Post: Divisional Accountant - Kerala Water Authority (Part-III - Arithmetic and Mensuration)

Paper Code: 156/2016

Date of Test: 19th November 2016

Year Category: 2016

Exam Overview:

The Kerala Public Service Commission (Kerala PSC) conducted the examination for the post of Divisional Accountant in the Kerala Water Authority. This particular paper was focused on Arithmetic and Mensuration and tested the candidates’ proficiency in mathematical reasoning, arithmetic operations, and mensuration (geometry and measurement of shapes and solids).

The role of the Divisional Accountant in Kerala Water Authority includes managing financial records, preparing statements, calculating expenditures, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. The ability to perform mathematical calculations accurately and efficiently is crucial in this role, as the job involves regular budgeting, invoicing, and financial analysis.

Exam Pattern:

• Time Duration: 3 hrs(180 minutes)
• Maximum Marks: 200

Syllabus Coverage:

The syllabus for the Arithmetic and Mensuration paper primarily covered the following topics:

1. Arithmetic (Basic Mathematics):

• Number System: Operations on numbers, number types, LCM, HCF, divisibility rules, etc.
• Percentages: Calculations of percentages, profit and loss percentage, percentage increase/decrease, etc.
• Averages: Calculation of averages, weighted averages, and their applications.
• Ratio and Proportion: Solving problems involving ratio, proportion, and variation.
• Time, Work, and Distance: Problems related to work efficiency, time taken, distances covered, and related applications.
• Simple and Compound Interest: Understanding and calculating simple and compound interest.
• Profit, Loss, and Discount: Calculations related to sales, profits, discounts, and commission.
• Partnerships: Division of profit or loss in a partnership based on investment and time.

1. Mensuration:

• Area and Perimeter of Plane Figures: Calculation of areas and perimeters of basic 2D shapes like squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, etc.
• Surface Area and Volume of Solids: Calculation of surface area and volume for 3D shapes such as cubes, cuboids, spheres, cylinders, and cones.
• Length, Breadth, and Height: Relationship between dimensions and their applications in practical scenarios.
• Area of Trapezium and Parallelogram: Applying formulas for irregular shapes in mensuration.
• Application of Mensuration in Real-life Problems: Solving problems that involve practical measurements such as land area, water volume, etc.

1. General Mathematics Applications:

• Understanding how basic arithmetic and mensuration principles apply in financial calculations, budgeting, and other office tasks.
• Applications in computing costs, preparing invoices, accounting, and disbursements related to the Kerala Water Authority.

Key Skills Assessed:

• Mathematical Proficiency: Ability to apply mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, percentages, averages, and more.
• Mensuration Skills: Ability to calculate areas, volumes, and other geometrical measures required in practical scenarios.
• Problem-Solving Ability: Ability to solve real-life problems using arithmetic and mensuration principles.
• Attention to Detail: Precision in calculation and application of formulas for financial tasks.
• Time Management: Ability to solve problems quickly and accurately within the given time frame.

Sample Question Topics:

• Arithmetic:
• If the price of an article is increased by 20%, what is the new price if the original price was Rs. 200?
• A man spends Rs. 300 on books and Rs. 200 on stationery. What is the total expenditure?
• A person lends Rs. 1000 at simple interest of 5% per annum for 2 years. What will be the interest earned?
• The ratio of the number of boys to girls in a class is 3:5. If there are 120 students, how many boys are there?
• Mensuration:
• What is the area of a rectangle with length 15 cm and breadth 8 cm?
• Find the surface area of a cube whose side length is 6 cm.
• Calculate the volume of a cylinder with radius 7 cm and height 10 cm.
• What is the area of a triangle with a base of 12 cm and a height of 10 cm?
• General Applications:
• If a financial statement shows Rs. 2500 as the total cost and a profit margin of 20%, what is the profit?
• A piece of land is in the shape of a square. If one side measures 20 meters, what is the area of the land?

Preparation Tips for Candidates:

• Revise Basic Arithmetic: Strengthen your understanding of arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Practice percentage problems and profit and loss scenarios.
• Practice Mensuration: Focus on the formulas for areas, volumes, and surface areas of basic geometric shapes. Solve practical mensuration problems.
• Work on Speed and Accuracy: Time yourself while solving sample questions to improve speed and accuracy, as the exam has a time limit.
• Use Real-life Examples: Relate mathematical concepts to practical scenarios, especially those relevant to financial calculations and budgeting.
• Solve Sample Papers: Practice with previous years' question papers or model papers to get a feel for the question format and difficulty level.

Download the Question Paper:

You can download the Kerala PSC Divisional Accountant - Kerala Water Authority - Part-III - Arithmetic and Mensuration (Paper Code: 156/2016) question paper from the following link: