Tier-1 Objective Examination: Computer-Based MCQ Paper
The Tier-1 paper is the computer-based objective stage. The source does not enumerate its subject areas, but the paper is assembled from general awareness, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English or Hindi language, and basic computer knowledge. Because every question carries the same weight and the paper is machine-scored, marks come from exactness rather than from long explanations.
Core rules and concepts
- Percentage and profit/loss: fix the cost price at 100 unless a value is given; discounts apply to the marked price, never to the cost price.
- Ratio: convert to a common base before comparing. If a:b = 3:4 and b:c = 5:6, then a:b:c = 15:20:24.
- Syllogism: draw Venn diagrams and do not import real-world knowledge. "Some A are B" does not imply "Some B are not A".
- Language: subject-verb agreement - "One of the officers is..." - and Hindi gender/number agreement in संज्ञा–विशेषण pairs.
- Computer knowledge: distinguish Ctrl+X (cut) from Ctrl+C (copy); F2 renames a selected file in Windows.
Worked example
An item is marked 40% above cost and sold after a 25% discount. Find the profit percent. Let CP = 100. Marked price = 140. Discount = 25% of 140 = 35. Selling price = 105. Profit = 5 on CP 100, so profit = 5%. The trap is taking 25% of 100 and getting 15%; the discount base is the marked price.
Traps that cost marks
- Missing "not" or "except" in the question stem.
- Mixing units (cm vs m, kg vs g) in mensuration and ratio questions.
- Attempting every question when negative marking is prescribed; a blind guess then has negative expected value.
- Choosing a familiar computer shortcut without checking whether the question asks for cut or copy.
- In language items, rejecting a correct option because it "sounds formal" rather than testing the grammar rule.