SNAP Exam Analysis 2024 (Dec 8, 15 and 21): Check Slot-wise SNAP Paper Analysis

SNAP is one of the few MBA entrance exams which is easy in terms of difficulty level. It is much easier The number of questions, as well as the exam duration are less that than other MBA entrance exams. The type of questions asked in SNAP as also pretty straightforward.

Moreover, SNAP exam is held thrice for candidates to repeat attempts, which allows candidates to improve their score if they want to. The SNAP syllabus is same as other MBA entrance exam and there are no questions on Reading Comprehension or Data Sufficiency. This makes the SNAP exam much easier to crack than other exams.

Since 2020, the exam is conducted for only 60 minutes and the total number of questions asked is also 60. The first section of SNAP question paper is General English, the second section is Analytical & Logical Reasoning and the third section is Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency.

Until 2019, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency section of SNAP exam used to have the maximum number of questions (40), but from SNAP 2020, the Analytical and Logical Reasoning section has maximum number of questions (25). Now, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency section has only 20 questions. The main topics from which questions are asked in this section are, Family Tree/Blood Relations, Seating Arrangement, Clocks & Calendars, Critical Reasoning, Coding/Decoding, Direction Sense, Syllogisms, Visual Reasoning, Analogy & Series, Mathematical Reasoning, Meaningful Word/Matrix and Verbal & Miscellaneous Reasoning. To prepare for this section of SNAP, candidates must practice a lot of sample questions of all difficulty levels –easy, medium and tough. There are no formulae or concepts on Logical Reasoning so the preparation is majorly dependent on practice.

The question papers of all SNAP sessions are same but the questions are different. The pattern, structure, difficulty level and marking scheme are the same for all SNAP sessions but every question paper has unique questions. This is done so that no candidate has any advantage or disadvantage when they appear for the next attempt. Candidates preparing for the SNAP exam, must keep in mind that the different sessions could be of different difficulty level. If their first attempt was easy, the second attempt may not be easy. So, it is important continue to prepare and practice during the gap between two SNAP sessions. The best score of all the sessions will be taken into consideration for SIU personal interview shortlisting.

A good attempt of around 80 per cent of questions with 85-90 per cent accuracy is considered good score in SNAP. The SNAP exam has 60 questions only, so the number of attempts considered good are 40-45. Candidates must aim to solve a good number of questions in every section of SNAP, so that their overall score is good and they have a better chance of getting selected for admission. If you do not clear the SNAP cut off may not be eligible for admission to MBA programmers offered by SIU institutes. Meeting the minimum cut off is a mandatory requirement to be eligible for the Group Exercise (GE), Personal Interview (PI) and Writing Ability Test (WAT). Thus, when preparing for SNAP, keep in mind a target score. The SNAP cut offs are lower for Reserved category candidates.

Every candidate can make three attempts in SNAP exam. The SNAP exam is conducted in three sessions in a gap of one or two weeks. Candidates can mention their number of attempts in the SNAP application form. However, they will have to pay application fee per session. Thus, candidates who are sure of making multiple attempts only then they should apply for multiple sessions as the fee amount is non-refundable.  The scores of best attempt will be taken into consideration for shortlisting of candidates for Group Exercise, Personal Interview and Writing Ability Test.

Ideally candidates must take all three attempts as the difficulty level of the sessions could be different and it may so happen that one session is easy and candidates can score high in that.

The official SNAP question paper is not released by the exam authority anymore. It used to be released along with the answer key after the exam until 2019. Since 2020, when the exam format changed from single session to three sessions, the SNAP question paper, response sheet and answer key release was stopped. Now, after the SNAP exam, the authorities directly release the scorecards.

However, unofficial SNAP answer keys are released by coaching institutes and mentors for candidates to analyse their performance. The unofficial answer keys are released on the same day as exam session contain SNAP questions and their solved answers. These-memory based question paper and answer key help candidates in assessing their performance by seeing which of their attempts were correct and which were incorrect.

SNAP syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude includes topics of Data Interpretation as well. Candidates have to study Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Number System, Logarithm, Linear Equations & Quadratic Equations, Set Theory, Arithmetic, Progressions, Binomial Theorem, Surds and Indices, Inequalities, Permutation & Combination, Probability Functions, Mixtures & Alligations, Co-ordinate Geometry, Series, Graphs-Pie Chart, Bar Graphs and Tables as part of SNAP Quantitative Aptitude syllabus.

The SNAP Quantitative Aptitude section includes Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency. The total number of questions in this section is 20 and the section is dominated by Arithmetic. Since the past two years, no Data Sufficiency questions have been asked. So, candidates must focus more on Quantitative Aptitude while preparing for the SNAP exam. This section is all about accuracy so have complete clarity of concepts and theorems.

The syllabus for Analytical and Logical Reasoning section of SNAP exam includes topics such as Family Tree/Blood Relations, Coding/Decoding, Analogy & Series, Seating Arrangement, Direction Sense, Mathematical Reasoning, Clocks & Calendars, Syllogisms, Meaningful Word/Matrix, Critical Reasoning, Visual Reasoning, Verbal & Miscellaneous Reasoning. The Analytical and Logical Reasoning section of SNAP carries maximum number of questions i.e. 25. Candidates have to choose the questions they can answer correctly, otherwise they will be given negative marks. So, SNAP aspirants must practice ample number of sample questions from these topics. The more they will practice, the better they will get at solving reasoning questions as it is all about knowing the patterns and unravelling the puzzles. Since, this section carries maximum marks, you cannot be ill prepared for it.

The SNAP General English syllabus is similar to that of other MBA entrance exams. It includes passages, Syllogisms, Analogies, Grammar, Antonym-Synonym, One Word Substitution, Similar Sounding Words, Parajumbles and Fill in the Blanks. This is the shortest section of SNAP having only 15 questions. Most of the questions are usually based on English grammar. For the past 2 years, no Reading Comprehension passage is seen in the exam. However, candidates still need to practice Reading Comprehension passages as it has not been completely scrapped. Preparation for the exam as per the SNAP syllabus requires not much time to prepare if your English is strong. But if it is not, then you must start studying English much earlier as developing hold on a language requires time.