MAT Dec 2018 Analysis (Paper Based Test)

SNAPSHOT-DEC 2018 MAT EXAM

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(Paper based test), conducted on 9th Dec 2018, had 200 questions to be attempted in 150 minutes. These 200 questions were from five test areas viz. Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning, Indian and Global Environment 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 2018 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) does not 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. A net score in excess of 60 marks (excluding the score in GK) is considered 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.

DATA ANALYSIS AND SUFFICIENCY

As shown in the table below, this test area comprises Data Interpretation (DI), Data Sufficiency (DS) and Data Comparison, with DI accounting for 30 out of 40 questions while Data Sufficiency and Data Comparison put together accounting for the remaining 10 questions. The questions in DI involved were based on observation, calculations like comparison of fractions, computing the averages , percentage based calculations etc. The types of charts were related to Line Graphs, Bar Charts, Tables, Pie Charts. 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 marks.

AREA DESCRIPTION MARKS DIFFICULTY LEVEL ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Data Interpretation The set was based on the data given in the form of a case let. Six different modes of transport are available where the number of persons commuting by each of the different modes has been specified. 5 Moderate 12
The line chart indicates the annual rate of interest offered by three companies -P, Q and R over the years – 2011 to 2017. 5
The bar chart gives the production of three different flavors of ice cream -X, Y, Z by a company over the years from 2012 to 2017 5
The table gives the number of candidates Appeared and Qualified in ABC entrance exam from four different zones in different years from 2012 to 2017 5
The data was based on two charts -Pie chart and Bar Chart. The Pie chart gives the % of the number of people who work in night shifts across different industries. The bar graph gives the number of females who work in night shift across different industries. 5
The questions were based on two pie charts. The first pie chart gave the % expenditure on wheat crop in a state. The second pie chart gives the total % distribution of production of wheat crop in 6 states. 5
Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison Each question followed by two statements, A and B. 5 Moderate 4
Data Comparison 5
Overall 40 Moderate 16

INTELLIGENCE AND CRITICAL REASONING

This test area is a mix of Analytical reasoning (30 questions) and Critical reasoning (10 questions). A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 30 min. Overall, the questions on Analytical Reasoning were of easy-moderate difficulty level and a well prepared student would have found this area manageable. For e.g, one of the questions, as based on the memory, pertaining to the topic – Blood Relations(in Analytical Reasoning) was “The son of M is the father of Y and maternal grandfather of R. S is the daughter of N and sister of B. How is M related to B ?”

Overall this test area can be classified as MODERATE. A net score of 21 marks or above is considered to be a good score in this section.

AREA DESCRIPTION MARKS DIFFICULTY LEVEL ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Analytical Reasoning 5 sets of qs (each set having 3 qs) -Distribution 15 Easy -Moderate 16
Blood Relations (individual questions) 3
Direction Sense (individual questions) 2
Analogies 5
Number & Letter series 5
Critical Reasoning Assertion and Reasons 4 Moderate 5
Statement & Conclusions 3
Cause and Effect 3
Overall 40 Moderate 21

LANGUAGE COMPREHENSION

This test area, once again, 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. There were four passages and each passage had five questions to be answered. One or two questions in each passage were vocabulary based. The questions in Verbal require basic knowledge about English usage & functional grammar. Overall, the test area can be classified as MODERATE. A good score is estimated to be 19 in the time limit of 30-35 min.

AREA DESCRIPTION MARKS DIFFICULTY LEVEL ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
English Usage, Grammar & Vocabulary Fill in the blanks 3 2 Moderate 1 Difficult 8
Grammar Based -Correction of Sentence 3 Moderate
Para-Formation Questions 4 Moderate -Difficult
Odd Man Out (Jumbled Words) 3 Moderate
Antonyms (Jumbled Words) 3 Moderate
Essence of paragraph 4 3 Moderate 1 Difficult
Reading Comprehension Passage with the theme:“BRIC far away from achieving its goal” 5 Moderate 11
Passage with the theme:“Gandhi -A Fox or a hedgehog” 5
Passage with the theme:“Cross Cultural Collaboration in Work Place” 5
Passage with the theme:“Reading and The Act of Labelling” 5
Overall 40 Moderate 19

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

The paper predominantly had questions from the Arithmetic areas like (Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Mensuration, Time and Distance, Simple Equations, Ratio, Proportion, Variation). The questions involved only the basics and those who would have done adequate practice would have found those questions quite doable. 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 very good net score of 14.

AREA DESCRIPTION MARKS DIFFICULTY LEVEL ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Arithmetic Time & Work, Pipes and Cisterns 8 Moderate 12
Time & Distance, Boats and Streams 4
Simple Equations, Ratio, Proportion and Variation 4
Percentages, Profit, Loss, Partnership 4
Mensuration 4
Averages, Mixtures and Alligations 4
Simple Interest, Compound Interest 4
Higher Math Trigonometry, Heights and Distance 0 Moderate -Difficult 2
Permutation & Combination 4
Probability 4
Overall 40 Moderate -Difficult 14

INDIAN AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT

The questions in this test area were, predominantly, from business, Current Affairs, Person and their associated fields, etc. Those who read newspapers on a regular basis will find this area comfortable. Overall this test area can be classified as Moderate. It is to be noted that the marks scored in this section is NOT counted in the consolidated score. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend a maximum time ofaround 5 minutes for a good net score of 6 marks.