For all those who are dissatisfied with their CAT 2014 or XAT 2015 score cards, CMAT in February 2015 will provide good opportunity to improve their scores and get admission call from leading B schools.
CMAT is conducted twice a year and each candidate is eligible to appear in both the exams. Better of the two scores will be used for the admission for each academic year. This is the second CMAT going to be held all across India during a 4 day test window starting Feb 19, 2015 till Feb 22, 2015 for admissions to academic year 2015-16. The first CMAT exam was conducted in the month of September 2014.
Thirteen states have been accepting CMAT scores as the only gateway to MBA admissions under the government quota, instead of the State-administered Post graduate Common Entrance Test (PGCET). The states which are going to accept CMAT 2015 second test scores are: Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh
CMAT scores are accepted by more than 400 management institutes. You could get admission to any of the top rated B schools, if you are able to score high in CMAT. Learn from Prof S K Agarwal, expert and mentor, the importance of this exam and tips to score high in 15 days’ time.
Importance of CMAT 2015
Around 100,000 MBA aspirants register for CMAT. Many top rated B schools that accept CAT/XAT scores also accept CMAT scores. High score in CMAT will offer participants ample scope to get admitted into one of the leading B schools in the country. Besides, if you intend to take admissions into MBA programs falling under State Universities CMAT is the solution.
Since CMAT awards raw scores out of maximum 400 marks, if you can score anywhere between 175 to 275 you may get admission to one of the good management institutes like Welingkar Mumbai; MICA Ahmedabad; UPES Dehradun; KJ Somaiya Mumbai; GIM Goa; XIME, XISS, IFMR, IFIM, IMT Nagpur, Hyderabad, Great Lakes Chennai and many more.
Syllabus and Important topics to practice
Although CMAT syllabus can not be rigidly defined, we may concentrate on various topics that have higher weightage in the exam.
Language Comprehension
CMAT defines its Verbal Ability section as Language Comprehension. It covers comprehensive English test which includes the test of grammar, tenses, vocabulary, jumbled paragraphs and reading comprehension. Key topics from which you may expect questions are - usage of Articles, Non-finites, dangling modifiers, Nouns, Pronouns (especially relative Pronouns), adjectives, adverbs, prepositions –regular and followed, verbs, Syntax, Subject-verb Agreement, Simple, continuous, Perfect tenses and Conditional-unreal past.
Questions based on Vocabulary could be any of the following types. Inserting the correct pair of words to fill in the blanks -Two Blanks are given in a sentence followed by four options of pairs of words, correct option has to be picked out. Marking the correct choice of similar sounding and confusing words; picking out the correct words left out in a paragraph; Synonyms-Antonyms -Explaining the Words; analogy words; one word substitution.
Jumbled Paragraphs – CMAT like CAT and XAT puts the candidate to test for his coherent and systematic understanding of ideas. The candidate is expected to arrange all the sentences in logical & sequential order. In another words it is the test of the student’s versatile reading, understanding of language, writing ability based on deep stock of vocabulary, grammar and correct use of tenses.
While solving them you should search for connectors to sentences e.g. conjunctions, personal ( He/she/it/they/their etc), relative (Who,whose, that,which etc.), Demonstrative (These, those, this, that etc.) pronouns as they indicate that they must have been used in place of some noun-proper/common etc. So find the link between the sentences.
A few paragraphs have time factors in it-indicating that the events mentioned for the earlier time should come first and could help you to put them in chronological order-
English comprehension passages – Unlike CAT, CMAT gives you shorter and not too difficult passages. Although this can be a respite to some extent, there is no fix rule on framing the questions based on Reading comprehension passage, which is followed by at least four-five questions each. Questions could be any of following types- ; Questions based on inference drawn; Questions based on the Central idea of the passage; Questions based on phrases, idioms; Questions based on expression in the passage.
Quantitative aptitude & data interpretation
Questions in this section are usually single and are not based on sets. While topics like table and pie chart in data interpretation section will require basic calculation skills, the topics from which most of the questions appear in quant are arithmetic (ratios, mixtures, work, averages, profit & loss, basic statistics etc), number properties, probability and counting principles with one or two odd questions in geometry and derivatives (i.e. maxima –minima).
Logical Reasoning
The section is a mix of the topics from arrangements like linear, seating, sequencing & arranging with conditions to coding. The other questions are based on statement-conclusion, logical puzzle, numerical puzzle, Venn Diagram, true/false statements, visual reasoning. The basic preparatory tip for LR is to attempt as many practice exercises as possible. They can be solved with basic human logical instinct.
General awareness
This section may have questions from any topic under the Sun. But the same for the quick revision purpose can be divided in three parts and each part has to be given due weightage. Conventional GK-available in books; Current GK- based on current reading of newspapers and periodicals; Business & Economics GK -for example changes in Fiscal and monetary policy, CRR, Repo Rate, Devaluation and up valuation of Rupee. Please remember current GK-whether Business, national and international has an on-going preparation method and thorough reading of the newspaper only can keep you updated.
How to prepare; time is short
You can prepare well in next 15 days, if you follow the quick tips
Use of Flash cards with the words to be learned, written on one side and their synonyms & antonyms on the reverse side.
Use the learnt words vigorously. Use them in writing, conversation. Use every opportunity to revise them.
Solve more and more Mocks based on all the sections. Be attentive to solve and then analyse the committed errors. Avoid their recurrence.
Read editorials in News papers daily without fail. Pick out the difficult words as used in them consult the dictionary immediately to understand the context. This use in context will become the part of your memory.
Even if the vocabulary words are unfamiliar to you especially in Synonym-antonyms, analogy words, one word substitution- peruse the options available. It is quite possible that you understand the given options and can go for elimination round. This will help you in zeroing on the right option to the question.
After a week, No more current affairs are required to be studied, as your CMAT test paper must have been prepared by then. But continue reading and revising whatever you have learnt. You may also continue learning conventional General awareness from books.
Simple but useful Tips to ace the CMAT 2015
CMAT like CAT is an online computer based test (CBT) divided in four sections; Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning; Language Comprehension; General Awareness. Each section has 25 questions carrying equal marks of 4 for every right answer.
The key to score more, lies in this division and the difficulty level of each section. CAT and XAT have higher difficulty level, whereas CMAT is not so difficult. A systematic study pattern and practice may award the desired result. Follow the key tips-
There are 180 minutes to solve 100 questions and this can be considered sufficient time to answer the questions. Questions on error correction, reasoning can be attempted if you know the concept and have practiced well. They can be answered fairly easily and will be less time consuming.
Try to attempt maximum number of questions on General awareness. They are more based on the memory. If you have read the newspapers well, you may answer all the 25 questions in less than 25 minutes. There is no use wasting time on guessing the unknown. It won’t help.
Every question carries equal marks. Any question that seems more difficult and time consuming may be taken up later, instead of wasting time on it in the very first round.
Since there is negative marking of one fourth, avoid the confusion. Try to attempt only those questions where you are more confident to arrive at the right answer option.
CMAT provides the facility of navigating through the entire test paper and answer options from any section. In the first attempt of solving the paper, focus on all the sections and solve as many questions as possible. However, remember that questions from all the sections are answered.
Manage the time and be balanced. In case you answer three sections and leave one section, you may not qualify for final admission round despite scoring high, take note of that.
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more update and tips on CMAT 2015 second test.
