OVERVIEW:

The overall structure of the SNAP exam underwent some change as compared to the previous years. The exam consisted of 3 sections having 40 questions of 1 mark each (Quantitative Ability, General English and Analytical & Logical Reasoning) and one section having 30 questions of 1 mark each (General Awareness). In the previous years, the Analytical & Logical Reasoning section consisted of 30 questions with 2 marks while General Awareness consisted of 40 questions with 1 mark each.

SNAP-2016 was characterized by a Medium to difficult Quantitative Ability section, difficult General English Section, medium to difficult Analytical and Logical Reasoning section and a difficult General Awareness section. In general, SNAP-2016 was only slightly easier than SNAP-2015 in terms of level of difficulty. However, the selection of questions was all the more important in SNAP-2016. Though Analytical and Logical Reasoning section was on difficult side, there were number of questions in the section that were based on the principles of Mathematics. These questions were comparatively on easier side and most of these questions should have been attempted. The best way to maximize one’s score would have been to select questions judiciously and read quickly and not to spend too much time on the questions that seemed difficult.

Following table shows the overall structure of the exam.

A B C D E

Section

Subject   Area

Number   of Questions

Marks   per question

Total   marks
Section I Quantitative   Ability 40 1 40

Section II

General English
40 1 40
Section III Analytical and   Logical Reasoning 40 1 40

Section IV

General   Awareness
30 1 30
Total 150 150

The analysis of each of the sections is as given below.

QUANTITATIVE ABILITY

Like in SNAP-2015, This section was dominated by Arithmetic, Modern Mathematics and Numbers. The emphasis on Geometry was slightly higher while the emphasis on Arithmetic was slightly lower as compared to SNAP-2015. There were two DI sets with three questions each, one set based on a table and the other based on pie-charts. There were no questions on data sufficiency. A majority of the questions in this section were of an easy-to-medium level of difficulty. However, this section also had a few tricky questions. Therefore judicious selection of questions was of the utmost importance.

Following table shows the break-up of the questions in the section.

A B C D E
Easy Medium Difficult Total
Arithmetic
Clocks 1 1 2
Mixtures & Alligations 1 1
Partnership 1 1
Percentages 1 1
Profit & Loss 1 1 2
Time & Work 1 1
Time-Speed-Distance 1 1 2
Total   Arithmetic 6 2 2 10
Numbers
Factors 1 1
HCF-LCM 2 1 3
Misc 1 1
Number of zeroes 1 1
Surds & Indices 1 1
Unit’s place 1 1 2
Total   Numbers 4 4 1 9
Geometry 2 2 1 5
Circles 1 1
Polygons 1 1
Quadrilateral-Circle 1 1
Quadrilaterals 1 1
Triangles-Circle 1 1
Total   Geometry 2 2 1 5
Modern   Maths
AP-GP 1 3 4
Logarithms 1 1
Set Theory 1 1 2
Others 1 1
Total   Modern Maths 2 5 1 8
Algebra 1 1
Polynomials 1 1
Miscellaneous 1 1
Total 15 13 6 34

Data Interpretation
Table   3 3
Pie   charts   3 3

A good strategy would be to attempt about 24-26 questions in 35-40 minutes with 85% accuracy.

ANALYTICAL & LOGICAL REASONING

This section took students by surprise. There were no familiar set based questions in this section. But most of the questions were singleton questions. There were number of questions on puzzles. As many as 10 questions in this questions were based on the concepts in Mathematics and could very well have been included in the Quantitative Ability section as well. These questions were mostly easy to medium and must not have been missed. Like SNAP-2015, this year’s SNAP exam also had relatively low emphasis on Verbal Reasoning. There were only 2 questions on Verbal Reasoning.

Following was the break-up of the questions in the section:

A B C D E
Easy Medium Difficult Total
Non-Verbal   Reasoning

Mathematics Based
Averages 1 1
Calendar 1 1
Clocks 1 1
Geometry 1 1
Number based 1 1
Numbers 1 1
Set Theory 1 1
Simple calculations 3 3
Total   Mathematics Based 6 4 10
       
Puzzles 3 3 3 9
Sequential   Output 4 4

Numerical Grid
Match the number 1 1
Missing number 3 3
Total   Numerical Grid 1   3 4
         

Series
Number series 2 1 3
Odd man out 1 1
Total   Series   3 1 4
Visual   Reasoning 1 2 3
Arrangement 1 1
Family   Tree 2 2
Miscellaneous   (Roman numbers) 1 1
Total   Non-Verbal Reasoning 17 12 9 38

Verbal Reasoning
Critical Reasoning (Course of action) 1 1
Statement-Conclusion 1 1
Total   Verbal Reasoning 1 1 2
Total   Analytical & Logical Reasoning 17 13 10 40

A good strategy would be to attempt around 25-27 questions with 85% accuracy in 35-40 minutes.

GENERAL ENGLISH

This section was clearly more challenging than the previous years’ SNAP English sections. There were about 23 vocabulary questions, 1 grammar questions and 11 RC questions. There were 5 verbal reasoning questions. About 12 questions were easy, about 20 were of a moderate level and about 8 were quite challenging (either due to difficult words or due to difficult-to-eliminate options). It was very important not to keep pondering over questions that were confusing and instead be decisive. This time, the RC passages were lengthy (800-1000 words) and the questions were moderately difficult and time consuming. So, students should have been judicious in attempting them to avoid spending too much time.

A B C D
Topic Description Number of Questions Level
VOCABULARY
Antonyms Gregarious   3 E,   M, D
Querulous
Lucid
Synonyms Nadir 3 2   M, 1 D
Abstruse
Ebullient
Single   FIB Spend,   plays, higher, for 4 4 E
Homonym-based   FIB Advise/advice 4 1 E
Alluding/elude 2 M
Discrete/discreet 1 D
Ingenious/Ingenuous
Déjà   vu 3 3 M
Meaning   of phrases Baker’s   dozen
Doubtful/   agnostic
Jumbled   Paragraphs 2   of six statements 3 1   E, 2 M
1   of 4 statements
Word   Analogy Wealthy   : Indigent 3 1   M, 2 D
Almond   : Nut
Chaff   : Wheat
Synonym-based   FIB Magnanimous/magnificent/
generous/jovial
2 2 M
Regret/forget/rue/
Grammar
Compound   Word Moonlight,   Sunflower, Half-sister 1 M
Reasoning
Strong/Weak   Argument Electronic   voting/ Law is difficult to enforce 1 1 M
Statement   Conclusion Brain   growth in children below 6 is faster 1 1 M
READING COMPREHENSION
Passage   1 – about 800 – 1000 words on ‘Crisis in the Euro Zone due to Greek financial   insolvency’. Four   were direct and two were inferential 6 3   E, 1 M, 2 D
Passage   2 – about 800 – 1000 words on Hydrothermal liquefaction All   five were direct questions 5 2   E, 2 M, 1 D

E= easy, M = medium, D = difficult

A good strategy would be to attempt around 26-28 questions with 80-85% accuracy in 30-35 minutes.

GENERAL AWARENESS

This section contained a healthy mix of questions from various areas (politics, government, awards and personalities, sports, literature, etc…). It was more difficult than that of previous SNAP papers. There were about 19 questions based on national events and 11 based on international affairs. All questions were on current affairs of the past 2 years.

2-3 questions were very simple, 15 were moderately challenging and about 12-13 were tough.

Following is the table giving more details about the GA section:

A B C D E
Football club promoted to Premier League 2016 Nobel Literature New UN Sec Gen 2017 Swimmer who defeated Phelps in Rio Germany defeated ___ in FIFA 2014 finals
Kigali agreement Indian co. in Top 50 R/D spends in 2015 Women’s Davis Cup Chairperson of HSBC who retired in 2015 Mission to make Highways free of Railway   Crossings
First Afro American on $20 note Para-Olympian convicted for murder Youngest cricketer 10000 Test runs IAF Hall of Fame 2016 Muslim mayor of London 2015
Linkedin acquisition Flipkart acquired Jabong in 2016 Operation to evacuate Indians in South Sudan Lata Mangeshkar award for Lifetime 2016 World’s largest Solar Plant in India
Google’s instant messenger Time Warner acquired by _____. Vice President of US Dell = EMC merger Match the Governors of Central Banks with   countries
ISRO mini satellite launched by Pune Univ British MP stabbed and shot in recent past Disneyland Florida 2016 animal attack Humanoid developed by China 2016 Oscar Best Film award

A good strategy would be to attempt about 15 questions in 10-15 minutes with 80-85% accuracy.

OVERALL

We expect that the cut-offs for SIBM Pune will be around 68-70 marks while the cut-off for SCMHRD will be around 64-66 marks.

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