RRB NTPC Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI — Study Material, 13 PYQs & Practice MCQs | ZestExam
ZestExam
RRB NTPC Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI
Study Material — 13 PYQs (2018–2019) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts
RRB NTPC Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI is a frequently tested subtopic — 13 previous year questions from 2018–2019 papers are included below with concept notes, key rules and shortcut tricks.
A principal amount becomes ₹10,648 in 2 years at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Exam Q 42019Previous Year Pattern
₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. After how many half-years will the amount become ₹13,230?
Exam Q 52019Previous Year Pattern
The compound interest on ₹6,400 at 12.5% per annum for 1 year, compounded quarterly, is:
Exam Q 62019Previous Year Pattern
The difference between compound interest and simple interest on a sum for 1 year at 8% per annum, compounded half-yearly, is ₹16. What is the principal?
Exam Q 72019Previous Year Pattern
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.
Exam Q 82019Previous Year Pattern
A sum of money triples itself in 3 years at compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the rate of interest per annum (approximately)?
Exam Q 92019Previous Year Pattern
A principal amount becomes ₹14,641 in 2 years at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Exam Q 102018Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 10% per annum compounded half-yearly for 1 year. What is the compound interest earned?
Exam Q 112019Previous Year Pattern
The difference between compound interest and simple interest on a sum of ₹10,000 for 2 years, compounded half-yearly at 8% per annum, is:
Exam Q 122019Previous Year Pattern
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What will be the amount after 18 months?
Exam Q 132019Previous Year Pattern
A person invests ₹5,000 at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. Another person invests ₹5,000 at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the difference in their amounts after 1 year?
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
18graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis
The difference between compound interest and simple interest on a sum of ₹10,000 at 10% per annum for 1 year, compounded half-yearly, is:
Practice 2easy
₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the compound interest earned after 6 months?
Practice 3easy
₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 1 year.
Practice 4easy
₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the amount after 6 months?
Practice 5easy
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 6easy
A principal amount becomes ₹10,648 in 2 years at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Practice 7easy
₹20,000 is invested at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 6 months?
Practice 8easy
The compound interest on ₹6,400 at 12.5% per annum, compounded half-yearly, for 1 year is:
Practice 9medium
₹5,000 is invested at 16% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the difference between the amount after 6 months and after 3 months?
Practice 10medium
A sum of ₹5,000 is invested at 16% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the difference between the compound interest for the 1st quarter and the 2nd quarter?
Practice 11medium
A principal amount becomes ₹13,310 in 1 year at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?
Practice 12medium
₹12,000 is lent at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.
Practice 13medium
₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.
Practice 14medium
₹10,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly for 9 months. What is the compound interest earned?
Practice 15hard
The difference between compound interest (half-yearly) and simple interest on ₹10,000 for 1.5 years at 16% per annum is:
Practice 16hard
₹5,000 is invested at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. If ₹2,000 is withdrawn after 1 year, what is the amount after another 1 year (i.e., at the end of 2 years)?
Practice 17hard
A sum of ₹8,000 is invested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the compound interest earned in 1.5 years?
Practice 18hard
A sum of money doubles itself in 2 years at compound interest, compounded quarterly. At what rate per annum is it invested?
60-Second Revision — Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI
Remember: Divide rate by compounding frequency (2 for half-yearly, 4 for quarterly), multiply time by the same number
Formula: A = P × (1 + R/(100×n))^(t×n) — this works for ALL compounding frequencies
Trap: Don't forget CI = Amount − Principal; calculate both separately
Quick Check: In 1 year with quarterly CI at 20% p.a., effective rate ≈ 21.55% (not 20%)
Pattern: More frequent compounding always gives MORE interest for same P, R, and t
Always verify: After substitution, ensure exponent = compounding periods per year × time in years