HOW TO

PREPARE FOR
MBA
ENTRANCE
EXAMS
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
PAGES

03 Introduction

04 Top MBA Exams in India

14 Marking Scheme of Top MBA Exams

15 MBA Entrance Exam Syllabus

17 Books to Read for MBA Entrance Exams

19 Section Wise Prep Plan

21 How To Make The Best Of Your Prep Time

22 Mock Tests

24 Expert Tips On Right Exam Strategy

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25 Revision Strategy: Identify Your Strengths And Weaknesses

26 Tips For Offline Exam And Online Exam

27 Key Points To Remember For Computer Based Test

28 Topper Tips
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 INTRODUCTION
All those who aspire to make it big in the
world of business, face the first hurdle at
academics level, i.e. how to get into the centralized entrance exam for MBA. CAT
best institute offering the most sought after was introduced as early as in 1950. Over
MBA programme. In order to allow equal the years, other centralized exams like MAT,
opportunities to all the aspirants various CMAT, NMAT by GMAC etc were introduced.
common admission tests are conducted in
India, at national as well as state level. Most For a candidate, the challenge is to crack
of the private institutes conduct in-house these entrance tests as there’s a huge gap
entrance tests as well. In India, Common between number of aspirants and number
Admission Test or CAT is the most popular of MBA seats on offer. In CAT only, over 2
lakh aspirants appear for the exam every
year. So what should an aspirant do to stay
ahead?

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 TOP MBA EXAMS
IN INDIA
COMMON
1. COMMON
2.
ADMISSION MANAGEMENT
TEST (CAT) ADMISSION
The biggest and most popular entrance
examination of India, CAT is conducted by
TEST (CMAT)
the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM).
The second largest management entrance
CAT scores are used for admission by 19 IIMs
examination of the country, CMAT is taken
and various other management institutes
by roughly 1.5 lakh candidates. Conducted
across the country. More than two lakh
by All India Council of Technical Education
students appear for the exam each year.
(AICTE), CMAT is a relatively new addition
to the list of MBA exams. The first CMAT
The exam started in 1950 and graduated to
exam took place in 2012. However, it has
being an online-entrance test in 2009. As per
fast become one of the most popular exams of
the latest exam pattern, candiadates need to
the country. The exam is accepted by
attempt 66 questions in 120 minutes.
more than 500 MBA institutes across the
Registration for CAT begins in August-
country.
September and the exam is held in
November-December. The CMAT exam is held in January every
year.
CAT exam primarily consists of four
segments: Verbal, Quantitative, Data CMAT is a computer-based exam (held for
Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. These 180 minutes) and tests the candidate’s
segments are accordingly grouped into aptitude in five main sections:
sections. CAT has three sections:
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• Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Quantitative Aptitude (QA) • Quantitative Technique
• Logical Reasoning
• Dta Interpretation & Logical Reasoning • Language Comprehension
(DILR)
• General Awareness
• Verbal Ability and Reading
Comprehension (VARC)
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 XAVIER
3.
APTITUDE
TEST (XAT) 4.SYMBIOSIS
Another top management entrance, XAT
is an online management aptitude test.
NATIONAL
Conducted by Xavier Labour Relations
Institute (XLRI) Jamshedpur, XAT is taken by APTITUDE
approximately one lakh candidates every
year. (SNAP)
XAT is held on the first Sunday of the year
(January). XAT scores are accepted by more Conducted by Symbiosis International
than 100 management institutes. University, SNAP is also a national-level
management entrance examination. SNAP
XAT tests the candidate on five fronts: scores are primarily used for admission to
15 institutes under Symbiosis International
• Decision Making University. However, many other MBA
• Verbal and Logical Ability colleges use SNAP scores for admission.
• Quantitative Ability & Data
Interpretation SNAP is held in December and the
• General Knowledge registrations go on till November. However,
recently a lot of changes were made in the
• Essay (250 words)
SNAP pattern such as reduction in exam
duration and total number of questions.
However, essay section is used only Traditionally, the SNAP exam has been
after candidates have been shortlisted conducted just once a year, but in 2020 and
for XLRI courses. Test duration is 170 2021, it was conducted thrice and candidates
minutes. were allowed two attempts. The duration of
the exam has been reduced to 60 minutes.
Earlier SNAP was conducted for a duration of
two hours. The exam tests a candidate’s:

• General English
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• Quantitative, Data Interpretation &

Data Sufficiency
• Analytical & Logical Reasoning
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 NMAT BY
5.
GMAC MANAGEMENT
6.
NMIMS Management Aptitude Test (NMAT)
is also one of the important MBA entrance APTITUDE TEST
(MAT)
exams. It has recently been acquired by
GMAC and was rebranded as NMAT by
GMAC. Scores for this exam are accepted
for admission by Narsee Monjee Institute
of Management Studies (NMIMS), Alliance MAT is also one of the most popular MBA
University, SRM University, BML Munjal entrance exam. More than 600 institutes
University, VIT University, ICFAI Business accept MAT scores for admission to
School (IBS) and Ansal University. management programmes. Conducted by
exam is conducted by All India Management
The computer-based exam is held over a 75- Association (AIMA), MAT is held four times a
day testing window, between October and year – February, May, September and
December. Candidates need to attempt 108 December. The exam is held in both online
MCQs in 120 minutes. (computer-based) and offline (pen and
paper) modes.
NMAT has various candidate-friendly
options. For instance, candidates can Held for 150 minutes, the test has 200
appear for the exam a total of three times and questions. The aspirant is tested in the
the best of three scores will be used for following five areas:
admission.
• Indian and Global Environment
The exam has three main sections:
• Language Comprehension
• Language Skills
• Data Analysis and Sufficiency
• Quantitative Skills
• Mathematical Skills
• Logical Reasoning
• Intelligence and Critical Reasoning
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 INDIAN
7.
INSTITUTE
OF FOREIGN 8.AIMS TEST
TRADE (IIFT) FOR
EXAM MANAGEMENT
IIFT entrance test is an institute specific ADMISSIONS
(ATMA)
entrance test. The exam is held for
admission to the Indian Institute of
Foreign Trade (IIFT).
IIFT test is conducted in November for ATMA is also a national-level management
two hours and consists of 110 multiple entrance test. It is conducted in online as
choice questions. It tests a candidate’s well as offline mode and held four times a
aptitude in the following areas: year-February, May, July and August.
ATMA scores are used for admission in by
• English Comprehension several management programmes. Held for
three hours, ATMA tests a candidate on the
• General Knowledge & Awareness following areas:
• Logical Reasoning • Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 1
• Quantitative Analysis • Analytical Reasoning Skills Part 2
• Quantitative Skills Part 1
• Quantitative Skills Part 2
• Verbal Skills Part 1
• Verbal Skills Part 2
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 ICFAI
9.
BUSINESS 10. MICAT
SCHOOL
APTITUDE
MICAT is the online entrance test for MICA’s
flagship two-year Post Graduate Diploma in
Management - Communications (PGDM-C).
TEST (IBSAT) Candidates first need to apply with CAT, XAT
and GMAT (2012 onwards). All applicants
will be called for MICAT entrance test which is
IBSAT is an institute level entrance test. The
held in December.
exam is conducted by ICFAI Foundation for
Higher Education. IBSAT test scores are Held over 135 minutes, MICAT has three
used for admission to MBA and PhD sections:
programs at nine ICFAI Business School (IBS) • Section 1 consists of
campuses – Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Psychometric test
Bangalore, Dehradun, Gurgaon, Jaipur, • Section 2 consists of Descriptive
Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune. Test
• Section 3 assesses the candidate
The computer-based test (CBT) tests on the basis of verbal ability,
the applicant’s ability in the following: Quantitative Ability, General
Awareness, and Divergent-
• Verbal Ability Convergent Reasoning
• Reading Comprehension
• Quantitative Aptitude
• Data Adequacy & Data
Interpretation
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 11. MAHARASHTRA
COMMON
ENTRANCE INSTITUTE
12.
TEST OF RURAL
(MAH-CET) MANAGEMENT
MAH-CET is a state-level management entrance ANAND (IRMA)
ADMISSION
exam. The exam is conducted by the Directorate
of Technical Education, Maharashtra, for
admission to various management courses such
as MMS, PGDBM and PGDM in various institutes
in the state of Maharashtra. TEST
MAH CET is generally held in the month of IRMA Admission test is an institute-level
March. Candidates need to attempt 200 entrance examination. It is conducted for
questions in 150 minutes. admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Rural
Management (PRM) and Fellow Programme
The exam has four sections: in Rural Management (FPRM) at Institute
of Rural Management, Anand. The exam is
• Logical Reasoning held in the month of January.
• Abstract Reasoning
IRMA uses CAT scores for shortlisting
• Quantitative Aptitude
candidates in the first round. Shortlisted
• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension candidates are then called for IRMA written
test on the subject of “Issues of Social
Concern”.
Candidates need to answer 40 questions in
80 minutes.
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 KIITEE
13.
MANAGEMENT ODISHA
14.
TEST (KIITEE JOINT
MBA) ENTRANCE
KIITEE is also a national-level computer-
based MBA entrance test. The exam is EXAMINATION
(OJEE) MBA
conducted by KIIT University in January
every year. The exam scores are primarily
used for admission for two programmes:
OJEE is a state-level MBA entrance
• MBA at KIIT School of Management test conducted by the Government of
(offered at KIIT University) Orissa. The test scores are used for
• MBA (Rural Management) (KIIT School admission to various MBA courses in
of Rural Management) Odisha. The exam is conducted in the
month of April/May.
Candidates need to answer 150 questions
in 150 minutes. There are five sections in OJEE is a pen and paper mode test
the exam: where candidates need to attempt 120
questions in 120 minutes. The exam has
• Quantitative Aptitude five sections to be attempted in two
hours:
• Analytical Reasoning
• Verbal Reasoning
• English
• Analytical Reasoning
• General Knowledge
• General Knowledge
• Issue of Social concern
• English Language and Comprehension
• Computer and Business fundamentals
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 KARNATAKA
15.
MANAGEMENT
APTITUDE TEST ANDHRA
16.
(KMAT) PRADESH -
KMAT is also a state-level entrance INTEGRATED
COMMON
examination for admission to post graduate
level programmes offered by MBA colleges

ENTRANCE
and B-schools in the state of Karnataka. The
exam is held thrice in the months of May,
July and September. Registration schedule
is announced in April.

Conducted by Karnataka Private Post

TEST (APICET)
Graduate Colleges Association (KPPGCA), APICET is a state-level MBA entrance
KMAT scores are used for admission by examination conducted for admission to
more than 169 colleges across the state. various B-schools and MBA colleges in the
Candidates need to attempt 120 questions state of Andhra Pradesh. The exam is
in 120 minutes. The test consists of the generally held in the month of May. APICET is
following sections: a paper-based entrance test. Candidates
need to attempt 200 questions in 150
• Language Comprehension minutes.
• Mathematical Skills The exam consist of three sections:
• Basic Aptitude • Mathematical Ability
• Analytical Ability
• Communication Ability
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 TELANGANA
17.
STATE TAMIL NADU
18.
INTEGRATED COMMON
COMMON ENTRANCE
ENTRANCE TEST (TANCET)
TEST (TSICET) TANCET is a state-level written entrance
TSICET is a state-level written MBA examination conducted for admission to
entrance test. It was held for the first time MBA courses in the state of Tamil Nadu.
in May 2015. The test scores are used for The exam is conducted by Anna
admission to various MBA courses in the University, Chennai, on behalf of the
state of Telangana. In 2016, the test was Government of Tamil Nadu.
conducted by Kakatiya University, Warangal,
The exam, held in May, is for two hours (100
on behalf of Telangana State Council of
questions) and tests the candidates’ ability
Higher Education, Hyderabad.
in:
Number of sections in the exam:
• Analysis of Business Situations
• Analytical Ability • Reading Comprehension
• Mathematical Ability • Quantitative Ability
• Communication Ability (English) • Data Sufficiency
• English Usage
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 TATA
19.
INSTITUTE GRADUATE
20.
OF SOCIAL MANAGEMENT
SCIENCES ADMISSION
NATIONAL TEST (GMAT)
ENTRANCE Graduate Management Admission Test
TEST (TISSNET) is conducted by Graduate Management
Admission Council for admission to over
2100 universities across the globe. In India,
TISSNET is an institute-level exam conducted by about 100 B-Schools accept GMAT scores
Tata Institute of Social Sciences for all for admission their various management
Masters programmes offered in TISS- programmes. The GMAT exam can be taken
Mumbai, Tuljapur, Hyderabad, Guwahati, up to five time and its pattern consists of
IMHST Chennai, MHAT Calicut and G-SET mainly four sections to test the candidates’
Ranchi. abilities on various parameters. These are –
A computer-based exam, TISSNET asks • Writing Ability
questions related to Social Sensitivity,
Logical Reasoning, Analytical Ability and • Reasoning
Knowledge on Contemporary issues. The
exam is held for 100 minutes (1 hour & 40 • Verbal and Quantitative skills
minutes) The GMAT exam will be conducted
in a time span of 3 hours and 30
minutes.
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 MARKING SCHEME OF
TOP MBA EXAMS
EXAM NAME DURATION NO OF MARKING SCHEME NEGATIVE
QUESTIONS MARKING
CAT 120 mins 66 3 marks per right Yes
answer
MAT 150 mins 200 1 marks per right Yes
answer
XAT 180 mins 100 1 mark per right answer Yes
CMAT 180 mins 100 4 marks per right answer Yes
NMAT by GMAC 120 mins 120 3 mark per right answer No
SNAP 60 mins 60 1 mark per right Yes
MAH-CET 150 mins 200 1 mark per right answer No
IIFT Exam 120 mins 110 3 marks per right Yes
answer for QA, DL, LR,
VA RC; questions and
1.5 for each GA
question
IBSAT 120 mins 140 1 mark per right answer No
MICAT 135 mins 234 (approx.) 1 mark per right answer Yes
ATMA 180 mins 180 1 mark per right answer Yes
IRMA 80 mins 40 1 mark per right answer Yes
TISSNET 100 mins 100 1 mark per right answer No
TANCET 120 mins 100 1 mark per right answer Yes
TSICET 150 mins 200 1 mark per right answer No
APICET 150 mins 200 1 mark per right answer No
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KMAT 120 mins 120 4 marks per right No

answer
OJEE MBA 120 mins 120 4 marks per right Yes
answer
KIITEE MBA 150 mins 150 3 marks per right Yes
answer
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 MBA ENTRANCE EXAMS
SYLLABUS (TOPICS TO STUDY
QUANTITATIVE ABILITY
Arithmetic Algebra Geometry
Number System Modern Mathematics Higher Maths
Mensuration Trigonometry HCF
LCM Arithmetic Progression Arithmetic Mean
Geometric Progression Geometric Mean Harmonic Mean
Median Mode BODMAS
Ratio and Proportion Percentage Average
Partnership Time, Speed, Distance Work and Time
Profit and Loss Installments and Payments Partnership
Clocks Work and Time Pipe and Cisterns
Lines Angles and Triangles Cubes and Cones

LOGICAL REASONING AND DATA

INTERPRETATION
Family Tree Strong Arguments and Weak Multi-dimensional
Arguments Arrangements
Course of Action Puzzles Visual Reasoning
Arrangement Series Numeric Grid
Pie Chart Blood Relations Critical Reasoning
Calendars Coding & Decoding Syllogisms
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Statement Conclusions Column Graphs Graphs representing Area

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 VERBAL ABILITY
Verbal Reasoning Syllogisms Fill In the Blanks
Contextual usage Analogies & Idioms Different usage of
same word
Antonyms & Synonyms Sentence Completion Jumbled
paragraphs
Foreign language words Sentence correction One word
used in English substitution

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
Current Affairs Awards and winners Business and
World news
Economy Government and Politics Science
Famous Personalities History Geography

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 BOOKS TO READ FOR
MBA ENTRANCE EXAMS
First step in preparing for any entrance test is to select the right reference books. Here’s a list of
recommended books one should study while preparing for CAT and other MBA exams.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS RECOMMENDED

FOR QUANTITATIVE BOOKS FOR DATA
APTITUDE INTERPRETATION AND
• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude
LOGICAL REASONING
for CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation
Education) for the CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Hill Education)
Common Admission Tests for Admission • How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for
Into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma (Arihant) the CAT by Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Education)
Examinations by Abhijit Guha (Mc Graw • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
Hill Education) for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha (Pearson)
• The Pearson Guide to Quantitative
Aptitude for CAT by Nishant Sinha
(Pearson)
• NCERT Mathematics Books for Standard 8,
9 and 10
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 RECOMMENDED TO STRENGTHEN
BOOKS FOR VERBAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
ABILITY AND READING AND GENERAL
COMPREHENSION KNOWLEDGE ASPIRANTS
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and MUST SUBSCRIBE
Reading Comprehension for the CAT by TO THE FOLLOWING
Arun Sharma (Mc Graw Hill Education)
NEWSPAPERS AND
• The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and
Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Nishit K JOURNALS
Sinha
• The Hindu
• A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-
Verbal Reasoning by Dr. R S Aggarwal ( S • Financial Express
Chand)
• Trishna’s Verbal Ability and Logical
• Economic Times
Reasoning for the CAT and Other MBA
Examinations by TIME
• The Financial Times
• Wall Street Journal
• Hindu Business Line
OTHER USEFUL BOOKS • Business Today
ONE CAN STUDY TO
IMPROVE VOCABULARY • Business World
AND GRAMMAR: • Management Compass
• Wren & Martin English Grammar
Career Launcher
• Word Power Made Easy by Norman • Competition Success
Lewis Review
• Business English and Communication by
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John O E Clark
• 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary
by Norman Lewis
• The Students’ Companion by Wilfred D
Best
• A Communicative Grammar of English
by Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik
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 SECTION WISE PREP PLAN
HOW TO APPROACH • Candidates following coaching centre
routine should complete the study
QUANTITATIVE APTITUDE materials provided on time. Thereafter
SECTION practice from a few other important
books and tests. This will help strengthen
• Do not rely heavily on on-screen basics in Quant and further improve
calculator for it eats up crucial time. problem solving skills
Keep practicing through short cuts and
tricks
• Try to attempt all non-MCQs as there is
no negative marking for them. However, HOW TO APPROACH DATA
the questions must not be solved
INTERPRETATION AND LOGICAL
through guesswork. Focus on analytical
and logical deduction to crack the REASONING SECTION
questions
• DILR is not like Quant. Hence what
• Mock tests plays a vital role in matters here is practice and analysis.
familiarizing the candidate with the And for that nothing’s better than mock
new exam pattern and making them tests.
comfortable in attempting the test.
Some students might still be struggling • For DILR, speed in calculation is crucial,
with their weakness. So start attempting at hence try increasing your speed
least one sectional test every week with each mock test. Do not depend
on calculators – focus on mental
• Quant section is numerical and problem- calculations, use vedic mathematics,
based where students have to choose memorize all the root formulas, squares,
one out of four given options. Coaching cubes roots, percentage formulas etc.
centres or books teaches various
shortcuts to get the correct answer • Focus on time management. Dedicate a
faster than the normal way of solving it particular time slot to every section and
take up a mock test. Make sure you finish
the exam within the time frame you
decided. Here, reliance on mental
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calculations and short cuts come into

use
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 • Candidates must keep in mind that it
is not important to answer maximum
number of questions; it is important to that apply, or you practice the kind of
answer maximum questions correctly. If questions that are asked and you take an
you attempt less number of questions, approach of learning the kind of errors
but with accuracy rather than attempting which lead to questions based on error
more number of questions incorrectly, detection or sentence correction. Once
you can still score fair marks in the exam there is familiarity with the error types, a
• One of the mistakes many candidates lot of practice helps you cross the line.
make is that they finish the easy questions • Verbal Reasoning questions rely on
first and then move on to the difficult application of logic or reasoning and
questions. One of the wise things to do is regular practice may help you to build
to dedicate a specific time frame for the proficiency in this area. Since most of the
difficult questions and finish them off question types involve comprehension
first rather than keeping them for the last. and strong command over the language,
Not to forget, do not spend more than students who are regular readers will
the decided time on the difficult have an advantage
questions else you will might miss out
on solving both difficult as well as simple • Reading skills can be improved through:
questions
1. Reading: Cultivate the reading habit.
Read, read and read. Start with
simple fiction, newspapers and blogs.
The components of reading include
HOW TO APPROACH sustained concentration and retention
VERBAL ABILITY of information while reading.
AND READING 2. Speed Building: Speed of reading being a
critical component of any aptitude
COMPREHENSION exam, you must cultivate speed. Target
SECTION nothing less than a reading speed of
about 300 words per minute depending
• Vocabulary can be approached through on the level of the text.
etymology - understanding root 3. Diverse Reading: Read more but read
meanings. Knowing the meaning of a diverse. Choose to read those topics
Latin root like ‘loqui’ will enable one that are out of your comfort zone. RCs in
to understand words like eloquent,
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aptitude exams can be drawn from any

loquacious, soliloquy, ventriloquize, field.
circumlocution, grandiloquent,
magniloquent etc. Add to your
understanding of roots, the meanings
of prefixes and suffixes and you have
considerable control over vocabulary.
• There are two approaches to solving
grammar based question – one is the
classical approach wherein you go by
rules and learn the various parts of
speech and their usages and the rules
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 HOW TO APPROACH HOW TO MAKE THE BEST
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR PREP TIME
SECTION
Your daily routine can play a huge role in
• The only key to crack General Knowledge / your preparation and eventually in your
Current Affairs section is to keep oneself performance in the final exam. Here we list a
updated. Besides reading recommended few things you need to pay attention to.
books and journals; read newspaper A Good Night’s Sleep: A good night’s sleep is
daily and watch news and business essential for everybody. More so for
channels regularly to keep a check on students as the key here is sharp memory
the happenings around the world and and alertness. Experts say, it is important
across industries to sleep for a minimum of 8 hours in the
• Use social media to stay updated. night so as to be fully energized, alert and
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. are a attentive in the day time. To ensure there’s
good means to acquire knowledge, so no daytime fatigue, you must fix a time of
put your internet bandwidth to a better your sleep. Sleep and wake up at the same
use time every day. This routine will fix your
body clock and optimize the quality of your
• Install News and GK apps on your smart sleep. The better your sleep, the better
phone. You can brush up your GK on the you will be able to concentrate on MBA
go preparation. There’s no point in burning
the midnight oil if you can’t recall in the
• GK section in all the MBA entrance morning what you studied at night.
exams contain MCQs with four options
as answers to choose one from. The only Healthy Diet: To be able to optimize your
way you can crack this is by knowing the exam preparation you have to be fully fit.
right answer Along with sleep, you need to watch your
diet. Avoid fried and fatty food as they tend
• Do not spend too much time on one to induce lethargy. Add fresh fruits and
question. If you don’t know the answer, vegetables to your diet for protein, vitamins
move on. Remember there’s negative and other important minerals. Dark leafy
marking for wrong answer. Focus on the vegetables, fish, berries, walnuts and food
questions you can answer correctly rich in omega-3 fatty acids are good for
• Practice previous year GK question the brain. Also, avoid eating out to prevent
papers to familiarize yourself with the upset stomach or any sort of illness that
may hamper your studies.
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kind of questions asked in this section

Recreational Activities: While there is
no argument on the fact that you should
dedicate your maximum time towards
studies, we would like to emphasize that ‘all
work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ Too
many hours of solving LRDI questions and
wracking your brain over Quant problems
etc. can slow you down. Take a break and
engage in some recreational activity. Listen
to music or watch your favourite cartoon
[2 1]

show. Or take an hour off to play video

games or any outdoor game to rejuvenate

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 yourself. Basically, take some time off and
do whatever energises you and refreshes
your mind and then get back to preparations Last but not the least, uninstall gaming,
with renewed vigour. shopping and other recreational apps from
It is also important for you to practice some your smartphone temporarily in order to
kind of physical exercise to keep away from not waste a single minute allotted for exam
laziness and lethargy. preparation.

Besides these three main lifestyle activities,

you also need to pay attention to other
small details like your study table, lighting MOCK TESTS
system at your place of study and place and
the time of studying. In competitive exams, mock tests are of
utmost importance. Practising mock tests
Study Desk: Make sure your study table not only help you get familiar with the
and chair are at the right height that actual question paper, but it also helps you
supports your posture as wrong posture can analyse your strengths and weaknesses
lead to discomfort which can affect your vis-à-vis exam pattern, success, topics,
concentration. You also need to ensure that difficulty level, speed, accuracy and time
your seating arrangement is not causing management.
back pain to you. Don’t study continuously
for long hours. Take small breaks of 5-10 Every CAT topper or MBA academic experts
minutes in between. This way you will be will reiterate the same thing – Keep taking
able to give rest to your eyes and brain too. mock tests at regular intervals and keep
analysing these tests.
Lighting System: Long hours of study can
severely affect your eyes. Tiredness of eyes is “It is necessary to attempt mocks as they
common to all of us. That’s why your familiarize you with and prepare you for all
study area should be well lit. It should be kinds of scenarios-easy, moderate, difficult,
neither too bright nor dim. Try to study in lengthy, vague etc. If you’ve attempted
natural light as much as possible. It provides a good enough numbers of mocks, nothing
soothing effect that’s absent in artificial will surprise you. It helps you keep your
lights. cool while writing the test,” believes CAT
2016 topper Avidipto Chakraborty.
Time and Place of Study: Since studying is
going to be your main occupation for the “Tests cannot be taught. It has to be taken
next four months, you need to create the on their own. Candidates need to build
right environment for it, free from noise their strategy with practice and analysis. So
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and disturbances. Set up your study area take mock tests, analyse it and figure out
away from your living room, where family the drawbacks. Don’t end up making similar
members watch TV, listen to music or mistakes both at the beginning and end of
converse with each other. Don’t study in a preparation,” says MBA expert Tarun Mallik
room which invites noise from outside.
Mock exams and sample papers for various
Also, you need to set a time table for MBA entrance exams are available with
studying. Experts say, early morning is the a number of coaching centers and online
best time to study new concepts and solving resources. But how should one take
problems as the mind is fresh after sleep. and analyse mock tests? Here are some
Post-dinner study time is good for revision effective methods to analyse your mock
and studying relatively lighter topics. test performance:
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 1. Set Targets let’s say – more than 35-40 minutes in
round. Be selective in your approach and
Before attempting mock tests, set some choose to attempt just 10-15 questions.
realistic targets. Decide how much score are The important thing here is accuracy.
you targetting in a particular exam and how
many mock tests would you like to attempt. Round 3. Now go back, and finally attempt
Both experts and toppers suggest that around the most difficult questions. For this, give
18 to 20 full-length mock tests are good to yourself 10-15 minutes.
attempt. Maintain a sheet of your current
score and your desired score. Slowly work on Round 4: In the last 10 minutes, revise your
strategies, attempts and speed to improve answers.
your overall score along with maintaining This is just one of the numerous strategies
sectional scores. We’ll discuss these over the you can adopt while attempting a mock
next few points. test.

2. Focus on Exam-Taking Strategy 3. Analysing Mistakes

Next comes exam taking strategy. Over Now that you’re done with mock test,
and over again, we have repeated that it’s time to analyse the paper. Check your
candidates need to have a solid test-taking scores. Now look at the problems where
strategy. Strategies can be developed with you erred. Was it a calculation mistake or a
adequate practice over a period of few formula-based mistake or something else?
time. Shiksha.com can recommend a tried and Irrespective of the reason, make note of
tested strategies for your preparation: the problem and reattempt it once more –
Suppose you have 60 minutes to attempt this time with work with the suggested
each section. So attempt the section in two to solutions.
three rounds. “Solving and analysing mocks is the best
Round 1: Give the entire section a quick way to understand your weak areas and
scan/read. While reading the paper, improve them. Most of the students just
solve the easy and direct-formula based attempt mocks but do not spend enough
questions. So if you think, a question can be time to analyse the mocks. It is a good idea to
solved in less than one minute, go for it. Else, go through the solutions and analyse what
move to the next question. could have been done better,” says Anil
Narayan from IIM Calcutta.
Round 2: Next, go back and attempt the
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moderately difficult questions. Allot a fixed

time to attempt the question. Don’t take, 4. Reattempt & Problem-solving
Analysing mocks don’t end at recognising
the problem and solving a select few
questions. We suggest you to attempt the
entire paper once again in an untimed
setting. Make sure you solve every question
accurately and understand the basics of
problem-solving approach.
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 5. Shortcuts, tips and tricks
Analysing mock tests also mean re-
evaluating the questions you attempted EXPERT TIPS ON RIGHT
correctly. How can you attempt the
question in a shorter period of time? For EXAM STRATEGY
instance, if you took four (4) minutes to
Hitesh Devalia
solve a problem, try to solve it in 1 or 2
Director and Co-Founder, Endeavor Careers
minutes. This is where shortcuts, tips and
tricks come in handy. MBA experts have Aspirants should play it carefully on the day
shortcuts for every question. Discuss the of exam. Candidates mostly commit errors
solution with your peer group or academic in the last 10-15 minutes. So don’t give up
experts or read recommended books exam patience in the last few minutes. At the end,
prep. Solve it better and quicker. one simply wants to increase the number
of attempts and end up making errors. For
example, at the end of 50 minutes, you’ve
6. Action Repeat attempted 18 question. So suddenly, you
press a panic button and you push yourself
The best way to perform well in mock tests is for 4-5 more attempts and that is where
to keep taking more mock tests. Refine you get maximum wrong. So, stay cool.
your strategy with each test. Revisit every
point (from 1 to 5) mentioned above and
figure out on how to solve the test with
Alok Bansal
accuracy and speed. Focus on formulating
Director, IMS Learning
better strategies.
Many blogs tell test takers to attempt
But remember! Results of mock exams don’t
less number of questions and focus more
matter. What matters is how you perform in
on accuracy. This is incorrect. Attempt
the final exam.
questions according to your level of
preparation. Also, read the instructions
carefully at the test centre. Take out the
first few minutes during the test and read
the instructions properly.

Parasharan Chari
COO, Endeavour Careers
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For Quantitative Aptitude, do enough

practice of basic summation, subtraction,
tables and fractions. Remember, solving
the chapters for the first time teaches you
Mathematics. Second time, it brings speed
in solving. Aspirants are advised to solve all
the chapters twice to get the advantage of
speed in the exam. For Logical Reasoning,
approximately 5 hours of LR solving every
week should be good. This should be 5
sittings of 1 hour each. Ensure that all
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major varieties are given importance while

choosing material for practice.
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 REVISION STRATEGY: weaknesses by solving questions from
different areas. Analysis of every question is
IDENTIFY YOUR essential. Student should identify the reason
STRENGTHS AND for every question he/she got incorrect--
whether the mistake was because of lack
WEAKNESSES of understanding of important concepts or
whether it was because of mere oversight
or a calculation mistake. If the mistake
1. Diagnosis was because of lack of understanding of
important concepts, student is advised to
It is imperative, for each student, to diagnose spend time on understanding the concept.
his/her problem correctly. It should be Student should also see if there is any easier or
the first step. One should not just keep faster method of solving the question for the
solving more and more questions without questions he/she got right.
understanding whether the core issue is
speed/accuracy/basics/weak application.
4. Preparation

2. Analysis Most importantly student should ensure

that he/she is adequately prepared in all
The identification of strengths/weaknesses the areas so that he/she can answer at least
should be on the basis of analysis of easy questions from all areas, including
performance in the practice tests and not the areas in which the student is weak as
on the basis of what student perceives to at times these competitive exams throw
be his/her strength or weakness. The area surprises.
in which the student has been able to
attempt more questions with high accuracy is
the area of his/her strength while the 5. Revision
area in which the student has not been
able to attempt too many questions and/or In this remaining time, prepare like your life
with less accuracy is the area of his/her depends on it. Learn from your mistakes. Be
weakness. open to revising your strategy once you see
the questions in the paper. You should have
various plans in place for various possible
3. Execution scenarios. Once you have decided your
strategy, at any moment during the exam,
Once the areas of strengths and weaknesses you must think only about the question at
w w w . s h i k s h a . c o m

are identified, students are advised to hand.

build on their strengths and work on their
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 TIPS FOR OFFLINE EXAM
AND ONLINE EXAM
During the exam (online):
What to do? What not to do? When to reach
the exam venue? What all to carry? Here are • Do not touch the keyboard, only use mouse
a few tips: to mark the answers.

Before the exam: • Login to the test screen only after the
invigilator’s announcement to do so.
• Visit the test centre a day prior to the exam
day so that you can decide upon the mode • Login to the system. Read the instructions
of transport. CAREFULLY and then proceed.

• Report at 7:30 am for the 9:00-12 noon • Sigh the declaration, displayed onscreen to
session and by 1 pm for 2:00 pm-5:00 pm open the test link.
session. • In CAT you won’t have the option of solving
• You will be barred from the exam if you the sections as per choice, but in other
arrive late. exam’s you will have this option. So choose
the section of your strength first
• Don’t forget to carry the print out of your
admit card. • There will be a timer running at one corner
of the screen. Keep an eye on it but don’t
• Carry the original copy of any ID proof. panic
• Do not carry any electronic gadget. There’s • Pen and rough sheets will be provided
no arrangement of lockers at the test to you at the exam centre. Mention your
centre. name and registration number on each
rough sheet.
• Persons accompanying the test takers will
not be allowed inside the test premises. So, • Don’t forget to return the pen and rough
if your parent/guardian is accompanying sheets at the exam centre.
you to the exam centre, make ample
arrangement for them during waiting
hours. During the exam (offline)
• Carry extra pen and pencil.
Inside the exam hall: • Use only blue/black ball point pen or pencil
• At the notice board check allocation for to mark the answer
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your seat number and exam room. • Read all the instructions printed on the
• Inside the room, you will be then asked to test booklet carefully
sign in the attendance sheet. • Do not write anything on the question
• Please ensure there’s no discrepancy in paper or the answer-sheet
your signature on the admit card/ID proof • Do calculations on rough paper
and the attendance sheet.
• Do not carry mobile phone to the exam
hall
• Ensure you have received the complete
booklet
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 • Revise your answers once before • Another crucial thing is to learn to keep
submitting the answer-sheet. Also check looking at the computer screen while
that you have seen and attempted all the working out solutions in mind or on a
sections of the question paper rough sheet. Moreover, you will have to
constantly keep an eye on the time running
at one corner of the screen
Key Points To Remember • There’s also the need to learn to solve
For certain questions mentally, especially in
Quantitative Ability section. This trait will
Computer Based Test help you save crucial minutes
India’s top management entrance
• Practice sample questions online to
exams, CAT, MAT, CMAT and NMAT by
analyse time spent on each question and
GMAC, etc. are conducted online. Many
strategise much time you will be spending
more exam conducting bodies are moving
on a particular section
towards computer-based exam. Hence, it is
important to point out important factors • Take a thorough look at the demo or sample
that separate the two and factors one needs papers before exam. The only difference
to keep in mind while taking an online test. between a mock test and the real test is
Because, it’s not how much you know but that of the atmosphere and the pressure
how well you use the knowledge that matters of performing. So if you will familiarize
in the exam. yourself well with CBT mocks you are less
likely to face any anxiety in the actual exam
• Do your reading practice on the computer.
Reading newspapers and business articles • The moment you receive your actual
is not enough. You need to develop a habit question paper, make sure you read all the
of reading on screen. This will be beneficial instructions carefully
in the RC section, as you will be able to
save considerable time • Since there’s no option of going back to
previous page in many exams (eg; CAT),
• Since the exams are time bound, you shall please ensure you have solved all the
have to sharpen your memory to avoid questions before preceding to the next
going back and forth on a paragraph on section
the screen. Repeatedly glancing back and
forth will increase your time spent on a • Practicing questions online will make your
question, thereby delaying your exam eyes get used to enduring the computer
screen glare for a longer time period.
• Practice solving analytical questions online. Sudden exposure to computer screen
The more you get used to working on a on the exam day will strain your eyes
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computer screen the better it is much faster which will directly affect your
performance
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 w w w . s h i k s h a . c o m

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