SNAP 2016; Detailed analysis by experts
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.