Quantitative Ability
Divisibility by 11 — Alternating sum trick: subtract alternate digits from right. If result is 0 or divisible by 11, the number is too. E.g., 121: 1−2+1=0, divisible.
Square of numbers ending in 5 — Formula: n5² = n(n+1) | 25. For 65²: 6×7=42, append 25 → 4225. Works instantly for all such numbers.
Percentage-Fraction equivalents — Memorize: 12.5%=⅛, 16.67%=⅙, 20%=⅕, 25%=¼, 33.33%=⅓, 50%=½, 66.67%=⅔. Speeds up discount and profit calculations dramatically.
Sum of first n natural numbers — Formula: n(n+1)/2. For n=50: 50×51/2=1275. Essential for series problems in GAT.
Clock angle formula — |30H − 5.5M| gives angle between hands. At 3:15, |90−82.5|=7.5°. Remember: hour hand moves 0.5° per minute.
Logical Reasoning
Syllogism AEIO vowels — A=All (universal affirmative), E=No (universal negative), I=Some (particular affirmative), O=Some...not (particular negative). Use Venn diagrams for complex statements.
Direction sense N-E-S-W rotation — "Never Eat Soggy Waffles" clockwise. Right turn = +90°, Left = −90°. Track net displacement using Pythagoras after resolving components.
Blood relations gender trap — Son's wife=daughter-in-law, daughter's husband=son-in-law. Brother's/sister's son=nephew (male), daughter=niece (female). Mark gender symbols to avoid confusion.
Coding-Decoding +/− shift — If A→C, shift is +2. Apply uniformly: CAT → ECV. For reverse: subtract the shift value. Check wraparound at Z→A.
General Awareness & Communication
VIBGYOR for rainbow — Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red in wavelength order. Useful for optics, art theory, and color wheel questions.
Fashion capitals mnemonic — "My Parents Love Nice Fashion": Milan, Paris, London, New York, Florence. Essential for fashion history and industry questions.
Textile fiber memory — Natural: "COWS Live Safely" = Cotton, Wool, Silk, Linen. Synthetic: "NRAP" = Nylon, Rayon, Acrylic, Polyester.
Design elements SFLCTS — Shape, Form, Line, Color, Texture, Space. Core vocabulary for explaining any design composition systematically.
Art movements timeline — Renaissance (1400s), Baroque (1600s), Impressionism (1870s), Cubism (1907), Pop Art (1950s). Link century to movement for quick recall.
Creative Ability
Golden Ratio 1.618 — Divide canvas/rectangle in 1:1.618 ratio for aesthetically pleasing compositions. Approximation: 5:8 or 8:13 works practically.
Complementary color pairs — Red-Green, Blue-Orange, Yellow-Purple sit opposite on color wheel. Maximum contrast for visual impact in designs.
Rule of Thirds grid — Divide frame into 9 equal parts (3×3). Place focal points at intersections for balanced, dynamic compositions instead of centering.
Perspective one-point setup — Single vanishing point on horizon line. All parallel lines converge there. Use for roads, hallways, railway tracks in drawings.