September 15, 2026
NPAT percentage questions are an important part of the Quantitative and Numerical Ability section. Although percentage is a basic arithmetic concept, questions based on it can become tricky when they are combined with ratios, profit and loss, discounts, data interpretation, or successive changes.
For NPAT aspirants, the goal is not just to remember the percentage formula. You should be able to recognise the type of question quickly, choose the shortest method, and arrive at the answer without spending too much time.
In this guide, you will find important percentage formulas, percentage questions for NPAT, solved examples, shortcut techniques, practice questions, and preparation tips. You can also use the questions below to create your own NPAT percentage questions PDF for revision.
Percentage is included in the arithmetic portion of the NPAT Quantitative syllabus. It is also connected to several other topics, including profit and loss, discount, ratio and proportion, averages, interest, and data interpretation.
Recent NPAT question-paper analysis has also reported percentage questions in the Quantitative section. This makes percentage a useful topic to prepare alongside other arithmetic chapters.
The good news is that most percentage problems are based on a few fundamental ideas. Once these ideas become familiar, you can solve many questions using mental calculations rather than lengthy formulas.
The fundamental percentage formula is:
Percentage = (Part / Whole) × 100
For example, if a student scores 72 marks out of 90:
Percentage = (72/90) × 100
= 80%
This basic formula forms the foundation of most percentage questions for NPAT.
Finding the percentage of a number
To find x% of a number:
x% of N = (x/100) × N
For example:
25% of 240
= (25/100) × 240
= 60
You can also use fraction equivalents to save time.
|
Percentage |
Fraction |
|
10% |
1/10 |
|
20% |
1/5 |
|
25% |
1/4 |
|
50% |
1/2 |
|
75% |
3/4 |
|
12.5% |
1/8 |
|
33.33% |
1/3 |
Knowing these conversions can make calculations much faster during NPAT.
The following examples cover the common patterns you should practise before moving to mixed questions.
Q: A student scores 72 marks out of 120. What percentage of marks did the student obtain?
Solution
Percentage = (72/120) × 100
= 0.6 × 100
= 60%
Answer: 60%
This is a straightforward question, but solving such questions quickly can save valuable time in the actual examination.
Q: 30% of a number is 75. Find the number.
Solution
Let the number be x.
30% of x = 75
(30/100) × x = 75
x = 75 × 100 / 30
x = 250
Answer: 250
Shortcut
If 30% = 75, then:
10% = 25
Therefore,
100% = 250.
This method is often faster for mental calculation.
Q: The price of a book increases from ₹400 to ₹460. Find the percentage increase.
Solution
Increase = 460 − 400 = ₹60
Percentage increase:
= (Increase / Original value) × 100
= (60/400) × 100
= 15%
Answer: 15%
Remember that percentage increase is always calculated using the original value as the denominator.
Q: The population of a town decreases from 80,000 to 72,000. Find the percentage decrease.
Solution
Decrease = 80,000 − 72,000
= 8,000
Percentage decrease:
= (8,000 / 80,000) × 100
= 10%
Answer: 10%
Q: The price of an item is increased by 20% and then decreased by 10%. What is the overall percentage change?
Solution
For successive percentage changes:
Net change = a + b + (ab/100)
Here:
a = +20
b = −10
Net change:
= 20 − 10 + (20 × −10)/100
= 10 − 2
= 8%
Therefore, the overall price has increased by 8%.
The ratio of boys to girls in a class is 3:2. What percentage of the class consists of girls?
Solution
Total parts:
3 + 2 = 5
Girls = 2 parts.
Percentage of girls:
= (2/5) × 100
= 40%
Answer: 40%
Questions combining ratio and percentage are worth practising because they can often be solved in a few steps.
Q: A student needs 40% marks to pass an examination. If the student scores 180 marks and falls short by 20 marks, find the maximum marks of the examination.
Solution
Required passing marks:
180 + 20 = 200
Therefore, 40% of maximum marks = 200.
Let maximum marks = x.
40% of x = 200
x = 200 × 100 / 40
x = 500
Answer: 500 marks
A shopkeeper purchases an article for ₹800 and sells it for ₹920. Find the percentage profit.
Solution
Profit:
₹920 − ₹800 = ₹120
Profit percentage:
= (120/800) × 100
= 15%
Answer: 15%
Profit and loss questions frequently use percentage concepts, so mastering percentages also makes related arithmetic topics easier.
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Speed matters in NPAT. Instead of calculating every percentage from scratch, learn a few common conversions.
Trick 1: Convert percentages into fractions
For example:
So, instead of calculating 12.5% of 320 using a calculator-style method:
12.5% of 320 = 320/8 = 40
Trick 2: Use 10% as a base
Suppose you need to calculate 35% of 240.
10% of 240 = 24
Therefore:
30% = 72
5% = 12
So:
35% = 72 + 12 = 84
Trick 3: Remember the percentage comparison formula
If A is what percentage of B:
Percentage = (A/B) × 100
For example, 45 is what percentage of 60?
= (45/60) × 100
= 75%
Trick 4: Be careful about the base value
If the price rises from ₹500 to ₹600, the increase is ₹100.
Percentage increase:
100/500 × 100 = 20%
But if the price falls from ₹600 to ₹500:
Percentage decrease:
100/600 × 100 = 16.67%
The numerical difference is the same, but the percentage is different because the original value changes.
Practice Percentage Questions for NPAT
Try solving the following questions without looking at the answers.
Q1. What is 35% of 480?
A. 148
B. 158
C. 168
D. 178
Q2. 25% of a number is 90. What is the number?
A. 270
B. 300
C. 360
D. 400
Q3. The price of an article increases from ₹500 to ₹575. What is the percentage increase?
A. 10%
B. 12%
C. 15%
D. 20%
Q4. A number is decreased by 20% and becomes 240. What was the original number?
A. 280
B. 300
C. 320
D. 340
Q5. In a class of 250 students, 60% are boys. How many girls are there?
A. 80
B. 90
C. 100
D. 120
Q6. A candidate scores 360 marks out of 450. What is the percentage score?
A. 70%
B. 75%
C. 80%
D. 85%
Q7. An article is first increased by 10% and then increased by another 20%. What is the overall percentage increase?
A. 28%
B. 30%
C. 32%
D. 35%
Q8. A shopkeeper sells an article for ₹1,080 after making a profit of 20%. Find the cost price.
A. ₹850
B. ₹900
C. ₹920
D. ₹950
Answers
|
Question |
Answer |
|
1 |
C. 168 |
|
2 |
C. 360 |
|
3 |
C. 15% |
|
4 |
B. 300 |
|
5 |
C. 100 |
|
6 |
C. 80% |
|
7 |
C. 32% |
|
8 |
B. ₹900 |
Reading formulas once is not enough. Percentage is a calculation-based topic, so regular practice is essential.
Make sure you understand:
Do not start with difficult mixed questions if these basics are unclear.
NPAT is a speed-oriented examination. Recent NPAT information indicates a 100-minute test with 120 questions, so spending several minutes on one percentage problem can affect your overall attempt.
Start with a 10-question percentage set and gradually reduce the time you need to complete it.
Write down important formulas and percentage-fraction conversions on one page.
Revise it regularly instead of repeatedly searching for individual formulas.
After completing the basic concepts, move to previous-year NPAT papers and sample papers.
This helps you understand how percentage concepts are combined with other topics and gives you experience with the actual exam style.
Don't just count how many questions you got right.
For every incorrect question, identify the reason:
This analysis can improve your accuracy much faster than simply solving more questions.
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Using the wrong base
Always identify the original or reference value before calculating a percentage increase or decrease.
Confusing percentage points with percentage change
A rise from 40% to 50% is an increase of 10 percentage points, but the relative percentage increase is:
(10/40) × 100 = 25%
Ignoring successive changes
A 20% increase followed by a 20% decrease does not bring a value back to its original amount.
The net effect is:
20 − 20 − 4 = −4%
So the final value is 4% lower.
Spending too long on one calculation
If a percentage question becomes unnecessarily lengthy, move on and return to it later. NPAT rewards efficient question selection as much as conceptual knowledge.
Percentage is one of those topics where accuracy and speed improve together with practice. Start by mastering the basic formula, then learn quick fraction conversions and move towards questions involving ratios, profit and loss, and successive changes.
Most importantly, don't prepare percentages in isolation. Connect it with the broader Quantitative syllabus and practise questions under time pressure.
For your preparation, keep three resources handy: a concise formula sheet, a collection of percentage questions for NPAT, and full-length NPAT mock or previous-year papers.
With consistent practice, percentage can become one of the quicker scoring areas in your Quantitative preparation.
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