August 17, 2026

20 Percentage Aptitude Questions with Solutions

Percentage is one of the most frequently used concepts in quantitative aptitude. Questions based on percentages appear in placement tests, competitive examinations, entrance tests, and recruitment assessments. A good understanding of percentages also makes topics such as profit and loss, interest, data interpretation, discounts, and ratios much easier.

This practice set contains 20 original Percentage Aptitude Questions with detailed solutions, progressing from basic calculations to moderately challenging problems.

📚 Want to practice more aptitude topics? Visit our [Free Aptitude Tests and MCQs for Placements, Competitive Exams and Interview Preparation] page for topic-wise tests covering Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability, Computer Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and placement preparation.

Try solving all 20 questions before checking the answers.

Detailed solutions are provided after Question 20.

Percentage Aptitude Test

Question 1

What is 18% of 450?

A. 72
B. 81
C. 90
D. 96

Question 2

72 is what percent of 240?

A. 25%
B. 30%
C. 32%
D. 35%

Question 3

A student’s marks increase from 320 to 400. What is the percentage increase?

A. 20%
B. 22%
C. 25%
D. 28%

Question 4

The price of a product decreases from ₹1,250 to ₹1,000. What is the percentage decrease?

A. 15%
B. 18%
C. 20%
D. 25%

Question 5

If 35% of a number is 140, what is the number?

A. 350
B. 375
C. 400
D. 420

Question 6

A student obtains 414 marks out of 600. What percentage of marks did the student obtain?

A. 67%
B. 68%
C. 69%
D. 72%

Question 7

A salary of ₹32,000 is increased by 12.5%. What is the new salary?

A. ₹34,000
B. ₹35,000
C. ₹36,000
D. ₹36,500

Question 8

A town has a population of 48,000. If its population increases by 15%, what will be the new population?

A. 52,800
B. 54,200
C. 55,200
D. 56,000

Question 9

A number is increased by 20% and becomes 540. What was the original number?

A. 420
B. 432
C. 450
D. 480

Question 10

In an examination, 84% of 750 candidates passed. How many candidates failed?

A. 100
B. 110
C. 120
D. 125

Question 11

The price of an item is increased by 25%. By what percentage must the increased price be reduced to return to the original price?

A. 15%
B. 20%
C. 25%
D. 30%

Question 12

A number is first increased by 10% and then increased again by 20%. What is the overall percentage increase?

A. 28%
B. 30%
C. 32%
D. 34%

Question 13

A machine worth ₹80,000 loses 15% of its value in one year. What is its value after one year?

A. ₹64,000
B. ₹66,000
C. ₹68,000
D. ₹72,000

Question 14

In a class, 60% of the students are girls. If there are 18 boys, how many students are there in the class?

A. 40
B. 42
C. 45
D. 48

Question 15

Juhi spends 70% of her monthly allowance and saves ₹2,700. What is her monthly allowance?

A. ₹7,500
B. ₹8,000
C. ₹9,000
D. ₹10,000

Question 16

The population of a village increases by 20% in the first year and decreases by 10% in the second year. What is the overall percentage change?

A. 8% increase
B. 10% increase
C. 10% decrease
D. 12% increase

Question 17

Cherry scored 20% more marks than Charlie. If Charlie scored 350 marks, how many marks did Cherry score?

A. 400
B. 410
C. 420
D. 430

Question 18

If the numerator of a fraction is increased by 25% while its denominator remains unchanged, by what percentage does the value of the fraction increase?

A. 20%
B. 25%
C. 30%
D. 40%

Question 19

A candidate needs 40% marks to pass an examination. She scores 168 marks and fails by 32 marks. What are the maximum marks for the examination?

A. 450
B. 480
C. 500
D. 520

Question 20

The price of a product is reduced by 20%. By what percentage must the reduced price be increased to restore the original price?

A. 20%
B. 22.5%
C. 25%
D. 30%

Answers and Detailed Solutions

Answer 1: B — 81

We need to calculate 18% of 450.

[
18% \text{ of } 450

\frac{18}{100}\times450
]

[
=81
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 81

Answer 2: B — 30%

To determine what percentage 72 is of 240:

[
\text{Percentage}

\frac{72}{240}\times100
]

[
=30%
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 30%

Answer 3: C — 25%

Original marks = 320

New marks = 400

Increase:

[
400-320=80
]

Percentage increase:

[
\frac{80}{320}\times100
]

[
=25%
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 25%

Answer 4: C — 20%

Original price = ₹1,250

New price = ₹1,000

Decrease:

[
1250-1000=250
]

Percentage decrease:

[
\frac{250}{1250}\times100
]

[
=20%
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 20%

Answer 5: C — 400

Let the number be (x).

According to the question:

[
35% \text{ of }x=140
]

Therefore:

[
\frac{35}{100}x=140
]

[
x=\frac{140\times100}{35}
]

[
x=400
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 400

Answer 6: C — 69%

Marks obtained = 414

Maximum marks = 600

Percentage:

[
\frac{414}{600}\times100
]

[
=69%
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 69%

Answer 7: C — ₹36,000

Original salary = ₹32,000

Increase = 12.5%

Since:

[
12.5%=\frac{1}{8}
]

Increase in salary:

[
32000\times\frac{1}{8}=4000
]

New salary:

[
32000+4000=36000
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: ₹36,000

Answer 8: C — 55,200

Original population = 48,000

Increase = 15%

Increase in population:

[
48000\times\frac{15}{100}
]

[
=7200
]

New population:

[
48000+7200=55200
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 55,200

Answer 9: C — 450

Suppose the original number is (x).

After a 20% increase, it becomes 120% of the original.

Therefore:

[
120% \text{ of }x=540
]

[
\frac{120}{100}x=540
]

[
x=540\times\frac{100}{120}
]

[
x=450
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 450

Answer 10: C — 120

Percentage who passed = 84%

Therefore, percentage who failed:

[
100%-84%=16%
]

Number of candidates who failed:

[
16%\text{ of }750
]

[
=\frac{16}{100}\times750
]

[
=120
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 120 candidates

Answer 11: B — 20%

This is an important percentage concept.

Assume the original price is ₹100.

After a 25% increase:

[
100+25=125
]

To return from ₹125 to ₹100, the reduction required is:

[
125-100=25
]

But the percentage decrease must now be calculated on ₹125:

[
\frac{25}{125}\times100
]

[
=20%
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 20%

Notice that a 25% increase followed by a 25% decrease would not return the value to its starting point.

Answer 12: C — 32%

Assume the original number is 100.

After the first 10% increase:

[
100+10=110
]

Now increase 110 by 20%:

[
20%\text{ of }110=22
]

New value:

[
110+22=132
]

Overall increase:

[
132-100=32
]

Therefore:

Overall percentage increase = 32%

Answer 13: C — ₹68,000

Original value = ₹80,000

Loss in value = 15%

Amount of depreciation:

[
80000\times\frac{15}{100}
]

[
=12000
]

Remaining value:

[
80000-12000
]

[
=68000
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: ₹68,000

Answer 14: C — 45

Girls = 60%

Therefore:

Boys = 100% − 60%

[
=40%
]

We are told that 40% corresponds to 18 students.

Let the total number of students be (x).

[
40%\text{ of }x=18
]

[
\frac{40}{100}x=18
]

[
x=\frac{18\times100}{40}
]

[
=45
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 45 students

Answer 15: C — ₹9,000

Juhi spends 70% of the allowance.

Therefore, she saves:

[
100%-70%=30%
]

We know:

30% = ₹2,700

Let the total allowance be (x).

[
\frac{30}{100}x=2700
]

Therefore:

[
x=\frac{2700\times100}{30}
]

[
=9000
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: ₹9,000

Answer 16: A — 8% increase

Assume the original population is 100.

After a 20% increase:

[
100\times1.20=120
]

Now the population decreases by 10%.

10% of 120:

[
12
]

New population:

[
120-12=108
]

Original population = 100

Final population = 108

Therefore:

[
108-100=8
]

The overall change is:

8% increase

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 8% increase

Answer 17: C — 420

Charlie’s marks = 350

Cherry scored 20% more.

20% of 350:

[
\frac{20}{100}\times350=70
]

Therefore, Cherry’s marks:

[
350+70=420
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 420

Answer 18: B — 25%

Suppose the original fraction is:

[
\frac{x}{y}
]

The numerator increases by 25%.

New numerator:

[
1.25x
]

The denominator remains (y).

New fraction:

[
\frac{1.25x}{y}
]

This is 1.25 times the original fraction.

Therefore, the value of the fraction increases by:

25%

Correct Answer:

25%

Answer 19: C — 500

The candidate scores 168 marks and fails by 32 marks.

Therefore, the passing marks are:

[
168+32=200
]

Passing marks represent 40% of the maximum marks.

Let maximum marks be (x).

[
40%\text{ of }x=200
]

[
\frac{40}{100}x=200
]

Therefore:

[
x=\frac{200\times100}{40}
]

[
=500
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 500

Answer 20: C — 25%

Assume the original price is ₹100.

After a 20% reduction:

[
100-20=80
]

To restore the original price, ₹80 must increase by:

[
100-80=20
]

But the percentage increase is calculated on the new price of ₹80, not ₹100.

Therefore:

[
\frac{20}{80}\times100
]

[
=25%
]

Therefore:

Correct Answer: 25%

This is another important reminder that equal percentage increases and decreases generally do not cancel each other.

Quick Answer Key

Question	Answer	Question	Answer
1	B	11	B
2	B	12	C
3	C	13	C
4	C	14	C
5	C	15	C
6	C	16	A
7	C	17	C
8	C	18	B
9	C	19	C
10	C	20	C

How Did You Score?

Correct Answers	Performance
18–20	Excellent — You have a strong command of percentages.
15–17	Very Good — Your fundamentals are clear; revise successive percentage changes.
11–14	Good — Practice reverse percentages and percentage increases/decreases.
6–10	Needs Practice — Review the basic percentage formulas and try again.
0–5	Beginner — Start with basic percentage calculations before attempting advanced questions.

Important Percentage Formulas

Finding a Percentage

[
\text{Percentage}

\frac{\text{Part}}{\text{Whole}}\times100
]

Finding a Percentage of a Number

[
x%\text{ of }y

\frac{x}{100}\times y
]

Percentage Increase

[
\text{Percentage Increase}

\frac{\text{Increase}}{\text{Original Value}}\times100
]

Percentage Decrease

[
\text{Percentage Decrease}

\frac{\text{Decrease}}{\text{Original Value}}\times100
]

Value After a Percentage Increase

If a value increases by (p%):

[
\text{New Value}

\text{Original Value}\times
\left(1+\frac{p}{100}\right)
]

Value After a Percentage Decrease

If a value decreases by (p%):

[
\text{New Value}

\text{Original Value}\times
\left(1-\frac{p}{100}\right)
]

Useful Percentage-to-Fraction Conversions

Knowing some common conversions can make aptitude calculations much faster.

Percentage	Fraction
50%	1/2
25%	1/4
20%	1/5
12.5%	1/8
10%	1/10
75%	3/4
40%	2/5
60%	3/5

For example:

12.5% of 800

can immediately be calculated as:

[
\frac{1}{8}\times800=100
]

This can be faster than using the percentage formula.

A Common Percentage Mistake

One of the most important concepts in percentage aptitude is:

An increase of x% followed by a decrease of x% does not normally return a quantity to its original value.

For example, suppose a value of 100 increases by 20%.

It becomes:

[
120
]

Now decrease 120 by 20%:

[
20%\text{ of }120=24
]

Therefore:

[
120-24=96
]

The final value is 96, not 100.

This happens because the second percentage is calculated using a different base value.

Topics Covered in This Percentage Test

This practice test covered:

Basic percentage calculations
Finding percentages
Percentage increase
Percentage decrease
Reverse percentages
Examination marks
Population changes
Salary increases
Depreciation
Savings and expenditure
Successive percentage changes
Percentage comparison
Restoring an original value

These concepts are also useful when studying Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Data Interpretation, Ratio and Proportion, and commercial arithmetic.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is percentage?

Percentage means a quantity expressed per hundred.

For example:

[
35%=\frac{35}{100}
]

which can also be written as:

[
0.35
]

How do I calculate a percentage of a number?

Use:

[
\frac{\text{Percentage}}{100}\times\text{Number}
]

For example:

25% of 200:

[
\frac{25}{100}\times200=50
]

How do I calculate percentage increase?

Find the increase first and divide it by the original value.

Then multiply by 100.

How do I calculate percentage decrease?

Use:

[
\frac{\text{Original Value – New Value}}
{\text{Original Value}}\times100
]

Why don’t equal percentage increases and decreases cancel each other?

Because the second percentage is calculated on a different base.

For example:

100 increased by 20% becomes 120.

A 20% decrease from 120 is 24.

Therefore:

120 − 24 = 96.

Are percentage questions important for placement aptitude tests?

Yes. Percentage concepts are widely used in quantitative aptitude and also form the basis of several other topics such as profit and loss, interest, population changes, discounts, and data interpretation.

How can I improve my speed in percentage questions?

Learn common percentage-fraction relationships such as:

50% = 1/2

25% = 1/4

20% = 1/5

12.5% = 1/8

and practice identifying the correct base value before performing calculations.

Conclusion

Percentage is a fundamental quantitative aptitude topic because it connects directly with many other mathematical concepts.

The most important skill is not simply knowing how to multiply a number by a percentage. You should also understand which value forms the base of the percentage calculation.

Pay particular attention to:

percentage increase,
percentage decrease,
reverse percentages, and
successive percentage changes.

Mastering these concepts will make later topics such as Profit and Loss, Interest, Data Interpretation, and Ratio and Proportion considerably easier.

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Previous Test:
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Next Test:
20 Ratio and Proportion Aptitude Questions with Answers and Solutions

20 Percentage Aptitude Questions with Solutions

20 Percentage Aptitude Questions with Solutions

Percentage Aptitude Test

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17

Question 18

Question 19

Question 20

Answers and Detailed Solutions

Answer 1: B — 81

[18% \text{ of } 450

Answer 2: B — 30%

[\text{Percentage}

Answer 3: C — 25%

Answer 4: C — 20%

Answer 5: C — 400

Answer 6: C — 69%

Answer 7: C — ₹36,000

Answer 8: C — 55,200

Answer 9: C — 450

Answer 10: C — 120

Answer 11: B — 20%

Answer 12: C — 32%

Answer 13: C — ₹68,000

Answer 14: C — 45

Answer 15: C — ₹9,000

Answer 16: A — 8% increase

Answer 17: C — 420

Answer 18: B — 25%

Answer 19: C — 500

Answer 20: C — 25%

Quick Answer Key

How Did You Score?

Important Percentage Formulas

Finding a Percentage

[\text{Percentage}

Finding a Percentage of a Number

[x%\text{ of }y

Percentage Increase

[\text{Percentage Increase}

Percentage Decrease

[\text{Percentage Decrease}

Value After a Percentage Increase

[\text{New Value}

Value After a Percentage Decrease

[\text{New Value}

Useful Percentage-to-Fraction Conversions

A Common Percentage Mistake

Topics Covered in This Percentage Test

Frequently Asked Questions

What is percentage?

How do I calculate a percentage of a number?

How do I calculate percentage increase?

How do I calculate percentage decrease?

Why don’t equal percentage increases and decreases cancel each other?

Are percentage questions important for placement aptitude tests?

How can I improve my speed in percentage questions?

Conclusion

Further Reading

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[
18% \text{ of } 450

[
\text{Percentage}

[
\text{Percentage}

[
x%\text{ of }y

[
\text{Percentage Increase}

[
\text{Percentage Decrease}

[
\text{New Value}

[
\text{New Value}