To set the record straight, the title only suggests that attempting the CET is like riding a horse – 200 questions in 150 minutes. It is like no other test. Though CET questions may be of much lower difficulty level than CAT, it is still a major challenge for even the best – doing well in CET requires one to be extremely alert and agile.

The Basics

The DTE, Maharashtra has mentioned that CET ‘14 is going to be online and its pattern is to be on the lines of the previous CET.

200 questions spread across Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning jumbled up together without any defined sections. So, you may find one question on Profit & Loss, followed by an RC passage and then a question on Syllogisms. Please read on!

The good news is that there is no negative marking in CET. However, you still have to solve a considerable number of questions to get a score of 140+. Do remember to mark every question since there is no negative marking.

Let us now understand the broad pattern of the test.

Quantitative Ability – Approx 50 questions

  • Problem Solving – around 20–25 questions
  • Data Interpretation – around 20 questions
  • Data Sufficiency – around 5-10 questions

Verbal Ability – Approx 50 questions

  • Reading Comprehension – around 15-20 questions
  • Grammar based questions – around 10-15 questions
  • Vocabulary based questions – around 10-15 questions
  • Parajumbles – around 5-10 questions

Logical Reasoning – Approx 100 questions

  • Analytical Reasoning – around 40 – 45 questions
  • Verbal Reasoning – around 40 – 45 questions
  • Visual Reasoning – around 30 questions

Topic-wise Details

Problem Solving: Most of these questions would be very basic. You would typically find a significant number of questions from topics like BODMAS, Approximations and Arithmetic. So, if you are starting your preparation today, then these should be the topics that you focus on first. In case you have already prepared for CAT, you will not face any problems in this section.

You must aim to attempt almost every question from this section.

Data Interpretation: In the CET, you will find all sorts of data sets–tables, pie-charts, line-graphs, etc. You would need to use your ‘approximation skills’ to handle these questions.

This again is a must do area and you must aim to attempt almost every question from this section as well.

Data Sufficiency: This section can be rather tricky. It will pose questions that are seemingly very easy but will trap you with the confusing options.

Consider this question:

Is n an integer?

(1)  √n is a natural number

(2)  n2 is a natural number

And the right answer is: Statement (1) is sufficient to answer the given question while Statement (2) is not.

Reading Comprehension: You will typically find a large passage with lots of questions – most of them being direct ones. This is an area where you should not use guesswork.

Grammar based questions: These questions test your knowledge of basic grammar. Relying solely on ‘gut-feel’ to answer questions on grammar will not be sufficient to score well in this section. Also, 30 days may notbe enough to make a dramatic improvement in this area. Be prudent and focus your preparation on other areas.

Vocabulary based questions: Either you know the answer or you don’t – that’s the story of this type of questions. You cannot wake up today and master the entire word-list. So, just hope that your reading habits will prove useful in this area.

Analytical Reasoning: You will encounter a plethora of questions from this section. These questions will be based on:

  • Arrangements & Grouping
  • Series and Sequence
  • Blood relations
  • Coding-decoding
  • Input-Output questions

Practice, practice and practice – through sustained practice, you will be able to handle these types of questions effectively. Beware of ‘speed-breakers’, especially in questions on sequences and series. If you are able to crack the logic in less than 30 seconds, mark the answer else, ‘guess’ and move on.

Consider the following series:

24, 81, 63, 26, 41, 28, 25, __

You won’t be able to crack it in less than 30 seconds. By the way the logic is 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128…. Did you get it? If not, don’t sweat.

Verbal Reasoning:  Another must attempt area – you can get high accuracy in these types of questions, provided you have sufficient practice. Questions in this section will be based on:

  • Syllogisms
  • Statement Assumptions
  • Statement Conclusions
  • Strong-Weak Arguments
  • Course of Action
  • Cause and Effect
  • Critical Reasoning

Understand the basics of each of these types of questions and you will be safe. Further, do note that you can achieve very high accuracy in these questions

Visual Reasoning:  CET is probably the only MBA entrance test that tests your visual reasoning skills also. This section is usually challenging. Out of the 30 questions from this area, if you are able to solve more than 60% of the questions correctly then it will be considered a very good attempt. However, please note that questions from this portion use a variety of logic – including counting, rotation, symmetry, and geometry. Practicing as many questions as possible is the only way to improve in this section.

 

The Broad Strategy:

A score of 140+ should be your target. In 150 minutes, try and solve 150 questions and ‘guess – mark’ the remaining 50. Probability suggests that you will get 10 out of these 50 guessed questions correct. The challenge is to get 130 questions correct out of 150.

Thus, both speed and accuracy are essential to do well in the CET.

CL provides 15 CET mocks. Solve each of them, learn from them and practice.

Click here to enroll for Mock CET Test Series.

Happy Gangnam CET!