Two weeks to XAT 2012: Know the prep strategy for Quant & DI

As the year is coming to an end, it brings in with it the first MBA entrance exam of the year, XAT 2012. Undoubtedly, the toughest MBA entrance exam, XAT 2012 is scheduled on Sunday, January 8, 2012. Now that there are hardly two weeks left for the test, you should gear up with your preparation for the exam. In this article of MBAUniverse.com, we will share the expert strategies with you on how to prepare for the sections of XAT exam.

There are four sections in the XAT paper. These are Verbal and Logical Ability, Analytical Reasoning and Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation and Analytical Caselet or Essay Writing. In this article, we will discuss about the section, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation.

At first, let us see how XAT is different from the other MBA entrance exams like CAT, IIFT, SNAP etc.

There is progressive negative marking for wrong answers in a section. Every year, XAT keeps on making new and subtle changes to its paper pattern. For example, XAT 2011 saw a change in the Essay Writing section. The test takers were asked to analyze a caselet.

Based on these points, following points were drawn by Charlton D’Costa, XAT preparation Head, IMS Learning:

• The preparation must be more Concepts based rather than calculation based.

• You must try to maintain higher level of accuracy while solving the actual paper. The preparation for the three sections needs to be complete as there are no direct or easy questions.

• You must practice a solid number of conceptual questions.

• XAT is heavily reasoning based, hence you must try to practice such type of questions. There is reasoning involved in all sections of XAT.

Now let us focus on the preparation strategy for Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation.

According to D’Costa, the mathematics of XAT is tougher than CAT. Questions on topics like Functions,

Trigonometry, Geometry, Co-ordinate geometry , Equations, Maxima and Minima, Permutation and combination, Number system, Series, Logs, Clocks and calendars, Data sufficiency, Probability, Compound interest, Progression, Integration and differentiation etc.

Data Interpretation section includes Tables, Pie-Charts, Line graphs, Bar-graphs and caselets.

D’Costa mentions, “You must practice sufficient level of higher difficulty questions. Go through previous years XAT questions. Maintain a high level of accuracy while solving the problems.”

He suggests, “The key while solving the paper is not to try to attempt all the questions rather quickly decide which to solve and which not to solve.”

In the upcoming articles on XAT, we will guide you on the other sections of XAT.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on XAT 2012 preparation.