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Each
institute has a written admission test, either its
own test (like XAT for XIMB, SNAP for Symbiosis, etc.)
or part of a common test (like CAT conducted by the
IIMs) used by several institutes
These
tests are typically 2-hour multiple-choice tests.
Currently,
all tests are paper-based (i.e., you answer on paper
with a pencil) ; however there is a move towards computer-based
tests. XLRI experimented with a computer-based test
in 2002, but operational problems forced its cancellation.
Each
institute conducts its test once a year (for dates
see
Important Date)
Test
scores or marks are not revealed by any institute.
Successful candidates are informed directly
Most
of these tests cover high school topics, and difficulty
levels are not very high for a graduate (unlike graduate
entrance exams like IIT-JEE or Medical). However,
skills like time management (answering maximum number
of questions on the given time), error minimization
(keeping number of wrong answers low, to avoid negative
marking) and question selection (attempting questions
in an order that suits your strengths) are critical
in maximizing performance.
What the Written Tests cover
Quantitative
Ability (QA):A test of your mathematical
skills - essentially high school mathematics. Topics
covered include Number Systems, Profit & Loss,
Percentages, Averages, Progression, Work, Speed, Geometry
and Algebra.
Data
Interpretation (DI):A test of your ability
to analyze and give specific information from Tables,
Activity Charts, Caselets, Bar Charts, Pie Charts
and Graphs. At times a variety of Analytical Reasoning
questions also come under this section. These are
both single puzzle-type questions as well as caselet
data sets.
Verbal
Ability (VA):A test of your English usage
-- Grammar, Vocabulary and Verbal Reasoning.
Reading Comprehension
(RC):A test of your English reading comprehension
skills. This section contains a few passages followed
by questions that test your comprehension of the ideas
contained in the passage as well as your reasoning skills.
General
Awareness/Business Awareness (GA/BA): A test
of your awareness of current affairs and business
events. This section appears in most admission tests,
except CAT. The test has questions on political events,
scientific developments, awards, economic indicators,
brands, CEOs and books.
Logical
Reasoning (LR):A test of your analytical
skills through Data Sufficiency exercises, puzzles
and deductive reasoning. Data Sufficiency questions
are based on basic mathematics.
Are these tests identical?
Are there differences?
Well, there are lots of similarities. And lots of differences
as well. For instance, CAT - the premier test, does not
usually have the Business Awareness section, but time
management is a crucial element here - as there are far
more questions than can be possibly answered in the given
time. The FMS test, on the other hand, has a Business
Awareness section, the XLRI test has a higher difficulty
level for maths (including topics like set theory &
probability), the MICA test includes an advertising aptitude
test, and the TISS test contains an essay on a socially
relevant topic. Some tests have negative marking, others
don't! It can get quite exhausting, just keeping track!
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