SNAP 2014: A week before the Examination; 5 important do`s and don`ts

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
December 13, 2014
How should I prepare during the week before the SNAP 2014 is sure a natural query of prospective test takers
It will be better to focus on your strong areas instead of getting confused and wasting more time on weak areas

SNAP 2014 is only a week away. The last week before the D day is usually nerve wrecking especially when you have been preparing very well for the examination and wish to come out with flying colours. Candidates are apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. With all the talk of exams and a to-do list a mile long, it’s completely natural to be freaking out.

SNAP 2014 is the gateway to MBA programmes 2015-17 in 13 B schools affiliated to Symbiosis International University including Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM - Pune) one of the top rated B schools in India. SNAP 2014 will be held on Dec 21, 2014 in a paper pen mode. The exam will be objective Multiple Choice Questions based test of two hours duration from 2PM to 4PM. Candidates are allowed with blue or black ball pen.
 
Candidates aspiring to join MBA programs offered by institutes of Symbiosis International University have to take the common, mandatory Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test.

How should I prepare during the week before the SNAP 2014 is sure a natural query of prospective test takers. It is necessary to know the tips that could help on D-day. Whether you should continue with the same pattern of preparation, continue revising the topics already learnt or should start something afresh are some of the questions which spring up spontaneously but need specific guidelines to score more in the exam.

Learn how to best utilise your week before SNAP 2014 and the tips to improve your score from Prof. S.K. Agarwal, expert on MBA entrance examination preparation. 

Be well versed with all the Exam components

In our frenzy of preparing for SNAP 2014, we should not forget even the small parts in each section. There are number of questions in each section the source topics of which are less important but questions carry the equal weightage. The maximum marks allotted to each section along with the prescribed number of questions in each section should be remembered well.

For example the Verbal Ability section will have questions on core Grammar usage along with the questions on Vocabulary and Reading Comprehension passages. There are various parts of speech which you may have not gone through well but they can be learnt in an hour or so. It is a good idea to have a close glimpse of them without creating any confusion on the questions.

SNAP 2014 will comprise 4 sections and the total maximum marks would be 180 while maximum marks for each section will be as follows: Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension – 40 marks; General Knowledge and Current Affairs-40 marks; Quantitative Ability and data interpretation-40 marks; Analytical and logical Ability – 60 marks. Penalty of 25% marks will be applicable for every wrong answer in SNAP 2014.

Although candidates are allowed to attempt any section in any order, sectional cut off will always be there. One has to score at least a minimum cut off score in each of the four sections.

Further strengthen the strong areas

You may have strong and weak areas simultaneously. Besides, there may be weak areas among strong areas and strong areas among weak areas. It will be better to focus on your strong areas instead of getting confused and wasting more time on weak areas. It is not recommended to go for any fresh preparatory topic on a day before the examination as it creates more confusion than clarity.  However, in case you feel that some formulae, topic already learnt by you need a quick revision, you may go for that.  The strategy to be adopted may be as follows

Do not revise in a single sitting.  Divide your revision time in slots of 15 minutes. For example, when you are taking tea and snacks-you may revise a topic/formula. If there is a park or garden nearby, you may visit the place for a while and may do a quick revision over there.  If you revise better while walking about, you may pace about the room or go upstairs on the roof and may do it. All these suggestions are based on the fact that the receptivity of the mind begins to fade after some time of reading. Splitting the time frame of one or two hours into 5-6 slots will enable you to do better on revision front and will keep you fresh.

Practice bit more in Analytical Ability

Analytical Ability in SNAP plays very important role. While each of the other 3 sections has 40 as maximum marks, analytical ability carries 60 marks. The number of questions are also less in this section. It has only 30 questions while other sections have 40 questions each.

Since duration of examination is two hours and less than one minute will be available to answer one question, So be prepared and do not stick to any one question, if you have time, you may come back to it. You can attempt any question from anywhere in the test .

Practice on dummy OMR

SNAP allows you to attempt any question from any part and for any number of times, till 2 hours are over. OMR sheet has closely formed circles and numbers.  In our hurry we sometimes forget to mark the right circle against right number of answer option, despite knowing the answer.  With a little bit of practice, you can reassure yourself and get rid of this problem.

Hence, buy a few dummy OMR sheets from nearby stationery shop or you may download and print the same from the site where these are available, but practice at least twice.  Candidates coming out of the examination hall are seen pulling a long face due to these silly mistakes.

Take 2 mocks in next 7 days

Mocks are good means of practice and self assessment. It will be better if you can attempt at least 2 mocks in the exact exam environment. Get it analysed find out the shortcomings, remove them and gear up for the D day.

Related Links

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SNAP 2014: Registration Closes today- Pay till Nov 29: Do not miss the chance

SNAP 2014 still a paper pencil test; know the exam

SNAP 2014 Exam date announced; exam on December 21; 13 SIU B schools to accept scores

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more tips on SNAP 2014