ICET2012 was held on the scheduled date of 18thMay2012. The conducting university was Kakatiya University, Warangal.

ICET2012 was a shocker, both in terms of the difficulty level and also in terms of new question types that have crept in ICET2012 for the first time. There was no change in the question paper pattern and the marking scheme. The question paper consisted of 200 questions to be answered in 150 minutes. There were three sections - Analytical Ability consisting of 75 questions, Mathematics section which had 75 questions and a section on Communication ability with 50 questions. There was no negative marking. To help you understand this year’s test paper better, we provide you with a comprehensive analysis, below.

Section – A – Analytical Ability

Data Sufficiency:

The questions in Data Sufficiency were from a wide range of Arithmetic and Pure Math topics. We can see this clearly from the table that is given below. There was an increase in the number of questions from Pure Math topics when compared to ICET2011. This year there were 6 questions from topics like Coordinate Geometry, Sets and Trigonometry. Lot of questions were asked from topic of Numbers as well.

On the whole, the data sufficiency part can be rated as easy to moderate, with fifty percentage of question being easy and an equal number of questions of moderate difficulty level. This section was a real test of the conceptual knowledge of the student.

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Data Sufficiency

S.No	Topic	Easy	Moderate	Difficult	No. of questions
1	Ratio		1		1
2	Profit & Loss	1			1
3	Numbers	3	2	1	6
4	Averages	1			1
5	Progressions	1			1
6	Geometry	1	2		3
7	Indices		1		1
8	Sets	1			1
9	Functions		1		1
10	Coordinate Geometry	1	2		3
11	Trigonometry		1		1
	Total	9	10	1	20

Data Analysis:

This part had one DI set with five questions and one another set on Venn Diagrams with five questions. This was on expected lines and similar to what was asked in ICET2011.

As far as DI is concerned, one set based on a Pie-chart was given. All the 5 questions on DI were easy. Questions on Venn Diagrams were easy to moderate difficulty level.

Overall Data Analysis can be considered to be easy.

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

There were 42 questions in reasoning.

• The 15 questions based on series and analogies were of slightly higher difficulty level when compared to last year. Among the 10 questions on odd man out, there were 2 to 3 questions which were difficult.

• It appears that 'Coding – Decoding' has become the favourite topic of paper setter to conduct new experiments every year. Like last year, this year also there were surprises in store for the students in the topic of coding and decoding. There were two sets on code - decode each set comprising of 5 questions. One of the sets was easy, but the way in which it was presented would have scared the students for a while. The second set is the non ICET type of set, which commonly appears in the bank exams. This would have definitely been a surprise element for the student.

• Another surprise in the reasoning section !!! Generally every year in ICET, one or no questions appear from the topic of Direction Sense. This year there were three questions from this topic.

• For one question on calendar, the correct answer ( year 2001) was not present in the options.

Overall, this section can be put under the category of easy to moderate difficulty level. A score in the band of 29 – 32 out of 42 is a real good score in reasoning !!

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Reasoning

S.No	Topic	No. of questions	Easy	Moderate	Difficult
1	Number Series	7	2	3	2
2	Letter Series	2	2
3	Number Analogies	2		2
4	Letter Analogy	3	3
5	Verbal Analogy	1		1
6	Odd man out :
	Number Based	8	6	2
	Verbal Based	2	1		1
7	Coding & Decoding	10	5	5
8	Calendar	2	1		1
9	Clocks	1	1
10	Seating arrangement	1		1
11	Directions sense	3	1	1	1
	Total	42	22	15	5

Section – B - Mathematical Ability

Unlike last year, this section was time consuming. About 1/3 rd of the questions in this section were either time consuming or difficult.

There were two questions – one on surds ( x = 3 + sqrt5) and another on statistics ( finding the median), for which there were no correct answers in the choices.

Unlike previous ICET papers, where usually 5 questions are from Statistics, this year there were 7 questions from Statistics.

There was also a question on “Inverse Functions”, which was never asked in ICET till date. The syllabus prescribed for ICET also does not make any mention of this topic.

While there were questions which could be solved by direct substitution using the formulae, there were quite a few questions which were purely based on the application of the concepts rather that direct substitution in the formulae types.

Over all, the section on Mathematical Ability in ICET2012 was difficult.

Chapter wise break-up of questions in Arithmetical Ability

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

Section – C -Communication Ability

The English part of the paper had the usual 25 verbal (vocabulary and grammar) questions and 15 questions on reading comprehension. At the outset, the paper was not that easy as it had many tricky questions which required logical or situational analysis. Some of the RC questions were inferential and not direct, as is usual in ICET.

Vocabulary : The vocab part had a total of 10 questions. - 6 questions on synonyms and 4 questions were on vocab based blanks. At least three words were difficult: Trill, Expedient and Gingerly. Four fill in the blanks questions with choices that had words often confused were of average difficulty level.

Grammar : In the test area of Functional Grammar, there were 15 questions in all. Eight were fill in the blank questions - 2 verbs, 1 phrasal verb, 1 prepositional phrase, 3 prepositions, 1 auxiliary verb., out of which, five were very difficult.

There were in all 6 conversation and statements questions. Almost all were tricky, especially the one in which B says, “If you say so”. The correct answer is eager and not casual or pleased, which is what many students must have answered. Most of them had idioms in focus and if a student doesn't know the idiom, he/she can't answer the question. There was one question on active and passive voice.

Reading Comprehension : Even the Reading Comprehension was a bit tough this time. One passage was about 500 words which is a deviation from the norm; however, luckily, the other two passages were 200-300 words. The lengthy passage was on “Dying Languages” was easy to read but lengthy. Some questions were difficult though. There was a small passage on “Eastern Philosophy” which was the most difficult of all as both the passage and questions were difficult. Luckily, the last passage on “Discipline and Self-esteem” was a relief—the questions were direct and easy.

A score of above 22 – 25 out of 40 would be a real great score !!

Computer and Business Terminology: Now coming to the questions on computer and business terminology - these are also a part of the Communication Ability section. The questions on computer terminology were difficult to answer for an average student. A student well versed with basics will be able to answer 2 -3 questions correct. The options were also tricky. Whereas the questions on business terminology like the ones on NAV, Industrial Revolution, WTO and redeemable bonds were relatively easy as compared with the questions on computer terminology.

Overall, ICET2012 paper will be a low scoring paper because of the higher difficulty level and also due to the fact that a few new question types creeping in for the first time this year.