SNAPSHOT- DEC 2014 EXAM ANALYSIS

Number of Questions	200
Marking Scheme	1 mark per question
Negative Marking	0.25 marks per question
Number of Sections	5
Number of Choices	4(1.2,3,4)
Duration	150 minutes

This MAT exam, conducted on 7^th Dec 2014, had 200 questions to be attempted in 150 minutes. These 200 questions were from five test areas viz. Indian and Global Environment, Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning with exactly 40 questions in each. Each question had equal marking and one-fourth mark was deducted for every wrong answer. For the sake of convenience, 1 mark has been taken for every correct answer.

OVERALL SUMMARY(ESTIMATED FOR DEC 2014 MAT EXAM)

The consolidated score is evaluated by taking only four areas into account. Indian and Global Environment (GK) is not the part of the consolidated score. Hence, the scoring is done out of a maximum possible score of 160 marks(@1 mark for 160 qs). However, the score card(by AIMA) doesnot give the net marks. It gives the scaled score and the percentile in each and every section. It also gives the overall composite score and the overall percentile. An overall net score of 60 marks (excluding the score in GK) is estimated to be a very good score.

Let us analyze the different types of questions from each of the test area along with the overall difficulty level of each of the test area.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

The paper predominantly had questions from the Arithmetic areas like (Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Geometry, Time and Distance, Averages, Mixtures and Alligations). The questions involved only the basics and those who would have done adequate practice would have found those questions quite easy. The success in this particular test area depended on one's basic conceptual skills, and calculation skills. Overall, the test area can be classified as MODERATE- DIFFICULT. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 35-40 min for a good net score of 13.

AREA	DESCRIPTION	MARKS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL	ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Arithmetic	Time & Work, Pipes and Cisterns	4	Moderate-Difficult	11
	Time & Distance, Boats and Streams	5
	Averages, Mixtures & Alligations	8
	Quadratic Equations	1
	Equations, Ratio, Proportion & Variation	6
	Percentages, Profit, Loss, Partnership	5
	Geometry & Mensuration	2
	Simple Interest, Compound Interest	4
Higher Math	Trigometry, Heights and Distance	0	Difficult	2
	Permutation and Combinations	1
	Probability	4
	Overall	40	Moderate-Difficult	13

DATA ANALYSIS AND SUFFICIENCY

As shown in the table below, this test area comprises DI, DS and Data Comparison, with DI accounting for 30 out of 40 questions while DS and Data Comparison put together accounting for the remaining 10 questions. The questions in DI involved were of standard model -based on observation, counting, calculations like comparison of fractions, computing the average, percentage based calculations etc. Overall, this test area can be considered to be Moderate. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 35-40 min for a good net score of 16.

AREA	DESCRIPTION	MARKS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL	ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Data Interpretation	Two sets of five questions each based on pie charts	10	Moderate	12
	Caselet	5
	The set was based on the data given in the tabular format and the line graph.	5
	Line Graph	5
	Bar Graph	5
Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison	Each question followed by two statements, A and B.	5	Moderate	4
	Data Comparison	5
Overall		40	Moderate	16

LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION

This test area had a good mix of 20 questions from Reading Comprehension and 20 questions from Verbals. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 30-35 min. Most of the questions in Reading Comprehension(4 qs from each of the five passages) were followed by two to three statements (Multistatement in nature). The questions in Verbal require good knowledge about English usage & functional grammar. The type of the questions asked for this MAT, yet again, were similar to the ones asked in the earlier exams. However, the passages were slightly lengthier as compared to the ones which appeared in the earlier years. Overall, the test area can be classified as MODERATE. A good score is estimated to be 17 in the time limit of 30-35 min.

AREA	DESCRIPTION	MARKS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL	ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Vocabulary	To find the antonyms of the words given in jumbled form	3	Moderate	8
	Odd Man out (Each of the words given in jumbled form)	3	Easy-Moderate
	Fill in the blanks (2 blanks)	3	Easy
English Usage and Grammar	Most appropriate restatement	3	Moderate
	Para-Jumbles	4	Moderate -Difficult
	Best essence(Sumnmary) of the given paragraph	4	2 easy, 1 Moderate, 1 Difficult
Reading Comprehension	Operations at Paradip Port Trust	4	Moderate -Difficult	9
	India's vulnerability to natural disasters like Cyclones.	4
	Indian mindset towards fatalism.	4
	Electric Rickshaws in Delhi.	4
	Indian start-ups	4
Overall		40	Moderate	17

INTELLIGENCE AND CRITICAL REASONING

This test area is a mix of Analytical reasoning and Critical reasoning. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 30-35 min. The questions were from varied topics like Number Series, Distribution, Seating Arrangement etc. Some of the sets related to “Distribution” were lengthier (with multiple constraints). Overall, the questions on Analytical Reasoning were of moderate difficulty level and a good student would have found this area manageable. Overall this test area can be classified as MODERATE. A net score of 18 marks from this section alone is considered to be a good score.

INDIAN AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

The questions in this test area were, predominantly, from business, current affairs, Person and their associated fields, etc.This time there were 25 questions which covered the news pertaining to October 2014. Those who read newspapers on a regular basis will find this area comfortable. Overall this test area can be classified as Moderately Difficult. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 5 minutes for a good net score of 6-7 marks.