IRMA 2009 Analysis

The management exam season for 2009 began with IRMA and this was an exam that was the right starter for the upcoming IIFT, CAT and other management entrance exams. IRMA 2009 was on the lines of 2008 with the same distribution of questions across sections and the areas that were tested. The scores of IRMA are accepted by XIM-B (PGPRM) as well, hence there was an added incentive to do well in this exam. The paper had 200 questions to be answered in 120 minutes and can be classified as easy to moderate. Each question had 5 options. The marking scheme was +1 and -1/4. A brief snapshot of the various sections and marking scheme is presented below:

ENGLISH COMPREHENSION

The sectional break-up is as shown below.

The RC passage was taken from an extract titled "Organic Farming in India". The questions were straight forward and the choices were quite direct, hence the attempts should be high. The questions on the 'Correct phrase to be inserted into the blank' were all based on topics of rural development and were very easy. The questions on Para-Jumbles were very easy and each one of them could be answered in quick time. There was a cloze test on "Rural India" which had 10 questions. Overall the section was easy to moderate in difficulty level. A good attempt would have been 25-27 questions in a time limit of 25 minutes with an expected cut-off of 20.

QUANTITATIVE ABILITY

The sectional breakup is as given below.

The QA section contains questions on topics from Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, Speed Math and Data Sufficiency. Those having aptitude for quick calculations would have been at an advantage in this section. The questions on Arithmetic were very easy.  The DI sets on 'Villages' and the number based puzzle on 'Men, women and children with various past-times' were very easy to attempt. In all, an easy section where a good attempt would have been 30-32 questions in a time limit of 35 minutes with an expected cut-off of 25 marks.

ANALYTICAL REASONING

The sectional breakup is as shown below.

The questions were of moderate to higher level of difficulty. One could attempt the questions from Decision Making, Data Arrangement, Data Sufficiency, Alphabet Test, Logical Analogies, Odd One Out and Coding Decoding. The easiest of the lot and that which would have boosted the scores were the 10 questions on Decision Making relating to the 'selection of a candidate' and the logic puzzle relating to the seating arrangement which could have been cracked in less than 5 minutes. A good attempt would have been 30-32 questions in a time limit of 35 minutes with an expected cut-off of 25 marks.

ISSUES OF SOCIAL CONCERN

This section has always been the key section determining whether one gets a call from IRMA or not. This year it was no different. Majority of the questions were of easy to moderate level except a few which required some in-depth knowledge and comprehensive reading of newspapers and articles on rural areas and social sector. A good attempt would have been 32-35 questions in a time limit of 25 minutes with an expected cut-off of 24 marks.

SECTIONAL SCORES AND OVERALL CUT-OFFS

Below is present the summary of the above analysis.

All the Best, Team MBAGuru

Disclaimer: The above cutoffs are only suggestive in nature and may differ from the actual cutoffs. Roots Education cannot be held responsible for any decision taken by the candidate on the basis of the above information.

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