Analysis : ATMA analysis for 2009

Snapshot :
No. of Questions : 170
Marking Scheme : 1
Negative marking : 1/3
Number of Sections : 6
Number of Choices : 4
Duration : 180 Minutes

ATMA had 170 questions to be attempted in 180 minutes and 1 minute gap was given for transition between the sections. One special condition was that one shouldn’t go to back to any section after the given time limit. Though there were 6 sections, the questions pertained to three areas i.e., Quantitative skills, Analytical reasoning skills and Verbal skills and there were two sections in each of these areas. With such an arrangement students couldn’t adjust their timing according to their choice, each section must be given equal time irrespective of one’s comfort level. One advantage with this approach is that every student will put some effort in each of the sections. The sections in ATMA-2009 were as follows:

Quantitative skills : 30min
Analytical reasoning skills : 30min
Verbal skills : 30min
Analytical reasoning skills : 30min
Verbal skills : 30min
Quantitative skills : 30min

Verbal Skills
No .of Questions: 50 (In both sections put together)

Reading Comprehension

• Passage 1 - About ITC’s Legal protection from Exports (around 300 words)
• Passage 2 – Archeology (around 400 words)
• Passage 3 – Economy & Unemployment (around 190 words)

Verbal

• Best summary
• Inappropriate usage of words
• Grammar: Most appropriate replacement

Reading Comprehension

• Passage 1- Keynesian theory of economics(around 750 words)
• Passage 2- Milankovitch’s Ice-age prediction and its validity

Verbal

• Grammar: Must appropriate replacement
• Para formation
• Fill in the blanks(2 Blanks)

Overall : 50

The Verbal Skills section had a good mix of reading comprehension and verbal questions. The key was to pick up the moderate level of difficulty questions in Reading comprehension and try to maximize the attempts there. The grammar and para-formation questions were quite tricky and should have been avoided

Quantitative Skills
No. of Questions: 60

Arithmetic

• Time &Work
• Easy -Moderate
• Time & Distance, Clocks
• Numbers
• Progressions
• Geometry and Mensuration
• Quadratic equations
• Inequalities

Higher Math

• Co ordinate geo
• Moderate
• Data sufficiency
• Probability Venn diagrams

In this section, the difficulty level of the questions ranged from Easy to Moderate but the time limit ensured that high scores were quite difficult to get. The questions in arithmetic were direct in nature and scoring marks was much easier as compared to the higher math areas. The questions from higher mathematics however were moderate to difficult in nature. This section required speed and accuracy on the part of the student in order to score well. On the whole, this area can be classified as MODERATE.

Analytical Reasoning Skills
No. of Questions: 60

Analytical Reasoning

• Deductions
• Individuals
• Network
• Linear sequencing
• Seating arrangement
• Distribution
• Grid

Critical Reasoning
Strong and weak Arguments and assumptions and conclusions

The sets on Analytical Reasoning were of higher difficulty level as compared to individual questions. Students who have done enough practice on these types of questions would rate this section as Moderate in terms of the difficulty level.

A total of 60 questions were asked in this area. The questions based on linear sequencing and seating arrangement was comparatively difficult. Questions based on critical reasoning (strong and weak arguments and assumptions) could be classified as easy to moderate. Given the strict time limits, this area can be considered to be difficult.

Courtsy:- Time4Education