MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Mock Test 2024 - Practice for Top Scores

MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning assess a student's logical reasoning ability and analytical reasoning skills. The difficulty level of the questions from this section is easy to moderate. Some questions may be tricky and lengthy. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of mock tests for the MAT intelligence and Critical Reasoning section.

Latest: MAT 2024 Preparation Tips, Study Material

Don't Miss: MAT 2024 Sample Papers

This Story also Contains

1. Why MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Mock Tests are Crucial for MAT 2024 Preparation
2. MAT 2024 Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: Key Topics to Focus On
3. MAT Reasoning Sample Questions for Effective Practice
4. Best Practices for Solving MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Questions
5. MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Preparation Strategy for 2024
6. MAT Mock Test for Critical Reasoning: How to Evaluate Performance
7. MAT Practice Test Intelligence and Reasoning: Common Mistakes to Avoid
8. MAT 2024 Intelligence and Reasoning: Time Management Tips
9. The Role of Mock Tests in MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Success
10. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Section?

Till 2023, Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section, a total of 40 questions were usually asked but from this year, there will be 30 questions instead of 40 from this section.

These questions will test your ability to

• Identify patterns and relationships between data points.

• Solve verbal reasoning topics like puzzles, blood relations, seating arrangements, and mathematical reasoning.

• Evaluate logical arguments and come to a conclusion based on the given information.

Importance of Practicing MAT Mock Tests

Attempting MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning mock tests is very crucial.

Mock tests help students in certain ways:

• Familiarize yourself with various types of questions commonly asked in the MAT exam from Intelligence and Critical Reasoning.

• Regular practice of MAT mock test practice will improve your time management skills and accuracy.

• Mock tests provide insights into your strengths and weaknesses.

• Performing better each time in the mock tests will boost your confidence for the exam.

• Help to identify your silly mistakes and rectify them.

Why MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Mock Tests are Crucial for MAT 2024 Preparation

Taking MAT practice tests on Intelligence and Reasoning regularly helps us in many ways. We are going to discuss those in detail below.

How Mock Tests Help in Analyzing Strengths and Weaknesses

Mock tests will certainly help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

You should do:

• Review the results of mock tests to identify the topics where you did the question entirely wrong. It means you need to learn the basics again and practice more on that particular topic.

• Some online platforms review your results automatically to give suggestions on your strong and weak areas.

• With the help of solutions of Mock tests, you will be able to know your frequent mistakes, and accordingly, you can work on those.

• Learn the methods of solving the questions you have left unanswered.

You can also note down the timings of answering the questions. Then solve the issue for which those questions are taking most of the time.

Benefits of Taking MAT 2024 Reasoning Mock Tests

• Mock tests are prepared closely following the real MAT exam pattern and MAT syllabus. So you will get an in-depth idea about the questions that will be asked in the real exam.

• You can enhance your time management skills by giving regular mock tests. Try to complete all the questions including complex reasoning questions within the allotted time.

• Consistent practice of mock tests will increase your speed as well as accuracy.

• Giving full-length mock tests will also build your mental stamina to sit for 150 minutes in one sitting which is critical for performing well in the exam.

MAT 2024 Intelligence and Critical Reasoning: Key Topics to Focus On

Here are the important topics and common types of questions that will be asked from the MAT 2024 Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section.

Important Topics in Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Section

Here are the important topics in the reasoning section.

Common Types of Questions in MAT Reasoning Section

Common topics in the MAT reasoning section from which questions frequently appear in the exam are:

MAT Reasoning Sample Questions for Effective Practice

Here are some of the MAT reasoning sample questions from important topics.

Blood Relations:

Direction: Solve the following question and mark the best possible option.

Introducing Rajesh, Neha said, “his brother’s father is the only son of my grandfather”. How is Rajesh related to Neha?

1. Brother

2. Daughter

3. Mother

4. Niece

Correct Answer:- A
Explanation:-

The only son of my grandfather is my father. So if Neha said that his brother’s father is my father, it means both persons are brother and sister. Hence Rajesh is the brother of Neha.

Therefore, Rajesh is the brother of Neha.

Coding-Decoding:

Q. Direction: Solve the following question and mark the best possible option.

In a certain code, ‘BASIC’ is written as ‘DDULE’. How is ‘LEADER’ written in that code?

1. NHCGGU

2. OHDGHU

3. NGCFGT

4. OGDFHT

Correct Answer:- A
Explanation:-

Follow the same pattern to obtain the answer.
On the same lines code for LEADER is NHCGGU.

Number series:

Direction: What should come in place of the question mark (?) in the following number/alphabetic series?

1, 9, 17, 33, 49, 73, ‘?’

1. 97

2. 98

3. 99

4. 100

Correct Answer:- A

Explanation:-

Hence, the correct answer is 97.

Statements & Conclusions:

Direction: The question has a statement followed by two conclusions I and II. Consider the statement and the following conclusions. Decide which of the conclusions follows from the statement.

Statement:
The use of non-conventional sources of energy will eliminate the energy crisis in the world.

Conclusions:
I. Modern technology is gradually replacing the conventional sources of energy.
II. The excessive exploitation of the environment has led to the depletion of conventional sources of energy.

1. if only conclusion I is strong

2. if only Conclusion II is strong

3. if neither conclusion I nor II are strong

4. if both conclusions I and II are strong

Correct Answer:- C
Explanation:-

Non-conventional sources do not imply modern technology. Based on the statement it is difficult to talk about conventional sources. The given conclusions are way out of track and cannot be deduced from the question statement. Hence both are rejected.

So, the correct answer is “if neither conclusion I nor II are strong”.

Analogy:

Direction: Choose the correct answer from the options provided below to indicate the most appropriate word to complete the pair.

Airplane : Runway

1. Bulldozer : Building

2. Tractor : Field

3. Man : Footpath

4. Bird : Sky

Correct Answer:- B
Explanation:-
The given analogy is of the machine and where it usually runs.

A tractor is used to plow and therefore it runs on the field.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Syllogisms:

Statements:

All cats are animals.
All animals are wild.

Conclusions:

I. All cats are wild.
II. Some animals are cats.

1. Only I follows

2. Only II follows

3. Both I and II follow

4. Neither I nor II follows

Correct Answer:- C
Explanation:-
From the given statements, both conclusions are valid.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Examples of intelligence and Critical Reasoning Questions in MAT

Q1.

Direction: Solve the following question and mark the best possible option.

A, B, C and D play a game of cards. A says to B, ‘If I give you 8 cards, you will have as many as C has and I shall have 3 less than what C has. Also if I take 6 cards from C, I shall have twice as many as D has.’ If B and D together have 50 cards, how many cards have A got?

1. 23

2. 27

3. 37

4. 40

Correct Answer:- D
Explanation:-

Going by options.
If A has 40 cards, then C has (40 - 8) + 3 = 35 and B has 27 cards. So D has 23 cards. And if A takes 6 cards from C, he’ll have 46 cards which is double of D’s cards.

Q2.
Direction: Read the information given below and answer the question that follows.

In a queue, Sadiq is 14th from the front and Joseph is 17th from the end, while Jane is in between Sadiq and Joseph. If Sadiq is ahead of Joseph and there are 48 persons in the queue, how many persons are there between Sadiq and Jane?

1. 5

2. 6

3. 7

4. 8

Correct Answer:- D
Explanation:-

48 total persons in queue. 14 + 17 = 31 persons in front and end. Remaining = 48 – 31 = 17. Jane is between Sadiq and Joseph. So she is the 9th person behind Sadiq. Hence 8 people between Sadiq and Jane.

Q3.
Direction: Solve the following question and mark the best possible option.

Kittu is in between Mohan and Sohan. Raju is to the left of Sohan and Shyam is to the right of Mohan. If all of the friends are sitting facing South, then who is on their extreme right?

1. Sohan

2. Mohan

3. Kittu

4. Shyam

5. Raju

Correct Answer:- D
Explanation:-

We can make the following sitting arrangement as per the given arrangement Shyam Mohan Kittu Sohan Raju ↓(facing south).

Hence, the correct answer is “Shyam”.

Q4.

Direction: In each question below is given a statement followed by two assumptions numbered I and II. You have to consider the statement and the following assumptions and decide which of the assumptions is implicit in the statement.

Statement: Please close the door of the elevator when not in use - an instruction outside the elevator of a building

Assumptions:

I. People would close the door of the elevator after using it.

II. It would have been better to put the instructions inside the elevator

1. If only assumption I is implicit

2. If only assumption II is implicit

3. If neither I nor II is implicit

4. If both I and II are implicit.

Correct Answer:- A
Explanation:-

Assumption (I) Is implicit as it is assumed that people would follow the instruction.

Assumption (II) is explicit as the place of putting instruction is outside the scope of assumption.

Q5.

Statement 1: There is an increase in the rate of unemployment.

Statement 2: Many job vacancies remain unfilled.

Which statement is the cause and which is the effect?

Solution:

Statement 1 is the cause, and Statement 2 is the effect.

How to Solve MAT Intelligence and Reasoning Questions Efficiently

• Before appearing in the exam, familiarize yourself with the different types of reasoning questions like blood relations, analogy, syllogisms, cause & effect, puzzles, and logical deductions.

• Read the question carefully and understand the category of the question.

• For seating arrangements or blood relation type questions, use diagrams for better visualization.

• For mathematical reasoning questions and pattern-based puzzles, identify the pattern and use shortcut methods.

• Eliminate extreme or wrong options first, then analyze the remaining options. This will increase the chance of selecting the right answer.

• Follow the allotted time chart that you have made during the practice of mock tests and do not overspend time on one question.

Best Practices for Solving MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Questions

Random practice will lead students to nowhere. Here are some strategic approaches which students can use during the practice of the MAT intelligence and Critical Reasoning section. Practising MAT mock test-free is a good way to start your MAT preparation. In this section of the article, we will discuss how to access the MAT exam online mock test for free. The candidates can also refer to other important MAT preparation books for additional help.

Tips to Improve Critical Thinking for MAT

• Regularly solve Sudoku, crosswords or riddles to improve your critical thinking skills. These games will train your brain to think logically.

• For questions based on syllogisms and statements & assumptions, always choose the conclusion that is valid from the given information.

• Critical reasoning questions are often written in tricky language to confuse students. Take your time to read and analyze the question first.

• During mock tests, if any of your answers are right but took more time, then check other resources for quicker and more efficient methods which you could have used.

Tips for Speed and Accuracy in MAT Reasoning Questions

• In the reasoning section, 30 questions will be asked this year. Allot a total of 25-26 minutes for this section. Solve easier questions in 15-20 seconds and difficult ones within 1-1.5 minutes. This will help you to complete this section quickly and with accuracy.

• Practice 20-30 questions of reasoning daily and give topic-wise 4-5 mock tests every week.

• Learn shortcut tricks and methods for questions like coding-decoding, number series, and direction sense.

• Do not stuck on one question. If you find any question difficult then just leave that for later and move forward to the next question.

MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Preparation Strategy for 2024

Preparing a bulletproof strategy for MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning preparation is the primary need during preparation.

How to Create a Study Plan for the Intelligence and Reasoning Section

• Use SWOT analysis to identify topics and divide them accordingly to practice.

• Invest 1-2 hours every day for reasoning practice.

• At the initial stages of the preparation, attempt 1-2 topic-wise mocks per week and gradually increase the number to track your progression.

• Allot 1 day of every week for revision and learning new techniques to solve questions quicker.

• Use a question-based approach for a faster solution.

Example:

Blood relation: use the concept of family tree for better visualization

Syllogisms: Use Venn diagrams to understand the statements better.

Seating arrangements: Make a visual representation of the given data to understand positions and relationships.

Daily Routine to Boost Critical Reasoning Skills

Consistent practice of reasoning questions is the key to scoring high in this section.

Here is a demonstration of a routine for a day. You should make changes accordingly as per your preferences.

Morning: Start the morning with easier topics like coding-decoding, number series, and direction sense. Allot 30-45 minutes to practice them.

Daytime: Practice more complex topics like blood relations, seating arrangements and logical puzzles for 1-1.15 hours.

Evening: Attempt topic-wise timed mock tests for 30-45 minutes.

Night: Review the mock test results and solutions for 30 minutes. Prepare the next day's routine before going to bed.

MAT Mock Test for Critical Reasoning: How to Evaluate Performance

Attempting lots of mock tests will not be adequate if you do not evaluate the performance of each test and note them. You can prepare an error log to monitor your performance.

Here are some points you should remember after taking mock tests.

Understanding Your Mock Test Scores

After attempting the MAT mock test for critical reasoning, it is very important to evaluate the scores and percentile to understand where you stand in terms of preparation.

• Compare your score in the Mock test globally to get an idea about where you are standing.

• Note down the number of attempted questions and the number of correct answers for 5 mock tests in a row. If the accuracy gradually increases, you are on the right track.

• Set a time limit for each type of question and after the test check how much more time you take than the allotted time.

• The mock test score provides the sectional score as well as the total score. Analyze the result of each section separately.

How to Analyze and Improve Post-Mock Test Results

• After attempting the mock tests, review thoroughly to identify the reason for the wrong answers and unanswered questions. Mark the categories where the most negative markings are happening and devise a plan to improve them.

• If it is a logical error, then revise the basic concepts again and test yourself after 1 week of attempting a topic-wise test.

• If the error is due to misinterpretation of the question, then practice more of those types of questions to easily identify the keywords or terms.

• If you are taking too much time on any specific types of questions, then look for alternative methods to solve those problems in a quicker time.

• Check the reason for the unanswered questions to understand. If it is for the time constraints or the difficulty level of the question.

• Set yourself a goal for the next mock test to improve accuracy and performance.

MAT Practice Test Intelligence and Reasoning: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some of the common mistakes in the MAT intelligence and Reasoning section and the best approaches to avoid them.

Mistakes to Avoid While Attempting MAT Reasoning Mock Tests

Here are some of the common mistakes students make during MAT reasoning mock tests.

• Students often do not evaluate the solutions after attempting the mock tests.

• Some of the students stay stuck in one difficult question and waste precious time which could be useful to solve other easier questions.

• Rushing through questions will often lead to misinterpretation of the statements and missing data points.

• Students often overlook all the options and jump to conclusions getting the first possible answer. In these exams, options often look alike but with slightly different meanings.

• Most of the students try to attempt all the questions with less accuracy which then leads to lower scores.

• Some of the students do not check the solutions to unanswered questions and move on to the next tests.

How to Learn from Errors in MAT Intelligence and Reasoning Mock Tests

• Evaluate the mock test solution thoroughly after every test for 30-45 minutes. Make an error log to note down every mistake after each mock test. From time to time check that log and cross a mistake pattern if you have rectified them.

• Attempt easier and more familiar questions first to secure sure numbers which will boost your confidence. Then attempt relatively tougher questions with time in hand.

• After reading the questions, go through all the options first. Eliminate the extreme and wrong options. Then focus on the remaining options to conclude.

• Focus more on accuracy rather than attempting all the questions. Accuracy will come after consistent practice. Take topic-wise specific tests to track progression.

• Learn the methods of solving your unanswered questions in the mock tests. If a method or topic is new, note it down and focus on it more.

MAT 2024 Intelligence and Reasoning: Time Management Tips

Here are some tips to manage time during the reasoning section.

How to Manage Time Effectively in MAT Reasoning Section

Give priority to easier questions: Attempt the questions which are relatively easier and familiar to you and solve them quickly. This will save you time which you can use for complex questions.

Skip tough questions: Do not overspend more than 1.5-2 minutes on any question. Skip them for now and return to them later if time permits.

Attention to question reading: Read the question carefully and note down key points, patterns and methods. Sometimes questions consist of irrelevant information. Learn to segregate them from vital points.

Elimination method: Scan the options and cancel out obvious wrong options. If you are unsure about the answer, take an educated guess. You can also try back-calculation using the remaining options if there is time.

Focus on important words: It is very important to pay attention to important terms like:

• All, some, none

• Only and Only If

• Unless, Not, and Definitely

• Negative Prefixes like un-, dis-, non-, etc.

Factual interpretation of information is not always sufficient to answer these kinds of questions.

Balancing Speed and Accuracy in MAT Intelligence Mock Tests

• At the initial stage of preparation focus more on accurately answering the question. Gradually when you are comfortable with the questions, speed up during the tests.

• If your method is taking too long to solve despite being the correct method, then look for alternative speedy methods.

• Do not randomly guess answers. This increases negative marks. Solve as many questions as you are fully confident and only take educated guesses in questions after eliminating wrong options.

• Identify sections like seating arrangements, and blood relations which take too much time to solve. Use diagrams for questions from these topics to visualize the data and answer accurately in a quicker time.

• Sharpen your mental calculation skills for basic concepts and learn shortcuts to save time.

The Role of Mock Tests in MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Success

In MAT exam reasoning practice, mock tests play an important role.

• Mock tests help us to get accustomed to the exam environment beforehand. That will reduce the exam day anxiety and pressure.

• Students can practice various types of questions. When they see the questions from this section, they feel confident to attempt it.

• A proper time management strategy can be made. In mock tests, you can practice various methods of the same type of problem to check which is faster.

• Mock tests are prepared following the difficulty level of the actual exam. Attempting these tests will help you to refine your accuracy, logical deduction skills, and speed.

• Reviewing mock test results will help you assess your progression and pinpoint areas that need more focus and attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Types of Questions Are Included in the MAT Intelligence and Critical Reasoning Section?

Answer:

Important topics of MAT 2024 Intelligence and Critical Reasoning section from which most of the questions come are:

1. Blood Relation

2. Puzzles

3. Calendars

4. Clocks

5. Seating arrangements

6. Coding-decoding

7. Series

8. Syllogisms

9. Multi-dimensional arrangements

10. Direction sense

11. Mathematical reasoning

12. Critical reasoning

Q2. How Many Mock Tests Should I Attempt Before the Actual MAT Exam?

Answer:

At the beginning of the preparation, take 3-4 topic-wise every week and gradually increase the number of tests to 4-5. Also, attempt 2-3 full-length mock tests every week at the later part of the preparation.

Q3. Is There a Negative Marking in the MAT Intelligence and Reasoning Section?

Answer:

For every wrong answer, there will be a deduction of 0.25. That means if you answer 4 wrong questions, 1 mark will be deducted from the overall score.

Q4. Can I Rely on Free Mock Tests for MAT Reasoning Practice?

Answer:

Free mock tests are very good during the initial stages of the preparation. These tests give you a good idea about the topics and difficulty level of the questions asked in the exam. But for in-depth preparation, paid tests are always preferred.

Q5. How Can Mock Tests Help Improve My Performance in the Intelligence and Reasoning Section?

Answer:

• Mock tests simulate a real exam environment.

• These tests improve your time management.

• Reviewing these tests will give you an idea about your strengths and weaknesses.

• Consistent practice of mock tests will improve your accuracy and speed.