MAT December 2008 Analysis

Overview:

MAT sticks to its basics that it has been following since almost 2 years. It presented a combination of jumbled up questions accompanied with numerous challenges. Offering a high scoring section of Logical Reasoning, easy questions of Quantitative Ability and a moderately difficult Data Interpretation, & Verbal Ability Section, the question paper, on an overall basis, provided sections that belonged to an average level of difficulty. Only concern which student share after the paper is that it was lengthy. Each section contained a few questions that were easily manageable and hence made the question paper quite scoring.

 Executive Summary:

The basic sequence of section with possible attempts was as follows:

Section

No. of Quest.

Possible Attempts

Suggested Time

Possible Score

Reasoning

40

22

35

15+

QA

40

24

35

18+

DI and DS

40

24

35

18+

G.A.

40

15

10

6+

EU & RC

40

20

35

16+

Total

200

99+

150

70+
(excluding GK)

*Note: The number of attempts and the score has been worked out on the basis of the experts’ insight on how the students would have taken the test and what score normally has been achieved by the students in past years in this level of paper.

Section I: Reasoning

This has been the scoring area for many students in the recent MAT papers. The questions can be broadly classified as:

These were mixed bag questions with broad breakup as under:

Analytical Analysis

Type of question

No. of Questions

Level of Difficulty

Venn Diagram

4

Average

Blood Relationship

2

Easy

Series

5

Easy

Coding

2

Average

Direction

2

Easy

Mathematical

3

Moderate

Sitting/position arrangement

2

Easy

AR Set

4

Difficult

Logical Reasoning

Type of question

No. of Questions

Level of Difficulty

Probably true/false type questions

5

Difficult

Course of Action

3

Difficult

Statement Conclusions

4

Easy-Average

Statement Assumptions

4

Easy

So a bit of shift from last few papers that was observable was lesser number of questions on logical reasoning. Hence, about 22 questions from this section could have been attempted.
Assuming 75%+ accuracy, a score of 15+ was easily possible in 35 minutes.

         

Section II: Quantitative Ability

In this section students could easily enhance their scores. The all time favorite arithmetic was very prominent. Surprising was the decrease in the number of P&C and probability based questions. The topic wise break up of the questions was as follows:

Type of question

No. of Questions

Level of Difficulty

Percentages, PLD and SI CI

8

Easy-Average

Ratio & proportion,

8

Easy

Averages, Allegation, Mixtures

5

Easy

Time Speed Distance

6

Easy-Average

Time & Work

4

Easy-Average

Mensuration

4

Easy

Trigonometry

3

Easy

Clocks Calendars

1

Easy

Permutations and Probability

1

Average

Assuming an accuracy of 80% and attempt of 24 questions, a score of 18+ is possible with a time spend of about 35 minutes.

Section III: Data Interpretation

The pure DI sets were either lengthy or difficult to interpret. The easy part was 6 question DS and 7 question on Quantitative comparison. However those who would not have read instructions in DS would have been in trouble as they were all jumbled up.

The summary was as under:

Type of question

No. of Questions

Level of Difficulty

Process chart

3 (1 set)

Average

Bar graph

4 (1 set)

Average-Difficult

Pie chart

4 (1 set)

Average-Difficult

Combinational graph

12 ( 3 sets)

Average-Difficult

Misc

4 (1 set)

Easy

Quantitative Comparison

7

Easy

Data Sufficiency

6

Easy


So the total attempt in this section could be about 24 questions and with about 75% accuracy one can score 18+ comfortably in this section.

Section IV: Reading Comprehension and English Usage

This was again a section of moderate difficulty level. Let us take a closer look at this section!

Total no. of Questions: 40
No. of RC passages: 4
Questions from RC passages: 20
Questions from EU: 20

Analysis of English Usage and Reading Comprehension:

Type

No. of Questions

Level of Difficulty

Para jumbled

4

Average

Word Analogies

4

Average

Sentence Corrections

4

Difficult

Essence (C.R.)

4

Average

Fill in the blanks

4

Average

RC

20 (4 passages)

Two difficult,
Two Average and One Easy

Once again RC could have given a decent score. Also, vocabulary questions were very good. So, both these together would fetch you a great score.

An attempt of 22 questions with 75 % accuracy could have yielded a possible score of 16+ in 35 minutes.

Section V: General Awareness Section

There were 40 questions based on Current affairs & some fact based questions. In 10 minutes, a student could have attempted 15 questions and with 60 % accuracy; one could have got 9 marks in GK Section.

Overall analysis:

Expected Score(excluding GK)

Expected percentile

85+

99+ percentile

79-84

95+ percentile

71-78

90 percentile

All the best!!
Career Launcher Team

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