MBA

Test Prep

Proctored Mock CAT-4 2011 Analysis

The test had 60 questions in all that were equally spread over three sections, which were clearly
defined in the instructions (as in CAT 2010).

QUANTITATIVE (Q.1 Q.20)

This section of the test was of moderate level of difficulty. The section consisted of:

6 questions on Number System

4 questions on Algebra
4 questions on Arithmetic
3 questions on Geometry
3 questions on Modern Math (Misc.)

As shown above in the distribution, the section covered all the topics. The distribution of
questions among various topics was almost uniform. The questions on Number System increased
over the previous Proctored Mock tests. Almost all the questions were based on fundamentals
and involved very few calculations. A good number of questions required in-depth understanding
of the fundamentals.
Given below is the question-wise analysis for this section:

Question
S. No.

Key Concepts and Brief Description

7, 8, 9, 12, 13 Divisibility, Factors, H.C.F, Base system,

Remainders etc.
& 19

Topic

Overall level
of Difficulty

Numbers

Moderate

3, 11, 14 & 15

Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Inequalities,

Progressions etc.

Algebra

Easy to
Moderate

2, 4, 6 & 20

Averages, Clocks, Time, Speed and Distance,

Simple and Compound Interest etc.

Arithmetic

Easy

5, 17 & 18

Pythagoras Theorem, Triangles, Cyclic

Quadrilaterals, Hexagons, Area, etc.

Geometry

Moderate

1, 10 & 16

P & C, Coordinate Geometry Circles etc.

Modern Math
(Misc.)

Easy to
Moderate

VERBAL (Q.21 Q.40)

The VA section of the test had an easy to moderate level of difficulty. The section consisted
of:

3 RC Passages (Total 9 questions)

2 questions on Incorrect Usage
2 questions on Para Jumbles

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MBA
Test Prep

3 questions on Para Completion

2 questions on Contextual Vocabulary (Fill in the blanks)
2 questions on Common Confusables

The English Usage part of this section was of moderate difficulty and had a couple of easy
questions.
The various questions are now described in detail:

Question
S. No.

Brief Description

Overall
Level of
Difficulty

Strategy

21 to 23 Para Completion

EasyAt least 2 out of 3 questions should have been

Moderate attempted.

Reading
24 to 25 Comprehension
(Balkans)

Both the questions should have been attempted.

Moderate Most of the correct answer choices were taken
directly from the passage. Q 24 was easy.

Reading
26 to 28 Comprehension
(Hofstadter)

29 & 30

Para Jumbles

31 & 32 Incorrect Usage

33 & 34 Common Confusables

Difficult

There were quite a few close choices in answer

options. A careful reading of the passage was
necessary.

Question no.29 was of moderate difficulty level and

Moderate - should have been attempted. Q 30 was tough and
Difficult could have been left. Finding the mandatory pairs
was important.
Moderate

At least 1 out of 2 questions should have been

attempted.
Both the questions should have been attempted.
Finding the words that matched the context was the
key to solving these questions.

Easy

Reading
35 & 38 Comprehension
(French politics)

Moderate

Contextual
39 & 40 Vocabulary (Fill in the
blanks)

Q 39 was difficult and could have been left

Moderate Eliminating the options was important. Q 40 was
easy and should have been attempted.

Passage was of moderate difficulty level. Q 38

could have been left.

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MBA
Test Prep
LOGIC & DATA INTERPRETATION (Q.41 Q.60)
This section of the test was of easy to moderate difficulty level. The section consisted of:

2 sets on Logical Reasoning (3 questions each)

4 individual questions on Logical Reasoning
2 individual questions on Data Sufficiency

1 instructions based set: Calculation based set set theory type (3 questions)
1 table based set: Calculation based (3 questions)
2 individual questions on DI

A careful selection of questions in this section was very important. Most of the sets/questions
were very easy to understand and solve except for one set on Logical Reasoning, which required
good analytical skills and could have been attempted later. The individual questions and smaller
sets in this test were relatively easy.
The problem sets in this section can be classified as:
Question
S. No.

Key Concepts and Brief Description

A set in which part of the information was given in

41 to 43 form of ratios, percentages etc. The set involved
some concepts of Set Theory and linear equations.

Type

Overall
level of
Difficulty

Instructions based
Calculations

Easy to
Moderate

Logical Reasoning

Easy to
Moderate

Individual Logical Reasoning questions, where the

44, 53, 57
concepts involved were of Logical Deduction,
& 59
Distribution and Arrangement.

45 to 47

48 & 52
49 to 51
&
54 to 56

A table based set in which three tables were given

along with some additional information. Even though
Table based Calculation
the set appeared to require calculations but most of
+ Analytics
the questions could be solved merely through
analysis of the given data.
Individual questions on Data Sufficiency. Both
questions were of QA type and involved concepts of
Data Sufficiency
Cubic Equations and Trapeziums (Geometry).
Two sets on Logical Reasoning. In both the sets, the
correct distribution/arrangement was to be
Logical Reasoning
determined on the basis of the information given.

Individual questions on Data Interpretation. One

question was of Bar-graph type and the other was of
58 & 60
Line-chart type.

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Calculation based

Easy

Easy
Easy
&
Difficult
Easy to
Moderate