Analysis of NMAT 2016-17: Window 1 - Day 1 - Slot 1

Endeavor Careers Posted on March 8, 2017

Analysis of NMAT 2016-17

Other Examinations like to be Unpredictable.

NMAT likes to be Standardized.

NMAT has once again maintained its format and difficulty level (except for a couple of minor tweaks) same as the test last year. It looks like a wonderful plan to reach an overall cut-off of 207 to 210 one more time.

The detailed section wise analysis is as follows:

Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (48 Questions, 60 minutes):

There were 20 questions of Data Interpretation. Historically, DI is expected to be time consuming and hence less preferable for a format like NMAT. This time, out of the 5 sets of DI, 3 sets were easy to moderate, which is a minor reduction in the difficulty level of DI in comparison to last year. However, considering the fact that composition of questions varies within a particular slot and from slot to slot, this should not affect the strategy of finishing Quant part of the section first.

Remaining 28 questions were from Quant area of aptitude with 22 independent questions and 6 questions of Data Sufficiency. With 5 independent and 3 more questions in Data Sufficiency, Numbers dominated the section, 7 out of these 8 questions were easy and speed boosters. Up to 4 questions (including one in Data Sufficiency) were from Percentage related chapters (% changes, Profit and Loss, Interest). Share of Geometry was limited to just 4 Questions, which was 2-3 questions less than the expectation. Ratio based chapters (Time and Work, Time Speed Distance, Partnership, Proportionality) were used in 6 questions, some of which were time consuming but manageable. The exam had 1 question each from Linear Equation, Permutation Combination, Probability and 2 Questions from Progression with no presence of Functions, Inequalities and Quadratic Equation.

Overall, the section can be termed as easy to moderate and 36-38 genuine attempts with 90+ % accuracy should lead to a Good Score.

Reasoning (40 Questions, 38 Minutes):

Reasoning section was distributed among 12 Questions from Verbal Based Reasoning and 28 Questions from Logical Reasoning. There was enough variety of questions in Verbal Reasoning in form of Assumption, Conclusion, Agreement, Course of Action etc. with 1 Question of Syllogism as well. All of the 12 Questions were easy to moderate. An aspirant with a reasonably good practice of such variety of questions should get 8-9 Questions correct.

There were 3 sets of 4 Questions each in Logical/Analytical Reasoning part of the section. One of them was of Data Structure (Input-Output), which was a difficult one. The other two sets were of Arrangements and were of easy to moderate difficulty level. Out of the 16 independent questions, 4 were of Coding- Decoding and 2 Questions of Series, Blood Relations and Directions each. All of them were really easy and time saving. 2 questions of finding the missing value gave a typical feeling of writing an NMAT.

Overall, other than the Input-Output set, nothing was very difficult. Nevertheless, one has to consider that the verbal reasoning questions and some more from Logical Reasoning part were time consuming, hence approximately 28-30 genuine attempts with a 90+% accuracy should be sufficient for a Good Score.

Verbal Ability (32 Questions, 22 minutes):

The section was dominated by Vocabulary or Vocabulary based questions. There were 5 Questions of Synonyms/Antonyms, 6 Fill-in-the-blanks and 1 Analogy question, all of which demanded a decent command over vocabulary.

The rest of the section had 4 Questions of Para jumbles, 4 Questions of Spotting the errors, 4 Preposition based Fill-in-the-blanks and 2 Reading Comprehension of 4 Questions each. Both the RCs were of medium size with a possible turn-around time of 6 to 7 minutes and most of the questions asked based on those RCs were manageable. One good reading, was sufficient to answer most of them.

As far as the conduction is concerned, Pearson has become stricter with the rules and regulations. “No sleeves rolled up”, “No handkerchief”. “Show us your spectacles”- everything happened. A technical glitch during the test created a minor panic among the test takers. However, the time lost was immediately compensated by providing extra time.

Overall,

Test takers should reach the test center with all documents asked for.

Test takers should be mentally ready for a Speed Test which has no Negative Marking.

All the Best to test takers..!!

All the Best to NMAT to achieve the 208-210 once again.