This year IIFT paper was almost similar to last year’s paper. There were 6 sections namely DI, AR & LR, GK, RC, VA and QA. The total number of questions was same as that of last year’s i.e. 114. This year the only change was in marking scheme of VA and DI which was interchanged i.e. VA from 1 to 0.75 and DI from 0.75 to 1 per question. In terms of difficulty level, students found AR very tough as compared to last year’s. To maintain the cutoff, in all 6 sections, was really a difficult task and a lot of students will end up in not clearing cutoff in one or two sections. This year also the different sets had different sequence of sections. Here in our analysis we are using Set C to present the breakup.
The break-up for the six sections was as follow:
| Section |
Sections |
No. of Questions |
Marks per Questions |
Total-Marks |
Negative Marks/Question |
| Section - 1 |
Data Interpretation |
20 |
1 |
20 |
0.33 |
| Section - 2 |
Analytical & Logical Reasoning |
20 |
1 |
20 |
0.33 |
| Section - 3 |
General Awareness |
18 |
0.5 |
9 |
0.17 |
| Section - 4 |
Reading Comprehension |
16 |
1 |
16 |
0.33 |
| Section - 5 |
Verbal Ability |
20 |
0.75 |
15 |
0.25 |
| Section - 6 |
Quantitative Ability |
20 |
1 |
20 |
0.33 |
|
|
114 |
- |
100 |
|
Overview of the IIFT 2018 Paper
| Time Allotted |
2Hrs. |
| Total no. of questions |
114 (100 Marks) |
| Marking Scheme |
Different for different sections |
| Sections |
6 |
| Number of choices |
4 |
Expected cutoff and Good Attempt
| Section |
Good Attempt (Number of questions) |
| Data Interpretation |
6 - 8 |
| Analytical Reasoning |
6 - 8 |
| General Awareness |
6 – 8 |
| Reading Comprehension |
7 - 8 |
| Verbal Ability |
8 – 10 |
| Quantitative Ability |
10 - 12 |
The overall cut off score at which one can expect a call from IIFT is around 32 marks.
The three campuses of IIFT are expected to have the following cut offs: 36 (Delhi), 34 (Kolkata), 32 (Kakinada). Remember, you need to clear the individual sectional cut-offs as well.
Section I: - Data Interpretation
| Area Tested |
Description |
No. of Question |
Mark Allotted |
Data Interpretation |
Mixed Graph |
12 |
12 × 1 |
| Tables |
8 |
8 × 1 |
| Total |
20 |
20 |
Evaluation: DI varied from moderate-difficult and was calculation intensive, 2 sets were based upon tables, rest were mixed graphs; 3 Sets based upon 7 regions, IBM and LPI were calculation intensive but easy-moderate and should have been attempted, set based upon Hotel occupancy was moderate, set based upon industry analysis was difficult and should have been avoided
Attempt by Good Student: 6 – 8
Section II:- Analytical and Logical Reasoning
| Area Tested |
Description |
No. of Question |
Mark Allotted |
| Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
Analytical Reasoning |
17 |
17 × 1 |
| Input Output |
2 |
2 × 1 |
|
| Miscellaneous |
1 |
1 × 1 |
|
| Total |
20 |
20 |
|
Evaluation: This section was moderate to difficult, there were 5 AR sets comprising of 18 questions,3 sets; Matrix, Albert and Betty, and Sara Dora sets were difficult, Sets based on 8 officers and Sunny, Pinki were moderate. 2 input/output questions were easy-moderate; 1 miscellaneous question based upon numbers was easy and should have been attempted.
Attempt by Good Student: 6 – 8
Section III: General Awareness
Evaluation: There were mixtures of topics checking general awareness of the candidate across the all areas. Students found GK this year a bit tougher than last year’s.
Attempt by Good Student: 6 – 8
Section IV: - Reading Comprehension
| Sr. No. |
Description |
No. of Questions |
Mark Allotted |
| 1. |
Culture & Society |
3 |
3 × 1 |
| 2. |
Public Intellectual |
3 |
3 × 1 |
| 3. |
Overflow of Information |
4 |
4 × 1 |
| 4. |
Importance of Liberal arts |
3 |
3 × 1 |
| 5. |
Non GDP measures filling Gaps in public policy |
3 |
3 × 1 |
| |
Total |
16 |
16 |
Evaluation: The RC section was relatively lengthy but east to medium in difficulty level. There were five passages with 3 - 4 questions each. The level of RCs varied from easy to moderate overall a student could have easily solved at least three passages in given time. The RC section was dominated by factual questions.
Attempt by Good Student: 7 – 8
Section V: - Verbal Ability
| Sr. No. |
Description |
No. of Questions |
Mark Allotted |
Verbal Ability |
Grammar & Sentence Correction |
4 |
4 × 0.75 |
| Vocabulary Based |
6 |
6 × 0.75 |
| Jumbled words |
3 | 3 × 0.75 |
| Analogies |
2 |
2 × 0.75 |
| Para jumbling |
2 |
2 × 0.75 |
| Sentence Completion |
3 |
3 × 0.75 |
| Total |
20 |
15 |
Evaluation: The Verbal Ability portion of the exam had an extremely strong emphasis on Vocabulary and grammar based questions. In case your grammar fundamentals were strong you could have decent attempts in this section. Vocabulary was also a very dominant part of this section and the words given belong to the moderate to tough category making the attempt in this part less. Sentence Completion and Para jumbling were easy.
Attempt by Good Student: 8 – 10
Section VI: Quantitative Ability
| Area Tested |
Description |
No. of Questions |
Mark Allotted |
Quantitative Ability |
Function, Algebra & Equations |
4 |
4 × 1 |
| P&C Probability |
2 |
2 × 1 |
| Time & Work |
2 |
2 × 1 |
| Geometry Mensuration |
7 |
7 × 1 |
| Logs |
2 |
2 × 1 |
| Percentage |
2 |
2 × 1 |
| Sets |
1 |
1 × 1 |
| Total |
20 |
20 |
Evaluation: This section was dominated by Geometry mensuration and Algebra. A couple of questions were also there from time & work and logarithm and were doable. Overall this section was calculation intensive and most of the students found it moderately difficult.
Attempt by Good Student: 10 – 12
*Disclaimer: All the above given information is based on personal opinion of hitbullseye Expert faculty. Several factors have been considered before giving these cut-offs however, It has nothing to do with original cut-offs.
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