ICET2008 - Analysis



Click here to download the ICET 2008 Solutions
 
ICET 2008 paper available on www.icet2008.net  

The most important day for MBA / MCA aspirants has come and gone. Yes, we are taking about May11, the day of Integrated Common Entrance Test, popularly known as ICET.

While the ICET paper pattern has remained the same over the last eight years, this year’s test  was relatively tougher. To help you understand this year’s test paper better, we bring to you a comprehensive analysis of ICET 2008. This year ICET was conducted by Osmania University 

Data Sufficiency 

The questions based on Data Sufficiency were tricky. Some of the questions were not the routine type when compared to the previous years. But, on the whole, it was a good mixture of concepts and logic. The standard of most of the questions was higher than that of the previous years. 

There were 3-4 difficult questions and an equal number of easy questions. Hence we can understand that the remaining questions were of moderate level of difficulty. On the whole, the data sufficiency part can be rated as moderate to difficult. One needs to have thorough conceptual knowledge as well as good application skills. 

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Data Sufficiency

 

S.No

Topic

No. of questions

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

1

Numbers

5

–

5

–

2

Plane Geometry

4

–

3

1

3

Mensuration

1

1

–

–

4

Inequations

2

–

1

1

5

Quadratic Equations

2

1

–

1

6

Progressions

2

 

2

–

7

Sets

1

–

1

–

8

Co-ordinate Geometry

1

–

1

–

9

Reasoning based

2

1

–

1

 

 

20

3

13

4

 

 

Data Analysis

 

This part had two DI sets of five questions each. Usually one DI set and one Venn diagram set appear in ICET. As discussed frequently, the possibility of two DI sets in this part became true again. The students who were aware of this possibility could have adjusted to the same and they have a good chance of scoring high in this section. 

As far as the sets are concerned, the set based on a single Pie-chart was easy and one would have attempted all the questions in this set. The other one based on the combination of Pie-chart and table was very confusing as data representation was unusual and though the questions were direct, one needed to have a good understanding regarding the data types and awareness of calculation techniques for cracking a set like this. Overall Data Analysis can be considered to be of ‘moderate’ difficulty level.

Reasoning

 

(Problem Solving, Coding-Decoding and Date, Time and Arrangement)

 

There were 40 questions based on Reasoning in section A. The questions based on Series, Analogies and Odd man out were very much on the expected lines and usual patterns. Though one or two questions were time consuming, overall this was a scoring part of Reasoning. Barring the exception that the directions of coding-decoding were slightly different, every other aspect of the set based  10 questions on coding-decoding was regular and usual. The test takers who had practised the regular models of coding well, would have found the going very easy. Then comes the last part of reasoning i.e., individual questions. Here the questions on topics related to clocks and calendars were very direct but the questions on topics related to seating arrangement needed a little bit of effort as they were time consuming. Overall, the section was easy and for all the aspirants who had good basics and the right practice are likely to score very well in this part. There were five questions from Maths topics like sets, equations, ages in this section. 
 
     

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Reasoning

 

S.No

Topic

No. of questions

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

1

Number Series

8

3

2

3

2

Letter Series

4

4

–

–

3

Number Analogies

3

2

1

–

4

Odd man out :

 

 

 

 

 

Number Based

7

3

2

2

 

Letters Based

2

2

–

–

 

Vocab Based

1

1

–

–

5

Coding & Decoding

10

–

10

–

6

Calendar

1

–

1

–

7

Clocks

1

1

–

–

8

Seating arrangement

1

–

–

1

9

Comparison

1

–

1

–

10

Symbols & Notation

1

1

–

–

 

 

40

17

17

6

 

Mathematical Ability

 

The Arithmetical Ability part had a good mixture of questions from different topics and of varying difficulty level. A good understanding as well as application of concepts and awareness of different models was a pre-requisite to get a good score. Though there was a little variation in the weightage of topics when compared to the previous year, the dominant topics were the same. Though there were some questions based on direct application of the formulae, there were more questions which required the application of concepts. On the whole, this part was time consuming. However, a thorough practice could have yielded a good score. 
 
 

 

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Arithmetical Ability

 

S.No

Topic

No. of questions

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

1

Laws of Indices

2

–

2

–

2

Ratio and Proportion

2

1

1

–

3

Surds

3

1

2

–

4

Numbers

7

3

2

2

5

Percentages

4

2

2

–

6

Profit and Loss

1

–

–

1

7

Partnership

1

–

1

–

8

Time and Work

3

1

1

1

9

Time and Distance

1

1

–

–

10

Modular Arithmetic

1

1

–

–

11

Mensuration

6

3

2

1

12

Simple Equations

1

1

–

–

13

Mathematical Operator Based

1

1

–

–

14

Inequations

1

–

1

–

15

Simple Interest

1

1

–

–

 

 

35

16

14

5

 

The Pure Math part in the paper had some difficult questions spread across at regular intervals, thereby scaring the test taker. Most questions, though appeared to be simple on the face of it, were deceptively lengthy. This would have also shaken the test aspirant.  

An aspirant whose preparation was regular could score about 25-30 marks out of 40. The pattern in Pure Maths going by the last couple of years indicates the aspirant has to do lot of psychological preparation. Hence writing more tests and performing well should be the key to success for all future aspirants. Overall, the pure math portion was moderately difficult and some questions were time consuming. The questions on Probability and Statistics were easy. 
 
 

 

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Algebraical / Geometrical / Statistical Ability

 

S.No

Topic

No. of questions

Easy

Moderate

Difficult

1.

Quadratic Equations

3

1

2

–

2.

Trigonometry

4

4

–

–

3.

Matrices

2

1

1

–

4.

Limits

2

1

1

–

5.

Derivatives

1

1

–

–

6.

Plain Geometry

2

–

2

–

7.

Co-ordinate Geometry

3

3

–

–

8.

Binomial Theorem

2

–

1

1

9.

Remainder Theorem

2

1

1

–

10.

Functions

1

–

–

1

11.

Sets

2

–

–

2

12.

Ratio

1

–

1

–

13.

Progressions

3

–

2

1

14.

Maths logic

2

2

–

–

15.

Statistics

6

3

2

1

16.

Probability

4

–

3

1

 

 

40

17

16

7

     

 

Communication Ability

 

Section C on Communication Ability followed the usual pattern of ICET that is familiar in the last few years. 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary section was fairly difficult. Some words were not very common like ‘rendezvous’, ‘insouciant’, ‘sacrilege’. Even the words in the fill in the blank were moderately difficult like ‘ravenously’, ‘parsimonious’. On the whole the vocabulary in this year’s paper can be called difficult by ICET standard. 

Functional grammar:

Questions based on conversations and inference of tones was slightly difficult. One question in particular had choices which were very close – the examinee was expected to distinguish between ‘intolerant’ and ‘angry’. The idiomatic expression “took my breath away” had a close alternative between ‘surprise’ and ‘shock’. The questions were of usual standard. 

The fill in the blanks section tested well on the knowledge of grammar (between ‘than’ and ‘to’ to follow ‘prefer’, for example). The questions tested the knowledge of tenses, phrasal verbs, idiomatic expression, inversion and prepositions which were moderately difficult. 

Reading Comprehension:

There were three passages in this section, with 5 questions each. The smallest passage was of about 120 words and the other two were of about 150-200 words. The passages were smaller and subject matter easier. While two of the passages – one on Humming birds and the other on climate change – were straightforward and easy to comprehend, one passage – on courtesy – required a good familiarity with the language. This passage had questions that tested the understanding of phrases, idioms and expressions. 

From this year’s RC section we can infer that students can score marks here if they read the passage and answer the questions. If they spend 15 minutes on this section they can get 11 or 12 questions out of 15 correct. Students are therefore advised not to guess and mark the answers but to read and answer this section. 

On the whole the English part was on expected lines and aspirants who had prepared thoroughly and sincerely would have fared well. 

Computer and Business Terminology:

The business related terms and abbreviations were easy – GATT, IMF, to name a few computer terms like Spoofing, Blogging, Wi Max would have surprised the students as these terms are not used frequently in computer terminology. Overall, a mixture of easy and difficult questions.

To summarise, ICET 2008 floored the students. A few questions in DS were tricky and 2-3 questions were really difficult. The reasoning part was on expected lines.In the Arithmetical Ablility section, there was an increase in the number of questions based on application and in pure math also, 5-7 questions were diificult.The English part (except for vocabulary) was on the usual ICET pattern and was easy.

 

Overall, the paper was lenghty with difficult questions at regular intervals. Students who are strong at basics would have done the paper well.

 

Click here to download the ICET 2008 Solutions


ICET 2008 paper available on www.icet2008.net