Study Material — 25 PYQs (2018–2022) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
CDS Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI is a frequently tested subtopic — 25 previous year questions from 2018–2022 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
A sum of ₹6,400 becomes ₹7,056 after 2 years at a certain rate per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the rate of interest?
Exam Q 32022Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the compound interest earned after 1 year?
Exam Q 42022Previous Year Pattern
₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 6 months?
Exam Q 52022Previous Year Pattern
A principal amount becomes ₹10,648 after 2 years at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Exam Q 62022Previous Year Pattern
₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.
Exam Q 72022Previous Year Pattern
₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the difference between the amount after 6 months and after 3 months?
Exam Q 82020Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What will be the amount after 1 year?
Exam Q 92022Previous Year Pattern
₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the compound interest earned after 1 year?
Exam Q 102022Previous Year Pattern
₹4,000 is invested at 16% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 9 months?
Exam Q 112022Previous Year Pattern
The difference between compound interest and simple interest on a sum for 1 year at 16% per annum, compounded half-yearly, is ₹64. What is the principal?
Exam Q 122018Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹10,000 is invested at 10% per annum compounded half-yearly for 1 year. What is the compound interest earned?
Exam Q 132022Previous Year Pattern
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned after 6 months.
Exam Q 142020Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 1 year?
Exam Q 152022Previous Year Pattern
A certain sum becomes ₹1,331 in 1.5 years at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the compound interest earned?
Exam Q 162022Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹5,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the amount after 9 months?
Exam Q 172022Previous Year Pattern
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.
Exam Q 182022Previous Year Pattern
A principal amount becomes ₹13,310 after 1 year at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What was the original principal?
Exam Q 192022Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹10,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. After how many complete quarters will the amount exceed ₹13,000?
Exam Q 202022Previous Year Pattern
A principal amount doubles itself in 2 years at compound interest compounded quarterly. What is the rate of interest per annum (approximately)?
Exam Q 212022Previous Year Pattern
A sum of money becomes ₹8,820 in 1.5 years at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal amount?
Exam Q 222022Previous Year Pattern
The difference between compound interest and simple interest on a sum of ₹12,000 for 1 year at 16% per annum, when interest is compounded half-yearly, is:
Exam Q 232022Previous Year Pattern
The difference between compound interest (compounded half-yearly) and simple interest on a sum for 2 years at 16% per annum is ₹1,024. What is the principal?
Exam Q 242018Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹16,000 is invested at 20% per annum compounded half-yearly. What is the compound interest accrued after 1.5 years?
Exam Q 252022Previous Year Pattern
A sum of money becomes ₹8,820 in 1.5 years when invested at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal amount?
Concept Notes
Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI— Rules & Concept
💡
Core Concept
Read this first — the foundation of the topic
→Core Concept
When you deposit money in a bank, the bank usually adds interest once a year. But some banks add interest twice a year (half-yearly) or four times a year (quarterly). Each time interest is added, it becomes part of the new principal, and the next interest is calculated on this larger amount. This is why more frequent compounding gives you more interest
💡Key Rules
For half-yearly CI: The rate is divided by 2, and time is multiplied by 2.
For quarterly CI: The rate is divided by 4, and time is multiplied by 4
🔑Formula
A = P × (1 + R/(100×n))^(t×n)
Where:
- A = Amount after interest
- P = Principal (original money)
- R = Annual rate of interest (%)
- n = Number of times compounded per year (2 for half-yearly, 4 for quarterly)
- t = Time in years
- CI = A − P
📊
Exam Patterns
What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs
SSC CGL typically asks: Compare CI for different compounding periods, find CI amount, or calculate effective rate.
Shortcut/Trick:
For half-yearly: Use R/2 and 2t. For quarterly: Use R/4 and 4t. Always remember the rate gets divided and time gets multiplied by the same number.
✏️
Worked Example
Solve this step-by-step before moving on
1
Step 1
Identify n = 4 (quarterly)
2
Step 2
Apply formula: A = 8000 × (1 + 20/(100×4))^(1×4)
3
Step 3
A = 8000 × (1 + 5/100)^4
4
Step 4
A = 8000 × (1.05)^4
5
Step 5
A = 8000 × 1.2155 = 9724
6
Step 6
CI = 9724 − 8000 = Rs 1724
Common Mistake:
Students forget to divide the rate by the compounding frequency. They use the full annual rate instead of R/2 or R/4, leading to wrong answers. Always reduce the rate first.
Key Points to Remember
Half-yearly CI: Divide rate by 2, multiply time by 2
Quarterly CI: Divide rate by 4, multiply time by 4
Formula: A = P(1 + R/(100n))^(tn) where n = compounding frequency
More frequent compounding = higher final amount
CI = Amount − Principal (always calculate both separately)
In 1 year, quarterly compounding gives more interest than half-yearly
Exam-Specific Tips
For half-yearly compounding, the effective rate formula is: (1 + R/200)^2 − 1
For quarterly compounding in 1 year, total compounding periods = 4
Half-yearly means n = 2, so rate becomes R/2 for each period
Quarterly means n = 4, so rate becomes R/4 for each period
If time is 2 years with quarterly compounding, total periods = 8
Compound Interest formula with frequency: A = P(1 + r/100)^n where r is periodic rate and n is total periods
For half-yearly: 1 year = 2 periods, 2 years = 4 periods, 3 years = 6 periods
Practice MCQs
Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI — Practice Questions
24graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 24
₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the amount after 6 months.
Practice 2easy
₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned after 6 months.
Practice 3easy
₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the amount after 9 months?
Practice 4easy
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What will be the amount after 1 year?
Practice 5easy
At what rate per annum will ₹4,000 amount to ₹4,410 in 1 year, compounded half-yearly?
Practice 6easy
₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the compound interest earned in 6 months?
Practice 7easy
A principal amount becomes ₹10,648 in 1 year at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Practice 8medium
A principal amount becomes ₹14,641 in 2 years at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What was the original principal?
Practice 9medium
The difference between compound interest (compounded quarterly) and simple interest on a sum of ₹10,000 at 16% per annum for 6 months is:
Practice 10medium
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.
Practice 11medium
₹20,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the amount after 9 months?
Practice 12medium
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned after 6 months.
Practice 13medium
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 1 year?
Practice 14medium
The difference between compound interest and simple interest on ₹5,000 for 1 year at 16% per annum, compounded half-yearly, is:
Practice 15medium
A principal amount becomes ₹15,625 in 1 year at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Practice 16hard
A sum of money is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. If the difference between the compound interest earned in the 2nd quarter and the 3rd quarter is ₹36, find the principal amount.
Practice 17hard
The difference between compound interest (compounded half-yearly) and simple interest on ₹10,000 for 1.5 years at 16% per annum is:
Practice 18hard
A principal becomes ₹20,736 in 2 years at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the principal?
Practice 19hard
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. In how many years will the amount become ₹15,972?
Practice 20hard
A sum of money becomes ₹8,820 in 1.5 years when invested at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What was the principal amount?
4 more practice questions in the Study Panel
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