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Dont take that break!

- K. Sriraj

The CAT is cancelled now, and you

Segment
Year W Year X Year Y Year Z
might have an uncontrollable urge to
45
50
30
60
take a much-awaited break. But just A (Maruti, 800, Alto)
B (Zen, Santro, Matiz)
30
25
40
25
dont do it. There are still some crmede-la-crme business schools that do not
C (Esteem, Ford Ikon, Accent) 15
10
15
10
accept the CAT scores and to get into
D (Sonata, Lancer)
10
15
15
5
those hallowed portals you need to take
the individual tests they conduct. The news that the
the passenger car industry?
Government has decided to conduct a single test
The GK section of XAT is usually based on varied
might have gladdened your hearts, but it is most likely
fields like countries, inventions, and economy. A few
that it will happen only next year.
questions asked last year were: Who was the first
With a view to helping the readers who plan to
Indian to win a Nobel prize? What was the literacy
take these tests, Advancedge MBA has compiled the
rate of India in 2001? The General Knowledge of
details of some of the important tests and also on the
SCMHRD contains questions that are based on the
tests some institutions plan to conduct. These have
development, especially in the economic sector, in the
been compiled based on the feedback given by past
last six months. Last year majority of questions were
test takers and the sections and the number of
on comparisons of different aspects of India and China
questions within them might change this year.
and business awareness. The General Knowledge
Quantitative Aptitude is a common area tested in
section of IRMA is usually India-specific and stresses
all these exams with a difference in the case of XAT.
on the social awareness and the co-operative sector.
XAT requires adequate knowledge of modern
A few questions asked last year: What is Lok Jumbish?
mathematics and has questions on permutations and
What is Van Panchayat? Fertilizer industry falls under
combinations; composite functions; formation of
which ministry? What is the rank of India in the world
sequence of numbers; conditional movements on a
economy?, etc. In the case of MAT, the questions are
grid board and set of numbers. This section is
mostly on the socio-economic situation in the world
considered to be difficult and is the key to cracking
and India. The questions asked last year includedthe XAT.
Commercial banks lend to rural development through
Verbal Ability including Reading Comprehension
which of the following institutions? Largest inland
is again a common area that is tested. Here it would
water-body in the world? In which state are Ajanta
be apt to highlight the increasing importance JMET
and Ellora situated? Which is not a part of Swarna
is giving to Verbal Ability. In the FMS test, the
Jayanti Grama Swa-rozgar Yyojana? The GK section
Reading Comprehension passages are long, while the
of IIFT concentrated on Geography, Corporate world
questions are easy and direct.
and General Science. A sample of the GK questions
General Knowledge, which is not covered in the
asked in IMT are as follows: What will be the venue
CAT, is included in most of these tests. But the
for the FIFA World Cup to be held in 2006? Which
emphasis of each test is different. Till last year, the
life-saving drug did Alexander Fleming discover?
GK section of the FMS test was based on Fortune 500
Who was the President of United States during the
companies. But last year, data was presented to the
Vietnam War? In which year was the United Nations
student and he/she was asked to identify the
formed? Who was the first Secretary General of
company / industry which was represented in the
United Nations?, etc. NITIE's GK covers a wide area
data. In addition to this, only 5 questions were asked.
and includes questions on economics, personalities,
An example:
companies, geography, computers, and current
The table above gives the market share in
affairs.
percentage. Which year represents the year 2000 for
Many of these tests also have certain specific
Advanc'edge MBA / December 2003

MBArk

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sections. Thus, XAT requires that all candidates write

an essay on a current or socio-economic or business
issue. NITIE has a section on engineering and
Name of
the Exam

Date of exam

No.of
questions

General
Knowledge

JMET

14-12-03

150

XAT

04-01-04

NITIE

technology that usually tests the basic knowledge of

students in different engineering disciplines. Business
judgement is queried in the test conducted by IMT.
SCMHRD also has essay-type questions.
Negative
marking
(if yes)

Total time

Timed
sections

No

mark
per question

120 minutes

No

200

60

1/3 mark per

incorrect
answer

120 minutes

Yes

18-01-04

300

60

Yes, but
quantum
not specified

150 minutes

None

FMS

18-01-04

175

1 mark
per question

120 minutes

No

IIFT

11-01-04

196

50

No

120 minutes

No

IMT

28-12-03

200

20

mark
per question

150 minutes

SCMHRD

07-12-03

215

40

mark
per question

150 minutes

IRMA

07-12-03

200

60

mark
per question

120 minutes

No

MAT

07-12-03

200

40

Yes, but
quantum
not specified

150 minutes

No

ATMA

08-02-04

200

1/3 mark per

incorrect answer

180 minutes

Yes

NB: The tests have been arranged in a descending order according to the level of difficulty as perceived by previous test-takers.
The Advancedge MBA hopes that this compilation gives all of those who plan to take these tests an idea about these tests.
Best of Luck.

Four Gifts That Cost You Nothing

The Gift Of Listening...
But you must REALLY listen.
No
interrupting,
no
daydreaming,
No planning your response.
Just listening.
The Gift Of Affection...
Be generous with appropriate
hugs,

Kisses, pats on the back, and

handholds.
Let
these
small
actions
demonstrate the
Love you have for family and
friends.
The Gift Of Laughter...
Clip cartoons.
Share articles and funny stories.

Your gift will say, I love to laugh

with you.
The Gift Of A Written Note...
It can be a simple
Thanks for the help note or a full
sonnet.
A brief, handwritten note may be
remembered
For a lifetime, and may even
change a life.
Advanc'edge MBA / December 2003