Jiya Tyagi
Content Creator

Percentage is considered to be one of the important topics covered in the CUET 2026 General Test Quantitative Aptitude section. Many questions related to percentages, both direct and indirect, are asked every year in the exam, as this chapter acts as the basis for various important aptitude topics, including Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Average, Data Interpretation, and Statistics.
CUET 2026 candidates need to practise percentage-related questions consistently since such questions are relatively easy to solve and score and require less time. By applying their conceptual knowledge, candidates can easily crack these questions in seconds. According to recent CUET aptitude trends and important practice resources, percentage questions are expected to carry significant weightage in CUET 2026.
Percentage refers to “per hundred". The percentage is denoted by the symbol (%). It is used for comparing quantities out of 100. Its usage can be seen in math calculations, business, banks, examinations, statistics, and general purposes too.
For example,
50% = 50/100 = 1/2
That is, 50 quantities out of 100. This makes the percentage calculation very easy for comparison, hence an important topic in exams such as CUET.
Percentage is a basic chapter for aptitude because a number of other chapters depend on the concept of percentages. People who know about percentages will be able to solve problems from aptitude in an easier manner. In the CUET General Test, there are a number of questions based on percentages. Check below the topics connected with percentage:
| Topic | Use of Percentage |
| Profit & Loss | Profit %, Discount |
| Simple Interest | Interest calculation |
| Compound Interest | Growth percentage |
| Ratio & Proportion | Percentage conversion |
| Data Interpretation | Percentage comparison |
| Average | Increase & decrease |
| Statistics | Data representation |
Practicing percentages improves both speed and accuracy in the CUET exam.
CUET General Test can have percentage problems from various concepts and levels of difficulty. Students must study each important subtopic thoroughly to perform well in the aptitude tests. Check below the important percentage topics for CUET 2026:
| Topic | Importance Level |
| Basic Percentage Calculation | Very High |
| Percentage Increase & Decrease | Very High |
| Successive Percentage Change | High |
| Reverse Percentage Questions | High |
| Marks & Result Questions | Very High |
| Discount-Based Questions | High |
| Population Growth Questions | Medium |
| Decimal to Percentage Conversion | Medium |
| Fraction to Percentage Conversion | High |
Most percentage CUET questions are expected to be easy to moderate in difficulty level.
Students need to memorise all important formulas prior to solving the aptitude questions. The majority of CUET percentage questions rely on formulas and are easily solvable.
This formula is used to calculate percentage values.
Percentage = (Value / Total Value) × 100
Used when total value and percentage are known.
Value = (Percentage × Total) / 100
This formula calculates the increase in value.
Percentage Increase = (Increase / Original Value) × 100
Used to calculate reduction in values.
Percentage Decrease = (Decrease / Original Value) × 100
This shortcut formula is important for repeated increases.
Net Change = x + y + (xy / 100)
Used when multiple decreases occur.
Net Decrease = x + y − (xy / 100)
Fraction-to-percentage conversion is one of the most useful concepts in aptitude exams. Learning these values can save a lot of time during calculations.
| Fraction | Percentage |
| 1/2 | 50% |
| 1/3 | 33.33% |
| 1/4 | 25% |
| 1/5 | 20% |
| 1/8 | 12.5% |
| 3/4 | 75% |
| 2/5 | 40% |
| 5/8 | 62.5% |
| 7/8 | 87.5% |
Shortcut tricks help students solve questions faster in the CUET exam. Learning these tricks can improve speed and reduce calculation time significantly.
One of the most important shortcut formulas is:
x% of y = y% of x
Example
25% of 80 = 80% of 25 = 20
This method avoids lengthy multiplication.
Finding 10% of a number simply means moving the decimal one place left.
Example
10% of 450 = 45
Similarly:
5% = Half of 10%
1% = Divide by 100
These tricks are highly useful in mental calculations.
This shortcut helps solve repeated percentage increase questions quickly.
20% + 10% + (20 × 10)/100 = 32%
Instead of lengthy calculations, students can directly apply this formula.
Also Read: 7 Easy Tricks to Solve Percentage Questions in CUET General Test
The following questions are based on important CUET aptitude patterns and previous competitive exam trends. Students should practice these questions thoroughly.
Find 25% of 640.
Solution
25% of 640 = (25/100) × 640
= 160
Answer:
160
Find 10% of 1 hour.
Solution
1 hour = 60 minutes
10% of 60 = (10/100) × 60
= 6 minutes
Answer:
6 minutes
The population of a city is 700. If it increases by 7.14%, find the new population.
Solution
Increase:
Increase = (7.14/100) × 700
≈ 50
New Population = 700 + 50
= 750
Answer:
750
A horse costing ₹80,000 now costs 25% less. Find the new price.
Solution
Reduction:
Reduction = (25/100) × 80,000
= ₹20,000
New Price = ₹80,000 − ₹20,000
= ₹60,000
Answer:
₹60,000
A student scored 540 marks out of 600. Find the percentage obtained.
Solution
Percentage = (540/600) × 100
= 90%
Answer:
90%
If 40% of a number is 120, find the number.
Solution
Let the number be x.
(40/100)x = 120
x = (120 × 100)/40
= 300
Answer:
300
A salary increases by 20% and then by 10%. Find the overall increase.
Solution
Net Change = 20 + 10 + (20 × 10)/100
= 32%
Answer:
32%
The value of a car decreases by 10% every year for two years. Find the overall decrease.
Solution
Net Decrease = 10 + 10 − (10 × 10)/100
= 19%
19%
Convert 0.625 into percentage.
Solution
0.625 × 100
= 62.5%
Answer:
62.5%
Convert 3/5 into percentage.
Solution
(3/5) × 100
= 60%
Answer:
60%
An employee’s salary increased from ₹18,000 to ₹22,500. Find the percentage increase.
Solution
Increase = ₹22,500 − ₹18,000 = ₹4,500
Percentage Increase = (4500/18000) × 100
= 25%
Answer:
25%
A laptop worth ₹60,000 is sold at a 15% discount. Find the selling price.
Solution
Discount:
Discount = (15/100) × 60,000
= ₹9,000
Selling Price = ₹60,000 − ₹9,000
= ₹51,000
Answer:
₹51,000
In a class of 200 students, 75% passed the exam. Find the number of students who passed.
Solution
(75/100) × 200
= 150
Answer:
150 students
A number is first increased by 25% and then decreased by 20%. Find the net percentage change.
Solution
25 − 20 − (25 × 20)/100
= 0%
Answer:
No net change
Find 12.5% of 640.
Solution
12.5% = 1/8
640 ÷ 8 = 80
Answer:
80
The price of a product increased from ₹500 to ₹650. Find the percentage increase.
Solution
Increase = ₹650 − ₹500 = ₹150
Percentage Increase = (150/500) × 100
= 30%
Answer:
30%
The population of a village decreased from 50,000 to 45,000. Find the percentage decrease.
Solution
Decrease = 50,000 − 45,000 = 5,000
Percentage Decrease = (5000/50000) × 100
= 10%
Answer:
10%
A student obtained 420 marks and failed by 10 marks. If passing marks are 35%, find the total marks.
Solution
Passing marks = 420 + 10 = 430
Let total marks = x
35% of x = 430
x = (430 × 100)/35
≈ 1228.57
Answer:
Approximately 1229
Find 37.5% of 400.
Solution
37.5% = 3/8
(3/8) × 400
= 150
Answer:
150
If 25% of a number is 75, find the number.
Solution
Let the number be x.
(25/100)x = 75
x = (75 × 100)/25
= 300
Answer:
300
Regular practice is important for improving speed and accuracy in the exam. Students should solve these questions daily. Check below the CUET 2026 Percentage Practice Questions:
A. 120
B. 140
C. 160
D. 180
Answer:
C. 160
Solution:
25% of 640 = (25/100) × 640 = 160
A. 65%
B. 70%
C. 75%
D. 80%
Answer:
B. 70%
Solution:
(420/600) × 100 = 70%
A. 20%
B. 25%
C. 30%
D. 35%
Answer:
C. 30%
Solution:
Increase = 650 − 500 = 150
Percentage Increase = (150/500) × 100 = 30%
A. ₹48,000
B. ₹50,000
C. ₹51,000
D. ₹54,000
Answer:
C. ₹51,000
Solution:
Discount = (15/100) × 60,000 = ₹9,000
Selling Price = 60,000 − 9,000 = ₹51,000
A. 40%
B. 50%
C. 60%
D. 75%
Answer:
C. 60%
Solution:
(3/5) × 100 = 60%
A. 250
B. 280
C. 300
D. 320
Answer:
C. 300
Solution:
(40/100)x = 120
x = (120 × 100)/40 = 300
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 12%
D. 15%
Answer:
B. 10%
Solution:
Decrease = 50,000 − 45,000 = 5,000
(5000/50000) × 100 = 10%
A. 60
B. 70
C. 80
D. 90
Answer:
C. 80
Solution:
12.5% = 1/8
640 ÷ 8 = 80
A. 28%
B. 30%
C. 32%
D. 35%
Answer:
C. 32%
Solution:
20 + 10 + (20 × 10)/100 = 32%
A. 52.5%
B. 60%
C. 62.5%
D. 65%
Answer:
C. 62.5%
Solution:
0.625 × 100 = 62.5%
A. ₹1,800
B. ₹2,000
C. ₹2,200
D. ₹2,400
Answer:
B. ₹2,000
Solution:
Discount = (20/100) × 2500 = ₹500
Selling Price = ₹2,500 − ₹500 = ₹2,000
A. 120
B. 140
C. 150
D. 180
Answer:
C. 150
Solution:
(75/100) × 200 = 150
A. 125
B. 130
C. 135
D. 140
Answer:
C. 135
Solution:
(18/100) × 750 = 135
A. 18%
B. 19%
C. 20%
D. 21%
Answer:
B. 19%
Solution:
10 + 10 − (10 × 10)/100 = 19%
A. 75%
B. 80%
C. 85%
D. 87.5%
Answer:
D. 87.5%
Solution:
(7/8) × 100 = 87.5%
A. 85%
B. 88%
C. 90%
D. 92%
Answer:
C. 90%
Solution:
(450/500) × 100 = 90%
A. 8%
B. 9%
C. 10%
D. 12%
Answer:
C. 10%
Solution:
Decrease = 90,000 − 81,000 = 9,000
(9000/90000) × 100 = 10%
A. 250
B. 275
C. 300
D. 325
Answer:
C. 300
Solution:
(25/100)x = 75
x = (75 × 100)/25 = 300
A. 120
B. 140
C. 150
D. 160
Answer:
C. 150
Solution:
37.5% = 3/8
(3/8) × 400 = 150
A. 0%
B. 2% increase
C. 5% decrease
D. 10% increase
Answer:
A. 0%
Solution:
25 − 20 − (25 × 20)/100 = 0%
Many students get low grades in percentage questions due to minor errors while using the formula and calculating the percentages. As the percentage is a crucial topic for CUET quantitative aptitude, making these mistakes can cost you precious time and grades. Check below the common mistakes students make in percentage questions:
Using the final figure instead of the initial figure when calculating the percentage increase or decrease
Adding successive figures directly without applying the formula
Failing to remember fractions equivalent to percentages such as 1/2 = 50%, 1/4 = 25%
Errors in the process of multiplication or division calculations
Mixing up the formula for the percentage increase and the percentage decrease
Failing to multiply by 100 when changing from decimal form to percent
Failure to understand the questions before calculating the answer
Neglecting shortcuts when calculating the percentage
Taking more time than necessary for solving percentage questions
Failure to practice many MCQs and past years’ CUET questions
Quantitative Aptitude exam. This topic covers all the necessary concepts and formulas that will be used in the test. If students study this topic well, they will be able to answer the questions quickly and efficiently.
Learn All Formulas Properly
Students should first learn all the essential formulas related to percentages and should know when and how to use them while solving various questions.
Practice Daily
Practice is important for developing speed and accuracy while answering percentage problems. Students must answer:
15 percentage questions
10 percentage problems
1 section of aptitude mocks daily
Good multiplication and division techniques aid students in solving percentages questions quickly in the test. Practicing mental calculation techniques helps in doing the same.
Solve Previous Year Questions
CUET aptitude previous year’s questions will help students to understand:
Exam pattern
Important topics
Types of commonly asked questions
Exam difficulty
Attempt Mock Tests Regularly
Mock tests can assist in improving:
Time management
Accuracy
Confidence
Speed
Repetitive mock test practice can also assist in recognizing weaker points, which will help to perform better in CUET 2026.
Also Read:Best Daily Routine fot CUET 2026 Preparation at Home
Percentage questions in CUET 2026 will be easy to moderately difficult in terms of difficulty level. The majority of the questions involve the use of formulas and can be answered with ease with enough practice and knowledge. Percentage MCQs, percentage tricks, and aptitude questions from previous years will help you score good marks.
| Difficulty Level | Expected Weightage | Question Type |
| Easy | 50% | Direct percentage calculations, conversions |
| Moderate | 40% | Percentage increase/decrease, discounts |
| Difficult | 10% | Successive percentage and application-based problems |
Percentage has a close relationship with several other chapters of Quantitative Aptitude in the CUET General Test. Students having a good knowledge of percentages find other related chapters quite easy. Solving these chapters together will increase calculation speed and accuracy in the CUET 2026 exam.
| Related Topic | Importance |
| Profit & Loss | Very High |
| Ratio & Proportion | High |
| Simple Interest | High |
| Compound Interest | High |
| Average | Medium |
| Data Interpretation | Very High |
Also Read: How to Score Full Marks in CUET General Test Reasoning Section
Percentage is considered to be an extremely important scoring topic in CUET 2026 Quantitative Aptitude. The students who are able to learn all the formulas and shortcut tricks related to percentage can easily and speedily solve any problem related to percentage and hence can increase their scores in the exams.
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