ATMA- 2010 ANALYSIS

SNAPSHOT

No. of Questions 170

Marking Scheme 1
Negative marking 1/3
Number of Sections 6
Number of Choices 4
Duration 180 MIns

ATMA 2010 was of the same pattern as ATMA 2009. There were 170 questions to be
attempted in 180 minutes and a 1 minute gap was given between the sections. However,
one could not go 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 was given an equal time irrespective of one’s strengths. The sections in
ATMA-2010 were as follows:

S.NO Section Allotted time

1 Quantitative skills 30min

2 Analytical Reasoning skills 30min
3 Verbal skills 30min
4 Analytical Reasoning skills 30min
5 Verbal skills 30min
6 Quantitative skills 30min
Verbal Skills

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

Expected Good
Area Description Marks Diff.Level
Score Score
Passage 1 –
Abolition of
Class X exams
5
by CBSE
Board (around
300 words)
Passage 2 –
Recession
5
(around 300
words)
Reading Passage 3 – Easy-
10 13
Comprehension Shortage of Moderate
Rainfall and
Indian 5
Markets
(around 400
words)
Passage 4 –
Copenhagen
Accord 5
(Around 300
words)
Synonyms /
5
Antonyms
Fill in the
2
Blanks
Grammar:
Most
8
appropriate
replacement
Summarize
3
Verbal 3 Phrases Moderate 13 21
Basic Idea
behind the 2
statement
Strengthen /
Weaken 5
arguments
Precede /
Follow given 5
statements
Overall 50 Moderate 23 34
The Verbal Skills section had a good mix of Reading Comprehension and Verbal
questions. The passages were slightly long but not too difficult. The topics were mainly
on current issues. The key was to pick up the moderate level of difficulty questions in
Reading Comprehension and try to maximize the attempts there.

Quantitative Skills

No. of Questions: 60

Difficulty Expected Good

AREA Topic Marks
Level Score Score
Time &Work 4
Time & Distance,
2
Clocks
Numbers 6
Progressions 2
Geometry
12
and Mensuration
Quadratic
2
equations
Equations 2
Easy
Ratio-Proportion 2 20-22 27-30
-Moderate
Arithmetic Averages 2
Alligations 2
Percentages 4
Simple and
Compound 2
Interest
Missing numbers 5
P&C 4
Higher
Moderate 4 6
Math
Probability 5

Overall 60 Moderate 24-26 33-36

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 on higher
math required knowledge of the concepts but did not involve much calculation. There
were some questions in Arithmetic that were simple in nature but required lengthy
calculations; students should not have attempted those questions. On the whole, this
area can be classified as MODERATE.

Analytical Reasoning Skills

No. of Questions: 60
 Difficulty Expected Good
Area Detail Marks
Level Score Score
Deductions 3
Linear
5
Arrangements
Circular
5
Arrangements
Data
10 Easy -
Sufficiency 20
Moderate
Analytical Input-Output 5
Reasoning Distribution 5
Inferences 4
Cause-Effect 1
Decision
5
Making
Strong and
weak
Arguments; 17 4 7
Critical Assumptions;
Moderate
Reasoning Conclusions
Overall 60 Difficult 20 27

There were 10 questions in DS and most of them were relatively straightforward and
students should have attempted them. The questions on arrangements were also
simple. The questions on Input-Output were moderately difficult.

Students who took time to identify the simpler questions would have done well. Overall,
this section can be described as moderately difficult.