Anatomy of an MBA-CET paper
The MBA-CET paper pattern has largely remained the same in the last 10 years. Apart from the minor
changes that may occur, here is the break-up of questions in MBA-CET.
Question Type
questions
Quantitative Aptitude
BODMAS
Permutation, Combination,
Probability
Other math topics
Math based Data Sufficiency
Data Interpretation
Line Graph based on
percentage profit
Table involving data of an
examination
Multiple bar chart
Other sets
Verbal Aptitude
Reading Comprehension
Error Spotting
Sentence Completion
No. of Peculiarity
10 Q’s Very easy and predictable. Some
calculations take a lot of time, but can
be mastered with practice.
5 Q’s Questions largely on selections and
committees. Knowing basics of this
topic can ensure 5 marks.
5 Q’s This is not always present. When
present, the questions are largely on
basic arithmetic topics.
5 Q’s Unlike in other exams, in CET these
questions are pretty straight forward.
5 Q’s Though missing in CET-2009, it had
been a consistent feature of all CET
papers before that.
5 Q’s The table could contain the number of
students who have appeared and passed
in an exam or the marks obtained by
students in different subjects.
5 Q’s These could be data of sales and profit
of different companies or import and
export for different years.
10 Q’s There are two other sets containing 5
Q’s each. These could be pie-charts or
caselets.
15 Q’s Usually, there is a single passage
followed by 15 Q’s, with some 6
questions pertaining to words appearing
in the passage. In CET 2009 there were
3 passages with 5 Q’s each.
5-10 Q’s A consistent feature of CET. The types
of errors are also very predictable.
5-10 Q’s These are sentences with one or two
words missing.
Paragraph Construction
Vocabulary
Other Verbal questions
Verbal Reasoning (Syllogisms)
Probably True, Probably
False
Strong, Weak Argument
Logical Set Theory
Other questions on
Syllogisms
Question Type No. of
questions
Analytical Reasoning
Math based puzzles 10 Q’s
Quantitative Comparison
Code based comparison
Alphanumeric Series
Verbal Puzzles 10 Q’s
10 Q’s A regular feature of CET. A paragraph
with 10 words missing; you need to
plug in.
5 Q’s These could come in the form of
Synonyms, Antonyms, Correct
Spellings, Idioms or Analogy.
5 Q’s These could be jumbled sentences or
direct indirect speech or any such
question based on usage.
5 Q’s A paragraph followed by 5 conclusions.
You need to estimate the ‘degree of
truth’ of these conclusions.
5 Q’s An issue followed by two arguments.
You need to find out whether each one
strong or weak.
5 Q’s A set of two statements with three
variables is given; you need to find out
the conclusions that follow.
5 Q’s These could include questions
pertaining to finding Cause-Effect,
Courses of Action, Conclusions or
Assumptions.
Peculiarity
These could include questions based on
Number Series and mathematical
reasoning.
5 Q’s You need to find relationship between
two quantities (say x and y) based on
data given in 2 statements.
5 Q’s Comparative signs like >, <, = are
coded by different symbols, and you
need to decipher the code and compare
different variables.
5 Q’s A series of characters is given
consisting of alphabets, numbers and
symbols. Questions are based on
relative positions of these characters.
These include questions like Coding-
Decoding, finding relative distances
between letters, finding the odd word
 out, questions on family relations and
comparisons.
Logical Data Interpretation 5 Q’s These include caselets on family tree,
arrangements, conditions for forming
groups or simply co-relating different
parameters.
Logic based Data 5 Q’s These include questions based on
Sufficiency family tree or comparison or coding de-
coding.
Miscellaneous Puzzles 5 Q’s These include coding a set of numbers
based on given rules or calculating the
value of a mathematical expression
based on the given set of rules.
Non Verbal Reasoning (Visual Reasoning)
Visual Reasoning 30 Q’s These include questions based on
completing a set of figures or finding a
relationship between a pair of figures or
finding the odd man out in a set of
figures.