SNAP 2015, the traditional paper-pen mode exam is the gateway to various management programmes 2016-18 batch in 13 Symbiosis B schools affiliated to Symbiosis International University. The Multiple Choice Questions based examination of two hours duration from 2PM to 4PM will be held on Dec 20, 2015. The registration and application process for SNAP 2015 is online and will close on Nov 24, 2015. There will be 30 test cities where SNAP 2015 is proposed to be conducted.
With about 3 months left for SNAP 2015, the past experience of the exam indicates that despite not being a difficult exam, SNAP requires a consistent practice and synchronization between the test booklet and OMR sheet where answers to the questions are to be marked.
Past SNAP analysis
SNAP 2014 had 150 questions with maximum score of 180. The paper pen based exam had total time duration of 2 hours emphasizing that less than 1 minute per question to solve was available.
The test takers coming out of the exam hall after 4 PM were categorically unanimous on the fact that GK questions were found more difficult by them in comparison to other questions as it was more based on in-depth study of Business and economics. The candidates who could score about 94-95 out of 180 got shortlisted by SIBM Pune.
While the 110 questions in sections of Quantitative Ability & data Interpretation; Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension; Analytical & Logical Ability were not found so difficult, out of the 40 questions on General Knowledge and current affairs a large number was found to be more difficult. Candidates could not answer more than 15-16 questions in this section, although GK is considered a good scoring section in SNAP.
The 3 sections other than Analytical & Logical Ability section had uniform marking scheme of awarding 1 mark each for every correct answer. The total maximum score for these 3 sections remained at 120. The Analytical & Logical Ability section was the most scoring section with 30 questions carrying maximum 2 marks for each correct answer making it the only section that could award 60 marks for 30 questions.
Make a good study Plan
Candidates should now gear up for the next 3 month strategy to prepare the more important topics. In view of Prof. S.K. Agarwal, expert on MBA entrance examination preparation, candidates should focus on key topics to score more apart from concentrating on their strong areas and improving the weak ones. Getting a good score in this test may get the aspirant into one of the 13 Symbiosis B-schools.
Verbal Ability & Reading comprehension
6 to 8 questions on error corrections based on grammar, tenses, and correct application of fundamentals, are expected in SNAP 2015 besides 6-8 questions on Reading comprehension. There are 40 questions of 1 mark each in this section and if these two parts are duly taken care of one third of Verbal Ability module is done.
Reading comprehension passage is about a length of 500 words followed by 5-6 questions. The passage is not very difficult but a regular reading practice is required to understand and crack the same. Types of questions are like tone of the passage, title of the passage, main idea of the passage, explaining the phrases and words and one or two questions on the information given in the passage.
Error corrections in Phrasal verbs, syntax, passive voice, conditional sentences, reported speech, nouns, pronouns, adjectives, articles must be covered to score more in this section. The shape may be finding out the correct/incorrect sentences, fill in the blanks or spotting out the usage in different forms. It is an important part of Verbal Ability section and SNAP 2015 would give more weightage to correct contextual usage
General Awareness
Candidates must have been preparing this section by regularly reading the newspapers, periodicals and visiting the stock of General Awareness question bank. However, it is time that they should split this section in following 3 parts – i) Current Affairs-National & International ii)Business & Economics iii) Conventional (currency, capital, personalities, inventions & discoveries, books etc.). They should refer to the material backwards beginning from the first week of December 2015 as the test paper must have been prepared by that time.
Quantitative Ability
This section has three parts with 40 questions in all, namely Quantitative Ability, Data sufficiency and Data Interpretation. The section is expected to be moderate. It is therefore, advisable to improve your weak areas as there is time enough to do this exercise and work consistently on your strong areas. Questions based on DI and DS may be solved with the support of available information. Candidates should revise and practice more to score much.
Analytical Ability
It would constitute 33% part of SNAP in terms of marks. There are 30 questions of 2 marks each. Hence despite less number of questions, the weightage to this section is more. The topics are limited one may organise the studies systematically by placing more focus on following topics.
Seating Arrangements; Matching puzzles; Constraint based arrangements; Blood Relations – family tree; Syllogism; Proposition based followed by either deductive or inductive argument; Assumptions; Statements; Sets; Binary logic; Venn Diagrams; Clocks and Calendars; team formation; Analogy.
Problems on Analytical and logical Ability are based on natural human logics, so they can be understood and solved fairly easily, if proper attention is paid to this section. It serves as an aid to facilitate your entry to the top B-schools since it improves your percentile with a little logical understanding of the reasoning based questions.
Negative Marking in SNAP 2015
Each wrong answer in SNAP 2015 will attract 1/4 negative marks. Please remember you have to use only blue or black ball point pen only while answering the questions.
4 sections with MCQs
Please note that SNAP 2015 will comprise 4 sections containing objective type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). 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
Although candidates will be allowed to attempt any section in any order, sectional cut off will be there. One shall have to score at least a minimum cut off score in each of the four sections.
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