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IIFT – 2009
Analysis Click here for IIFT 2009 Solutions Exam Snapshot
IIFT2009
has ‘sectional cut-offs’ – this
million dollar question (one which would have dictated ones strategy for this
exam) was answered emphatically with a clear guideline in the instructions
which said that IIFT2009 would have sectional cut-offs and that students were
expected to do well in all sections of the paper. As is the case with all exams
involving sectional and overall cut-offs, the right strategy is to give enough
time to all sections so as to clear the cut-offs comfortably. With 4 sections
which included a GK section, a good time allocation strategy would be to give
GK around 10-15 minutes and apportion the remaining time between the other
sections depending on their relative difficulty levels. For
a change, IIFT2009 avoided the complicated marking scheme employed last year
and also reduced the number of sections to a more manageable 4. The horrors of
IIFT2006 were also allayed as each Qs had one correct
answer (as opposed to the multiple correct answers in 2006) with a negative of
1/3rd per incorrect answer. Overall, IIFT2009 was easier than the
2008 paper but then the extremely difficult Quantitative section and the hugely
calculation intensive Logic and Data Interpretation section along with quite a
few errors in the paper would bring down the sectional
and overall cut-offs. Those who had tried to negotiate the Quantitative and
Logic & Data Interpretation sections with a little more care by allocating
more time to them would have a definite advantage over those who went in for
any other strategy. Let us now look at the individual sections of IIFT2009. Note: The following
analysis is being done on the 'A' Series booklet. Section 1 No. of
Qs: 28 (1.0 marks per Q à
Total Marks – 28.0 Marks) The
Quantitative section was the nightmare section of IIFT2009 as quite a few of
the Qs were far more difficult than what are generally asked in CAT. The ones
that could be attempted were fairly lengthy and this would lead to a record low
number of attempts in this section and consequently a lower cut-off. The question
on logarithms (could be done through back substitution of the choices), the one
on probability involving cards, the one on ‘economic slowdown’, the one on
T&W involving three people and the ones on ‘Sukruti-Saloni’
were easy and should have been definitely attempted. Some of the Qs involved
ambiguity in language and errors in framing and students would have lost time
tackling those Qs and therefore the cut-offs will be lower in this section. A
good time allocation strategy for this section would be around 30-35 minutes. Attempts in the range of
9-10 should be considered to be very
good.
‘ Section 2
No. of
Qs: 40 (1.0/Qs in Part-1 &
0.6/Qs in Part-2 à
Total Marks – 30.0 Marks) Description
: Verbal This
section comprised of two parts viz. Reading Comprehension and Verbal ability
and had a total of 40Qs. The RC Qs had a higher weightage of 1mark/Q whereas
the Verbal Qs had a weightage of 0.6marks/Q. However the RCs were difficult to read and
would have posed quite a few problems. The passages on ‘Sugar’ and ‘Global
Warming’ were easy to read and had easy Qs following them and they should have
been attempted. The passages on ‘Independent Directors’ and ‘Trade Cycles’
required concentration and had difficult Qs in them and one should have avoided
them. The Verbal which generally contributes to everyone’s score would have
undone many a student as there were quite a few errors in the paper and some of
the Qs are bound to lead to a lot of intense debates. The Qs on “Fill in the
Blanks” and the ones on Para Jumbles were easier than the others and should
have been attempted. A good time allocation strategy for this section would be
around 25-30 minutes. Attempts in
the range of 18-20 should be
considered to be very good.
Section 3 No. of Qs: 34 (1.0 marks per Q à
Total Marks – 34.0 Marks) Description: Logic & Data Interpretation Like
last year the Data Interpretation section was the ‘most tedious’ section in
IIFT-2009 on account of the very lengthy and time consuming calculations
required to solve each question. The
graphs were easy to understand but the sheer weight of the calculations would
have bogged down most students. The Qs on logic too were time consuming and
involved a fair bit of logic. The sets on ‘Automobile production trends’,
‘Crops and Yield’ and the one on ‘Oil Sales’ were easy to understand and should
have been attempted. The Qs on the logic puzzle involving ‘pay structure at a
Govt. Department’ and the one on matching people to salaries and houses were
lengthy and would have been the time warps that one needed to avoid in an exam
like IIFT. A good time allocation strategy for this section would be around 30-35 minutes. Attempts in the range of
13-15 should be considered to be
very good.
‘ Section 4
No. of Qs: 20 (0.4 marks per Q à
Total Marks – 8.0 Marks) Description: General Knowledge This
section tends to worry most students as there is no ‘limits’ as to what can be
asked here. However IIFT2009 brought cheer and smiles to the faces of all test
takers as this section was very easy and those who have kept in touch with
newspaper reading on a daily basis and have attended the GK classes would have
scored quite handsomely here. Most of the Qs were of the stock type (like the
Qs on the Stock index, CDS, Car manufacturers and brands) and this would lead
to record scores in this section this year. A good time allocation for this
section would be around 10-12 minutes.
Attempts in the range of 12-14
should be considered to be very good. Sectional
Scores and Overall Cut-Off This
year IIFT has clearly mentioned that there are sectional cut-offs which means
that those missing the cut-off in any one section would not be able to get a
call. The cut-offs for IIFT New Delhi and Kolkata would vary with New Delhi generally
having higher cut-offs than Kolkata. Neither the IIFT paper nor the IIFT
bulletin has made any mention of sub-sectional cut-offs. The good scores and
estimated cut-offs in the 4 sections are given below:
IIFT Fact
file
Click here for IIFT 2009 Solutions  |