MAT FEB 2019 Exam Analysis

SNAPSHOT-FEB 2019 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 17th FEB 2019, 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 FEB 2019 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) doesnot 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.

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 17 marks.

AREA	DESCRIPTION	MARKS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL	ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Data Interpretation	The chart gave the details regarding five companies -A, B, C, D, E related to five parameters -Interest, RoI, dividend pay out ratio, Amount Retained, Earnings	5	Moderate	13
	The line chart gave the details regarding the movement of trains from cities A to H and halting at each station for some time.	5
	The bar graph gave the details regarding the number of candidates who appeared for GATE exam for each of the years -2015, 2016 and 2017	5
	The bar graph gave the details regarding the Amount spent and the Public issue, Rights Issue.	5
	The table dealt with details related to parameters like Years, Number of Families, Funds (Allocated, Used)	5
	The two pie charts dealt with the allocation of state budget.	5
Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison	Each question followed by two statements, A and B.	5	Moderate	4
Data Sufficiency & Data Comparison	Data Comparison	5	Moderate	4
Overall		40	Moderate	17

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 good student would have found this area manageable.

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	Direction Sense	2	Easy-Moderate	16
	Seating Arrangement -Linear	1
	Analogy	4
	Puzzle -Quant based	9
	Number & Letter series	5
	Distribution	9
Critical Reasoning	Statement & Assumptions	3	Moderate	5
	Assertion & Reason	4
	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. 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
VOCABULARY, GRAMMAR	Fill in the blanks	3	Moderate	8
	One word substitute	3	Easy-Moderate
	Idioms & Phrases	3	Easy-Moderate
	Odd Man out -Grammar Errors	3	Easy-Moderate
	Para-Jumbles	3	Moderate -Difficult
	Synonyms & Antonyms	5	Easy -Moderate
Reading Comprehension	Passages (Each passage -450 to 500 words)	20	Easy-Moderate	11
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	3	Moderate -Difficult	12
	Time & Distance, Boats and Streams	2
	Simple Equations, Ratio, Proportion and Variation	6
	Percentages, Profit, Loss	4
	Geometry & Mensuration	4
	Averages, Mixtures and Alligations	3
	Simple Interest, Compound Interest	2
	Quant Based Reasoning	2
	Numbers	4
	Miscellaneous	3
Higher Math	Trigonometry, Heights and Distance	2	Moderate -Difficult	2
Higher Math	Permutation and Combinations, Probability	5	Moderate -Difficult	2
	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.