Percentage Questions become part of 30 Quantitative Aptitude questions in the RBI Grade B Phase 1. On average, 5 to 8 of these are percentage questions, based on past year papers. That’s around 20 to 25% of the paper. So this is one topic you must master. In this blog, you’ll learn what percentage questions appear most often, their main rules in easy words, and the simple tricks to solve such problems fast. Practice examples with step-by-step solutions. In addition, you’ll also be given practical examples with solutions to eliminate all the doubts from your mind forever. Alright, let’s get down to business!
ALSO READ: How to Score Maximum Marks in Cloze Test
What Are Percentage Questions?
In RBI exams, percentage questions are common in:
- Direct percentage conversions.
- Percentage changes (increase or decrease).
- Profit, Loss, and Discount problems (Marked Price and Cost Price calculations).
- Mixture and all-igation.
- Simple and Compound Interest queries.
- Percentage comparison of different data points in DI
Most years, you get 5 to 8 such questions. They may come in Quant or within Data Interpretation sets. Knowing your basics well can help you score here easily.
ALSO READ: How to Score Maximum Marks in Cloze Test & Ratio & Proportion Concepts and Shortcuts for RBI Grade B Exam
Core Rules to Remember
Given are formulae to remember to increase your speed and save your time during the exam:
1. Convert % to fraction and decimal
- 10% = 10/100 = 0.1
- 25% = 1/4 = 0.25
- 5% = 1/20 = 0.05
2. Increase or decrease formula
- Increase: New = Original × (1 + percent/100)
- Decrease: New = Original × (1 – percent/100)
3. Profit and Loss
- Profit % = (Profit / Cost Price) × 100
- Loss % = (Loss / Cost Price) × 100
- Selling Price = Cost Price × (1 ± %/100)
4. Discount and Marked Price
- Discount = Marked Price × (Discount% / 100)
- Selling Price = Marked Price – Discount
5. Compound Interest
- Amount = P × (1 + r/100)^n
5 Tricks to Solve Problems on Percentage
Some tricks not only help you solve questions but also save a lot of your time. Here are the 5 tricks that will help you deal with percentage problems:
Trick 1: Use simple fractions
Instead of 1%, think 1/100.
Example: 5% of 200 = (5/100) × 200 = 10.
Trick 2: Use the multiplier method
For 15% increase gives multiply by 1.15
For 20% decrease gives multiply by 0.8
Trick 3: Shortcut for continuous changes
Increase 10% then decrease 10%
Net = × 1.1 × 0.9 = × 0.99 gives net loss of 1%
Trick 4: Fast way to find cost from marked price
If cost is Rs. 80 and profit is 25%, then MP = 80 × 1.25 = Rs. 100
Practice It Yourself:
Example 1: Simple percentage-
What is 12.5% of Rs. 240?
12.5% = 1/8 gives 240 ÷ 8 = Rs. 30
Example 2: Percentage increase-
Price was Rs. 600, now 10% higher?
600 × 1.10 = Rs. 660
Example 3: Discount problem-
Marked price = Rs. 1000. Discount = 15%.
Discount = 1000 × 0.15 = Rs. 150
Selling Price = 1000 – 150 = Rs. 850
Example 4: Profit %-
Cost = Rs. 400. Selling Price = Rs. 500.
Profit = 100. Profit% = (100/400) × 100 = 25%
Example 5: Compound interest
P = Rs. 1000, r = 10%, n = 2 years
Amount = 1000 × (1.1)^2 = 1000 × 1.21 = Rs. 1210
Interest earned = Rs. 210
How to Practice the Right Way
- When you start, be patient and accurate, and don’t be in a hurry.
- Then work on speed. Set a timer to keep an eye on your speed.
- Mix types: simple, profit-loss, CI in one set.
- Keep a note of mistakes. Review them daily before the exam.
ALSO READ: Word Swap Tricks for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam
Daily Mini Task
You need to practice daily to master the tips mentioned above. And for that, you should give yourself some tasks like:
- Solve 5 percentage questions.
- Include one compound interest problem.
- Learn one shortcut from above.
- Revise fraction-percent conversions.
If you’ll just include these mini-tasks in your study plan (in the Quantitative Aptitude section), continuously for 10 days, you’ll surely master the art of solving percentage questions.
Disclaimer: The percentage questions, solutions, and preparation tips provided here are intended solely for practice and learning purposes. They are based on exam trends and expert analysis, not official RBI content. While these materials aim to strengthen your preparation, they do not guarantee reflection in the actual RBI Grade B exam. Candidates should always refer to the official RBI notifications and syllabus for authoritative information.
Are you preparing for the RBI Grade B exam 2025? If so, it’s the ideal time to start and accelerate your exam preparation. The notification can be released anytime soon!
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FAQs
It’s a number expressed as parts of 100. For example, 50% means half.
Multiply the number by the percentage and divide by 100.
Find the percentage value, then add it to the original number.
Find the percentage value, then subtract it from the original number.
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