SNAPSHOT- MAT MAY 2011 EXAM ANALYSIS
| 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 MAY 2011 exam had 200 questions to be attempted in 150 minutes. These 200 questions were from five test areas viz. Indian and Global Environment, Language Comprehension, Data Analysis and Sufficiency, Mathematical Skills, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning 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 2011 MAT exam)
The consolidated score is evaluated by taking only four areas into account. Indian and Global Environment 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(out of 800) and the overall percentile. This table gives the overall estimated percentile in this MAY 2011 MAT exam at different possible net marks.
| Overall Net Marks |
(excluding Indian and Global Environment) Overall Estimated percentile
Overall Estimated Composite score
40
76
620.5
45
80
637.5
56
90
678.5
75
99
759.5
87
99.90
800
Sectional Percentile for a net score of 10 marks in individual section (estimated for MAY2011 MAT exam)
| Section | Number of Questions |
Estimated Sectional Percentile for net 10 marks in individual section |
|
Language Comprehension |
40 |
75 |
|
Mathematical skills |
40 |
80 |
|
Data Analysis and Sufficiency |
40 |
60 |
|
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning |
40 |
65 |
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 had a 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. Each of the five passages were of around length 400-500 words. Some of the questions could have been solved by reading the questions first and then skimming through the passage to locate the answers. The questions in Verbal require good knowledge about English usage, functional grammar and Verbal reasoning. Overall, the test area can be classified as MODERATE. A good score, in this test area alone, is 18 in the time limit of 30-35 min.
|
Area |
Description |
Marks | Difficulty level |
Good Marks |
|
Vocabulary |
One word substitute |
3 |
Moderate |
|
|
Fill in the blanks (2 blanks) |
3 |
Moderate |
||
|
A sentence broken into four parts and identifying the part which has error. |
3 |
Moderate- Difficult |
7 |
|
|
English Usage and Grammar |
Para-Jumbles |
4 |
Moderate- Difficult |
|
|
Identification of Correct statement |
3 |
Moderate |
||
|
Summary |
4 |
Difficult |
||
|
Passage based on DNA RNA transcription. |
4 |
|||
|
Reading Comprehension |
Passage related to Introduction to Koala Bears.http://www.essortment.com/information-koala-bears-23431.html |
4 |
||
|
Passage providing information related to Australia’s wildlife. |
4 |
Easy |
11 |
|
|
Passage related to positive affirmations and the power of positive thinking on mind. |
4 |
|||
|
Passage on History of Gamma Ray Astronomy. http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l2/history_gamma.html |
4 |
|||
|
Overall |
40 |
Moderate |
18 |
Data Analysis and Sufficiency
As shown in the table below, this test area comprises DI, DS and Data Comparison, with DI accounting for 30 out of 40 questions while DS and Data Comparison put together accounting for the remaining 10 questions. Overall, this test area can be considered to be Moderate-Difficult. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 35-40 min for a good net score of 18.
|
Area |
Description |
Marks | Difficulty level |
Good Marks |
|
The line graph gives the market share of the FMCG companies. |
5 |
Easy |
||
|
The bar graph gives the monthly income and the Pie chart gives the break-up of the expenses. |
5 |
Difficult |
||
|
The two Pie charts give the GDPI contribution of six sectors. |
5 |
Moderate |
12 |
|
|
Data Interpretation |
The line graph and the table gives the shre capital reserves |
5 |
Moderate |
|
|
The data presented in the lone bar graph form |
5 |
Difficult |
||
|
The caselet on chain of restaurants. |
5 |
Difficult |
||
|
Data Sufficiency |
Each question followed by two statements, A and B. |
5 |
Easy |
|
|
& Data Comparison |
Data Comparison |
5 |
Easy |
6 |
|
Overall |
40 |
Moderate – Difficult |
18 |
Mathematical Skills
The paper predominantly had questions from the Arithmetic areas like (Percentages, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, Geometry, Time and Distance, Averages, Mixtures and Alligations). The questions involved only the basics and those who would have done adequate practice would have found those questions quite easy. 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-DIFFICULTY.
|
Area |
Description |
Marks |
Difficulty level |
Good Marks |
|
Time & Work, Pipes and Cisterns |
6 |
Moderate |
||
|
Time & Distance, Boats and Streams |
5 |
Easy |
||
|
Arithmetic |
Averages, Mixtures & Alligations |
6 |
Moderate |
13 |
|
Simple Equations |
3 |
Easy |
||
|
Ratio, Proportion & Variation |
5 |
Moderate |
||
|
Simple Interest and Compound Interest |
4 |
Moderate -Difficult |
||
|
Percentages |
3 |
Difficult |
||
|
Higher Math |
Mensuration |
5 |
Difficult |
|
|
Trigometry, Heights and Distance |
2 |
1 |
||
|
P&C |
1 |
Moderate- Difficult |
||
|
Probability |
0 |
|||
|
Overall |
40 |
Moderate- Difficult |
14 |
Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
This test area is a mix of Analytical reasoning (26 questions) and Critical reasoning (14 questions). This test area was slightly more difficult as compared to the questions asked in the previous years. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 30-35 min. The questions on Analytical Reasoning were of easy to moderate difficulty level and in case you would have done enough practice, you would have found this area manageable. Overall this test area can be classified as MODERATE-DIFFICULT.
|
Area |
Description |
Marks |
Difficulty level |
Good Marks |
|
Blood Relations |
6 |
Easy |
||
|
Direction Sense |
1 |
|||
|
Missing Number in the figure |
5 |
2 Moderate, 3 Difficult |
18 |
|
|
Analytical Reasoning |
Linear Arrangement |
8 |
4 Easy, 1 Moderate, 3 Difficult |
|
|
Distribution |
3 |
Easy |
||
|
Circular Arrangement |
3 |
Moderate |
||
|
Assertion and Reasons |
4 |
1 Easy, 3 Moderate |
4 |
|
|
Critical Reasoning |
Statements and Conclusions |
5 |
Difficult |
|
|
A short passage from which it has to be found out “Which of the statements is not in consonance with the information provided in the passage” |
5 |
Moderate |
1 |
|
|
Overall |
40 |
Moderate |
23 |
Indian and Global Environment
The questions in this test area were, predominantly, from business, current affairs, Person and their associated fields. Some of the questions, recollected on the basis of memory, are:
Q-Which car comes with the slogan “Fun on the Run”?
Q- The CEO of which mobile phone company sent a controversial e-mail to the employees saying “My platform is burning”?
Q-What is the name of the bank, in microfinance sector, started by Nobel laureate Mohd Yunus, who was removed from the post of MD after his political vendetta?
Q-How many stock exchanges are there in India?
Those who have been reading newspapers on a regular basis would have found this area comfortable. Overall this test area can be classified as Moderately Difficult. A good time allocation strategy would be to spend around 5-10 minutes for a good net score of 13 marks.
