Overview
This year NMAT changed its structure from computer based test to computer adaptive test. It implies that level of next question will depend on the accuracy of the previous question attempted by the candidate i.e. whether the previous question was attempted correct or incorrect. In this pattern, the difficult questions are given more weightage in terms of marks in comparison to easy questions. Another feature is that the candidate cannot skip the questions while taking the test. In order to increase the score, it is advisable to be extra careful about the accuracy in first 10-12 questions in every section. Also students could select the order of the sections to be attempted in the exam. Overall this kind of test requires strong fundamentals and enough practice of moderate to difficult questions to score well.
In-depth section wise analysis of NMAT 2020 by experts
Time Period – 88 days (November 4–January 30 2021)
Time Duration - 120 min i.e. 2 hours
Test Mode - Online
Marking Scheme - 3 marks for each question, No negative marking
Conducted by - GMAC ™
The following table shows the exam pattern of NMAT 2020:
Section
|
Number of Questions
|
Duration in Minutes
|
Language Skills
|
36
|
28
|
Quantitative Skills
|
36
|
52
|
Logical Reasoning
|
36
|
40
|
Total
|
108
|
120
|
Score Range
Language Skills – 12 - 120
Quantitative Skills – 12 - 120
Logical Reasoning- 12 - 120
Section wise Analysis
Language Skills (Verbal Ability)
This section consisted of 36 questions which were to be solved within 28 minutes. There were four para jumble questions, all of them were easy and were very less time consuming. The 5-6 questions based on preposition and vocabulary based Fill-in-the-blank questions were not very challenging either. The sentence correction and part error questions were based on the basic understanding of parts of speech and were easily attemptable. There were 4 –5 questions on Analogy, which required good level of vocabulary but were doable. The 3 cloze test based questions with 3 blanks were a little tricky as the choices were very close. The third and, arguably the most important topic of this section was Reading Comprehension. There were three RC passages with 4 questions each and were of moderate level. Most of the questions were idea based. The passages were not very tough to understand. But due to time constraints required speed-reading and very good comprehension skills. Overall, this section was easy to moderate.
Quantitative Skills (Quantitative aptitude)
The Quant section had 36 questions which were to be attempted in 52 minutes.. The section consisted of questions from Quantitative Aptitude (19 questions), Data Interpretation (12 q) and Data Sufficiency (5 q). The areas of Quant was dominated by Arithmetic(around 10 questions), followed by modern math’s(7 questions) and a few questions on geometry and numbers.in arithmetic the questions were on time and work, SI CI, percentage , ratio and mixture. In modern maths, the questions were on permutation, probability, sets and logarithm. In DI there were questions on Bar Chart, Line Graph and Table.in data sufficiency questions were from different topics. The feel of this section was moderate.
Logical Reasoning
The Logical Reasoning section consisted of36 questions that were required to be solved within 40 minutes. The major change this year is almost equal weightage to verbal as well as nonverbal reasoning each having 18 questions each.
In nonverbal reasoning the questions were on Sequential Output (8 questions), Grouping & Conditionalities (5 questions) rest of questions were on ranking, puzzles and Venn diagram etc.
In verbal reasoning out of 18 questions 5 were on Critical reasoning, 2 syllogism,5 on course of action/ decision making,3 on conclusion and assumption and rest were on strong and weak argument, Overall this section was moderate and required knowledge of fundamentals of reasoning & tricks to solve questions based on these topics.