Xlri

XLRI '99 (Jan 3, 1999) Time : 2½ Hrs. (10 am to 12:30 pm) Total Questions 195 (BMD) / 215 (PM&IR) + an essay (Section 4) Negative Marking : 33%

Section No. Name Time Questions (BMD) Questions (PM & IR) 1 Language 45 min. 75 75 2 GK + Logic 30 min. 60 80 3 Quantitative 45 min. 60 60 4 Essay 20 min. 1 1

No rough sheet was provided/no calculators allowed.

XAT 2002 Finally XAT 2002 was conducted. Although this time there was nothing like the paper being cancelled etc. the complete exercise was conducted the way it should have been done at XLRI. Students were excited … a few nervous also … obviously this was one of the last few good tests remaining … and with the results of the IIMs out, the stakes were high. The paper was THE TYPICAL – XAT type, with three sections, sectional time limits, different colour papers for different sections of the question paper. This year also the total number of questions in the test was 200. The section on Quantitative areas was tough. Topics like Function, Sets, Permutations and Combinations were predominantly asked. Although there was relatively less emphasis on Vocabulary, a couple of tough Reading Comprehension passages appeared. The Essay topic this time was relatively easy as compared to the last year’s topic. This year also the topic tested students on three areas viz. expression, knowledge and clarity of thought. The G.K. section was again, of moderate difficulty level, and covered a whole range of topics. There was a clearly stated negative marking of 1/3 per wrong question.

Structure of Test Section

No. of Questions

Sectional Time Limits (in minutes)

Verbal Ability

80

40

Quantitative and Analytical Reasoning

60

50

General knowledge and Awareness

60

30

Essay

1 Topic

20

Section I : Verbal ability The English section as it should have been was based on the typical XLRI pattern – Synonyms, Antonyms, Analogies etc. – No questions on Sentence correction, Para formation etc. Total number of questions in the section was 80. Total maximum time allowed for the section was 40 min. Question Types :

Synonyms : The questions here were asked in the typical XLRI format - two passages (each containing 10 underlined words) were given and students were required to choose the correct synonym for each of the words underlined. Antonyms : Direct questions … words given … followed by options. Total number of questions was 10 Fill in the blanks : In all 15 questions were asked on this topic. The same were based on the story of a man and his sons. Analogies : These typical relational questions had a lot of weightage this time also. Questions like Pint : Quart etc. were asked. This set did require a lot of usage of hardcore vocabulary. Not many questions from the daily usage vocabulary, but the student who would have revised vocabulary before the tests … would definitely have benefited. Reading Comprehension Passages : 3 (total) – 20 Questions in all Topics : 1. XLRI, its evolution and the unique features of the institute – 8 Questions 2. Article from Reader's Digest 3. Extract from - Shakespeare’s “King Henry” (tough one). Analysis: Overall the section was an easy one. There was no major deviation in the types of questions. A relatively easy section. Most of the students were able to attempt around 60 – 70 questions.

Section II: Quantitative and Analytical Reasoning This section was definitely a nightmare for the students, obviously it will create the real differentiator. The section in all had 6 sets of data on ‘Counting’ (permutations & combinations on rolling of four differentiable dice), ‘Sets’, ‘Functions’, ‘Number series’, ‘Matrices’ and finally ‘Word Formation’. The questions on Functions and the ones on Counting were both manageable, the others were tough. A few sample questions are as : 1.

Questions based on Functions were of the following type: It is given that f(x) = q

if x=0

f(x) = b+c – cx + f(x-1) f(x) = 2bx + f(-x)

if x<0

if x>0

Find f(19), f (10), f (9), f (7),and f (21) 2. Question on 4 six faced dices being rolled and the various combinations of outcomes possible. 3. Series 18,27,64,125, 216, 343, … 4. Fibonacci series 0 1 1 2 3 5 8 5. Questions to find the next no. in the series like 235, 678… Analysis: The difficulty level here can be described as tough. The questions were not direct and it was difficult to solve even 2/3rd’s of the questions in the stipulated time. Most of the students were able to solve questions in the range of 30 – 40.

Section III: General knowledge and Awareness The GK Section was not very focused in terms of the area of questioning. It had questions from History, Geography, thermodynamics, Archimedes’s principle, Economics, Current affairs, Books and Authors, reason for inflation etc. – but none concerning actual Facts and Figures etc. A total of 60 questions were asked and obviously the time limit of 30 minutes was more than sufficient. Luckily … like the last year, this year too, the GK section did not have any questions on Labour Laws. The paper was of moderate level of difficulty and an attempt of 40 can be considered to be good. Some questions asked were:

1. When was plannig commission constituted? 2. When was Nobel Prize for economics started? 3. Why do clouds float? 4. What is the definition of Inflation? 5. When did China enter the WTO? 6. Is Panchayati Raj a three-tier system? 7. Who is the U.S. Ambassador to India ? 8. Where was the WTO ministerial conference held in 2001? 9. What is the number of judges in International court of justice? 10. Name the author who did’nt influence Gandhi much? 11. Who gave the title ‘Sardar’ to Vallabh Bhai Patel? 12. What was the effect of Vedas on the Indian civilization? 13. Which river is mentioned most in the Vedas? 14. What is the cause of Goiter ? 15. When was the first solar eclipse recorded in India? 16. Which country is called the ‘Sugar Bowl of the world’? 17. Which country is India’s largest foreign trade partner? 18. If a refrigerator door is kept open, what would be the effect on the room temperature? 19. A glass tumbler is filled with water and contains some ice. If the ice melts what would the impact be on the water level ? 20. What is Mastricht Treaty? 21. Where are Cryogenic engines used? 22. What is ‘Garuda’? 23. Which Indian state has the maximum forest cover? 24. Which Indian state has the maximum well irrigated area? 25. Which incident triggered the Quit India Movement? 26. Which company has the punchline ‘Everyone’s Invited’? 27. What is the cause of Green – House effect?

28. Which of the given taxes is not levied by the central government? Analysis: The difficulty level here can be described as moderate. A good attempt can be around 30 – 40 Questions.

A few questions that we could get from the students are as: Q. Arrange in chronological order of state formation: (a) Chhattisgarh, Uttranchal, Jharkhand (b) Uttranchal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh (c) Jharkhand, Uttranchal, Chhattisgarh (d) Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Uttranchal Ans. (a) Q. Top management in a company is involved in: (a) Supervising (b) Controlling (c) Planning (d) Motivation Ans. (c) Q. "Physical attractiveness" results in: (a) Jealous in peers. (b) Gives an impression that the person is wise, wealthy & good natured. (c) Gives an impression that the person is dumb. (d) None of these. Q. Who measure National Income in India? (a) CSO (b) ISI (c) CSI (d) FCI Q. Gitagovinda is written by whom? (a) Tulsi Das (b) Ved Vyas (c) Kabir Das (d) None of these Q. Who is the author of Madhusala? (a) Harivanshrai Bacchan (b) Maithali Sharan Gupt (c) Tulsi Das (d) None of these Q. Who is the CEO of HLL? (a) K Dadiseth (b) Gurcharan Das

(c) M S Banga (d) Rajiv Kayal