IIFT 2015: Testing room strategy; how to score high and manage sectional cut offs

With 3 days to go for IIFT 2015, countdown to the exam has begun and now is not the time to prepare and start something new but the need is how to revise and update your strong areas and use them smartly in the testing room on November 22, 2015.

The paper pen mode written admission test to MBA Programme 2016-18 batch in IIFT is divided in 4 sections consisting of multiple choice objective type questions. The 4 sections comprise the questions covering English Comprehension, General Knowledge & Awareness, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Analysis.

Since IIFT has sectional cut offs in all the 4 sections of the question paper and the B-school advises the test takers to spend time judiciously on different sections, the important clue that you can get from IIFT test pattern is to attempt the questions in accordance with their weightage in the testing room.

Determine weightage as per Marking system
IIFT have a varying marking system from section to section and in some cases between sub-parts of one section also. 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. The maximum marks are 100 divided among 125 to 130 questions. Accordingly, the questions carrying 1 mark each have more weightage than the questions carrying 0.75 or 0.50 mark each.

Penalty of one third marks will be awarded 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.

No sectional time constraint
IIFT 2015 will be conducted in two hour duration from 10.00 A.M. to 12.00 Noon to be held on Sunday, November 22, 2015 in paper pen mode. During these 2 hours candidate can attempt any question from any section.

Begin with your strong areas
IIFT 2015 will provide less than 1 minute per question to solve. The first section with 35-36 questions is expected to be on English Comprehension having a weightage of 0.75 mark per question.
Next section could be on 44-45 Quant and Data Interpretation questions with a weightage of 1 mark per question. The third could be on Logical reasoning again with 20 questions carrying a weightage of 0.75 mark per question. The last section on GK is expected to have 28-30 questions with 0.50 mark per question.

Going by the above it can be well estimated that Quant & DI would be the most weighted sections in IIFT 2015 followed by English Comprehension.

Beginning with English Comprehension and attempting the easier questions in the first attempt could be a good idea. Next could be the Quant and DI questions. It is not necessary that Quant and DI questions are clubbed in a single section. They could be placed in separate sections. Better to check and scan the test paper quickly and begin from anywhere you like.

But remember, if you are stuck only in one section, you might lose the race as good sectional scores are also needed to get shortlisted at IIFT.

47% may suffice to get shortlisted
Cut off at IIFT entrance usually does not go very high. According to Prof S K Agarwal, mentor on IIFT preparation, if you accurately attempt 15 in Quant; 10 in DI, you score 25 full marks but to score 25 in English comprehension, you will have to crack 34 correct. So it would be better to first attempt the questions from your strong topics and then move to difficult ones.

Please remember despite their low weightage the Logical Reasoning and GK are as important sections as other two are. Dont forget to attempt good number of questions from these sections with accuracy.
A good attempt of 15 in Quant, 10-12 in DI, 24-15 in English comprehension; 12 in Logical Reasoning and 20 in GK with full accuracy can get you shortlisted for final admission round at IIFT.
Manage time to maximize score

There is no need to waste time or stick to one difficult question. Just go on moving and solve only those questions of which you are confident enough. The time saved from one section can be utilized to other section carrying higher weightage. It will help you improve your overall percentile alongwith sectional percentile.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is a highly ranked dream B school with high placement record. The intake for MBA (IB) programme 2016-18 at its New Delhi and Kolkata campuses is 360.