MAT May- 2017 Analysis

SNAPSHOT-MAY 2017 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, conducted on 7th May 2017 (Sun), 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 MAY 2017 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. A net score in excess of 62 marks (excluding the score in GK) is considered to be a very good score. A net score in excess of 77 marks (out of 160 marks, excluding the score in GK) is considered to be outstanding.

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.

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 passages were of length about 500 words. 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 17 in the time limit of 30-35 min.

AREA	DESCRIPTION	MARKS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL	ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Vocabulary	Fill in the blanks (2 blanks per question)	3	Moderate	7
Vocabulary	One word for a sentence	3	Moderate
English Usage and Grammar	Best way of writing a sentence	4	Moderate
	Para-Jumbles	4	Moderate -Difficult
	Key essence of the paragraph	3	Moderate
	Error Identification (Sentence represented in four ways)	3	Moderate
Reading Comprehension	Passage with the theme:"Growth of writing instruments in a digital world	5	Easy-Moderate	10
	Passage with the theme: "Penetration of Internet in India.	5
	Passage with the theme: Transformation of Telecom Sector	5
	Passage with the theme: Banning Alcohol along highways	5
Overall		40	Moderate	17

INTELLIGENCE AND CRITICAL REASONING

This test area is a mix of Analytical reasoning (26 questions) and Critical reasoning (14 questions). A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 30 min. Analytical Reasoning was dominated by 15 qs (from Distribution). All of these qs were doable in nature. Similarly, the questions related to Coding & Decoding were given in the form of diagram and were doable. Overall, the questions on Analytical Reasoning were of 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 20 marks or above is considered to be a good score in this section.

AREA	DESCRIPTION	MARKS	DIFFICULTY LEVEL	ESTIMATED GOOD MARKS
Analytical Reasoning	Distribution	15 (3 qs @ 5 sets)	Moderate	15
	Circular Arrangement	1
	Direction Sense	2
	Blood Relations	3
	Coding Decoding	5
Critical Reasoning	Assertion and Reasons	4	Moderate	5
	Statement & Conclusions	5
	Cause & Effect	5
Overall		40	Moderate	20

DATA ANALYSIS AND SUFFICIENCY

This test area comprises Data Interpretation (DI), Data Sufficiency (DS) and Data Comparison, with majority of the qs coming from DI. 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, Caselet or different combination like Tables & Line Charts, Pie & Bar Charts etc. The questions were manageable. 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.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

The paper predominantly had questions from the Arithmetic areas like (Simple Equations, Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Mensuration, Time and Distance, Simple Interest, Compound Interest). The number of qs related to Higher Maths (Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Heights & Distance) were few. The questions (from Arithmetic) 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 15.

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.