Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test was attempted by more than 40000+ students all over India for the admission processes of 11 postgraduate institutes of Symbiosis International University [SIU]. However, out of the 11 institutes falling under SIU, only SIBM, SCMHRD, SIIB have a good industry interface and offer relatively good placement opportunities. The remaining 8 offer fair Return-on-Investments and therefore students are advised to take the SNAP very seriously and prepare in a focused manner in order to be able to compete successfully with the competition.
Cracking the SNAP is neither too difficult, nor too easy. The Test has 150 Questions with differential and negative marking scheme. It is in line with other tests like XAT, FMS, IIFT because it tests the same areas - Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning & Data Sufficiency. SNAP displays its “difference” in nature through the fact that it has an extra area of testing called “General Awareness”. SNAP is as difficult as previous models of the CAT, since you get less than 50 seconds to solve each question.
The first question that would come to your mind is if it is humanly possible to solve a question within 50 seconds (remember: you have to read the question, understand the question, deliberate on the best method to solve it, solve it and arrive at an answer carefully so that you avoid silly mistakes – all this within 50 seconds)? Then you also have to worry about how to continue doing it for the next 119 Minutes!!! A bit difficult this seems, isn’t it? Well, not actually.
The logic behind this arrangement are 2 – (A) No one expects you to solve all questions; you will focus on solving questions correctly and work on maximizing the number of questions you can solve correctly and (B) There are several questions that do not even consume 10 Seconds to solve; for example, if you consider the Synonyms & Antonyms or Analogy based questions, they are pretty simple from the perspective that you either know the answer or you do not know the answer – spending time is not going to lead you to the answer and therefore you would choose to move on thereby saving time.
Let us take a look at the SNAP 2007 and its brief analysis before we proceed further to strategize for SNAP 2008. SNAP 2007 saw some changes - total number of questions was reduced to 150 from the last year’s 165 questions. In terms of the types of questions, there were hardly any changes in the test as compared to SNAP 2006.
Overall Test Structure:
Area Wise Structure
Cracking the SNAP is neither too difficult, nor too easy. The Test has 150 Questions with differential and negative marking scheme. It is in line with other tests like XAT, FMS, IIFT because it tests the same areas - Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning & Data Sufficiency. SNAP displays its “difference” in nature through the fact that it has an extra area of testing called “General Awareness”. SNAP is as difficult as previous models of the CAT, since you get less than 50 seconds to solve each question.
The first question that would come to your mind is if it is humanly possible to solve a question within 50 seconds (remember: you have to read the question, understand the question, deliberate on the best method to solve it, solve it and arrive at an answer carefully so that you avoid silly mistakes – all this within 50 seconds)? Then you also have to worry about how to continue doing it for the next 119 Minutes!!! A bit difficult this seems, isn’t it? Well, not actually.
The logic behind this arrangement are 2 – (A) No one expects you to solve all questions; you will focus on solving questions correctly and work on maximizing the number of questions you can solve correctly and (B) There are several questions that do not even consume 10 Seconds to solve; for example, if you consider the Synonyms & Antonyms or Analogy based questions, they are pretty simple from the perspective that you either know the answer or you do not know the answer – spending time is not going to lead you to the answer and therefore you would choose to move on thereby saving time.
Let us take a look at the SNAP 2007 and its brief analysis before we proceed further to strategize for SNAP 2008. SNAP 2007 saw some changes - total number of questions was reduced to 150 from the last year’s 165 questions. In terms of the types of questions, there were hardly any changes in the test as compared to SNAP 2006.
Overall Test Structure:
- Test Duration: 120 Minutes
- Total Questions: 150
- Total Marks: 180
- Marks per Right Answer: Differential
- Negative Marks: 1/4th of the allotted marks
- Oval Shading: Blue or Black Ball Point Pen
Area Wise Structure
Section I: General English: Ideal attempts: 21+ questions in this section and ideal score: 17-19 marks.
The questions testing one’s verbal ability and reading comprehension skills were combined in one section and it was named General English. Out of 40 questions, 21 were on verbal ability and 19 were on reading comprehension. VA questions were all usage-based while 3 out of 4 RC passages were of medium length and were easy to understand.
Grammar and Usage Based Questions
The questions of this type were: identifying the correct and incorrect sentences, converting from active to passive voice and identifying sentences with similar meanings. There was also a question testing punctuation and one on spelling. The words that were asked in the usage based questions were simple ones like AFTER, WOULD, FIRE and ALMOST. There was also one question each on jumbled paragraph and scrambled sentence. On the whole, the grammar based questions tested the basic concepts of grammar. The usage based questions used familiar sentences that we regularly come across in the newspapers.
Word Based Questions
There were questions of the type like fill in the blank (maximum number of times), synonym, antonym, analogy and odd one out. Although the words were familiar ones, the options were close and thus time consuming. Questions based on words like SUBTLE, MALINGER, DIN and CADENCE were asked.
Reading Comprehension
There were four passages on a variety of topics viz., science, entrepreneurship, trade and quality of a person. Out of 4 passages, 3 passages (14 questions) were simple. These 14 questions were direct and could be located from the passage easily. The passages were of medium length and easy to comprehend. Only the passage on ‘trade’ (5 questions) was slightly difficult for understanding though the passage was of medium length. All the 5 questions based on this passage were inferential ones.
The best strategy for solving this section would have been to attempt as many VA questions as possible and then attempt one or two of the RC passages, especially the passages on quality of a person (with 6 questions) and science (with 5 questions).
Section II: Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency: Ideal attempts: 30-33 questions and ideal score: 25+ marks.
The PS section did not have questions based on higher mathematics or ones that involve difficult concepts. The calculations involved were so basic and simple that the section could be attempted in a short span with good accuracy.
Out of 5 DI sets, some questions from the set involving Online Job Portal and Opening/Closing Stock Prices were calculation intensive and hence were time consuming. The other 3 sets (Train Speed, Wheat/Rice production ratio and employees in diff depts.) were either observation based or simple calculation based.
The questions testing one’s verbal ability and reading comprehension skills were combined in one section and it was named General English. Out of 40 questions, 21 were on verbal ability and 19 were on reading comprehension. VA questions were all usage-based while 3 out of 4 RC passages were of medium length and were easy to understand.
Grammar and Usage Based Questions
The questions of this type were: identifying the correct and incorrect sentences, converting from active to passive voice and identifying sentences with similar meanings. There was also a question testing punctuation and one on spelling. The words that were asked in the usage based questions were simple ones like AFTER, WOULD, FIRE and ALMOST. There was also one question each on jumbled paragraph and scrambled sentence. On the whole, the grammar based questions tested the basic concepts of grammar. The usage based questions used familiar sentences that we regularly come across in the newspapers.
Word Based Questions
There were questions of the type like fill in the blank (maximum number of times), synonym, antonym, analogy and odd one out. Although the words were familiar ones, the options were close and thus time consuming. Questions based on words like SUBTLE, MALINGER, DIN and CADENCE were asked.
Reading Comprehension
There were four passages on a variety of topics viz., science, entrepreneurship, trade and quality of a person. Out of 4 passages, 3 passages (14 questions) were simple. These 14 questions were direct and could be located from the passage easily. The passages were of medium length and easy to comprehend. Only the passage on ‘trade’ (5 questions) was slightly difficult for understanding though the passage was of medium length. All the 5 questions based on this passage were inferential ones.
The best strategy for solving this section would have been to attempt as many VA questions as possible and then attempt one or two of the RC passages, especially the passages on quality of a person (with 6 questions) and science (with 5 questions).
Section II: Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency: Ideal attempts: 30-33 questions and ideal score: 25+ marks.
The PS section did not have questions based on higher mathematics or ones that involve difficult concepts. The calculations involved were so basic and simple that the section could be attempted in a short span with good accuracy.
Out of 5 DI sets, some questions from the set involving Online Job Portal and Opening/Closing Stock Prices were calculation intensive and hence were time consuming. The other 3 sets (Train Speed, Wheat/Rice production ratio and employees in diff depts.) were either observation based or simple calculation based.
Section I: General English: Ideal attempts: 21+ questions in this section and ideal score: 17-19 marks.
Section III: General Knowledge: Ideal attempts: 20+ questions in this section and ideal score: 14-16 marks.
This section was named General Awareness. There were 40 questions and these were a mix of sports, IT, films, science, business/economy, persons, quotation, history, etc. Majority of the questions was on IT (4), Business/economy (8), science (4) and current affairs (8). Although the questions were all one-liners and looked simple, only a person who is a regular reader of newspapers could have attempted them with ease.
Section IV: Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Ideal attempts: 22-24 questions and ideal score: 38+ marks.
Most of the questions in this section were discreet questions except one set each on Venn Diagram and Matrix Arrangement. Overall, the questions were very simple and 5 out of the six questions based on Visual Reasoning could be solved by observation.
Of the 2 Verbal Reasoning questions, one question each was on critical reasoning and syllogisms. These questions were simple and did not pose any problem.
Section III: General Knowledge: Ideal attempts: 20+ questions in this section and ideal score: 14-16 marks.
This section was named General Awareness. There were 40 questions and these were a mix of sports, IT, films, science, business/economy, persons, quotation, history, etc. Majority of the questions was on IT (4), Business/economy (8), science (4) and current affairs (8). Although the questions were all one-liners and looked simple, only a person who is a regular reader of newspapers could have attempted them with ease.
Section IV: Analytical and Logical Reasoning: Ideal attempts: 22-24 questions and ideal score: 38+ marks.
Most of the questions in this section were discreet questions except one set each on Venn Diagram and Matrix Arrangement. Overall, the questions were very simple and 5 out of the six questions based on Visual Reasoning could be solved by observation.
Of the 2 Verbal Reasoning questions, one question each was on critical reasoning and syllogisms. These questions were simple and did not pose any problem.
OVERALL, a good score could be 95+ marks.
So there you go – now, let us move to some “gyaan” for SNAP 2008. As we have always said at IMS, there are a few fundamental things to do when preparing for any competitive test and once you do those properly, success will follow. The basic things to do are:
These are the basic things that I would like to tell you at this stage where I am sure you have just started thinking about the SNAP Preparation.
All the best for SNAP – I hope this analysis & strategy helps you crack the SNAP successfully.
Courtesy: Vinayak Kudva
IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd.
So there you go – now, let us move to some “gyaan” for SNAP 2008. As we have always said at IMS, there are a few fundamental things to do when preparing for any competitive test and once you do those properly, success will follow. The basic things to do are:
- Work on your concepts: It is important to be thorough in most areas (like permutations & combinations, percentages, time, speed & distance, geometry, probability etc.) if not in all areas. There is no substitute for conceptual clarity and it is important to have strong concepts to crack the SNAP successfully.
- Be Dynamic: Do not be guided by just past experience – for example, if you generally find Math difficult, do not get biased and not touch it at all. Work towards mastering it.
- Be Informed: As a Manager, you would be expected to be informed with all developments pertaining to your field of operations; likewise, you must keep your eyes & ears open and collect data about previous year tests, areas tested, institutes, competition, important dates etc.
- Analyze & Strategize: A lot of students think analysis & strategy are easy – actually, they are very complex processes and involve a deep understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. No one else can make strategies for you – you have to create your own.
- Know your Strengths & Weaknesses: Understand what you are good at, what needs improvement and what you are not so good at – this would have an important bearing on your Strategy.
- Develop your Strengths: Once they are identified, you need to build upon your strengths and ensure that they are concrete.
- Work on your Weaknesses: Ensure that you turn your Weaknesses into your Strengths through Hard work & Application.
- Take help when required: Do not hesitate to approach us at any point where you require our help.
These are the basic things that I would like to tell you at this stage where I am sure you have just started thinking about the SNAP Preparation.
All the best for SNAP – I hope this analysis & strategy helps you crack the SNAP successfully.
Courtesy: Vinayak Kudva
IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd.
Thanks a lot for sharing SNAP exam pattern, syllabus and other details. Can you provide some practice tests and study materials also? In my quest to find a good SNAP mock test, I came across http://www.prep.youth4work.com/Management/SNAP-Test
ReplyDeleteand found it really relevant as there were over 100000 questions with a similar test pattern and experience of SNAP. But it is a premium service. So can you provide me any free mock test.