GK Pattern in Tests

TOPIC
SNAP
2013
XAT
2014
IIFT
2013
TISS
2013
IRMA
2013
MICAT
2014
CMAT Feb
2014
NATIONAL 16 10 10 13 40 16 10
INTERNATIONAL 12 15 18 15 0 9 14
NEUTRAL 12 5 0 2 0 0 1
TOTAL 40 30 28 30 40 25 25

BUSINESS & ECONOMY 15 14 6 0 1 3 6
POLITICS &
GOVERNMENT
7 4 4 11 1 4 2
LAW 2 0 1 0 1 0 1
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
4 2 1 3 0 1 2
SPORTS &
ENTERTAINMENT
4 1 2 0 0 3 3
LITERATURE & MEDIA 1 1 3 3 0 4 2
AWARDS & HONOURS 0 2 2 1 2 4 1
OTHERS* 7 6 9 12 35 6 8
TOTAL 40 30 28 30 40 25 25
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Brands, Famous personalities etc.
TOPIC SNAP 2012 XAT 2013 IIFT 2012 TISS 2012 IRMA 2012
NATIONAL 20 10 10 32 40
INTERNATIONAL 20 15 18 8 0
NEUTRAL 0 5 0 0 0
TOTAL 40 30 28 40 40

BUSINESS & ECONOMY 17 14 4 4 6
POLITICS & GOVERNMENT 8 4 6 14 3
LAW 3 0 0 5 0
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 4 2 1 1 1
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT 2 1 3 1 0
LITERATURE & MEDIA 1 1 2 2 1
AWARDS & HONOURS 2 2 1 2 1
OTHERS* 3 6 11 11 28
TOTAL 40 30 28 40 40
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Brands, Famous personalities etc.
XAT Overview
The past three years have seen some alterations in the XAT General Knowledge pattern.
Refer to the table below for the patterns and alterations in the past 3 years.
Exam
Total no.
of
questions
No. of
GK
questions
Marks
per
question
Negative
marks
per
question
Comments
XAT 2014 83 20 Equal
0.25
mark
GK was
included in
the main
paper but
marks
scored here
were
considered
only at the
time of
final
selection.
Students
were
expected to
answer the
questions
within 10
minutes,
though this
wasnt
mandated.
XAT 2013 121 30 Equal
0.25
mark
GK was
not part of
the main
paper.
Students
were given
40 minutes
for this
section,
which
included
essay
writing.
XAT 2012 85 0 Equal
0.25
mark
There was
no GK
section this
year.
We have provided a category-wise breakup of the previous 2 years papers based on the
inputs we have received from students.
A bifurcation of the number of static and current affairs questions asked over the past 2 years
is given below. You will see a great difference in the number of current affairs questions.
Category 2014 2013
Static 18 20
Current Affairs 2 10
A bifurcation of the number of questions on national events and international events asked
over the past years is given below.
Category 2014 2013
National 6 10
International 10 15
A snapshot of the number of questions based on popular topics is given below.
Category 2014 2013
Business & Economics 5 14
Politics & Government 2 4
Law 2 0
Science & Technology 0 2
Sports & Entertainment 0 1
Literature & Media 1 1
Awards & Honours 1 2
Others* 9 6
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Brands, Famous personalities etc.

IIFT Overview
Year
Total no.
of
questions
No. of
GA
questions
Marks
per
question
Negative
marking
per
question
2013 128 28 0.5 mark
1/3rd of
marks
allotted
2012 128 28 0.5 mark
1/3rd of
marks
allotted
2011 120 21 0.5 mark
1/3rd of
marks
allotted
We have provided a category-wise breakup of the previous 3 years papers based on the
inputs we have received from students.
A bifurcation of the number of static and current affairs questions asked over the past 3 years
is given below
Category 2013 2012 2011
Static 17 14 15
Current Affairs 11 14 6
A bifurcation of the number of questions on national events and international events asked
over the past years is given below.
Category 2013 2012 2011
National 10 10 10
International 18 18 11
A snapshot of the number of questions based on popular topics is given below.
Category 2013 2012 2011
Business &
Economics
6 4 4
Politics &
Government
4 6 3
Law 1 0 0
Science &
Technology
1 1 2
Sports &
Entertainment
2 3 3
Literature &
Media
3 2 2
Awards &
Honours
2 1 1
Others* 9 11 6
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Brands, Famous personalities etc.
Observations:

IIFT often has a few questions in tabular format where one has to match the information.
One single question may test multi-level knowledge of a candidate one question may
require both static and dynamic information to solve it.

TISS National Entrance Test (TISSNET) Overview
Last year, TISS conducted a computer-based test only and it changed the pattern of the test.
The year before that, it had given students the option of taking a paper-based or computer-
based test.
Year
Total
questions
No. of GA
questions
Marks per
question
Negative marking
per question
2013 95 30 1 mark no negative marking
2012 100 40 1 mark no negative marking
2011 125 15 1 mark no negative marking
We have provided a category-wise breakup of the previous 2 years papers based on the input
we have received from students.
A bifurcation of the number of static and current affairs questions asked over the past 2 years
is given below:
Category 2013 2012
Static 25 22
Current Affairs 5 18
A bifurcation of the number of questions on national events and international events asked
over the past years is given below.
Category 2013 2012
National 13 32
International 15 8
A snapshot of the number of questions based on popular topics is given below.
Category 2013 2012
Business & Economics 0 4
Politics & Government 11 14
Law 0 5
Science & Technology 3 1
Sports & Entertainment 0 1
Literature & Media 3 2
Awards & Honours 1 2
Others 12 11
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Brands, Famous personalities etc.
SNAP Test Overview
Over the past 3 years, the SNAP Test has followed the same pattern in terms of the total
number of questions asked, marks per question, time allotted and negative marking.

Refer to the table below for the pattern:
Total no. of
questions
No. of GA
questions
Marks per
question
Negative marks per
question
150 40 1 mark 0.25 mark

We have provided a category-wise breakup of the previous 3 years papers based on the
inputs we have received from students.
A bifurcation of the number of static and current affairs questions asked over the past years is
given below. As observed, the number of questions relating to current affairs has come down
to 9 in 2013, from 16 in 2011.
Category 2013 2012 2011
Static 31 30 24
Current Affairs 9 10 16
A bifurcation of the number of questions on national events and international events asked
over the past years is given below. Questions that did not belong to either category have not
been taken into consideration. As observed, the ratios of national or international affairs
questions (to the total number of questions), asked in the past 3 years, have not varied much.
Category 2013 2012 2011
National 24 21 26
International 16 15 12
A snapshot of the number of questions based on popular topics is given below. As you go
through the table, you will realize that Business & Economy related questions feature
prominently every year. In the previous three years, they have constituted 40 -50% of the
total questions.
Category 2013 2012 2011
Business &
Economics
15 17 13
Politics &
Government
7 8 10
Law 2 3 4
Science &
Technology
4 4 4
Sports &
Entertainment
4 2 3
Literature &
Media
1 1 2
Awards &
Honours
0 2 1
Others* 7 3 3
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Mythology, Famous personalities etc.




SNAP Test Overview
Over the past 3 years, the SNAP Test has followed the same pattern in terms of the total
number of questions asked, marks per question, time allotted and negative marking.

Refer to the table below for the pattern:
Total no. of
questions
No. of GA
questions
Marks per
question
Negative marks per
question
150 40 1 mark 0.25 mark

We have provided a category-wise breakup of the previous 3 years papers based on the
inputs we have received from students.
A bifurcation of the number of static and current affairs questions asked over the past years is
given below. As observed, the number of questions relating to current affairs has come down
to 9 in 2013, from 16 in 2011.
Category 2013 2012 2011
Static 31 30 24
Current Affairs 9 10 16
A bifurcation of the number of questions on national events and international events asked
over the past years is given below. Questions that did not belong to either category have not
been taken into consideration. As observed, the ratios of national or international affairs
questions (to the total number of questions), asked in the past 3 years, have not varied much.
Category 2013 2012 2011
National 24 21 26
International 16 15 12
A snapshot of the number of questions based on popular topics is given below. As you go
through the table, you will realize that Business & Economy related questions feature
prominently every year. In the previous three years, they have constituted 40 -50% of the
total questions.
Category 2013 2012 2011
Business &
Economics
15 17 13
Politics &
Government
7 8 10
Law 2 3 4
Science &
Technology
4 4 4
Sports &
Entertainment
4 2 3
Literature &
Media
1 1 2
Awards &
Honours
0 2 1
Others* 7 3 3
*Others include History, Geography, Currencies, Mythology, Famous personalities etc.






Sartorial (cloth)Despotism(autocraticism) :
Inimical : dangerous , pernicious
Consensus :
Locked horns :
Partisan : supporter
Wriggle out :