- No data uploaded
- Instant results
UPSC Prelims Percentages Questions
Practise percentages (quantitative aptitude) for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination: 10 multiple-choice questions, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. Click an option to check it, or “New questions” for another set.
Percentages practice
-
Q1.The price of an item changes from ₹350 to ₹490. What is the percentage change?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: B — 40% increase
Change = 140 on a base of 350: 140/350 × 100 = 40% increase. Always divide by the ORIGINAL value.
-
Q2.Two successive discounts of 20% and 15% are equivalent to a single discount of:
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D — 32%
Net discount = a + b − ab/100 = 20 + 15 − 20×15/100 = 32%.
-
Q3.What is 25% of 240?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C — 60
25% of 240 = 25/100 × 240 = 60.
-
Q4.Two successive discounts of 30% and 10% are equivalent to a single discount of:
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C — 37%
Net discount = a + b − ab/100 = 30 + 10 − 30×10/100 = 37%.
-
Q5.What is 35% of 420?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C — 147
35% of 420 = 35/100 × 420 = 147.
-
Q6.Two successive discounts of 10% and 12% are equivalent to a single discount of:
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A — 20.8%
Net discount = a + b − ab/100 = 10 + 12 − 10×12/100 = 20.8%.
-
Q7.Two successive discounts of 10% and 15% are equivalent to a single discount of:
Show answer & explanation
Answer: C — 23.5%
Net discount = a + b − ab/100 = 10 + 15 − 10×15/100 = 23.5%.
-
Q8.The price of an item changes from ₹1,000 to ₹1,400. What is the percentage change?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: A — 40% increase
Change = 400 on a base of 1000: 400/1000 × 100 = 40% increase. Always divide by the ORIGINAL value.
-
Q9.What is 75% of 540?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D — 405
75% of 540 = 75/100 × 540 = 405.
-
Q10.The price of an item changes from ₹300 to ₹337.5. What is the percentage change?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: D — 12.5% increase
Change = 37.5 on a base of 300: 37.5/300 × 100 = 12.5% increase. Always divide by the ORIGINAL value.
How to approach percentages questions
Convert percentages to fractions you know by heart (12.5% = 1/8, 37.5% = 3/8, 16.67% = 1/6) and always divide a change by the ORIGINAL value. Two successive changes of a% and b% combine to a + b + ab/100.
About UPSC Prelims
UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination — conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The first stage of India’s civil services recruitment, with a General Studies paper and the qualifying CSAT aptitude paper.
Original practice questions written for this site in the style and difficulty of each exam’s syllabus. They are not past papers and the site is not affiliated with any exam body. Exam patterns, marking schemes and syllabi change — always check the latest official notification.
UPSC Prelims practice topics
| Topic | Section | Question source |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Polity, History & Geography | General awareness | Question bank |
| Economy & Banking Awareness | General awareness | Question bank |
| World General Knowledge | General awareness | Question bank |
| Biology | Science | Question bank |
| Logical Reasoning | Reasoning | Calculated (new numbers every set) |
| Percentages | Quantitative aptitude | Calculated (new numbers every set) |