Candidates going to appear in AICTE-CMAT 2015 second test are left with hardly 10 days to practice and polish what they have already prepared. Like other sections in CMAT, test of English in CMAT 2015 second test requires a good amount of practice to ace the section and score high.
The test of English in CMAT 2015 is not going to be the English Language test only; it will be a comprehensive English test which includes all types of questions from grammar to Reading comprehension. It will be a test of grammar, tenses, vocabulary, jumbled paragraphs, reading comprehension and all other parts of English language usage. CMAT 2015 second test is proposed to begin on Feb 19 and will continue till Feb 22, 2015. Accordingly there will be a total of 8 exam sessions in the 4 day test window in morning and afternoon on each day.
Prof S K Agarwal, Expert on Verbal Ability shares 5 important tips to practice and crack the English comprehension Test in CMAT 2015 second test.
New shape of Language Comprehension Test
The Language comprehension section in CMAT changes and gets some new shape with surprise element in every new session although it has a moderate syllabus. This section in CMAT remains unpredictable and full of surprises. Its Jumbled paragraphs have small but different types of jumbled sentences and other questions based on varying topics also do not lag behind. At present we have 10 days to our credit and with each passing day the number is getting reduced. Now the issue is how to make the most out of it?
Let us discuss simple but useful strategy to solve a set of 25 questions in this section accurately and quickly.
Check, if prepared well the Grammar
Following topics should be covered to strengthen the language comprehension section for CMAT. They will help you solve almost all the questions in CMAT 2015. In case any of them is not prepared well and you find it difficult to follow, leave it. We have no time to begin something new. The need is to practice more in your strong areas.
CMAT aspirants can learn, practice and get expertise in usage of these topics in a few days, provided they have already prepared them to some extent. Almost all the topics are inter related and practice questions on one topic will lead to understanding of another.
Topics on parts of speech
Please check whether you are comfortable solving questions and can locate errors in the sentences on the usage of Articles, Nouns, Pronouns, adjectives/Adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, Non finites, modifiers and punctuation.
Using the Tenses: Sentence structure
If you have learnt well how to write sentence in a particular tense form, you should practice them. If any of the tense forms troubles you, no need to begin now.
Nonetheless, following tense forms can be placed to locate errors in verb form usage in CMAT. You should be aware about the Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect tenses, conditional sentences, Reported speech, Active and Passive voice.
Using group of words
You could find questions with the incorrect usage of following words/group of words. If you can devote one hour in all, you will be able to understand their usage. Every good book has exercises on them; alternatively you can understand the same by reading it online through some site.
Using the words and the difference in meaning of Few, a few, the few, little, a little, the little, prefer, would rather, as well, as well as, as soon as, no sooner did, fairly-rather, scarcely-when, ‘many a’ and the like should be known to CMAT 2015 aspirant.
If you can spare some time and understand their usage, you will enjoy practicing them and can learn them in only one hour.
VOCABULARY USAGE
Understanding the usage of vocabulary is very important. It is an important part of Language comprehension section in CMAT. Correct usage of Vocabulary words can give you an edge in this section. You may expect following types of vocabulary based questions in CMAT. It has a fairly good weightage in Language Comprehension Section.
Types of Questions that appear in vocabulary Usage - Broadly speaking, there could be following types of vocabulary based questions
A. Synonyms-Antonyms- Synonym to antonyms or vice versa followed by four close options are given. The examinee has to identify and pick out the option which is nearest to the given word in the question.
B. Marking the correct choice of similar sounding/confusing words- It also tests the vocabulary usage in specific context. Out of the two three words, used in a sentence, correct choice of the word, supposed to be used is to be marked from the given options
C. Picking out the correct words left out in a paragraph- This type tests the use of your vocabulary in different contexts. Important Vocabulary Words are left out of the sentences in the paragraph. You have to find out the correct words from the given options and mark the answer accordingly.
D. Relationship words – Analogy- A pair of words – with certain relationship between them may be given followed by four options . The aspirant has to identify and pick out the option which best explains the relationship between the given pair of words in the question.
Example question
Direction-Select the word to replace the blank space
2. Benevolent : Kind : : Unclear : _____________
A. Bright B. Thick C. Luminous D. Muddy
Answer: D
E. One Word Substitution- Questions based on certain expression in the form of a sentence can also be asked. Four different words or compound words follow the expression as options. One of the words is the key word to the expression. The candidate has to pick out the most appropriate option.
Example
Direction-Select one word/phrase which is closest in the meaning to the given sentence
3. Person who Knows or can speak many languages
A. Polyglot B. Potable C. Plebiscite D. Paramour
Answer: A
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 jumbled 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. A candidate may improve his performance by following a few tips to solve these questions.
Most of the jumbled paragraphs in CMAT have opening and closing sentences. These are middle order sentences that have to be arranged. Jumbled sentences are in CMAT are not very long as they appear in CAT. The difficulty level is also not very high.
How to solve a jumbled paragraph
If you have strong fundamentals it will be easier for you to understand the link between the sentences. You should now go for more practice exercises and mocks; this will give you a fair understanding of such questions.
Good command on vocabulary, regular reading of news papers-especially various articles and editorials based on different topics will help you a lot in this section. If you get the link between any 2 sentences rest may be eliminated and appropriate option can be picked.
English comprehension passages
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 3-4 questions each.
A.Questions based on phrases, idioms – Question based on phrases or idioms used in the passages might be asked. You should be well aware about, at least the general idea so that the right option might be selected.
B.Questions based on expression in the passage- A sentence or two with inherent meaning or message like a proverb might be given. You are supposed to pick out the option that explains the expression in the most appropriate manner.
C.Questions based on the Central idea of the passage-can be asked with close options. One has to read the passage between the lines to answer this type of question.
How to practice & crack comprehension passage based questions
1.Make it the regular practice to read the editorials, articles in the news paper,
2. Underline the difficult words-search out their meanings and put them to use in writing, in conversation. Tests have shown that the number of unfamiliar words in a passage, if exceeds about one in twenty, the reader will lose track. Hence you should be able to understand 80% of the passage well. With this proportion, the reader may skip over the unfamiliar words and grasp, at least the general meaning.
Devote 30 to 45 minutes a day to practice to solve various types of questions on English Language comprehension. It won’t take you more than 30-35 minutes a day to revise and practice well for CMAT 2015 second test
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