Testing times ahead
Based on the MBA entrance exams that took place last year, GAUTAM PURI talks about what the aspirants can expect in 2016
like every year, several management aspirants undertook the task of preparing for various management entrance exams. The entrance exams threw a curve ball at the aspirants with varying levels of difficulty and considerable changes in the paper pattern as compared to the previous years.
The MBA season starter Narsee Monjee Institute Of Management Studies (NMAT) was a moderate paper with a few difficult and time taking questions in logical reasoning. Cracking this exam demands speed and a strategy. While the most doable questions should be embraced in the first round of attempting that particular section, the other ones should be done in the remaining time. In the worst case, one must mark the answers for all the unattempted questions as there is no negative marking in NMAT.
The IIFT exam, which was held in November was, unlike its reputation, a moderate paper as well. The quantitative aptitude and data interpretation sections were clubbed together and so were the English usage and reading comprehension sections. In all, out of the five sections, the quant and data interpretation section had the highest weightage.
Following it up was CAT which was a three hour paper, with three sections with a time limit of an hour per section. An online calculator was another inclusion in the format of the exam. Easy questions in the VRC and QA sections brought relief to the yearning aspirants amidst the challenging DIlR section.
Over a year, CAT has transformed from being a difficult exam to a more logical and easy exam. CAT 2015 was undoubtedly an easy exam, which, in some senses, was a surprise that it is now almost becoming a norm. The CAT 2016 aspirants must expect a paper which encourages higher order of logical thinking. This does not make the paper easy or difficult but makes it easy for engineers as well as non-engineers.
The Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) turned it the other way round. Based on the last ten years papers, this year’s exam was probably the toughest of all. The questions were time consuming and required some computational effort. What might turn up in SNAP this year is unpredictable as its level of difficulty has been erratic in nature.
The XAT exam maintained its reputation of being a good challenge for those who had prepared well for it. A pleasant change in the format was the negative marking for the un-attempted questions. Only 13 un-attempted questions were allowed after which there was negative marking for each un-attempted question. XAT comprises the decision making section which is a unique feature of this exam. This section requires the student to think practically by letting go of their biases and personal interests. Having a look at the previous year XAT, one can make out that XAT looks for answers that uphold ethics and best business practices.
In retrospect, barring a few exceptions, MBA entrance exams are moving towards logical questions which are low on calculation and high on concepts. This year aspirants should focus on solidifying their concepts and practicing questions that emphasize on these concepts.
(The writer is vice-chairman & MD, Cl Educate IIM-B Alumnus)