The Written Test
* 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!
How do you handle this maze? Simple! Enrol for one of our courses, and we'll show you the way. We train students for each of the tests, CAT or otherwise - come and join the Career Launcher fraternity, and get the unfair advantage they enjoy over other students. Read why enrolling for any of our courses makes more sense.
What are the different tests ? What are the different tests? A listing of the various admission tests, the institutes that apply them, as well as their schedules are mentioned below. This covers select tests - if you want further information,
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