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Analytical skills /10

Aptitude test /10

English Test /10

Written Skills /10

TOTAL /40
 This test is marked out of 50 and lasts for one hour and 15 minutes. Please allocate
time according to the marks available and attempt all sections.

Good luck!

Analytical skills (10 Marks)

Read the article below and answer the questions based on your understanding of the
contents in the passage. Answers should be derived from information available in the text
only.

The adoption rates of surgical drapes and gowns vary significantly among member states
of the European Union due to different concerns about infection control, product usage
tradition, natural resources, cost and environmental concerns. While the demand for
surgical drapes and gowns remains relatively stable, the dynamics between the disposable
and reusable segments is a key influence in the industry.

Increasing awareness on the need for better infection control - particularly with respect to
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and hepatitis B -
has drawn attention toward providing improved bacterial barriers. Due to their protecting
properties, surgical drapes and gowns are now considered to be medical devices that have
to comply with the Medical Devices Directive (MDD) specifications.

This has given non-woven technology a boost. Non-woven fabrics have excellent liquid
resistance, tensile strength and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties and are, therefore,
highly suitable for surgical drapes and gowns. In the meantime, the use of traditional
cotton and cotton-polyester mixed textiles has been decreasing since these fabrics fail to
meet the requirements of the new standards.

The choice, then, has been reduced to single-use products and 'high-tech' reusable
products for most healthcare purchasers. However, studies show that the microbial
penetration resistance of single-use drapes and gowns is much superior to that of reusable
drapes and gowns - both traditional and 'high-tech'.

Another factor in the reusable/disposable dynamics is pricing. Reusable drapes and

gowns have a relatively higher initial cost but can be used between 50 and 100 times.
Still, they involve other overhead and logistics costs such as sterilization and laundering.
Thus, when total costs are considered, the disposable products tend to prove less
expensive than the reusable alternatives.

Overall, there has undoubtedly been a general trend in developed countries toward
disposable products for the remarkable balance of safety and comfort they offer.
Participants in the disposable surgical drapes and gowns market need to focus on end-
user education to benefit from this trend. Providing clear product and cost benefits to all
end users from the surgeons and staff to the infection control personnel and the purchase
or procurement departments is necessary to accelerate demand.
Maintaining good customer relations and, perhaps, partnering with custom prepared trays
(CPT) companies are likely to provide a steady base against the threat of the growing
CPT market. Viable mergers and acquisitions can also be vital to market share growth.

The major focus for companies manufacturing and marketing disposable surgical drapes
and gowns should be to achieve long-term contracts with large institutions. Along with
specialization and core competency, this would help create a strong brand name, which
could potentially prevent the users reverting to reusable products.

The highly fragmented European market also calls for a strong supply chain management
to help obtain regional coverage. Low levels of penetration in the European disposable
drapes and gowns market have been attracting foreign companies. Domestic participants
must, therefore, move quickly to take advantage of their expertise in the regional
regulations, languages, buying culture and proximity of production site to grow through
geographic expansion.

Questions:

1. In terms of competitive landscape how would you rate this market (Please tick or
highlight?
 Monopoly market
 Dominated by few leading regional companies
 Several players competing for it’s share of the market

2. What are the major factors impacting the gowns and drapes market?

3. What strategies should regional or domestic participants in this market do to

ensure they have an edge over international competition?

4. List the target group for end-user education in this market?

5. Which among the two groups of products – disposable and re-usable gowns and
drapes - are considered cost effective and why?
 Aptitude test (10 Marks)

1) The average age of the first seven people to arrive at Nikhil’s birthday is 21. When
Vijay (29) arrived, the mean age is increased to 22. Marry (also 29) arrived next. The
tenth and last person to arrive at Nikhil's party is Nikhil himself, and the mean age
increased to 30 years. How old is Nikhil on his birthday?

Ans:

2) A certain number of boys can finish a piece of work in 10 days. If however there
were 10 boys less it will take 10 days more for the work to be finished. How many
boys were there originally?

Ans:

3) A student appeared in 3 papers of Maths, English and Hindi. The maximum marks
of the three papers are in the ratio of 3: 2: 5 and total of 3 papers is 500. Umesh
obtained 50% in Math, 68% in English, and 73% overall. What is the percentage of
Marks he scored in Hindi?

Ans:

4) Solve for x and y: 2x2+y2 = 8+5xy and y-x = 2.

Ans:

5) How many litres of 30% alcohol solution and how many of 60% alcohol solution
must be mixed to produce 18 litres of 50% solution?

Ans:
 English Test (10 Marks)
Fill in the most appropriate word to complete the sentence (or leave blank)

1. GDRC assesses the most important global companies, ensuring a balance between
____ US, European and Asian companies.

2. Chapter 6 forms the appendix ____ the manual, covering some examples and
other guidelines related to company profiles.

3. The company has seen annual growth of 5% per annum over the ____ 2005-2009.

4. The researcher signs ____ the check list to signify that all the minimum standards
for a new profile or an update have been met.
 5. A falling loan-deposit ratio ____ adversely affect the profit margin of the group.

Place a cross next to the word in the list which best fills the gap

6. Investors ____ at the electronic billboard where bright green letters and numbers
flow by on a black background.
a. gaze
b. gazing
c. gazes

7. While certain tasks can be somewhat _______ nevertheless the genuine exchange
of information can occur.
a. concocted
b. conceived
c. contrived
d. conceded

8. The wine _______ was located in a cool corner of an underground section of the
house.
a.cellar
b. seller

9. He gave us no indication _______ his whereabouts.

a. as of
b. so as to
c. as to
d. as from

10. A bull market is characterized by ______ prices.

a. rising
b. rose
c. raising

Written Skills (10 Marks) – 500 -800 words

Please write a short report on the following subject. The writing should be in full
sentences and in your best English. You may conduct online research, but copying and
pasting sections will result in rejection. Strictly avoid plagiarism.

“Markets for Medical Equipment industry in India”