Mock CAT 11 (2004)-An analysis_CL
Executive Summary:
Another one of the traditional 3 section CAT. But this time you would have found the EU section
to be very easy, but the DI section to be slightly tougher than what had come thus far, especially
the AR part.
Here is the way in which you should have attempted the paper.
Sect #
Topic
Time
Total Qs
# of attempts for
IIM's
Possible Score for IIM's
1
QA
40
50
20
15
2
EU + RC
35
50
30
26
3
DI + DS + AR
45
50
26
19
Total
120
150
76
60
We feel that you could have cut time out off EU section and given some more time to QA or the
DI section to meet the cut-off. Hence it is very important to get the feel of the paper (and hence
get a judgment of the possible cut-off) while you are solving the paper. You should have
developed this knack by this time.
Section I: QA
Questions: 50
Here is a minute-by-minute account of how you could have attempted the quant section in Mock
11.
Q No.
Description
Status
Time
Cumm.
Time
Cumm.
Q's
1
Three or more circles touching each
other having a common tangent, their
radii will always be in GP
Skip
-
-
-
2
The height has to be more than 76 (sum
of diameters of three circles). . Two
answers get eliminated.
Skip
-
-
-
3
Easy by rationalisation. Check with first
two terms. Must attempt as similar sum
can be found in MCQ.
Attempt
50 sec.
0.50 min
1
4
Easy mensuration problem.
Attempt
60 sec.
1.50 min
2
5
Check with values: Eg. 1, 2, 4, 8. One
may have to think for the second
statement.
Skip/Attempt 90 sec.
3.20 min
-
Although a caselet, it is fairly easy timework problem. Assume values for
Skip/Attempt 120 sec.
number of units.
5.20 min
-
6-7
8
All numbers have to be 1
Attempt
30 sec.
5.50 min
3
9
Do by ratios. Number of horses = 3:4,
Cost of each horse = 6:5. Could have
Skip/Attempt 90 sec.
been done with answer choices as well.
7.20 min
-
10
Too tough. Leave in the first instance.
Based on AP, but chances of
calculation error.
Skip
-
-
-
11
Easy. Go with answer choice and work
with only last digits. Triplet 11,60,61
should have struck you.
Attempt
60 sec.
8.20 min
4
12
Put values and check.
Attempt
40 sec.
9.00 min
5
Too tough in the first instance. It may be
become easy if you realise that cozy
pair have to be co-primes.
Skip
-
-
-
16
Too tedious to work under time
constraint
Skip
-
-
-
17
The total height of the triangle is 22. 11,
60 & 61 make a triplet. Hence 22, 120 & Skip/Attempt 60 sec.
122 make a triplet. Thus AS = 122/11.
10.00 min
-
18
Though seems easy, can take time to
check with values
11.00 min
-
19
Infinite GP with first term 50 and
common ratio 1/4. Also the area
matches.
20
13-15
Skip/Attempt 60 sec.
Skip
-
-
-
Sitter. 75, 100 and 125 make a triplet.
Also the area matches.
Attempt
50 sec.
11.50 min
6
21
Check with options. In option 2, all 3
terms are positive.
Attempt
60 sec.
12.50 min
7
22
Sum of all the powers of each term
should be 30. Number of ways of
getting 30 using sum of 3 integers.
Partition.
Skip
-
-
-
23
Sitter. All of you should know this funda
by now.
Attempt
40 sec.
13.30 min
8
24
Easy if worked with ratio. Alligation.
Presently the price of two ribbons is
Rs.4 and Rs.1. On an average all of it is
sold at Rs. 2. Hence ratio should be 1:2.
Attempt
60 sec.
14.30 min
9
25
May take time to visualise. If all circles
are equal, number of circles = 6. Hence
Skip/Attempt 50 sec.
it should be less than that. Maximum =
5.
15.20 min
-
Takes time, but definitely attempt. Best
way is to use the assumed mean
method. Eg. Assumed mean = 10, then
first one take -0.4 sec. and the last one
takes +0.7 sec.
Attempt
150 sec. 17.50 min
10
28
In SI, net rate = r + r/6. In CI it is r +
r2/400. Equate the two.
Attempt
60 sec.
18.50 min
11
29
Must do. The answer choices are too
easy.
Attempt
40 sec.
19.30 min
12
30
(300 - 3x) / (2x + 10) is the time taken to
meet. This will be a multiple of 3. Hence
total distance covered will have to be a
multiple of 9.
Skip
-
-
-
31
Sitter. Very easy. Must do.
Attempt
40 sec.
20.10 min
13
32
Total number of selections = 40C4.
Number of ways of selecting 4
consecutive integers among these = 37.
Attempt
60 sec.
21.10 min
14
33
One among II and III have to be true
and the other one false. Hence it boils
down to option 2 & 3.
Skip
-
-
-
34
Parallelogram inscribed in a circle has
to be rectangle and hence the
subsequent rhombus becomes square.
Attempt
60 sec.
22.10 min
15
Attempt
50 sec.
23.00 min
16
Attempt
40 sec.
23.40 min
17
26-27
35
36
Put n = 1 and then 2.
ccc is a multiple of 111 and hence cb
has to be 37.
37
Takes some time but could have been
attempted.
Skip/Attempt 90 sec.
25.20 min
-
38-39
38th Q is very easy, simple arithmetic.
39 may take some time.
Skip/Attempt 150 sec. 27.50 min
-
40
May take time to visualise. Hence skip.
41
42
43
44
45
46-47
Skip
-
-
-
Sitter. Very simple geometry sum.
Attempt
20 sec.
28.10 min
18
Since the objects are identical, the
answer will not be in the form of answer
choice 1 & 4.
Attempt
60 sec.
29.10 min
19
Skip
-
-
-
Too difficult to visualise. Leave.
Question is easy put numbers and
solve.
The perimeter of the rectangle will be 20
+ x. Hence answer can only be 4.
Attempt
45 secs 29.55 min
20
Attempt
45 secs 30.40 min
21
A medium level sum for people
Skip/Attempt 180 secs 33.40 min
comfortable with Time Speed Distance
-
48
Once you realize that the product of any
five consecutive numbers is always
divisible by 12 then the solution can be
arrived. Otherwise the problem should
not be attempted.
Skip
49
To maximize the diagonals will have to
be perpendicular. Hence answer has to
be 24.
Attempt
50
Time consuming sum to read and
attempt.
Skip
Total
Section II: EU/RC
-
-
-
45 secs 34.25 min
-
22
-
-
40 min
22 Q's
Questions: 50
The Section with RC and EU combined in the Mock 11 can be described as soft. There were no
challenging question either in terms of vocabulary or in terms of the reasoning involved in finding
the answers.
The cut off for this section this time is pegged at 26 which is the most conservative estimate. That
is to say that scoring a mark above 35 in about 40 minutes was well possible this time.
The ideal strategy would have been attempting all the 20 EU questions in about 20 minutes.
Considering the level of difficulty of these questions scoring 20 marks in these 20 attempts was a
clear possibility. However, making allowance for an average test taker and making the provision
for four errors in these 20 attempts one could have easily scored a net of 15 marks in 20 minutes.
Even the critical reasoning questions did not involve either too intense a reading or any complex
reasoning. Para-jumbles were straightforward with links between the sentences standing
prominently noticeable. Sentence completion questions were neither tough on vocab nor
elaborate in reasoning. Elimination helped one to reach the right option in seconds. The
inappropriate usage questions were all sitters. There were chances of errors in a couple of them
for a hurried test taker. But these would not have seriously impacted his score anyhow.
All the five RC passages and the poem were highly readable. Questions were simple and direct.
The poem required a method of “ read and mark” and nothing more. The best strategy in RC
would have been attempting the poem and 3 passages. That adds upto 20 questions attempted
in about 20 minutes. If one had a mind block against attempting a poem still 3 passages could
have been attempted easily (15 questions in 20 to 25 minutes) This person would have then only
15 minutes left for the EU questions – but even this time is sufficient for a decent number of
serious attempts.
Thus, whichever way one attempted this section in this Mock it was well possible to meet the cut
off of 26. But remember that it was possible to score much more than this number this time. Now,
if your question is, what is the ideal score, the answer would be 30 to 35.
Section III: DI/DS/AR
Questions: 50
Q101-104:
Too many calculations involved. One should have skipped this set. At the most one should have
solved Q102 and Q104.
Q105-108:
Easy to comprehend must attempt. The only deterrent may have been close answer choices.
Q109–Q112:
All questions are very easy and it is must do question. Only some calculation is required in Q 112.
Probably you can get all questions right at the first shot itself.
Q113-Q117:
Seems tough in the first instance (after looking at the graph) and one should have left it. On close
observation one may find Q113, Q115 and Q117 could have been attempted without much effort.
Q118-Q120:
The data appears to be a little complicated but the questions are easy to solve once the data is
understood. Though the values are in decimals but options are far-off hence approximations can
be done safely. Q 120 is very simple if we interpret it correctly….it’s simply adding 3.1 to 38.1 as
these % values are on the same total value. A set worth doing, time to be spend 2.5 to 3 minutes
approx.
Q121-125:
YAHOO!! The most simple of any DI questions ever!! Probably because an area of very high
relevance to you(provided that you have been seeing your SIS for cutoffs!). All 5 correct in less
than 3 minutes!! One should have attempted the set at the first go itself.
Q126-Q135:
A very simple set of DS questions. One could have attempted all the 10 questions and could have
managed to get at least 7 correct.
Q136-Q138:
A Tough question to star your AR with. Meant to be left. However if you can start off with the logic
of exclusive sets, the problem may actually be solved in 3 minutes max!
Q136-Q138:
A difficult set to comprehend. Too many trial and error, must leave.
Q143-145:
Easy set. Can be solved by trial and error. If you go for the exact solution, it may be difficult to get
the answers. There are two solutions possible, but only one of them gives unique answers to all
three questions.
Q146-149:
Easy to understand but time consuming, hence it should be left.
Q150:
Very easy. A must attempt question.
Thus we can see that, an overall of 60 could have been easily scored with an attempt of around
75. We are assuming that by now all of you must have worked on your accuracy and would have
developed the knack of choosing the right questions.
HAPPY DIWALI and All the Best for the next Mock CAT!!!