MBA

Test Prep

Proctored Mock CAT-5 2011 Analysis

The test had 60 questions. These questions were divided equally among the three sections that
were clearly defined in the instructions (as in CAT 2010).

QUANTITATIVE (Q.1 Q.20)

This section of the test was of moderate level of difficulty. The section consisted of:

5 questions on Number System

5 questions on Algebra
3 questions on Arithmetic
4 questions on Geometry
3 questions on Modern Math (Misc.)

The section covered all the topics as shown above. The distribution of questions was almost
uniform. Some of the questions asked were very tough but at the same time some sitters were
also present in the test, mostly towards the end of the section. Thus a good selection of questions
was very important in this section. A good number of questions required in-depth understanding
of concepts. There were several questions in this section (Q. 3, 4, 9, 14 etc.) that could be solved
by value substitution/option elimination and would have been time-consuming if solved by
conventional methods.
Given below is the question-wise analysis for this section:

Question
S. No.
3, 7, 8, 11, 18

Key Concepts and Brief Description

Surds, Perfect Squares, Factorials, Integer
solutions etc.

Topic

Overall level
of Difficulty

Numbers

Moderate

1, 4, 9, 15 & 16

Polynomial Equations, Logarithms, Exponentials,

Functions etc.

Algebra

Moderate

5, 10 & 14

Profit & Loss, Time, Speed & Distance, Mixtures

etc.

Arithmetic

Moderate to
tough

Polygons, CirclesTangents, Pythagoras theorem,

Area of a circle, Cubes etc.

Geometry

Moderate

Modern Math
(Misc.)

Easy to
Moderate

2, 12, 19 & 20
6, 13 & 17

Probability, Distribution, Straight lines etc.

VERBAL (Q.21 Q.40)

The VA section of the test had an easy to moderate level of difficulty. There was equal
emphasis on Reading Comprehension and English Usage. The section consisted of:

4 RC Passages (Total 10 questions)

2 questions on Incorrect Usage

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Test Prep

1 question on Para Jumbles

3 questions on Para Completion
2 questions on Grammar
2 questions on Common Confusables

The English Usage part of this section was of moderate difficulty and had a couple of easy
questions.
The various questions are now described in detail:

Question
S. No.

Brief Description

Overall
Level of
Difficulty

Strategy

Reading
21 to 23 Comprehension
(Bernie Madoff)

Moderate Q.22 and 23 should have been attempted.

Reading
24 & 25 Comprehension
(Ireland)

Both the questions should have been attempted.

Moderate Most of the correct answer choices were taken
directly from the passage. Q.24 was easy.

Reading
26 to 29 Comprehension
(Dickens)

Moderate 2 out of 4 questions should have been attempted.

30 & 31

Incorrect Usage

32 & 33 Grammar

34 & 35 Common Confusables

36 to 38 Para Completion

39

Para Jumble

40

Reading
Comprehension
(Memory)

Q.29 was of moderate difficulty level and should

Moderate have been attempted. Q.30 was tough and could
Difficult
have been left.

Moderate

Easy

At least 1 out of 2 questions should have been

attempted.

Both the questions should have been attempted.

EasyQuestions were of moderate difficulty level. Q.37

Moderate could have been left.

Easy

Tough

The question was easy and should have been

attempted.

A careful reading of the paragraph was required.

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Test Prep

LOGIC & DATA INTERPRETATION (Q.41 Q.60)

This section of the test was of moderate to tough level of difficulty. The section consisted of:

2 sets on Logical Reasoning (3 questions each)

3 individual questions on Logical Reasoning
2 individual questions on Data Sufficiency

1 Line Chart based set: Calculation based set DI (2 questions)

1 Table based set: Analytical (2 questions)
1 Scatter graph based set: Calculation based set DI (3 questions)
1 Bar graph based set DI (2 questions)

A careful selection of questions in this section was very important. Some of the sets/questions
were very difficult to understand and solve. The individual questions and smaller sets in this test
had lengthy statements and could have been attempted a little later in the exam. There were
some sets (pure DI based) that could be solved by mere analysis.
The problem sets in this section can be classified as:
Question
S. No.

Key Concepts and Brief Description

41 to 43 Two sets on Logical Reasoning. In both the sets the

correct distribution/arrangement was to be
&
48 to 50 determined on the basis of the information given.

Type

Overall
level of
Difficulty

Logical Reasoning

Moderate
to Tough

Logical Reasoning

Moderate

Individual Logical Reasoning questions where the

47, 57 &
concepts involved were of Logical Deduction,
58
Distribution, Arrangement etc.

A table based set which mainly involved analytics

Table based Calculation
and very few calculations. Some instructions were
45 & 46
+ Analytics
given in a passage above the table that governed the
entire data.
Individual questions on Data Sufficiency. One
question was Logical Reasoning based and the other
Data Sufficiency
44 & 53
was based on Geometry and involved concepts of
cyclic quadrilaterals.
A set based on stocks in which data was given
Line Chart Based 51 & 52 through a line chart.
Calculations
54 to 56

A scatter graph based set involving calculations.

A bar graph based set, which was easy to

59 to 60 understand but involved a good amount of
calculations.

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Easy

Moderate

Moderate

Scatter graph - DI

Moderate

Calculation based

Moderate