CET (Common Entrance Test)
Part - I
A lot of MBA aspirants taking CET are primarily CAT aspirants.
So before discussing how to crack CET, it is important to understand difference
between the two tests. CAT is a test designed to select only top 1-2 percent
from a large pool of students. As a result, it is a conceptual test, which is a
good mix of moderate to difficult questions and where selection of questions is
crucial. On the contrary, CET is a test to have uniform distribution on both
sides of normal curve. As a result, CET is designed as a speed-based test, which
consists of easy to moderate questions. So attempting all of 200 questions in
150 minutes is a definitely achievable task, if not easy. Again, in CAT one has
to perform across all sections covering various areas of expertise while in CET
there is no sectional cut-offs. Randomly distributed questions make things
difficult if you want to attempt your preferred area of expertise across the
test.
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You should start taking practice
tests (around 3 weeks before actual CET) only after you have learned most
areas of testing. Realize that there is no selection of questions involved
in CET.
-
Visual reasoning is truly CET
special: not only for its unique appearance in CET but also for making
difference in the merit list. These 30-35 questions provide a perfect level
playing ground to all candidates irrespective of their areas of expertise
due to educational background. An engineer or a commerce/arts graduate has
equal chance to excel.
-
Unlike CAT, there is no
selection of questions involved in CET. You are there to attempt all
questions. If you get stuck with some questions, don't spend extra time on
them; work by method of elimination; if you still don't arrive to one unique
answer, mark one of the possible options and go ahead. You won't be coming
back to such questions unless it is a set of questions.
-
To avoid it, select 3-4 areas
such that your flow of attempting questions on those sections is more or
less same. Understand that though these areas are totally unrelated (e.g.,
group of verbal, quantitative and logical reasoning), difficulty level of
questions is not high enough to warrant a lot of concentration.
-
The next test should be taken
only after you have analyzed your last test thoroughly. There should be some
value addition after each test.
Part - II
Target Setting
-
Such a group covers around 120
questions, which should be solved not more than 80-85 minutes. Needless to
say, time consuming and weaker sections are to be attempted last.
-
Successes always follow high
targets set by individuals for themselves. There are a few numbers of good
institutes one can reach through CET. But the ultimate goal should be to get
premier institutes through CET.
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Speed of attempting questions is
bound to vary depending upon your areas of strengths. So first step towards
it is to know your areas of expertise very well on the basis of accuracy as
well as time.
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Solving 30-35 questions in 40
minutes with 80% accuracy is a good target setting.
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Selection of such groups varies
according to your potential. For example, if a person reads slowly, then
selecting RC in the group won't be appropriate, as it will cut the flow. Or
a person who is not very good at math should keep it out as generally math
questions are single and demand different approach for each question.
-
Practice tests taken should be
of appropriate difficulty: neither too simple nor too difficult. It should
not happen that nobody taking the test is able to finish all questions.
Practice tests are mean to give you the realistic feel for the test.
-
One should try to solve VR
questions by method of elimination rather than by deriving a proper
solution.
Part - III
-
One can also form such groups on
the basis whether questions are in sets of five questions or individual.
Typically in set questions (especially logical reasoning), once you get the
logic for one the rest can be done in almost no time.
-
Normally if you look for
questions on a particular area (e.g. verbal) in a test like CET, you lose on
time and more importantly it breaks your flow too frequently to concentrate
to your highest level.
Important
before taking practice tests for CET
-
If you are able to arrive at two
(or rarely three) possible options by using above procedure, mark one of
them and go ahead without spending any extra time on it. Anyways, you will
not get the right answer on solving it again as in most of such cases you
work with different logic than the examiner.
I am sure most of you know what the
CET is about. For the uninitiated: the CET is the Common Entrance Test for
Management Institutes in Maharashtra. There are a lot of CET exams but we will
be only dealing with the CET mentioned earlier. This examination is an aptitude
test held either in May or Feb. It comprises 200 questions covered across
various areas like verbal ability/logic, reading comprehension, quantitative
ability, data interpretation, logical reasoning and last but definitely not the
least visual reasoning. The test is for 150 minutes has multiple options
(exactly five) and no negative marking.
How to Crack
CET
Now that the CAT percentiles and
calls are out, you must have an idea by now as to how you have done and what are
your target institutes. You would have also decided on other exams like XAT. So
this is the time for state level common entrance test (CET) as well.
Part - IV
CET Special:
Visual Reasoning
CET aspirants just can't forget the
fact that CET is a speed-based test. So flow of attempting questions is the most
important thing in CET and reasonable speed needs to be maintained.
CAT Vs. CET
But definitely VR demands a balance
between time and accuracy. Generally solving a visual reasoning question is
tedious job and may take around 3 minutes per question. Multiple logics involved
for different elements of the same element make job difficult and a little
uncertain. And this makes CET a little difficult to crack.
All the best!!! Get cracking!!!
Institutes
Under CET - Click
Here
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