In two online chats with readers on November 25 and December 2, ARKS Srinivas, ex-director of T.I.M.E. addressed reader queries on cracking NMAT (Narsee Monjee Management Aptitude Test), XAT (Xaviers Aptitude Test) or SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test).
While the NMAT exam is on till January 06, 2011, the SNAP is scheduled on December 18, 2011 and XAT will be held on January 08, 2011.
For those who missed the live chats, read on for the transcript.
ARKS Srinivas says, Hi Folks, I am back again to answer questions! Arks Srinivas
anushak asked, hello sir, could you pls share some tips to crack NMAT exam tomorrow? also tell me what is the right way to approach the exam so that i get a good percentile
ARKS Srinivas answers, at 2011-11-25 16:03:24Dear Anusha, NMAT will have 3 sections with 120 questions and 2 hours to solve them in. Unlike CAT, these questions will be at a much lower level of difficulty. Please allocate time to each of the sections something like - 25, 50, 35 for the Language, Quant and Logic sections There will be another buffer of 10 minutes that you can use depending on how you have done any set
sushant asked, is cat right for me i am planning on giving it next year . i have low scores in b.com graduation above 60 percent though . good scores about 93 in both 10th and 12th . due to focus on c.a. exams i have not been able to score well in graduation but i have interest in maths and English with good or average aptitude . i don't want to ca .
ARKS Srinivas answers, YES. If you want to be a Manager/Business Leader.
red asked, anushak if u wanna crack exam, then just stop studyin here itself man n just crack the paper man like in hw u crack to go in ... u knw
ARKS Srinivas answers, I am surprised that you are giving such good advise to others but not taking it yourself. I am not sure red that you should be wasting time on this if you have all the answers!
cyber asked, do graduation scores matter for admission to MBA colleges ?
ARKS Srinivas answers, Yes they do. partially. However, the main hurdle would be the written test.
nottyn asked, sir, kindly share some dos and donts for NMAT, XAT and SNAP. which of these have negative markings and how much must one score to get an admission call from these institutes?
ARKS Srinivas answers, Both XAT and SNAP have negative marks. NMAT doesn't (But, I would like you to please do a check on this). XAT would be similar to CAT of yester years in terms of difficulty. SNAP and NMAT are expected to be of lesser level of difficulty. The approach in all exams would be broadly same. Divide the time available and then try to maximise attempts in each section.
himanshu asked, please give some useful tips to crack snap with such less time left for snap which is on 18 december.
ARKS Srinivas answers, Frankly, the advice can only be in terms of strategy and not preparation. SNAP has a Logical section which requires more time as there are more marks available in that. You ideally should not spend more than 10 minutes on GK section so that you can utilise the max time on the sections where you can get marks. Logic, VA and QA (probably in that order too). Take it with a caveat here - true for most but not for all.
divyan asked, how many questions should one attempt in each of these exams and how many correct responses?
ARKS Srinivas answers, Divya, This frankly is dependent on one's ability. You wouln't want to get any mistakes. But in all your MOCKS, you would have been getting certain strike rates. My bet is, even in the actual exam, you will get the same. And hence, the idea is to increase the attempts (not guess) to an extent wherein you have a chance of getting around 40% to 50% net scores in each sections.
mAN asked, NMAT has timed sections....Mr. Arks Srinivas
ARKS Srinivas answers, Thanks MAN for the information. All students, please do note. That would actually make the exam that much more easier. However, the timing within a section (t ensure that you don't spend too much time on a question) will be as important always.
sdfasd asked, i have score of 59 percent in 12th board due to state board and i have experience of 2 years in It and currently i am working with CMM lelevel 5 mnc with good salary package but management interset me.Should i have to go for MBA as i am preparing to be in IIM but my colleague say i am mad.Does i have to for the MBA and what would be packege if i passed from TOP IIM in field of marketting and finance.
ARKS Srinivas answers, There are two questions. a) Can you go for an MBA given your background - Answer is YES. b) What would be your package post IIM? Assuming that you get in and complete two years, you can get on an average anything between 8 lacs p.a to 15 lacs p.a adjusted to market conditions. You can also get less or more depending on how bad or good (academically) you are in those two years of MBA.
The interviewer will ask you 'Why MBA' and grill you about your work-ex
erroks asked, is undergraduation degree is necessary to do mba? directly after my 12th ....cant i join a mba course?
ARKS Srinivas answers, Degree (Undergraduation) is mandatory for all recognised colleges in this country.
ChaturNar asked, i have an experience of almost four years, which institutes offer Exec MBA in Mumbai?
ARKS Srinivas answers, JBIMS, NMIMS, Welingkar
bimbom asked, Hi, appearing for IIFT what should be the strategy to score in that
ARKS Srinivas answers, Very difficult to predict the paper itself for IIFT. They have changed it every year. Spend the first five minutes to analyse the paper and the allocate times accodingly.
bimbom asked, Hi, What do yout think will be the expected cut off marks to get arnd 95 percentile inn CAT
ARKS Srinivas answers, in each section, if you can get around 35% of net marks, you should get 95%ile overall
sfsf asked, i have close to 6years esperience in IT. Planning to write XAT and opt for XLRI 2 year mbaIs it good?
ARKS Srinivas answers, Ideally no. But in India, IIMs, XLRI, FMS, SPJain, will still give great value with your experience. You should simultaneously look for a One year MBA from ISB or other institutes.
bimbom asked, what was the sectional cut off For IIFT?
ARKS Srinivas answers, If there are cutoffs, they will be very low.
bimbom asked, arnd single digit numbers?
ARKS Srinivas answers, YES.
sfsf asked, what are the options available for executive mba?
ARKS Srinivas answers, ISB, GLIM, SPJAIN, PGP-EX programmes of IIMA, B, XL, Indore - In India. A host of them in Europe, Asia and some of them in US
bimbom asked, Quant section in IIFT is tough as comapred to other entrance exams?do you think it is the best section to start with?
ARKS Srinivas answers, I don't think so. Better start with Verbal where even if you get or not get, you won't know the getting part! But with quant, you will know for sure that you are solving it or not and hence can be depressing to start with.
sfsf asked, will it be disadvantage during the interviews if i have a 6yr experience and interviewd for 2 yr mba . Please comment
ARKS Srinivas answers, Probably not. It could be an advantage too as the panelists are going to treat you much better. And if you can explain what you have been doing for the 6 years of work as well as why you want to do MBA (for 2 years), you will be home and dry. Your interview will revolve only on two questions (I am sticking my neck out to tell this). a) Why MBA for 2 years , why not 1 year. b) work-ex grilling.
bimbom asked, whose brand value greater IIFT delhi IIFT kolkota?
ARKS Srinivas answers, Delhi.
'Do not get stuck on one question, move on'
superone asked, One more question, do SNAP/SIBM have any sectional cut offs? (I am still scared of GK)
arkss answers, SIBM very likely would be having, for the others, even if they keep would be lower.
lallu asked, what different things one needs to practice when it comes to XAT ( difference w.r.t. CAT )
arkss answers, higher level quant questions are there, so it is advisable to revise the basics of the same. i.e. trigo, co-ordinate, calculus, functions, graphs etc.
hello asked, I have attempted all the questions. I am confident of 12 right answers in section I and 27 right answers in section 2. What r my chances?
arkss answers, hi hello. 2nd section 27 correct answers would be fantastic. however, 1st section seems a little on the lower side. suggest u look at ur last 5-6 aimcats to get a rough idea.
super asked, Hi Sir, please give us some tips on how to handle GK for SNAP. Maybe some good sources as well.
arkss answers, hi super. gk is something which cannot be developed overnight, but continual reading of current affairs. to get an idea what to read, look at past snap papers.
hello asked, Hi, What would be the proposed cut-off in CAT sectionwise this year?
arkss answers, hi hello. i did not quite get ur question. different institutes will have different cutoffs.
Sarvesh asked, hello sir, how can one strategise differently for NMAT and XAT? Isn't XAT difficult compared to NMAT?
arkss answers, level of difficulty in xat is higher than nmat, yes. but ur relative performance should be more or less the same. nmat is more of a speed game.
hello asked, "Hope for the best to happen and be prepared to face the worst" I believe in tha brave quote
arkss answers, thats the true spirit!!!!
sat asked, hello sir. Give some XAT specific verbal/quant tips.
arkss answers, In case of verbal, more or less the same approach would be applicable. since the accuracy level is expected to be low, answering more questions would help to clear the cutoff. for quant and di, there is no magic formula. practise and revise as much as u can. and if u r comfortable with higher maths, it's an added advantage.
superone asked, @Arks : Thanks again Sir, any last moment tips you want to give us for SNAP? @CrackJack : Thanks for suggestion mate
arkss answers, Revise all the concepts u have learnt so far. do not get stuck in one question, move on. there will be enuf questions for u to answer. all the best! i am sure u will do well.
MAX asked, ur view on GMAT and its usefulness in INDIA
arkss answers, Exclusively accepted by ISB, accepted by other institutes along with other exams.
kareena asked, i hav got 53 in iift this year with a negative score in rc. What can i expect out of it?
arkss answers, hi. overall score is good but RC is an area of concern. lets hope for the best.
MAX asked, i am trying for uk or ISB wat other exams do u think are simmilar to GMAT
arkss answers, all the indian management entrance test like CAT have a similarity with GMAT, but there are differences too.
Ghanshyam asked, Are you sure about the fact thet SIBM might have Section cut-off for GK because i attendedd the cofee with SIBM session and there they did not mention about any cut-off
arkss answers, that's exactly the point. they have not mentioned that will have sectional cutoffs. neither did they mention that they will not have sectional cutoffs. best bet would be to show competency in all sections.
MAX asked, Thanks mr.Srinivas. I have not been that good at quick math but i hope i will find out a way to crack it.
arkss answers, there is no magic. just practise enough constantly. those who are good with calculations have developed it, not born with it.
Ayush asked, Hi, I am facing lot of problems in GK section and it showed in IIFT as well.With Snap on 18th dec and considering 40 questions from GK ,we just cant ignore it also.Please provide some useful tips for the same. Thanks
arkss answers, hi. as suggested by one of our friends, with whom i agree, TOI daily , TIMES now would be helpful. also look at past snap paers to get an idea as to what should be read.
kk asked, i had completed my Graduation BSc IT from DIstatnt learning and also appeared in to CAT 2011 can some body help me if i hv good CAT score may i join good MBA college??Any obtacle due to my distant learning degree??
arkss answers, no, it is not an obstacle. u need to have 50 percent in graduation, thats it. ur cat score, gd/essay, interview, work ex, biodata will be taken into account for ur selection. if u have a good cat score, have given a good gd and pi, u should make it to a good b school.
crackjack asked, @ superone, TOI daily and watching Times Now 9 O'clock show with zeal should help ur GK at least on current affairs. Start dong that. Just a suggestion
arkss answers, agreed !!!
SHASHANK asked, sir... my cat exam was good but i seemed to have lost interest now....please help.
arkss answers, why? is this the only thing in life? its just a hurdle. shrug off everything and concentrate on snap xat.
MAX asked, sir wat is the best way to start up for gmat studies if one is a working professional. i mean the daily schedule time for each section
arkss answers, min 2 hrs overall with more emphasis on the weaker section, apart from reading newspapers and magazines.
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