/ Articles/ SNAP 2018 Exam Analysis: Moderate English, Tough Reasoning greet the test takers; Cut offs expected 56+
Last Updated on September 14, 2025
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SNAP 2018 Exam Analysis: Moderate English, Tough Reasoning greet the test takers; Cut offs expected 56+
The SNAP 2018 exam analysis reflects a moderate exam with higher difficulty level in Reasoning that called for different test taking strategy by exam takers. The cut offs may move slightly up in the range of 56 to 60 marks. SNAP 2018 is rated a moderate to difficult exam. SNAP 2018 Exam had a changed exam pattern with fewer questions but introduction of 20 special questions with higher marks has prompted test takers to attempt the Non-MCQs first to maximize their score
SNAP 2018 test takers can expect a little higher cut off for MBA 2019 admission in 15 Symbiosis institutes as the SNAP exam held on December 16, 2018. SNAP 2018has been rated moderate difficulty level exam. Overall it can be interpreted that the cut off may go slightly up by 2-3 marks and the overall expected cut off may remain between 56-60 marks out of 150.
The SNAP 2018 exam was held in 92 cities, for admission toMBA 2019-21 batch in 15 Symbiosis Institutes in a single session from 2PM to 4PM. SNAP 2018 was the second computer based exam in the history of Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) conducted by Symbiosis International University (SIU) Pune.
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The SNAP 2018 exam has changed its structure this year and followed a different pattern on the lines of CAT exam. The exam has been rated a moderate to difficult exam despite all the changes in the testing and scoring pattern.
Quick SNAP Exam Analysis:
Exam Pattern and Scoring Pattern changed
Total questions reduced to 130 from earlier 150
Questions were divided into MCQs (Normal Questions) and Non-MCQ (Special questions)
Exam Divided in 4 sections with lowest weightage to Current Affairs (GK) section
Maximum Score for correct answers is 150
SNAP 2018 test duration was of 2 hours from 2PM to 4PM
Scoring pattern is +1 Mark for each correct answer for MCQs and +2 Marks for each correct answer for Non-MCQs
All questions had negative marking of 25%.
2 RC passages rated moderate
Few LR sets were difficult
A few GK questions were based on Assembly elections held in November/December 2018
Expected Cut off to remain 60-65 Marks out of 150
SNAP 2018 Exam Analysis: Test Pattern The changed SNAP 2018 exam pattern had fewer questions divided into Normal questions and Special questions as detailed here under:
Section name Total questions MCQs (Normal Questions) Non-MCQs (Special Questions Total marks
Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency 35 30 5 40
Current Affairs (of last 2 years) 25 20 5 30
Analytical & Logical Reasoning 35 30 5 40
Total 130 110 20 150
SNAP 2018 Analysis of Scoring Pattern The scoring pattern in SNAP 2018 has changed. While the special questions of Non-MCQ type have been awarded higher weightage, the normal questions of MCQ-Type carry lower weightage.
Section name MCQsMarks Awarded for Each Correct Answer Non-MCQs Marks awarded for each correct answer Max marks out of 150 Negative Marking for each wrong answer
General English: Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Ability +1 +2 40 -0.25 for MCQ -0.50 for Non-MCQ
Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency +1 +2 40 -0.25 for MCQ -0.50 for Non-MCQ
Current Affairs (of last 2 years) +1 +2 30 -0.25 for MCQ -0.50 for Non-MCQ
Analytical & Logical Reasoning +1 +2 40 -0.25 for MCQ -0.50 for Non-MCQ
SNAP exam 2018 first section on English had 35 questions this year as against 40 last year.
Maximum score remained 40 as was last year despite fewer number of questions
The section was divided into 30 Normal questions of MCQ type and 5 Special questions of Non-MCQ type
Each correct answer for Normal Question carried the weightage of 1 Mark with 0.25 negative marking for wrong answer
Each Correct answer for Special questions carried the weightage of 2 Marks with 0.50 negative marking for wrong answer
Section consisted more Vocabulary based questions and 2 RC Passages
One of the RC passages on Google Location Security was followed by 5 questions.The passages were moderate although a bit lengthy and consumed good amount of time .
Verbal Ability & Verbal Reasoning
The Vocabulary based questions were found on moderate difficulty side
Fill in the Blanks type questions were not very difficult and could be attempted by using common sense and elimination process
Core grammar based questions like correction of sentence errors, identifying the parts of speech, Rewriting the sentences among others were not very difficult but those with good understanding of English grammar could attempt them without confusion
Parajumbles were not very difficult and could be attempted by using elimination round
Other questions on Synonyms/Antonyms, Idioms, Phrases, Usage tested well the understanding of English Language of the test takers
Verbal Analogy and critical reasoning questions were also of moderate difficulty level.
An attempt of 20-22 questions in 35 minutes with 90% plus accuracy could clear the cut off
Section 2 Analysis: Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
The quantitative, DI & DS section turned out to be more time consuming.
QA, DI, DS section had 35 questions this year as against 40 last year.
No DI questions were placed in the section, instead questions were on Data Sufficiency
Maximum score remained 40 as was last year despite fewer number of questions
The section was divided into 30 Normal questions of MCQ type and 5 Special questions of Non-MCQ type
Each correct answer for Normal Question carried the weightage of 1 Mark with 0.25 negative marking for wrong answer
Each Correct answer for Special questions carried the weightage of 2 Marks with 0.50 negative marking for wrong answer
Arithmetic carried higher weightage. Questions were on Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Number system among others and were of moderate difficulty level
Weightage to Modern Math, Geometry has gone up. Questions were more calculation intensive.
Despite being rated of moderate difficulty, the questions in this section were lengthy and consumed lot of time.
An attempt of 24-25 questions in 40 minutes with 90% accuracy would be good to clear the cut offs
Reasoning in SNAP exam has always remained key focus area right from the beginning even when it was conducted in paper pen mode and has been throwing surprises consistently sometimes by adding whatsapp jokes, pintrest post and inserting Quant based questions also in this section
Reasoning section had 35 questions this year as against 40 last year.
Maximum score remained 40 as was last year despite the fewer number of questions
The section was divided into 30 Normal questions of MCQ type and 5 Special questions of Non-MCQ type
Each correct answer for Normal Question carried the weightage of 1 Mark with 0.25 negative marking for wrong answer
Each Correct answer for Special questions carried the weightage of 2 Marks with 0.50 negative marking for wrong answer
Overall the section consisted of moderate difficulty questions although a few questions were also found difficult
One of the LR question sets based on Folding Shapes was found on higher difficulty side
Questions were based on Family tree, direction sense, clocks & calendars, series, verbal and visual reasoning, coding decoding, analogy among others. A few questions were based on Mathematics.
Good attempt of 20-22 questions with 85% accuracy in 30-35 minutes should ideally clear the cut offs.
Section 4 Analysis: Current Affairs (GK) Section
Current Affairs section covered the events of last 2 years
Recent assembly elections in the States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram became the topics of GK questions in this section
One question was on number of seats won by the leading party in Chhattisgarh. Another question was to identify the names of the states where assembly elections were held recently.
Those who knew the answers could attempt the questions promptly while there was no scope for those who had no clue to the answers
Maximum score for the section was reduced to 30 for 25 questions
The section was divided into 20 Normal questions of MCQ type and 5 Special questions of Non-MCQ type
Each correct answer for Normal Question carried the weightage of 1 Mark with 0.25 negative marking for wrong answer
Each Correct answer for Special questions carried the weightage of 2 Marks with 0.50 negative marking for wrong answer
The section had questions on international events, Whos Who, Business & Economics, Science & Technology, Sports, Awards, Geography, Schemes, Constitution among others.
The section was moderate but was difficult for those who did not know the answers and easy for those who had prepared well for this section.
A good attempt of 12-14 questions with 75-80% accuracy in about 10-12 minutes would clear the cut offs
Overall Suggested Attempts & Cut offs Overall the SNAP 2018 exam is rated on moderate difficulty level. Candidates who have attempted around 80 questions with 85-90 % accuracy are expected to clear the cut offs.
Section Suggested Time in minutes Suggested Attempts Desirable Sectional Score
General English 30-35 20-22 18-20
Quantitative Aptitude 40-45 23-25 18-20
Reasoning 30-35 20-22 16-20
General Awareness 10-12 12-14 8-9
Expected Cut offs It is expected that SNAP 2018 exam raw score between 58-65 will provide the required cut offs. However, the shortlisting by Symbiosis Institutes will be done by individual college and will depend upon the sectional as well as overall cut offs. If a candidate does not clear the sectional cut off, he/she may not be considered for shortlisting. The expected overall cut offs are:
