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SSC CGL Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI

Study Material — 25 PYQs (2018–2022) · Concept Notes · Shortcuts

SSC CGL 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.

25 PYQs
2018–2022
24 Practice
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6 Key Points
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Previous Year Questions

SSC CGL Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI — Past Exam Questions

25 questions from actual SSC CGL papers · all shown free · click option to reveal solution

Exam Q 12022Previous Year Pattern

A principal amount becomes ₹10,404 in 1 year at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?

Exam Q 22020Previous 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 32022Previous Year Pattern

₹4,000 is invested at 16% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 9 months?

Exam Q 42022Previous Year Pattern

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 52022Previous 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 62022Previous 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 72022Previous Year Pattern

₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.

Exam Q 82022Previous Year Pattern

₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What will be the amount after 6 months?

Exam Q 92022Previous 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 102022Previous 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 112020Previous 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 122022Previous 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 132022Previous 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 142022Previous Year Pattern

₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned after 6 months.

Exam Q 152022Previous Year Pattern

₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.

Exam Q 162022Previous 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 172018Previous 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 182022Previous 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 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

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 212022Previous 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?

Exam Q 222022Previous 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 232018Previous 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 242022Previous 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 252022Previous 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:

Concept Notes

Half-Yearly / Quarterly CI— Rules & Concept

Core ConceptRead 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 PatternsWhat 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 ExampleSolve 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

Exam TrapsCommon mistakes students make — avoid these

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

All MCQs →
Practice 1easy

A principal amount becomes ₹10,648 in 1 year at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?

Practice 2easy

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 3easy

₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned after 6 months.

Practice 4easy

₹5,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the amount after 6 months.

Practice 5easy

₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the amount after 9 months?

Practice 6easy

At what rate per annum will ₹4,000 amount to ₹4,410 in 1 year, compounded half-yearly?

Practice 7easy

₹12,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the compound interest earned in 6 months?

Practice 8medium

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 9medium

A principal amount becomes ₹14,641 in 2 years at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What was the original principal?

Practice 10medium

A principal amount becomes ₹15,625 in 1 year at 20% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the principal?

Practice 11medium

₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned after 6 months.

Practice 12medium

₹20,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. What is the amount after 9 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

₹12,000 is invested at 8% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. Find the compound interest earned in 6 months.

Practice 15medium

The difference between compound interest and simple interest on ₹5,000 for 1 year at 16% per annum, compounded half-yearly, is:

Practice 16hard

A sum of money doubles itself in 2 years at compound interest, compounded quarterly. At what rate per annum is it invested?

Practice 17hard

₹5,000 is invested at 10% per annum compound interest, compounded half-yearly for 1 year, and then the amount is reinvested at 12% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly for another 1 year. What is the final amount?

Practice 18hard

A principal amount doubles in 3 years when invested at a certain rate of compound interest, compounded half-yearly. What is the rate of interest per annum?

Practice 19hard

A sum of ₹5,000 is invested at 16% per annum compound interest, compounded quarterly. After how many complete quarters will the amount exceed ₹6,655?

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?

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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
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