With the SNAP 2025 exam set to begin on December 6, exam experts state that securing a score in the 99th percentile isn't about paper difficulty but strategic time management during the 60-minute examination window.
In a strategy session for the SNAP exam, CAT2CET (C2c) Mentors have mentioned on a YouTube video about the strategy what he calls the "30-20-10 strategy". It's a tried-and-tested approach that has helped many students achieve scores of 99.99, 99.98, and 99.90 percentiles over the past five to six years.
Check: SNAP D Day Strategy | How to Attempt SNAP Paper to Score 99%ile | MUSTAvoid Mistakes on D-Day
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- SNAP 2025 Mock Test: Official Mock Test, Free Test Series, Test Pattern
- SNAP 2025 Admit Card Released @snaptest.org; Check Direct Link to Download Hall Ticket Here
The Critical First 30 Minutes: Foundation of Success
The strategy begins with what experts identify as the most crucial phase: the first 30 minutes. "The difference between a topper and a student with 95-97 percentile lies in how they utilise these initial 30 minutes," the instructor mentioned.
This critical 30-minute breakdown is divided into two parts:
Phase 1A: English Section (5-10 minutes)
Students should attempt English first, not last. This section is more manageable than it appears, with top performers completing all 15 questions in just 4 minutes with perfect accuracy.
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The English section includes:
- Vocabulary: 3-4 questions (2 are typically easy using word-building techniques)
- Verbal Ability: Parajumbles, para completion, odd-one-out (solvable in under 60 seconds by checking options)
- Grammar: Subject-verb agreement, tenses, parts of speech, question tags, active-passive voice
Example: Instead of spending 15-20 minutes on English, aim for 5-8 minutes. If you complete it in 5 minutes, you have 55 minutes left for the remaining 45 questions; it's a huge advantage.
Key Tip: Mark answers on the spot. If you're unsure, make an educated guess and move ahead. Don't wait until the end to decide.
Phase 1B: Focus on Easy Question (20 minutes)
The remaining 20 minutes focus on easy questions across Logical Reasoning and Quant that take under 90 seconds each.
What are Easy questions?
- Simple coding-decoding problems
- Basic number series
- Straightforward direction and blood relation questions
- Easy calculations and arithmetic
- Simple puzzles you can solve instantly
Example: Out of 45 LR and Quant questions, at least 20 are straightforward. If you see a question and immediately know the approach, then it's easy for you. Solve it quickly and move on.
Target for First 30 Minutes: Complete 30-35 questions total (15 English + 15-20 easy LR/Quant)
What to Avoid:
- Don't touch difficult geometry, logarithms, or complex time-distance problems
- Skip tricky puzzles that require 3+ minutes
- Ignore questions where you're uncertain about the approach
- Never get stuck on one question for more than 90 seconds
Also Read:
| Time Allocation | Focus Area | Key Actions | Expected Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5–10 minutes | English (VARC) | Attempt quick vocabulary, grammar, parajumbles, para-completion; avoid overthinking | 12–15 |
| 20–25 minutes | LR + QA Easy Questions | Identify easy questions, that are solvable in 60–90 seconds; skip lengthy sets | 18–20 |
| Total in First 30 Minutes | — | Prioritise high-accuracy, fast questions | 30–35 attempts |
The Strategic Middle 20 Minutes: Building Your Score
The next 20 minutes will help to build your score. Now you tackle time-intensive but solvable questions.
What to Attempt:
- Puzzles (floor-based, family tree, seating arrangement)
- Data Interpretation sets
- Input-output problems
- Moderately difficult arithmetic questions
- Logic-intensive problems you can solve with 100% accuracy
Key Difference from CAT: Unlike CAT, SNAP doesn't force you to complete sections sequentially. Use this freedom strategically.
Example: If you see a floor-based puzzle that will take 3 minutes but you're confident you can solve it perfectly, attempt it now. Similarly, if there's a DI set with 3-4 questions taking 4 minutes total, go for it.
Important Strategy: Don't follow sections (English — LR — Quant). Instead, go through the entire paper and pick questions based on difficulty and time requirement.
Target for These 20 Minutes: Attempt 8-12 questions
These questions take longer (2-4 minutes each), so your attempt count naturally decreases. That's perfectly fine as you're focusing on accuracy over the number of attempts.
Also Read:
| Question Type | Details | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Vocabulary | 3-4 questions; at least 2 very manageable | Easy |
| Grammar | Tenses, S-V agreement, parts of speech, question tags, active-passive | Easy–Moderate |
| Verbal Ability | Parajumbles, para-completion, odd-one-out | Moderate |
| Speed Insight | Top scorers reportedly finish all 15 English questions in 4 minutes | — |
By the 50-Minute Mark: You should have attempted 40-45 questions with high accuracy. This strong foundation sets you up for the final push.
Final 10 Minutes: Smart Guessing and Closure
The last 10 minutes are split into two strategic 5-minute segments.
Minutes 51-55: Final Genuine Attempts (5 minutes)
Look for any remaining questions where you have 90-100% confidence. These might be:
- A quant problem you now have time to solve carefully
- A puzzle you skipped earlier but can now attempt
- Any straightforward question you initially missed
Example: You might find 2-3 questions that are doable but weren't "easy questions." Attempt these with focus.
Minutes 56-60: Strategic Guessing (5 minutes)
Now comes smart guessing for the remaining questions. Don't leave questions blank, as negative marking is manageable with the right approach.
The Math Behind Guessing:
Let's say you guess 24 questions (though you'll likely guess fewer):
- Expected correct answers: 8 (one-third probability with smart elimination)
- Expected wrong answers: 16
- Marks gained: 8 × 1 = 8 marks
- Marks lost: 16 × 0.25 = 4 marks
- Net gain: 4 marks
Example: If you've already secured 40 correct answers (40 marks) and you guess 12 questions, even if only 4 are correct, you gain 4 marks and lose 2 marks from the 8 wrong ones. Your total becomes 42 marks instead of 40.
Why This Works:
You have peace of mind because:
- You've already attempted 40-45 questions with high accuracy
- Your foundation score is strong
- Guessing can only add to your score, not significantly damage it
- Every additional correct guess is a bonus
| Time Slot | Strategy | Action | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| First 5 minutes | High-confidence picks | Attempt the remaining doable questions | +2 to +4 marks |
| Last 5 minutes | Strategic Guessing | Make 20–24 smart guesses; rely on probability | +4 net marks (approx.) |
Mock Tests: The Key to Perfection
According to exam instructors and Collegedunia’s own test-prep analysts, the effectiveness of the 30-20-10 strategy ultimately depends on how consistently candidates practice it during mock tests.
Experts recommend taking at least 40 full-length mocks, stating that repeated practice of timed mock tests helps students to identify which questions belong in the first 30 minutes, which require deeper focus in the next 20, and which can be attempted or guessed in the final minutes.
Collegedunia’s SNAP mock test takers have also reported that attempting mock tests for 60 minutes helps to understand the exam strategy that is needed under real exam pressure.
| SNAP Full Test 1 | SNAP Full Test 2 | SNAP Full Test 3 |
| SNAP Full Test 4 | SNAP Full Test 5 | SNAP Full Test 6 |
So to sum up, the strategy’s impact is not theoretical. As per instructor insights and candidate performance tracked across Collegedunia’s mock test analytics, it is observed that those who follow this strategy and practice mock tests have seen a percentile jump of around 20-25%.
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