), the price you receive. Always calculate profit or loss percent on cost price, not on selling price. Many candidates lose marks on this single point.

Shortcut 1: Profit % = (Profit ÷ CP) × 100.

Shortcut 2: SP = CP × (100 + Profit%) ÷ 100, and SP = CP × (100 − Loss%) ÷ 100.

Shortcut 3: Same selling price, equal gain and loss. When a seller sells two items at the same price, gaining x% on one and losing x% on the other, he always suffers a loss of x²/100 percent.

Shortcut 4: False weight. If a dealer gives less weight but charges the full price, gain % = (error ÷ true weight given) × 100.

MCQ 9: A shopkeeper buys a watch for Rs. 400 and sells it for Rs. 500. What is his profit percent?
(a) 20% (b) 25% (c) 30% (d) 10%
Answer: (b) 25%. Profit = 100, and 100 ÷ 400 × 100 = 25.

MCQ 10: A man sells a fan for Rs. 540 at a loss of 10%. What is the cost price?
(a) Rs. 594 (b) Rs. 580 (c) Rs. 600 (d) Rs. 620
Answer: (c) Rs. 600. CP = 540 × 100 ÷ 90.

MCQ 11: A dealer sells two bikes at Rs. 9,900 each. He gains 10% on one and loses 10% on the other. What is the overall result?
(a) No profit, no loss (b) 1% gain (c) 1% loss (d) 2% loss
Answer: (c) 1% loss. Apply 10² ÷ 100 = 1.

MCQ 12: A shopkeeper uses a 900 g weight instead of 1 kg and sells at cost price. What is his gain?
(a) 10% (b) 11.11% (c) 9% (d) 12%
Answer: (b) 11.11%. Gain = 100 ÷ 900 × 100.

You can find many more solved questions in the Profit and Loss MCQs section.

Time-Saving Tips for the Exam Hall

Read the last line of the question first, so you know exactly what to find. Use the options to your advantage: in many quantitative ability MCQs, you can test each option quickly instead of solving from scratch. Avoid long multiplication by converting percentages into fractions, such as 25% = 1/4, 20% = 1/5 and 12.5% = 1/8. Skip any question that takes more than a minute and return to it at the end. Finally, practice daily with a timer, because speed comes only from regular practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many quantitative questions come in the NTS test?
The number depends on the post and test type, but most NTS job tests and GAT papers include a dedicated quantitative section that covers roughly a fifth to a third of the paper. Always check the official advertisement for the exact breakdown.

Do PPSC papers include quantitative ability MCQs?
Yes. Most PPSC one-paper tests include basic arithmetic questions on percentage, ratio, average and profit and loss, usually alongside general knowledge and English.

What is the fastest way to solve percentage questions?
Memorize common fraction values and use the successive change formula a + b + ab/100. These two tricks solve most percentage MCQs in seconds.

Is profit percent calculated on cost price or selling price?
Profit and loss percentages are always calculated on cost price unless the question clearly says otherwise.

Start Practicing Today

Percentage, ratio and profit and loss form the backbone of quantitative ability MCQs in NTS and PPSC tests. Learn the shortcuts above, solve at least 20 questions a day, and review your mistakes every week. For timed practice, use the MCQsDrive quiz mode and explore the complete Maths MCQs collection to strengthen every topic before your exam.