How to Improve Mental Maths for IPMAT 2027: Tricks to Calculate Faster and More Accurately

Mental maths is a useful skill for students preparing for IPMAT 2027. When solving Quantitative Ability questions under time pressure, lengthy calculations can consume valuable minutes that could be spent on other questions. Developing calculation speed can help students work more efficiently, reduce avoidable mistakes and approach numerical problems with greater confidence. However, mental maths is not about calculating every answer inside your head. It is about recognising number patterns, choosing efficient methods and knowing when written calculations are the safer option. For students preparing for IPMAT Indore and IPMAT Rohtak, a combination of number familiarity, arithmetic practice and timed problem-solving can make quantitative preparation more effective. Why Is Mental Maths Important for IPMAT 2027? IPMAT tests how effectively students apply mathematical concepts to aptitude questions. Knowing a formula is only one part of solving a problem. Candidates must also interpret the question, select an appropriate method and calculate accurately within the available time. Basic calculations appear in several quantitative topics, including percentages, ratios, averages, profit and loss, interest, time and work, and algebra. If simple multiplication or fraction conversion repeatedly slows you down, even questions based on familiar concepts can become difficult to complete efficiently. Mental maths can help you handle these calculations more smoothly. It is particularly useful when estimating answers, simplifying arithmetic and checking whether a result is reasonable. Students should still learn the concepts behind each question. Calculation shortcuts cannot replace an understanding of the mathematics involved. 1. Memorise Common Squares, Cubes and Multiplication Tables One of the simplest ways to improve mental calculation speed is to become familiar with frequently used numerical values. This reduces the need to work out basic calculations from scratch. Start by learning multiplication tables up to 20, squares of numbers up to 30 and cubes of smaller positive integers. Also practise recognising common factors, multiples and divisibility patterns. For example, knowing that (18^2=324) immediately saves the steps required to calculate the square of 18. Familiarity with squares can also help you recognise patterns in algebra and simplify certain expressions. Practise these values through short daily revision sessions. Focus on recalling them accurately before trying to recall them faster. 2. Learn to Calculate Percentages Without Lengthy Working Percentage calculations are useful across arithmetic-based aptitude questions. Instead of memorising a separate trick for every percentage, learn to break percentages into simpler parts. Consider finding 15% of 240. You can calculate 10% of 240, which is 24, and 5% of 240, which is 12. Adding the two values gives 36. Similarly, 25% of a number is one-quarter of that number, while 50% is half and 10% is one-tenth. Another useful principle is that (a%) of (b) equals (b%) of (a). For example, 16% of 25 is the same as 25% of 16, which equals 4. These methods are especially useful when solving percentage change, profit and loss, discounts and related arithmetic questions. 3. Use Number Splitting for Multiplication Multiplication often becomes easier when you split a number into convenient parts. For example, consider (48 x 25). Since 25 is one-quarter of 100, you can calculate: 48 x 25 = (48 x 100)/4 = 1200 Another example is (36 x 15). Split 15 into 10 and 5: 36 x 15 = 360 + 180 = 540 The objective is to identify a calculation that is easier to perform, not to force every question into the same shortcut. Practise splitting numbers in different ways and compare the methods. With experience, you will become better at recognising which approach requires fewer steps. 4. Improve Fraction-to-Percentage Conversion Students often lose time converting fractions into percentages during arithmetic questions. Familiarity with commonly used fractions can make these conversions easier. Some useful values include: 1/2 = 50% 1/3 approx 33.33% 1/4 = 25% 1/5 = 20% 1/8 = 12.5% 1/10 = 10% 3/4 = 75% 3/5 = 60% You do not need to memorise every possible fraction. Start with common fractions and gradually add others as you encounter them in practice questions. Understanding how fractions relate to decimals and percentages is more useful than memorising values without knowing what they mean. 5. Practise Approximation and Estimation Exact calculation is necessary for many questions, but estimation can help you judge whether an answer is reasonable or eliminate clearly unsuitable options. For example, consider (49 x 21). You can estimate it as (50 x 20 = 1000). This tells you that the exact answer should be close to 1,000. The exact calculation is: 49 x 21 = 1029 Approximation is helpful when the question permits it or when you are checking an answer. However, do not substitute an estimate for an exact answer when the question requires precision. Be particularly careful when answer options are close together. 6. Strengthen Mental Division and Simplification Division becomes easier when you recognise factors and cancel common terms before calculating. For example: (84 x 25)/7 Since 84/7 = 12, the expression becomes: 12 x 25 = 300 This is simpler than multiplying 84 by 25 first and dividing the result afterward. The same principle can help with fractions, ratios and algebraic expressions. Look for common factors and simplify wherever mathematically valid. Practise this skill with arithmetic expressions before applying it to more complex questions. 7. Avoid Calculation Shortcuts That Increase Mistakes Speed is useful only when it supports accurate answers. Students sometimes try to perform every calculation mentally, even when the numbers are complicated or the method involves several steps. This can lead to sign errors, incorrect carries, misplaced decimal points and forgotten intermediate values. Use mental maths for straightforward calculations and write down intermediate steps when a question requires more complicated working. After calculating, check whether the answer is of a reasonable size. For example, if you calculate 12% of 500 and obtain 600, you should recognise that the result cannot be correct because 12% must be much smaller than the original value. Developing the habit of checking your answers is just as important as learning shortcuts. 8. Follow a Daily Mental Maths Practice Routine You can develop calculation skills through consistent, manageable practice. The following routine can be added to your existing IPMAT preparation schedule. First 5 minutes: Number recall Revise multiplication tables, squares, common fractions and percentage equivalents. Next 10 minutes: Calculation drills Practise multiplication, division, percentage calculations, fraction conversions and simplification. Begin with untimed questions and work towards greater fluency as your accuracy improves. Next 10 minutes: IPMAT-style quantitative questions Apply these skills to arithmetic and other relevant quantitative topics. Focus on selecting the right method rather than using a shortcut in every question. Final 5 minutes: Review mistakes Identify whether an error occurred because of a conceptual misunderstanding, a calculation slip or an inefficient method. Redo the question correctly and practise a similar one. This 30-minute routine is a suggested framework, not a compulsory daily target. Adjust the duration according to your current preparation level and school workload. 9. Apply Mental Maths to IPMAT Quantitative Ability Mental maths should support your broader quantitative preparation rather than become a separate activity with no connection to exam questions. For IPMAT Indore, practise applying calculation skills to both multiple-choice and short-answer questions. Short-answer questions require you to enter a numerical response without relying on answer options, so understanding the calculation is particularly important. For IPMAT Rohtak, use the same foundational skills while practising the relevant quantitative question formats under timed conditions. The exact examination pattern and marking rules for IPMAT 2027 should be confirmed through the respective official admission notifications. Students should avoid relying entirely on older exam patterns when planning their final strategy. Common Mistakes Students Make While Improving Calculation Speed One common mistake is prioritising speed before accuracy. If you regularly get basic calculations wrong, increasing your pace may simply increase the number of errors. Build accuracy first and then gradually introduce time limits. Another mistake is collecting too many calculation tricks without practising them. A small set of methods that you understand and can apply correctly is more useful than a long list of shortcuts you rarely use. Finally, do not neglect conceptual learning. Mental maths can simplify calculations, but it cannot replace understanding percentages, equations, ratios or other mathematical concepts tested in aptitude examinations. Improve Your IPMAT 2027 Quantitative Ability Preparation Mental maths can help you solve calculations more efficiently, but strong IPMAT performance also requires conceptual clarity, regular question practice and the ability to apply the right method under exam conditions. Start with common numerical values, practise percentages and multiplication, improve simplification skills, and review your mistakes consistently. As these skills become more familiar, apply them to increasingly challenging IPMAT-style questions. At ResultPrep, students preparing for management entrance examinations can develop their quantitative fundamentals through structured offline coaching, regular practice and guidance from top faculty. Preparing for IPMAT 2027? Book a free counselling session with ResultPrep to discuss your preparation level and build a structured plan for improving your Quantitative Ability and other exam skills.