IIFT 2016: Unique exam with variable marking; Quant & DI with 45% marks command highest weightage

Add Review

MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
July 16, 2016
Unique scoring with variable weightage awarded to answers in different sections in IIFT 2016 entrance exam calls for modified preparation strategy
Highest weightage sections in IIFT entrance test are Quant and Data Interpretation with 45 questions carrying 45 marks which you need to score to get edge over your peers

IIFT 2016, the unique scoring method with variable marking and weightage to its 4 exam components makes the paper-pen based IIFT 2016 entrance exam for admission to MBA (IB) 2017-19 batch  not only different but requires a well devised  preparation strategy to score high in each section.

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), a deemed university and the top ranked management institute offering 2 years full time MBA (International Business) at its Delhi, Kolkata and Dar-es-Salaam campus in Tanzania will conduct the entrance test on November 27, 2017 from 10AM to 12 noon in paper-pen mode across the country.  Registration and application process for the exam is will remain open till September 5, 2016.

IIFT 2016 is a highly ranked dream B school and its flagship MBA (IB) programme is the most sought after 2 years MBA. There is no age limit to appear in IIFT entrance examination except that the applicants must possess recognized Bachelor’s degree of minimum 3 years’ duration. In the second phase of admission round profile of a candidate like academic record, work experience, writing skills will play an important role to secure admission in IIFT MBA programme. 

First know the Exam pattern
IIFT conducts the entrance test for its Delhi and Kolkata campuses in 20 cities across India. The conventional paper pen mode test is of two hours duration.

The written admission test to MBA Programme in IIFT consists of multiple choice objective type questions (in English). The 2 hours IIFT Nov 2016 entrance comprises the questions covering English Comprehension, General Knowledge & Awareness, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis.

Flexible test composition with sub sections
There are no fixed number of questions in IIFT entance test, their number may go anywhere in the range of 115 to 130.

Neither the Past test takers nor the experts can assure the IIFT aspirants about the sectional composition of IIFT 2016 entrance test. It goes on changing every year.

If you find Data Interpretation part of questions clubbed to Quantitative Ability in one year, the next year it may be clubbed to Logical Reasoning or may become a standalone section. According to Prof S K Agarwal, expert and mentor on IIFT exam preparation, the candidates preparing for IIFT 2016 entrance exam should not think and anticipate that they could compensate the tough and time consuming questions on Data Interpretation by attempting more questions on Quant.

Besides, IIFT entrance exam may also divide a section into 2 sub sections. Each sub section is as important as the other since it carries equal high weightage so far as marking for the entire section is conerned.

Unique marking system: Guide to preparation
The 4 sections and their sub sections in IIFT entrance test carry different weightage in calculation of overall score. While it is very important that you must prepare in the manner to get the minimum cut off in each of the 4 sections, it is also necessary that you score overall high score in the exam. This is possible when you attempt more questions from the high weightage sections with speed and accuracy.

Maximum overall marks in IIFT entrance are 100. Out of these 100 marks the proposed distribution of marks in IIFT 2016 entrance is on following pattern

Section

Total questions

Mark awarded for each correct answer

Max marks out of total 100

Percentage of Weightage in shortlisting

English Comprehension ( 2 sub sections- Core Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

36

0.75

27

27%

Logical Reasoning  (May or may not be standalone section)

20

0.75

15

15%

Quantitative Analysis & Data Interpretation ( DI may or may not be clubbed to Quant)

45 (25 Quant+20 DI)

1.0

45

45%

General Awareness (GK)

26

0.50

13

13%

It is also possible that the marking system may vary from question to question or from section to section in the range of 0.5 to 1 mark per question.

Penalty of one third marks will be imposed for every wrong answer. The candidates therefore have to be careful to avoid this negative marking by choosing the answer options with well calculated thought process.

IIFT needs different prep strategy
In view of, Prof. S.K. Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability and mentor on IIFT preparation,  time management is the most important part to score high in IIFT entrance examination.  Entrance test to IIFT requires consistent and planned study pattern. The examination in itself is a little tricky and questions in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are sometimes indirect and quite confusing also.

All the 4 sections in the examination are equally important as you need to score a high sectional percentile also.  If you are serious enough and are preparing for IIFT Nov 2016, you must award due weightage to each of the 4 sections and their sub sections.

The highest weightage sections in IIFT entrance test are Quant and Data interpretation with 45 questions carrying 45 marks which you need to score to get edge over your peers. Besides both these sub sections have highest number of questions also. So if you attempt more questions with accuracy in both of these sections, you will get high overall score.

But, in this fray do not forget that you have to score high in each of the other sections to qualify the sectional scores also to become eligible to be shortlisted for final admission round.

Despite different exam pattern as against CAT 2016, the line of preparation for IIFT exam could remain the same except for the fact that CAT 2016 would not have any section on General Awareness. Most of the questions are similar and based on the same concepts of English language, Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning as appear in both these examinations; the need is to improve your attempts in limited time.

Related Article

IIFT 2016 exam notification in July 2nd week; MBA (IB) entrance test on Nov 27, 2016

IIFT 2016: Exam notification out, Registration opens for MBA (IB) Admission 2017

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on IIFT 2016 exam