MAHCET 2018 Analysis: Day 1 exam marked with surprise elements; Lengthy reasoning, Difficult Verbal to pull down cut offs

MAHCET 2018 exam on March 10 was on changed pattern and different type of questions in Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning were placed in the exam. The test was marked with a lengthy and difficult Logical Reasoning but moderate Abstract Reasoning. Quantitative Aptitude section remained moderate, Verbal Ability was found difficult to solve. Overall exam difficulty level was similar to last year with expected cut off at JBIMS remaining around 135 to 140.

See MAH CET 2018 Exam Analysis
MAHCET 2018 exam in slot-1 and slot-2 began on time on March 10, 2018 at 10AM and 2PM respectively. The test is conducted in multiple sessions by DTE Maharashtra in 2 days test window on March 10 & 11, 2018 across the country. Session timings for both the days are from 10AM to 12.30PM and from 2PM to 4.30PM. At some centres the test had interruptions due to minor technical glitches and computer systems were getting disrupted during the test duration. However, all the answers marked by the candidates were automatically saved which gave a sign of relief to the test takers.

Candidates gasping for more time
The MAHCET 2018 test paper which was held as online computer based test comprising 200 questions left test takers gasping for more time as with total allotted time of 150 minutes, less than one minute was available to solve a question. Candidates had to choose one of the 5 answer options which again demanded a little more time even after using any tip and trick to solve the question.
The only positive was that there was no negative marking and the candidates fighting against the shortage of time resorted to more guess work.

MAHCET: Exam conducted by IBPS
MAHCET 2018 is conducted by IBPS which is as per standard layout of IBPS tests. At a few test venues, some of the test takers faced difficulty of system-hangfor a brief span, but it got rectified or the students were allotted alternative systems.
MAHCET 2018: Overall Exam Analysis

Positives of MAHCET 2018

No fear of negative marking encouraged test takers to solve 100% questions
It improved the chances of scoring more
Fixed number of questions with uniform scoring helped to keep balance among the four sections
Many questions were found on easier side which helped candidates to attempt them first and score high in uniform marking pattern
Logical & Abstract Reasoning with 100 questions commanded 50% weight in the exam. Questions in Abstract reasoning were found on easier side as reported by the test takers.
No technical glitches helped the candidates to concentrate more.

Negatives of MAHCET 2018

As per the scoring pattern in MAHCET 2018, the equi-percentile and calculation of equated scoring process based on difficulty level of the test, across the sections can place the low scorer at a higher percentile also.
Guess work, if gone correct by chance, higher score cannot be ruled out even for those who have not made so many good attempts.

Exam components and sectional difficulty level
MAHCET 2018 had 4 sections. The test of Reasoning contained 100 questions comprising Logical Reasoning & Abstract Reasoning sections separately.
 

Total marks for the test
200

Sectional Analysis
All the four sections in MAHCET 2018 are referred to as tests and not as sections. The detailed sectional analysis by experts for each of the four tests in MAHCET 2018 is as below:
Test of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Verbal Ability section MAHCET 2018 had a major change in the question pattern. The section consisted of questions based on errors in Grammar, contextual use of Vocabulary, English Language usage, Para completion, new type of para jumble, Synonyms Antonyms among other topics.

Questions based on RC passages were doable although a few of them were difficult and very close ones. Questions on Verbal Ability also included Verbal reasoning and were moderate to difficult. Out of the 50 questions in this section, 12 were based on short Reading Comprehension passages while remaining others were on Verbal Ability and Verbal reasoning.

The section had mixed level of difficulty. Number of questions based on RC passages like spotting out correct contextual vocabulary usage, phrase, synonyms, antonyms were not difficult.

Test takers found it difficult and time consuming to solve the questions based on grammatical errors. Many candidates lost the track of the subject, predicate in the sentences formed with the grammatical errors and found them tricky enough.
Questions like completion of paragraph, choosing the correct sentence was another challenge for the students as the options were very close. The CAT like question in picking out the odd sentence out of the paragraph was not very difficult to solve.

See MAH CET 2018 Exam Analysis
Reading Comprehension passages were not very long and were doable. The questions based on both the RC passages could be attempted with a little concentrated reading of the passage. The questions based on RC passages had many vocabulary based questions which were not very difficult.

Picking out the errors in parts of sentences or choosing the No error option, in some cases was also very difficult. There were questions followed by answer options to replace the bold part of the sentence with the correct answer. The sentences were based on use of tenses, grammar, pronouns, verbs, conditions etc.

The overall types of questions that appeared in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section in MAHCET 2018 is:

Topics of questions
Number of questions
Difficulty level

Reading comprehension passages 600 to 800 words
12
Moderate

Vocabulary (Synonyms, antonyms, contextual usage, formation of words with specific letters, matching the words)
15
Moderate

Faulty Construction sentences-rewriting
5
Moderate to difficult

Mark the Error in sections
4
Difficult

Para jumble, Para placement, completion, out of context
8
Tricky

Sentence written in different ways
6
Moderate to difficult

Important note on Verbal Ability Test
Questions on error corrections in sentences were similar to the ones as appear in various recruitment examinations of Banks, Insurance companies, Central and state Governments. Sentences were divided in four sections and the error from one of the sections had to be spotted. If there was no error option 5 of No error had to be marked as answer.
Another type was that of re-writing the parts of sentences containing errors. The question sentence had one part marked in bold and the test taker had to figure out whether there is any error in that part of the sentence. 5 answer options followed the question. In case there was an error, candidate had to choose the right answer option and if it had no error, option 5 had to be marked.
The questions were formed on core grammar like Active passive; reported speech; conditionals; modifiers and picking out correct synonyms and antonyms. Apart from this, moderate questions on analogy also made their presence in Verbal Ability section.
There were questions to place the para to fill in the blanks in a paragraph. With simple and correct understanding of grammar and vocabulary usage, candidates could answer the same well.
The RC passages were short but were followed by number of questions including questions like synonyms, antonyms as used in the passage. The level of difficulty was moderate but the options were close and time was short.
Candidates who could get around 32-34 questions correct in this section, would improve their overall percentile to a good extent to get admission in one of the top MBA colleges
Test of Quantitative Aptitude

Total questions
50
Marks per question
1

Answer options per question
5
Total marks
50

Difficulty level
Moderate
Good Attempts
30-32
Apart from a few questions in Quantitative Aptitude section, the remaining were on the easier side. This section was moderate to difficult in terms of difficulty level. Questions in this section were doable but time consuming. Though many questions involved some tricks but aspirants with basic conceptual clarity were able to solve these questions. There were more questions on Arithmetic. A few questions from Algebra also made their appearance in the test. Data Interpretation (DI) questions in this test were more calculation based but doable.
Out of 50 questions in the Quant section, more than 20 questions were on Data Interpretation and the remaining were on Quantitative Aptitude. The DI questions were in three sets of problems.
Prominent topics on which DI questions were based are Table, Pie chart, analytical data, caselets. All the sets needed concentration and were calculation intensive.
Major topics in Quant on which questions were based are: Number system, Arithmatic constituting percentage, time, speed, distance, integers, Geometry, Algebra among others.
Type of Questions

Question topics
Number of questions
Difficulty level

Arithmetic (Percentage, P&L, TSD, ratio etc)
10
Moderate

Geometry
2
Moderate to difficult

Modern Maths
1
Moderate
Graph, Pie charts, Table, case lets (DI questions)
22
Moderate to difficult

Data sufficiency
4
Moderate

Others including Algebra, odd man out
11
Moderate to difficult

Good attempt of 34-36 questions would lead to high score.
Test of Logical Reasoning

Total questions
75

Marks per question
1

Answer options per question
5

Total marks
75

Difficulty level
Moderate to difficult

Good Attempts
42-44

There were 75 questions of varying type in the Logical Reasoning section. It had questions sets following the given data; questions on series, statements inferences/conclusions, true false, coding-decoding among others.
Around 55 questions were there on Non-Verbal Reasoning and rest on Verbal Reasoning in MAHCET exam. Questions on various types of Arrangements, statements, letter rearrangements, family tree are the favourite areas in MAHCET exam. The questions were in sets as well as individual ones. The questions were lengthy in nature and needed more time to solve.

Sets in Logical Reasoning were difficult to solve. The candidates who marked the answer option and moved on were benefitted as they could solve more questions which were on moderate side.

Verbal Reasoning part in logical reasoning section has more questions on Critical Reasoning, Syllogism among others. The Syllogisms were overall moderate but time consuming across all the slots. Strong weak arguments, cause effect questions also consumed some time of the test takers. These questions were not as difficult as the other questions and were doable.
Type of questions

Question topics
Number of questions
Difficulty level

Arrangements-Linear, Matrix, Square etc.
28
Moderate to difficult

Statement-conclusion, inference, cause effect
7
Moderate to difficult

Direction
5
Moderate

Family tree-blood relationship
5
Moderate

Syllogism
6
Moderate to difficult

Critical reasoning
15
Moderate

Assumption
3
Moderate

Data sufficiency
4
Moderate to difficult

Letter re-arrangements
2
Moderate

A good attempt of 42-44 questions in Logical Reasoning would lead to a high percentile in MAHCET 2018.
Test of Abstract reasoning

Total questions
25

Marks per question
1

Answer options per question
5

Total marks
25

Difficulty level
Moderate

Good Attempts
18-20

Abstract Reasoning with 25 questions was a moderate test and candidates were found busy in maximising the attempts in this section. The difficulty level of this section was slightly higher than last year. Questions were formed on series, Analogy, puzzles among others were found doable. Most of the questions in Abstract Reasoning were similar to visual reasoning questions that appeared earlier in MAHCET exam.
Type of questions
 

A good attempt of 18-20 questions would lead to high percentile.
Overall score and cut offs: JBIMS, SIMSREE, KJ Somaiya, PUMBA
Difficulty level in MAHCET 2018 has gone up across the sections. Last year MAHCET was more difficult than a year before exam. In fact last 3 years of scoring pattern reflects sliding score for award of highest percentile

Many questions were found wrong and the entire list was changed. The candidate with higher scores were awarded lower percentile.

Going by the trend, it can be observed that a good attempt of around 150 questions plus guess work would lead to a percentile of 99. If the slot you have appeared in, is considered more difficult, you may even get a higher percentile on low scores.
Expected Cut offs for JBIMS, SIMSREE, K J Somaiya
All India candidates can expect admission to top MBA colleges accepting MAHCET 2018 score like JBIMS, SIMSREE, K J Somaiya, PUMBA at a score of 130 and above as shared below

• JBIMS Mumbai: 135 and above
• SIMSREE: 130 and above
• K J Somaiya: 125 and above
• PUMBA: 120 and above

Many candidates were allotted centres other than they opted for at the time of completing their registration form. This fact was already clarified by State CET Cell, the MAHCET 2018 exam conducting authority, If sufficient number of candidates does not opt for a particular centre for "Online" examination, Competent Authority reserves the right to allot any other adjunct centre to those candidates OR if the number of candidates is more than the capacity available for online exam for a centre, Competent Authority reserves the right to allot any other centre to the candidate.

MAHCET 2018 witnessed around 20% less turnout in all slots of the MBA/MMS aspirants out of 90000 plus candidates vying for admission in JBIMS, SIMSREE, PUMBA, K J Somaiya, N L Dalmia among other top MBA colleges in Maharashtra. MAHCET 2018 was conducted in 40 test cities across the country.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on MAHCET 2018