CMAT 2015: Next 2 weeks preparation tips on Language Comprehension; 25 questions to play key role

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
February 4, 2015
Key tips to prepare Language comprehension well will help the students to focus on specific type of preparation during the remaining few days to CMAT 2015 second test
Next 2 weeks should be fully utilised to prepare and practice the questions on varying topics to ace the Language Comprehension section in CMAT second test

Second CMAT for admission in 2015, to be held from Feb 19 to 22, 2015  is going to be an opportunity for MBA aspirants to improve their scores over first CMAT held in September, 2014; CAT 2014 or XAT 2015 and get admission call from leading B schools in India.

 

CMAT is divided in four sections with 25 questions per section namely Language Comprehension; Quantitative Aptitude & Data Interpretation; Logical Reasoning and General Awareness. All the questions carry equal marks. Like other sections, 25 questions on Language comprehension play an important role in securing high scores in CMAT.

 

Now with only 2 weeks left for CMAT 2015 second test beginning on Feb 19, 2015, Prof S K Agarwal, expert and mentor, shares with MBAUniverse.com the key tips to prepare Language comprehension well which will help the students to focus on specific type of preparation during the remaining few days to this important management test.

 

Learn from 1st CMAT 2015

 

It is very important to learn from first CMAT 2015 about the important topics expected in Language comprehension section of second CMAT (Feb) 2015 and make most out of it.

 

Language Comprehension in CMAT and Verbal Ability in CAT/XAT constitutes almost the same section with questions on similar topics.  The test window of CMAT 2015 second test will be of 4 days consisting of 2 sessions each day.

 

Next 2 weeks should be fully utilised to prepare and practice the questions on varying topics to ace the Language Comprehension section in CMAT second test. Adopt the right strategy and prepare well for this section and march on the path of success.

 

Focus on Vocabulary

 

Vocabulary questions in CMAT 2015 second test are expected to be getting more and more context oriented. It’s high time to learn synonyms and antonyms or word set in analogy form.  Questions are expected also to pick out the correct use of  similar or confused words in sentences. Questions to fill in the blanks with appropriate words are also expected in this section.

 

Similar sounding Words

 

The time is to learn and go for more contextual usage. The synonyms, even if present in the close answer options, may not be the correct substitute for the right word. It is very much required from now on to go for and practice more on specific contextual usage. Following sentence will make it clear-‘No one objects to exceptional behaviour but everyone objects to exceptionable one’. Both appear similar but exceptional is extra ordinary while exceptionable means not acceptable and so objectionable.
     

Common words

Almost all the sessions in CMAT are expected to have two questions based on common words, the meaning of which is even known to a primary class student but usage could be different.  Such questions so far appeared in CAT, it is expected that CMAT 2015 second test may fall for such questions.

 

There will be one word per question, used in different sentence structure and you are supposed to find out the incorrect use of this word. 

 

Learn more phrasal Verbs

 

Learning the usage of commonly placed verbs suffixed by the prepositions which make them phrasal verbs is very important.  If you can learn  the difference in usage of such phrasal verbs e.g. ‘ call up’ ‘call on’ ‘call for’;  ‘bring up’ ‘bring out’ ‘bring about’ ‘bring in’; ‘stand in’ ‘stand down’ ‘stand by’ ‘stand against’ and so on, you will be able to crack at least two questions without facing much difficulty as the sentences are simple and short.

 

Reading Comprehension

 

Major part of Language Comprehension section is proposed to be covered by questions on Reading Comprehension. The Reading Comprehension passages are based on abstract ideas, research, philosophy, facts.  The difficulty level may not be very high as compared to CAT, passages are also short and the questions are more direct than they appear in CAT.
Apart from regular questions based on RC passages like summarising the passage, meaning of phrases used in the passage, questions could be based on assumptions and statements used in the passage.

 

Questions on ‘main idea of the passage’  and  questions on expressing the ‘meaning of phrases as used in the passages’  can be answered with a little understanding and trick. Please use the scratch sheet, provided in the examination hall.  Write down the important sentences and words in each paragraph.  By the time you finish reading the passage, you will be able to answer both of these questions, based on the information in the passage.    And for this more practice is the key to success.

 

Reading comprehension passages require close and attentive reading.  Only those who attempt Reading comprehension questions with open mind, get close to the answer. All the passages with less or more difficult language structure may not have less than 80 percent of its vocabulary and sentence structure, without difficult words, in the sense that general meaning could be understood well. 

 

It is not necessary that you should understand all the words and their meaning, a general understanding of the passage might lead to crack the right answer options.  So, the need is to have a good reading speed with accuracy.  Leave those words which you can’t understand, you can connect to them afterwards.

 

Jumbled Paragraphs

 

There could be 2-3 paragraphs with jumbled sentences in the CMAT 2015 second test.  There could be questions on the random jumbled sentences, without any opening or concluding sentences available before hand or with the opening sentence already given or with the concluding sentence given.  Candidates would have to arrange the sentences so as to form a coherent paragraph.

 

It is of utmost importance to practice more on all types of jumbled paragraphs.  When you proceed to practice them, please remember to find out the connectors among the sentences  like ‘those’, ‘these’, ‘this’, ‘who’, ‘as’ – giving the clue to connect them with other sentences. 

 

Prepare well to solve questions on Error corrections

 

Language comprehension section in CMAT 2015 second test may have 4-5 questions on error correction in sentences. The questions are based on the understanding of core grammar.  Questions could be asked to complete the incomplete sentence; pick out the error in the sentence; fill in the grammatically correct word or the group of words in the given blank.

 

Candidates are required to be well versed with the rules and usage of grammar, spelling and punctuation, in terms of standard written English. Proper understanding of singular-plural, subject-verb agreement, usage of articles before comparatives and superlatives and the punctuation, are the key to crack this part of Language comprehension section. CMAT is moving on the path of testing the aspirants in contextual and correct use of grammar to equip the future managers with good communication skill.

 

The most important lesson even before the understanding of fundamentals is to attentively read the direction in this type of question.  If the direction shares the hint that sentences could be correct also, please search for the error in the sentence while keeping this option in mind.

 

Remain motivated

 

At no point of time, the feeling of nervousness and depression should overpower you.  Remain motivated; take the bull by the horn. Prepare well and attempt the exam maximising the attempts. Be assured your hard work will bring good luck for you and you will get admission opportunity in some good B school.

 

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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com on more updates and tips on CMAT 2015 second test.