How to Solve NIFT 2026 Percentage and Ratio Questions
Fast percentage and ratio methods, core formulas, and short practice sets to sharpen your NIFT GAT quant score and save time on exam day.
The National Institute of Fashion Technology entrance exam demands strong quantitative aptitude, particularly in percentage and ratio problems. These questions make a heavy contribution to the GAT (General Ability Test) section, affecting the final score drastically. Thus, these concepts can be mastered by rational thinkers who understand the fundamental principles and use quick, smart shortcuts along the way.
How to Solve Percentage and Ratio Questions for NIFT
Proportions and ratios in NIFT require one to be conceptually clear about the fundamentals, and also be fast. The trick is to recognise patterns and apply the appropriate formulae.
Percentage Questions
(1) The foundation of percentage problems is: Part = (Percentage/100) × Whole.It is all about one of these three variables. When you see "30% of 500," you are looking for the part. If 150 is 30% of a number, you are looking for the whole. Try practising switching between these forms until recognition becomes instant for you.
Component | What You Know | What You Find | Calculation |
Finding Part | 30%, Whole = 500 | Part = ? | (30/100) × 500 = 150 |
Finding Whole | Part = 150, 30% | Whole = ? | 150 ÷ 0.30 = 500 |
Finding Percentage | Part = 150, Whole = 500 | Percentage = ? | (150/500) × 100 = 30% |
(2) Always remember, speed comes from eliminating the calculations. Memorize common conversions: 25% = 1/4, 20% = 1/5, 33.33% = 1/3. When a problem asks for 25% of 840, thinking "one-fourth of 840" gets you to 210 faster than calculating.
Percentage | Fraction | Percentage | Fraction |
50% | 1/2 | 25% | 1/4 |
20% | 1/5 | 10% | 1/10 |
33.33% | 1/3 | 66.67% | 2/3 |
12.5% | 1/8 | 16.67% | 1/6 |
(3) For percentage change, use: Change% = [(New Value - Original Value) / Original Value] × 100. If fabric price rises from ₹400 to ₹520, the increase is [(520-400)/400] × 100 = 30%. For successive changes, never add percentages directly. If a value increases by 20% then decreases by 20%, apply sequentially: 100 → 120 → 96, resulting in net 4% decrease.
Original | First Change | Second Change | Final Value | Net Change |
100 | +20% = 120 | -20% = 96 | 96 | -4% |
100 | +10% = 110 | +20% = 132 | 132 | +32% |
Ratio & Proportion Questions
(1) A ratio compares quantities by division. The ratio 15:25 simplifies to 3:5 by dividing both by their HCF. When dividing ₹2400 in ratio 3:5:4, add parts (3+5+4=12), then distribute: (3/12)×2400 = 600, (5/12)×2400 = 1000, (4/12)×2400 = 800.
Ratio | Total Amount | Parts Sum | Individual Shares |
3:5 | ₹1600 | 8 | ₹600, ₹1000 |
2:3:5 | ₹2000 | 10 | ₹400, ₹600, ₹1000 |
(2) When combining ratios with a common term, equalise that term. If A: B = 2:3 and B: C = 4:5, make B equal in both. LCM of 3 and 4 is 12, so A: B = 8:12 and B: C = 12:15, giving A:B:C = 8:12:15.
- The goal is to make the common term (B) equal in both ratios.
- At first, you must find the LCM of the B values (3 and 4), which is 12.
- Next, scale the first ratio to make B=12: A:B = (2 x 4) : (3 x 4) = 8:12.
- After this, scale the second ratio to make B=12: B:C = (4 x 3):(5 x 3) = 12:15
- A:B:C = 8:12:15
(3) Alligation solves mixture problems. When mixing 20% and 50% solutions to get 35%, calculate differences: (50-35) = 15 and (35-20) = 15. Mix in a ratio of 15:15 = 1:1.
Component 1 | Component 2 | Desired | Difference 1 | Difference 2 | Ratio |
20% | 50% | 35% | 15 | 15 | 1:1 |
₹40/kg | ₹60/kg | ₹45/kg | 15 | 5 | 1:3 |
(4) If two numbers are in the ratio 5:6 and their sum is 132 and you are required to find unknown quantities,
Consider the numbers 5x and 6x.
Form an equation: 5x + 6x = 132.
Find the value of x, 11x = 132, which implies, x = 12.
Finally, the numbers are 5(12) = 60 and 6(12) = 72.
(5) For profit and loss, Profit% = [(SP-CP)/CP] × 100. When the cost is ₹500 and the selling price is ₹650, the profit is 30%. For mark-up with discount: if marked up 40% then 20% discount given, calculate: MP = 1.4×CP, SP = 0.8×MP = 1.12×CP, giving 12% profit.
Cost Price | Selling Price | Mark Up | Discount | Net Result |
₹500 | ₹650 | - | - | 30% Profit |
₹500 | ₹560 | 40% | 20% | 12% Profit |
(5) Quick shortcuts: For 15% of 600, find 10% (60) + 5% (30) = 90. To find what percentage 75 is of 250, simplify: 75/250 = 3/10 = 30%. When comparing ratios, cross-multiply: Is 7:9 > 5:6? Calculate 7×6=42 and 5×9=45; since 42<45, no.
(6) Understanding word problems is crucial. "A is 20% more than B" means A = 1.2B. "A is 20% less than B" means A = 0.8B. Many students confuse these phrases, which leads to incorrect equations.
Problem Statement | Equation | Example (B=100) |
A is 20% of B | A = 0.20 x B | A = 20 |
A is 20% more than B | A = 1.20 x B (i.e., 100% + 20%) | A = 120 |
A is 20% less than B | A = 0.80 x B (i.e., 100% - 20%) | A = 80 |
| A is what percent of B? | A/B x 100 | P = (A/B) x 100 |
Each of the NIFT questions is permitted around 90 seconds. Build speed by solving 10-15 problems each day without calculators. Use a stopwatch while solving to determine your weak areas. Practice when to skip certain problems. Better to be accurate than to attempt everything.
To master percentages and ratios for NIFT, you should be able to convert your formulae into patterns you recognise instantly. Struggling or hitting it out of the park simply lies in the understanding of core concepts, along with practice on a variety of problem types. Regular timed practice will convert your theoretical knowledge into automatic reflexes while solving problems. Work systematically for each question, judiciously apply your shortcuts, and remember that high-speed, accurate response times for the NIFT come from consistent practice.