ICET 2009 – Analysis

ICET 2009 – Analysis
The most important day for the MBA / MCA aspirants has come and gone. Yes, we are talking about
May09, the day of the Integrated Common Entrance Test, popularly known as ICET.
The ICET paper pattern has remained the same over the last nine years. This year’s test was relatively
easier than ICET 2008. To help you understand this year’s test paper better, we bring to you a
comprehensive analysis of ICET 2009. This year the ICET was conducted by Andhra University.
Exam Pattern
No. Of Questions
200
No. Of Sections
3
No. Of Choices
4
Time Alloted
150 minutes
Total Marks
200
Correct Answer
1 Mark
Negative Marking
No
Data Sufficiency
Unlike previous years, the questions in Data Sufficiency were not from a few topics, but from a wide
range of topics. This can be seen clearly from the table that is given below. Some of the questions
were not the routine type when compared to those of the previous years. There were traps here and
there. But, on the whole, it was a good mixture of concepts and logic.
There were 6 difficult questions. On the whole, the data sufficiency part can be rated as moderate to
difficult. One needed to have a thorough conceptual knowledge as well as good application skills. An
average student would score 8-10 marks and a good student 14-15 marks.
Chapter wise break-up of questions in Data Sufficiency
S.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Topic
Averages
Indices & Surds
Equations
Ratio
Logarithms
Percentages
Numbers
Time and Work
Mensuration
Co-ordinate Geometry
Matrices
Sets
Trigonometry
No. of questions
1
1
1
2
1
2
5
1
1
2
1
1
1
20
Easy
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
Moderate
Difficult
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
10
1
4
6
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Data Analysis
This part had two DI sets of five questions each. Usually one DI set and one Venn diagram set appear
in the ICET. As discussed frequently, the possibility of two DI sets in this part became true again. The
students who were aware of this possibility could have adjusted to the same and had a good chance to
score high in this section.
As far as the sets are concerned, there were two sets, one based on Pie-chart and the other on a table.
The set of 5 questions based on Pie chart, which gave the percentage break up of expenses under
various heads of an industry, was of moderate difficulty level. Of the 5 questions, two were simple,
one was moderately difficulty and the remaining two were difficult.
The second set of 5 questions based on the data given in a tabular form were easy. The form in which
the data was presented would have frightened the students. Except for one question in this set the
other four questions were easy.
Overall Data Analysis can be considered to be of ‘moderate’ difficulty level.
Reasoning
(Problem Solving, Coding-Decoding and Date, Time and Arrangement)
There were 42 questions on Reasoning. The questions based on Series, Analogies and Odd man out
were very much on the expected lines and in the usual patterns.
Among the15 questions based on Series and Analogies, seven were difficult. For the first time in the
ICET, one question on Verbal Analogy was given.
Two questions on OMO were difficult and the rest were easy. Questions on coding-decoding were
easy when compared with those in last year’s paper. The test takers who had practised the regular
models of coding well, would have found the going very easy.
There were 3 questions on Maths topics - ages, geometry and permutations in this section.
Chapter wise break-up of questions in Reasoning
S.No
Topic
1
Number Series
2
Letter Series
3
Number Analogies
Letter Analogy
Verbal Analogy
4
Odd man out :
Number Based
Letters Based
Vocab Based
5
Coding & Decoding
6
Calendar
7
Clocks
8
Arrival-Departure
9
Blood Relations
10
Symbols & Notation
11
Problem on Ages
12
Plane Geometry
13
Permutations & Combinations
No. of questions
8
3
2
1
1
5
2
3
10
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
45
Easy Moderate Difficult
4
4
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
10
1
1
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
28
1
6
11
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Mathematical Ability
Arithmetical Ability: Most of the questions in Arithmetical Ability were direct. About half of the
questions were easy. This part had a good mixture of questions from different topics.
For the first time in the ICET, there were no questions on Profit and Loss. There were fewer questions
on Numbers, as compared to previous year’s ICET papers. Generally, about 8 questions are given
from Numbers every year. But this years paper had only four.
Though there was a slight variation in the weightage given to topics, when compared to previous
years, the dominant topics were the same – Equations, Ratio, Percentages, Numbers, Geometry and
Mensuration.
Unlike last year, this part was not time consuming. An average student would score 18-20 and a good
student 30 – 32, out of 35.
Chapter wise break-up of questions in Arithmetical Ability
S.No
No. of questions
Easy
Moderate
Difficult
4
2
1
1
1
Topic
Laws of Indices
2
Surds
3
1
1
1
3
Simple Equations
3
1
2
–
4
Ratio and Proportion
5
4
1
–
5
Percentages
3
3
0
0
6
Compound Interest
1
1
–
–
7
Numbers
4
0
3
1
8
Time and Work
3
0
3
0
9
Plane Geometry
1
–
1
–
10
Mensuration
6
1
4
1
11
Modular Arithmetic
2
1
1
–
35
14
17
4
Algebraical / Geometrical / Statistical Ability : This part was comparatively easy. Questions with
medium and higher levels of difficulty were spread across the section, making the students a little
anxious.
Out of 10 questions on probability and statistics, most were standard formula based questions and
some were statements of standard results. There were no questions on Inequalities and Modules. The
weightage of questions from the rest of the chapters was on expected lines.
An average student would score 22 – 25 and a good student 32 – 35, out of 40 questions.
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Chapter wise break-up of questions in Algebraical / Geometrical / Statistical Ability
S.No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Topic
Co-ordinate Geometry
Trigonometry
Matrices
Binomial
Remainder Theorem
Sets
Relations
Functions
Maths logic
Limits
Derivatives
Statistics
Probability
Plane Geometry
Mensuration
Progressions
No. of questions
3
6
2
2
1
3
1
2
2
2
2
6
4
1
1
2
40
Easy
2
3
–
1
–
1
1
1
2
1
3
3
1
1
2
22
Moderate
–
3
2
1
1
–
–
1
–
1
2
2
–
–
–
13
Difficult
1
–
–
–
–
2
–
–
–
–
–
1
1
–
–
–
5
Communication Ability
Section C on Communication Ability followed the usual pattern of the ICET that is familiar from the
past years.
Vocabulary:
The vocabulary section had 6 questions on synonyms and 4 on fill in the blanks.
One question in synonym was difficult – Reconnoitre (meaning ‘to get information about an area’, the
right answer was ‘explore’). The meaning of ‘Householder’ may not be known to many students.
‘Householder’ - the word means the person who owns or is in charge of a house. While in Indian
culture and tradition it can refer to a 'husband' (as a family man), in the modern context it would refer
to a tenant (in charge of a house).
One word in fill in the blanks (money laundering) may not be familiar to many students though a
good student would have come across it in his reading.
The other questions were of average difficulty level. An average student would score 2-3 marks in this
part and a good student 6-7 marks.
On the whole the vocabulary in this year’s paper can be called difficult by ICET standard.
Functional grammar:
There were 5 questions on idioms - 2 gave only the idiom and 3 used it in a sentence.
One idiom, ‘on the make’ meaning ‘trying to make money for yourself’, may not have been known to
most students.
There were 3 questions on preposition, 2 on tense and 2 on phrasal verb - all of average difficulty
level which the students might have come across in their preparation.
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There were 3 questions on conversation - again not difficult which they must have come across in
their preparation.
An average student would score 5-6 marks and a good student 11-12 marks in Grammar.
Reading Comprehension:
As usual, this year also there were 3 RC passages.
The passage beginning “An interview is widely......” had 170 words. This was fairly simple and all the
5 questions were direct.
The passage beginning “The most important preliminary task....” had 190 words, was a little difficult
to understand and needed slow and careful reading. But the questions were direct and anyone who had
read the passage would have got the answers right.
The passage beginning “Nehru's decision....” had 250 words, was not difficult but students
would have been unfamiliar with some terms, and so found it a little difficult.
Students could have scored well in the RC section if they had read the passage and answered the
questions. If they had spent 15 minutes on this section they could get 11 or 12 questions out of 15
correct. Students are therefore advised not to guess and mark the answers but to read and answer this
section. An average student will score 5-6 marks and a good student 11-12 marks in RC.
On the whole the English part was on expected lines and aspirants who had prepared thoroughly and
sincerely would have fared well. An average student would score 12-14 marks out of 40 and a good
student 29- 30 marks in this section.
Computer and Business Terminology:
The questions on Business Terminology were from areas of Marketing, Advertisement & Banking.
All the questions focussed on every day newspaper terms. A student with good reading habit would be
able to score at least 4 marks. Of the 5 questions, 3 were easy and 2 were of moderate difficulty.
The questions on Computer Terminology were very easy when compared to the last two year’s ICET
questions. Out of 5 questions 4 were easy and one question on ‘Scanner’ would have confused the
students. A scanner transforms data on paper into digital form. But the students would have made the
mistake of marking either graphics or pictures. An average student would score 3 marks.
T.I.M.E. students, who have strictly adhered to the strategy recommended by experts, would have done
exceedingly well in ICET 2009.
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