ATMA- 2011 ANALYSIS

SNAPSHOT


No. of Questions 170
Marking Scheme 1
Negative marking 1/3
Number of Parts (Timed) 2
Number of Sections 3 per part
Number of Choices 4
Duration 180 Min

ATMA 2011 was slightly different from ATMA 2010 & 2009 and this difference in only in the division of time between the sections. The paper was divided into 2 parts, each part having 1 Quant & 1 Analytical Reasoning Section each. The first part had RC section and the 2nd had the verbal ability section. Each part was to be answered in 90 minutes, with no option given to the students of going back to the first part once the second part has started. This was unlike last year when each section was given 30 minutes which constrained the students to take advantage of their strong areas and allott the surplus time to the weaker areas. As individual sections were not timed and instead an over all part of the paper was, the students could, according to their comfort levels, allocate time to different sections in a part, there by reducing the handicap caused by the weaker sections.

Over all, there were were 170 questions to be attempted in 180 minutes and a 1 minute gap was given between the sections. The over all pattern in ATMA 2011 was as follows

Part Section Allotted time Number of questions
I Quantitative skills 90 min 30
Analytical Reasoning skills 30
Verbal skills 25
II Analytical Reasoning skills 90 min 30
Verbal skills 25
Quantitative skills 30
Total 180 min 170

Verbal Skills

No .of Questions: 50 (In both sections put together)

Area Description Marks Diff.Level Expected Score Good Score
Reading Comprehension Passage 1 – Fertilizer policy 5 3 Easy- 2 Moderate 12 18
Passage 2 – PPP for a better society – technology in Traffic management 9 6 Easy- 3 Moderate
Passage 3 – Automated Voice Response – Problems 5 2 Easy- 3 Moderate
Passage 4 – Time vailable for 5 day a week workers vs others 6 3 Easy- 3 Moderate
Verbal Synonyms (Word pairs) 4 2 Easy – 2 Moderate 10 15
Fill in the Blanks (Cloze) 13 4 Easy – 9 Moderate
Para Formation Questions (PFQs) 4 0 Easy – 4 Moderate
Select the most appropriate word 4 0 Easy – 4 Moderate

Overall 50 Moderate 22 33

The RC section from Part 1 was relatively easier to score in compared to the verbal ability section in Part 2. The RC passages were not difficult to read as they were straight articles from newspapers, very easily google'able. The questions following them were also not very difficult to understand and answer. Contrasting this, the VA section in Part 2 was of a little higher level of difficulty, though no where near that of the other Management entrance exams. The PFQs needed good comprehension and understanding on the part of the student. The Fill in the blanks were also not very easy pickings but had options which the not s well prepared students can very easily tricked into selecting.

Both the sections, RC and VA needed around 20 minutes each and a score of 12 and 10 respectively can be said to be good enough for some of the good schools.

Quantitative Skills

No. of Questions: 60

AREA Topic Marks Difficulty Level Expected Score Good Score
Arithmetic Time &Work 2 0 Easy - 2 Moderate 20-22 30-32
Time & Distance, Clocks 3 1 Easy - 2 Moderate
Numbers 9 5 Easy - 4 Moderate
Progressions 1 1 Easy - 0 Moderate
Geometry and Mensuration 15 12 Easy - 3 Moderate
Quadratic equations 4 4 Easy - 2 Moderate
Ratio-Proportion 4 3 Easy - 1 Moderate
Averages 1 0 Easy – 1 Moderate
Alligations 1 0 Easy – 1 Moderate
Percentages, Profit & Loss 3 0 Easy - 3 Moderate
Simple and Compound Interest 2 1 Easy - 1 Moderate
Number Series 3 0 Easy - 3 Moderate
Higher Math P&C
7
0 Easy - 7 Moderate 4 6
Probability 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate

Overall 60 Moderate 24-26 35-38

As individual sections did not have time restriction, the students are expected to allot the extra time on their hands to this section in both the parts. Most of the questions were very straight forward with only simple concepts and their direct application. A well prepared student could crack all the questions in the section, but time would be the only constraint.

30-35 minutes would be a good time to allot for this section and any score above 30 can be considered to be good.

Analytical Reasoning

No. of Questions: 60

Area Detail Marks Difficulty Level Expected Score Good Score
Analytical Reasoning Puzzle on Students & Colleges 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate 14-16 22
Puzzle on seating arrangement (Linear) 4 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Puzzle on Seating Arrangements (Circular) 5 0 Easy - 0 Moderate, 5 Difficult
Data Sufficiency 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Input-Output 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Operator based Questions (relationships) 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Statements & Conclusions (Inequalities) 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Puzzle on Off days 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Critical Reasoning Assumptions & Conclusions 5 0 Easy - 5 Moderate 4-6 10-12
Strong and weak Arguments 3 0 Easy - 5 Moderate
Course of Action Questions 5 2 Easy - 3 Moderate
Cause & Effect 8 2 Easy - 6 Moderate
  Overall 60 Difficult 18-22 32-36

Though this section has questions on predictable patterns, this is the toughest section in the exam, relatively. The students needed good exposure and practice to crack the questions in these sections. No questions on deductions were there this year. Overall, a 35-40 minutes will be needed in each of the parts for this section. Any score above 35 will be a good one.