TITA Questions in CAT Quant: How Many, Which Topics, and How to Attempt Them
26 Oct 2026 · 5 min read
TITA stands for Type In The Answer: there are no options, you type a number. In CAT Quant, a wrong TITA answer costs nothing, while a wrong multiple-choice answer costs 1 mark. That single rule should change how you attempt the section.
How many Quant questions are TITA?
Across all 612 Quant questions from CAT 2017–2025, about 35% were TITA. In a 22-question section, that is several questions where an attempt is free.
Which chapters ask the most TITA?
| Chapter | TITA share | Questions since 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Permutation & Combination | 65% | 23 |
| Digits & Number Properties | 58% | 12 |
| Simple & Compound Interest | 55% | 20 |
| Functions | 48% | 23 |
| Time & Work | 46% | 35 |
| Triangles | 46% | 22 |
| Factors & Multiples | 46% | 22 |
| Linear Equations | 44% | 16 |
| Inequalities & Modulus | 38% | 34 |
| Averages | 38% | 32 |
By area: Arithmetic 33%, Algebra 34%, Geometry 29%, Number System 47%, Modern Maths 52%.
Chapters whose answer is naturally a single count, such as the number of arrangements in Permutation & Combination, lean TITA.
What it means for your attempt
- Never leave a TITA question blank if you have spent time on it. Type your best answer.
- Don't count on options to check you. In an MCQ you can work backwards from the options or eliminate them. In TITA you can't, so your method has to be right. These chapters reward knowing the concept properly over knowing tricks.
- MCQs are where selection matters. A blind guess among four options has an expected value of zero. Attempt an MCQ only when you can solve it or rule out options.
Practise the format, not just the chapter
Many aspirants practise only from MCQ banks and then freeze at a blank answer box. Mix TITA questions into your practice, especially in the chapters above.