The overall test pattern remained the same, the question distribution varied across slots. The test comprised of 140 questions. The total duration of the test was 120 minutes. Each question had 5 options. Each question carried one mark and there was no negative marking.. All questions could be accessed at any time during the test. Most of the questions varied from an easy to a moderate level of difficulty. The difficulty level of the paper as compared to last year has been kept same. The breakup of the question paper was as shared below.
The sectional breakup was as shared below.
The overall difficulty level of the paper was medium. There were all types of questions in the paper and the difficulty level seemed to be evenly distributed.
33% - easy
33% -medium
33% - tough
Verbal Ability
The overall verbal ability section seemed easy. The section was dominated by vocabulary questions this year also. A few of the vocabulary questions were difficult but the grammar part was supposedly easier. Overall, around 33-34 marks could be achieved here by a well-prepared candidate in under 25 minutes.
Reading Comprehension
There were 3 passages with 8 questions each and one passage with 5 questions. The passages were on an average between 500- 600 words. While some questions were direct and factual, some were inferential and needed time. Breakup of the difficulty 12 - easy
12 - Medium
10 - Difficult Around 20-23 questions in this section should have been comfortably solved in 25 minutes.
Quantitative Ability
The questions from quantitative ability were of moderate difficulty level. The QA section had good mixture of problems including arithmetic, geometry and analytical geometry. The questions were framed on speed, distance and time, ratio proportion, work problems, heights, progressions, probability, percentages, etc.
Break up of questions Easy - 9
Medium - 15
Difficult - 6
Ideal number of questions to be attempted would be 23 to 25 in 40 minutes.
Questions Breakup
Data Adequacy and Data Interpretation
The DI section focused strongly on data adequacy and logical thinking. The paper had questions on pi graphs, line graphs etc. Few other questions were on percentage change, ratio between two values, etc. If I need to break up the level of difficulty for this section I would say 8-Easy
17-Medium
5 - Tough Overall, of the 30 questions in this part, a student who had prepared well should have been able to answer 18-20 of the questions correctly.
All the best!
Team CL
| 2 Hrs. | Time allotted |
| 140 | Total no. of questions |
| 140 | Total Marks |
| 1 | Marking Scheme |
| 4 | Sections |
| 5 | Number of choices |
| No | Negative Marking |
The sectional breakup was as shared below.
| No. of Questions(IBSAT14) | Sections |
| 50 | Verbal Ability |
| 30 | Reading Comprehension |
| 30 | Quantitative Ability |
| 30 | Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency |
| 140 | Total |
The overall difficulty level of the paper was medium. There were all types of questions in the paper and the difficulty level seemed to be evenly distributed.
33% - easy
33% -medium
33% - tough
Verbal Ability
| Number of questions | Question type |
| 10 | Synonyms/Antonyms |
| 5 | Word relation |
| 10 | Error Spotting |
| 10 | Phrase Replacement/one wor substitue |
| 10 | Fill in the blanks |
| 5 | Jumbled Sentences |
The overall verbal ability section seemed easy. The section was dominated by vocabulary questions this year also. A few of the vocabulary questions were difficult but the grammar part was supposedly easier. Overall, around 33-34 marks could be achieved here by a well-prepared candidate in under 25 minutes.
Reading Comprehension
There were 3 passages with 8 questions each and one passage with 5 questions. The passages were on an average between 500- 600 words. While some questions were direct and factual, some were inferential and needed time. Breakup of the difficulty 12 - easy
12 - Medium
10 - Difficult Around 20-23 questions in this section should have been comfortably solved in 25 minutes.
Quantitative Ability
| Number of questions | Question type |
| 4 | Number System |
| 4 | Simplification & algebra |
| 2 | Speed, Time and Distance |
| 2 | Profit, loss & Discount |
| 3 | Permutation & Probability |
| 1 | Work and Time |
| 1 | Percentage |
| 7 | Geometry and Mensuration |
| 3 | Simple interest & partnership |
| 1 | Time and Work |
| 2 | Ratio |
The questions from quantitative ability were of moderate difficulty level. The QA section had good mixture of problems including arithmetic, geometry and analytical geometry. The questions were framed on speed, distance and time, ratio proportion, work problems, heights, progressions, probability, percentages, etc.
Break up of questions Easy - 9
Medium - 15
Difficult - 6
Ideal number of questions to be attempted would be 23 to 25 in 40 minutes.
Questions Breakup
Data Adequacy and Data Interpretation
| Number of questions | Question type |
| 15 | Data Sufficiency |
| 5 | DI (Pie ) |
| 5 | DI (Line+Table) |
| 5 | DI (Line) |
The DI section focused strongly on data adequacy and logical thinking. The paper had questions on pi graphs, line graphs etc. Few other questions were on percentage change, ratio between two values, etc. If I need to break up the level of difficulty for this section I would say 8-Easy
17-Medium
5 - Tough Overall, of the 30 questions in this part, a student who had prepared well should have been able to answer 18-20 of the questions correctly.
All the best!
Team CL
