Basic Numeracy (Class X Level) – Percentages

Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)

Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)

Preliminary Examination – General Studies Paper II (Objective Type, 200 Marks)

Topic: Basic Numeracy (Class X Level)

Sub-Topic: Percentages

These questions test your understanding of percentage concepts, conversions, increase–decrease, profit–loss, simple applications, and comparative analysis. Choose the correct answer.

Percentages – MCQs

MCQ 1

25% of 200 is:
A. 25
B. 40
C. 50
D. 75

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: (25% = \frac{25}{100}).
(\frac{25}{100} \times 200 = 50).

MCQ 2

What percent of 50 is 10?
A. 5%
B. 10%
C. 20%
D. 25%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: (\frac{10}{50} \times 100 = 20%).

MCQ 3

Convert (0.75) into percentage.
A. 7.5%
B. 75%
C. 750%
D. 0.75%

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: (0.75 \times 100 = 75%).

MCQ 4

Increase 400 by 10%. The new value is:
A. 420
B. 440
C. 460
D. 480

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Increase = (10%) of 400 = 40.
New value = (400 + 40 = 440).

MCQ 5

Decrease 800 by 25%. The result is:
A. 600
B. 650
C. 700
D. 750

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Decrease = (25%) of 800 = 200.
New value = (800 – 200 = 600).

MCQ 6

If the price of a commodity increases from ₹200 to ₹220, the percentage increase is:
A. 8%
B. 9%
C. 10%
D. 12%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Increase = 20.
(\frac{20}{200} \times 100 = 10%).

MCQ 7

If the price of a book decreases from ₹500 to ₹450, the percentage decrease is:
A. 5%
B. 8%
C. 10%
D. 12%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Decrease = 50.
(\frac{50}{500} \times 100 = 10%).

MCQ 8

20% of a number is 60. The number is:
A. 200
B. 250
C. 300
D. 350

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Number = (\frac{60 \times 100}{20} = 300).

MCQ 9

Which is greater: 35% of 400 or 45% of 300?
A. 35% of 400
B. 45% of 300
C. Both are equal
D. Cannot be determined

Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
35% of 400 = 140
45% of 300 = 135 ❌
Correct recalculation: 45% of 300 = 135 → 140 is greater
✔ Correct Answer: A

MCQ 10

If A scores 60% marks and B scores 75% marks, whose score is higher?
A. A
B. B
C. Both equal
D. Cannot say

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: 75% > 60%.

MCQ 11

What is 12.5% expressed as a fraction?
A. 1⁄4
B. 1⁄6
C. 1⁄8
D. 1⁄10

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: (12.5% = \frac{12.5}{100} = \frac{1}{8}).

MCQ 12

If a student scores 360 out of 600, his percentage is:
A. 50%
B. 55%
C. 60%
D. 65%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: (\frac{360}{600} \times 100 = 60%).

MCQ 13

A number is increased by 20% and then decreased by 20%. The net result is:
A. No change
B. 4% increase
C. 4% decrease
D. 2% decrease

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Net change = (-\frac{20 \times 20}{100} = -4%).

MCQ 14

If the population of a town increases by 10% every year, the population after one year becomes:
A. 90%
B. 100%
C. 110%
D. 120%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Increase of 10% → new population = 110%.

MCQ 15

What percent of 1 hour is 15 minutes?
A. 15%
B. 20%
C. 25%
D. 30%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: 15 minutes = (\frac{15}{60} = \frac{1}{4} = 25%).

MCQ 16

If the selling price is ₹550 and cost price is ₹500, the profit percentage is:
A. 8%
B. 9%
C. 10%
D. 11%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Profit = 50.
(\frac{50}{500} \times 100 = 10%).

MCQ 17

A shirt marked at ₹800 is sold at a discount of 15%. The selling price is:
A. ₹680
B. ₹700
C. ₹720
D. ₹740

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Discount = 15% of 800 = 120.
Selling price = (800 – 120 = 680).

MCQ 18

If a number is increased from 50 to 65, the percentage increase is:
A. 25%
B. 30%
C. 35%
D. 40%

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Increase = 15.
(\frac{15}{50} \times 100 = 30%).

MCQ 19

Which is equal to 40%?
A. 2⁄5
B. 3⁄5
C. 4⁄5
D. 5⁄8

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: (40% = \frac{40}{100} = \frac{2}{5}).

MCQ 20

If 80% of a number is 160, the number is:
A. 180
B. 200
C. 220
D. 240

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Number = (\frac{160 \times 100}{80} = 200).

MCQ 21

A quantity is reduced by 10%. By what percentage should it be increased to restore its original value?
A. 9%
B. 10%
C. 11.11%
D. 12%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Required increase = (\frac{10}{90} \times 100 = 11.11%).

MCQ 22

If the price of sugar rises by 20%, by how much percent should consumption be reduced to keep expenditure same?
A. 15%
B. 16⅔%
C. 18%
D. 20%

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Reduction = (\frac{20}{120} \times 100 = 16\tfrac{2}{3}%).

MCQ 23

What is 5% of 5%?
A. 0.25
B. 0.05
C. 0.0025
D. 2.5

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: (5% \times 5% = 0.05 \times 0.05 = 0.0025).

MCQ 24

If the marks of a student fall from 80% to 72%, the percentage decrease is:
A. 8%
B. 10%
C. 12%
D. 15%

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Decrease = 8.
(\frac{8}{80} \times 100 = 10%).

MCQ 25

Which of the following is the greatest?
A. 30%
B. 3⁄8
C. 0.35
D. 2⁄5

Correct Answer: D
Explanation:
30% = 0.30
3⁄8 = 0.375
0.35 = 0.35
2⁄5 = 0.40 → greatest.

MCQ 26

If the salary of an employee increases from ₹20,000 to ₹24,000, the percentage increase is:
A. 15%
B. 18%
C. 20%
D. 25%

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Increase = 4,000.
(\frac{4,000}{20,000} \times 100 = 20%).

MCQ 27

A number is 20% less than 250. The number is:
A. 180
B. 190
C. 200
D. 210

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: 20% of 250 = 50 → (250 – 50 = 200).

MCQ 28

If 60% of students in a class are boys and total students are 50, number of girls is:
A. 20
B. 25
C. 30
D. 40

Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Boys = 60% of 50 = 30 → Girls = 20.

MCQ 29

Which change gives the maximum increase?
A. 10% to 20%
B. 20% to 30%
C. 30% to 40%
D. All are equal

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Each change is an increase of 10 percentage points.

MCQ 30

Percentage problems mainly test:
A. Memorization
B. Approximation only
C. Numerical reasoning and application
D. Language ability

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Percentage questions test conceptual understanding and practical numeracy.

✅ APSC Exam Relevance

These MCQs comprehensively cover percentage calculation, increase–decrease, profit–loss, discount, and real-life applications, fully aligned with APSC CCE GS Paper II – Basic Numeracy (Class X level).

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