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Most Popular Posts - Bank Exams

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 06:52:00 +0000

Bank Exams Important Links India

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 06:48:00 +0000

CAT 2013 Registration begins

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Aug 2013 16:44:00 +0000

Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are all set to conduct Common Admission Test 2013 (CAT 2013) to measure the standards for admissions in various Management Courses available in all the 13 IIMs and other non-IIM top B-schools across the country, for the coming session.
The Registration window for CAT 2013 is going to open soon on 5 August 2013, and will close on 26 September 2013. Aspirants are advised to get ready with all the particulars that will be required to fill during registration process.

Before going for registration, a candidate must know which program he/she wants to apply for and what are the eligibility requirements for the same.
To get the info on number & names of programs available and the list of non-IIM Member Institutions, candidates should visit CAT official website at www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
CAT 2013 will be conducted between a time span of 20 days, starting from 16 October 2013, and ends on 11 November 2012. Please make note that a candidate can appear for CAT 2013 only once during this 20-days testing window.
Important Dates
Availability of Registration Guide: 03 August 2013
Opening date of Registration Window: 5 August 2013
Closing date of Registration Window: 26 September 2013
Opening date of Test Window: 16 October 2013
Closing date of Test Window: 11 November 2013
Information Source
CAT Website: www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in
IVRS Number: 18004190080
CAT 2013 Eligibility
A candidate must have a Bachelor’s Degree with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA. Relaxation in Educational Qualification for SC/ST/DA candidates is applicable as per Government/UGC rule.
Candidates appearing for the final year of Qualifying Degree Exams and those who are awaiting the final year result of qualifying exam are also eligible for CAT 2013.
Payment of Registration Fees
General and NC-OBC candidates are required to pay non-refundable Registration fees of Rs. 1600/- and that for SC/ST/PWD/DA candidates, required Registration fee is Rs.800/-
The details about mode of payment will be made available on CAT 2013 website -- www.cat2013.iimidr.ac.in on 03 August 2013.
Admission Process
CAT 2013 is the pre-requisite or the first stage for admission to various management programs offered in IIMs.
On the basis of CAT 2013 scores, each IIM will shortlist candidates for second stage of selection, which may include Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). Along with the combined performance of candidates in second stage, IIMs may also use candidates’ previous academic performance, relevant work experience, and other similar inputs to make final selection.

Aspirants can start their preparation for CAT 2013 now with Plan My Exam.

All about Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a commercially-run standardized test that is an admissions requirement for many graduate schools principally in the United States, but also in other English speaking countries.

Created and administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS), the exam is primarily focused on testing abstract thinking skills in the areas of math, vocabulary, and analytical writing.

The GRE Exam is typically a computer-based exam that is administered by select qualified testing centers. However, paper-based exams are also offered in areas of the world that lack the technological requirements.

Why should students take the GRE Test?

It's the way to get into grad school - what if you decide later to apply to grad school? You'll already have your scores to send to schools.
It gives you more opportunities - the scores are good for five years, so you'll have something to fall back on.
You'll have all the time you need to study and prepare - as soon as you register, you'll get prep materials to help you prepare.

How much does the GRE Exam cost?

$140 for individuals testing in the United States, U. S. Territories, and Puerto Rico
$195 for individuals testing in China (including Hong Kong), Korea, and Taiwan
$170 for individuals testing in all other locations
Fees are subject to change without notice. The above amount is exclusive of any value-added or similar taxes. Any tax is payable in addition to the amounts quoted.

How should you study for the GRE Test?
A variety of resources are available for those wishing to prepare for the GRE. Upon registration, ETS provides preparation software called PowerPrep, which contains two practice tests of retired questions, as well as further practice questions and review material.
Since the software replicates both the test format and the questions used, it can be useful to predict a student's actual GRE score. Several companies such as, IMS Learning Resources and VISU provide courses, books, and other unofficial preparation materials. The best route to a great GRE score is using a good mix of a variety of resources for GRE practice.
You can prepare yourself by becoming familiar with the GRE Test format, reviewing fundamentals, and taking GRE practice tests. You should also try to look take advantage of free GRE resources on the internet. Here are eight ways to help you study:
1. Familiarize yourself with the overall format of the GRE Exam. There will be two sections for each of these areas, plus an extra unscored section. The content of the unscored section will vary.
2. Take as many GRE practice tests as possible. The more practice you get, the more familiar you'll become with the test's format, and the more comfortable you'll be when you actually take it.
3. Review the directions for each section of the test before you take it. Skipping the directions will save time during the test.
4. Be aware of the time frames allocated to each section. GRE Format: Verbal Section: 30 multiple choice questions (30 minutes), Quantitative Section: 28 multiple choice questions (45 minutes), Analytical Writing: This section contains two subsections - Present Your Perspective on an Issue and Analysis of an argument, each requiring you to write a short essay. (45 + 30 minutes)
5. Familiarize yourself with the question formats for each section. The verbal section has four types of questions: antonym, analogy, sentence completion, and reading comprehension. The math section contains quantitative comparisons and basic problem -solving, and the analytical section features analytical reasoning, and logical reasoning essay questions.
6. Focus on GRE vocabulary. The verbal portion of the GRE is essentially a vocabulary test. A little effort will ensure that you sail smoothly thru' the GRE Vocabulary questions!
7. Review basic math such as geometry, algebra, proportions, fractions, percents, decimals, the order of operations and anything else you might have learned in high school math. This will help you tackle the quantitative section of the GRE exam with ease.
8. Try solving a few logic puzzles and games to prepare for the math portion of the GRE exam. This will make your study sessions interesting! Another great tip is to approach GRE Vocabulary with flash cards. Inventing mnemonics for memorizing GRE Vocabulary is fun.

In life, some things you just don't forget - like riding a bike or every single detail about your favourite artist. But academics can be different.

It's possible to get a little rusty and forget things you've learned along the way. That's why taking the GRE Test (and full on GRE practice) are more feasible while you're still in college.

IBPS Exam: Tips for Maths Question Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:25:00 +0000

IBPS exam tests one thing to the core – Candidate’s time management skills. This has been proved both in IBPS PO as well as IBPS Clerical Exam. Time Management is a critical thing for IBPS Bank Exams. “How do we manage the time and finish the paper on time?” – one good question asked by all candidates who take up the IBPS exam. Maths or quantitative aptitude part consumes lot of time. We will hardly find maths questions without multiplication and division. Here we have come up with short cut method for percentage calculation:

How to find 2.5 percent of a number?

Choose a number (start with 2 digits and advance to 3 with practice).
Divide by 4 (or divide twice by 2).
Move the decimal point one place to the left.

Example:

If the number selected is 110:
Divide 110 by 4: 110/4 = 27.5
Move the decimal point one place to the left : 2.75
So, 2.5% of 110 = 2.75.

How to find 5% of a number?

Choose a large number (or sum of money).
Move the decimal point one place to the left.
Divide by 2 (take half of it).

Example:

If the amount of money selected is Rs.850:
Move the decimal point one place to the left.: 85
Divide by 2: 85/2 = 42.50
So 5% of Rs.850 = Rs.42.50.

How to find 15% of a number?

Choose a 2-digit number.
Multiply the number by 3.
Divide by 2.
Move the decimal point one place to the left.

Example:

If the number selected is 43:
Multiply by 3: 3 × 43 = 129
Divide by 2: 129/2 = 64.5
Move the decimal point one place to the left: 6.45
So 15% of 43 = 6.45

How to find 20 percent of a number?

Choose a 2-digit number.
Divide the number by 5.

Example:

If the number selected is 38:
Divide by 5: 38/5 = 7.6
So 20% of 38 = 7.6

How to find 25 percent of a number

Divide by 4.

Example:

If the number selected is 86:
Divide 86 by 4: 86/4 = 21.5
So 25% of 86 = 21.5.

How to find 33 1/3 percent of a number

Choose a number.
Divide the number by 3.

Example:

If the number selected is 74
Divide by 3: 74/3 = 24 2/3
So 33 1/3% of 74 = 24 2/3

How to find 40 percent of a number

Choose a 2-digit number.
Multiply the number by 4.
Move the decimal point one place to the left.

Example:

If the number selected is 21:
Multiply by 4: 4 × 21 = 84
Move the decimal point one place to the left: 8.4.
So 40% of 21 = 8.4.

How to find 45 percent of a number

Choose a 2-digit number.
Multiply the number by 9.
Divide by 2.

Move the decimal point one place to the left.
Example:

If the number selected is 36:
Multiply by 9: 9 × 36 = 270 + 54 = 324
Divide by 2: 324/2 = 162
Move the decimal point one place to the left: 16.2
So 45% of 36 = 16.2.

IBPS Exam - How To Behave Inside Interview Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:24:00 +0000

In the banking examination, the interviews are going on for 19 nationalized banks and candidates are preparing for the interview questions. It just not only depends upon the type of questions you have been asked by the interviewer but also the way you are behaving inside the interview hall. This question wanders inside the mind of many candidates who are expecting their interview calls. Let’s share some of the points to be remembered how to behave inside the interview hall-:

You have to be very careful about the knowledge and presentation at the time of attending your interview. Just be sure of your intellectual skills firstly and have enough confidence so that no one can see that you are getting nervous.
Interview is the ending part of the process of selection so that counts several features like your confidence, knowledge, your behavior, attitude etc.
As you enter the interview hall and come across the interview panel members, just wish them good morning / noon as per the timings. There should be sweetness dissolved in your voice with softness. And sit confidently after they offered you.
While having your seat, avoid making noise of the chair and sit straight with your arms on the armrest. Do not lean or stoop forward as it looks awkward.
Now, its turn for the interviewer to proceed further. Never try to start yourself. Wait until he/she goes through your resume and then start answering their questions confidently.
Be clear and bold in your way of answering to them. Do not give long or too short answers. Speak just as it is required. If you don’t know the answer, tell them without giving wrong or incorrect information.
Just be honest and try to answer confidently. While answering, avoid looking here and there or around the room. Just have eye contact with the interviewer .this shows your self confidence and your positive attitude.
While giving the answers, don’t try to show that you are fully aware and making haste in answering it. Just be patient and calm and answer it correctly. Don’t try to be fake and vague.
At the last, when interviewer ends the interview, just wish them and leave the hall silently.

Tips To Minimize Negative Marking In Exams

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:22:00 +0000

Every year thousands of candidates apply for Bank Job vacancies, but few of them get selected. Applicants need to be aware of certain things before they attempt the exam which can help them to get success in the exam. It is important to minimize your negative marking while attempting the paper as it decreases your score and effect your score card a lot. Candidates should not blindly do the guess work while doing the paper as insteed of increasing it decreases their marks. Candidates should keep following points in mind while attempting the paper:

1) The first n foremost thing is practice well as practice makes a man perfect and hence u wont prone to frequent mistakes.
2) Read the questions carefully specially in maths regarding d digits.
3) Avoid blind guess work.
4) Solve the confident questions first.
5) Be calm and composed in the examination hall while answering or else you would mistake the known ones too.
6) Improve your speed before hand by learning tricks rather than being panic at the last moment.
7) Read all the options well before jumping to a conclusion .
8) Have a look over the different sections in the extra time provided and select your section of excellence in which you can perform well and fast as you would save ample time to focus on the tougher sections and would provide a mental peace which is the most important here.
9) Do try to solve the left questions by being attentive and using your IQ and inteligence as sometimes guess work also proves lucky!
10) Do not stick to a particular question or section if you are not able to solve it just switch to some other problem and try the left ones afterwards with some freshness in your brain !
If a student follows the above mentioned points before and during the exams he will surely minimize negative marks up to a great extent and will definitely do better in Bank Exams compared to others because most of the candidates do not pay attention in minimizing their negative marking.
We wish All the Best to our candidates for the upcoming Bank Exams and hope for their success.

IBPS Group Discussions – Do’s and Don’ts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:21:00 +0000

As many of the Bank’s has completed first phase of recruitment and are in second phase of selecting the right candidate. Most bank’s are going through the GD/PI of the shortlisted candidates. Here they check the confidence level, their presentation & communication skills, bank’s also check the way in which the candidate express his views to others. This is done in the second round of recruitment i.e. Group Disussion.

Group Discussion (GD) is and activity, wherein 8-12 people form a group, and are given a topic to discuss/situation to analyze and reason. Normal duration of a GD ranges between 15-20 minutes. Usually, the participants are given a preparation time of 2-5 minutes but there are also instances when one will be required to speak without preparation.
Their are certain things which the candidates should keep in mind while attending the GD round. As, Group Discussions are typically used for Personality Assessment Stage, which is an important stage for selection in Bank jobs. Some of these we tried to state below:
Do’s of Group Discussions:

Utilize the time effectively to understand the overall meaning of the topic- Have an open mind. This will help you to bring in those points that are not likely to be raised by others.
Organize and structure your thoughts before speaking- i.e. Opening the GD or while summarizing it.
Maintain eye contact with the group in general and with the individual when he/she is speaking
Address the group in general; avoid over-communicating with or referring to specific individuals.
Use short sentences to convey the essence of your points- i.e. – speak with depth.
Manage the way you look, speak and conduct- Etiquette’s.
Control your weaknesses- e.g. difficult vocabulary, speaking about points that you cannot substantiate or defend.
Use the right (rare) moments when the more vocal members pause to bring in your point.
Use ‘we’ or ‘the group’ or ‘most of us/all of us/some of us’ – remember it’s a group discussion and you are part of the group.

Don’ts of Group Discussions:

Do not just think from one angle of thought and bring only obvious facts or ideas to the discussion.
Do not speak your thoughts in disjoint phrases. Avoid stutters and stammers.
Do not look at your notes while speaking or when others are speaking. Stay involved even when you are not speaking.
Avoid having dialogues or conversation with specific individuals within the group.
Do not use long-winding sentences to convey your points.
Do not be aggressive or use negative tone of speech.
Do not lose control or become nervous.
Do not moderate/ cut others in between unnecessarily.
Avoid using ‘I’ or ‘he/she’, ‘they’
Avoid citing examples of points raised by others or repeat your own points- remember time is limited- quantity does not fetch extra points.
Do not bring in new points in the summary or conclusion.
Avoid aggressive body language- make sure you do not occupy the space of other participants and also while making hand movements avoid having pen or pencil in the hand that point to others.

Read well about below stated topics before attending IBPS GD round and prepare well as these can also be asked in PI round.
List of important Group discussion (GD) topics which may be a part of your IBPS GD’s:
1)      Women’s reservation bill.
2)      India economic development is not reaching to the people who need it most.
3)      Food inflation is the result of Indian Government mismanagement and apathy.
4)      Removing CBSE X exams is a bad move. Discuss
5)      India will become superpower in near future
6)      Foreign direct investment will revitalize the education system.
7)      Is disinvestment in profit making PSU’s advisable?
8)      IPL is good for business but bad for cricket?
9)      Is the Consumer really the King in India?
10)   Should the public sector especially Delhi Jal Board be privatized?
11)   Privatization will lead to Less Corruption
12)   Media has become a tool of propaganda for the rich and the powerful
13)   Education and medicine are no longer noble professions, they have become commercial.
14)   Voting should be made compulsory.
15)   Recession is the mother of innovation.
16)   Breaking down larger Indian states into smaller will lead to better governance and development.
17)   How to deal with high oil prices?
18)   Lokpal Bill should be implemented or not?
19)   Does moral policing preserve the culture?
20)   Caste based reservation- A boon or a bane?
21)   We should conserve and preserve our rich monuments.

Preparation Tips For IBPS Clerk Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:19:00 +0000

Overall Preparation Tips:

Key to got through IBPS exams would be keeping your basic fundas in its right place and right time-allocation in the test, these two things will ensure decent marks.
It is very important to formulate an exam strategy. Predetermining (on the basis of your mocks and stuff, but not very rigidly) things like, which questions to mark, how much time to leave for reviewing your answers/entire paper, etc. does help.
Mostly students find Quant section tuff so for Quant, revise all formula from your study material or from wherever you are studying . This will really help.
If you are practicing mocks and not scoring good marks don’t worry as mocks are prepared at quite high level from actual exam point of view so as to help the students to prepare better. Before the exam day remember your best mock score and try to relax without much worrying.
Do try to have a nice sleep night before your test.
Have complete rest a day before exam, do not touch any books at all. One day is not going to change the equation.
Remember if the section or complete paper is tough for you than its tough for everyone. So, Chillax don’t get nervous, keep yourself cool throughout the test and success will be yours.
As for the first time the exam will be in Online mode so there might be some technical glitches for e.g. screen went blank, Computer gets hanged etc. Do not panic in such situations. Everytime Technical experts will be present in the examination hall, raise your hand at the very moment they will help you out.
Read the questions properly even if they seem sitters or familiar – there might be twist in the tale. Similarly lengthy questions might be much easier then what you have imagined.
Paper patterns may change over the next slot/day/week so, don’t go with the rumours ; these whispers can do more harm than help.
At least go through all the questions in the section and leave no question unseen this will insure that you have left no easy question.

Please note that there are no such golden rules to crack IBPS exam, it depends upon individual to individual ability but there surely are some rules to break it like,

Unnecessary attempts, losing accuracy which ultimately leads to negative marking.
Don’t divide your time equally among sections. Keep sufficient time for the section which you think is tuff for you to crack.

Tips and Strategies for CA-CPT Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:13:00 +0000

The CA-CPT exam conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) declared on July 19, 2012 the result of their exam conducted in June 2012. It is considered one of the toughest competitive exams in India. The total number of candidates who appeared for the exam was 1,49,348. Only 37.56% of the total students passed the exam.

I regularly visit caclubindia.com for time to time exam updates, CA course queries, Counselling and Topper’s Interviews. Its tips and strategies for CA Exam helped me immensely and kept me motivated.

Different Levels of Chartered Accountancy Course -

A. Common Proficiency Test (CPT)

B. Integrated Professional Competence Course (IPCC)

C. Final Course.

CA-CPT Exam

Important information:

1. Total marks for CPT exam are 200 and total duration of the exam is 4 hours. A break of 2 hours is given in between two sessions

2. You must score at least 50%, i.e. if you score 100 or more, you will pass CPT

3. If you pass CPT once, you don’t have to take the CPT exam again. You are now eligible for the next stage of the exam – IPCE (or IPCC as students prefer to call it that: Integrated Professional Competence Course)

4. Subjects for CPT are: (a) Accounts, (b) Economics, (c) Mercantile Law, (d) Maths

5. Questions for CPT will be in multiple choice questions (MCQ) format

6. Each question carries one mark

7. There is negative marking, i.e. for every incorrect answer one-fourth of your marks will be deducted

8. There are two media of examination: English and Hindi if the candidate opts for paper-pencil mode of examination

9. If the candidate opts for online examination, the medium of Exam is only English

10. CPT is conducted every year twice (in paper-pencil mode) – June and December

11. You need not score any minimum marks in any individual subject. Your overall score should be 100 or more

Eligibility for CPT:

1. You should have passed your 12th (10+2) or Senior Secondary Exam. You can also apply if you are awaiting your result

2. Your age or percentage doesn’t matter. You can join a CA programme after your 12th or graduation

Exam pattern:

CPT exam is held in two sessions of two (2) hours each. A break of two hours is given between sessions:

Session 1: a. Fundamentals of Accounting (60 marks) and b. Mercantile Law (40 marks)

Session 2: a. General Economics (50 marks) and b. Quantitative Aptitude (50 marks)

If you want to appear for the June exam, you can register with ICAI before 1st of April, and for the December exam before 1st of October

Tips:

1. Only passing marks are required. Marks and rank obtained in CPT are not considered for the next stage – IPCE

2. You need not have a maths background. If you are not good in maths, you can score more in other subjects and less in maths. Remember, final goal is to score 100 or above

3. Practice is the key to success in CPT, practice daily as many questions as possible

4. Subjects that are considered scoring in CPT are: (a) Accounts, (b) Mercantile Law and (c) Macro Economics portion of Economics

5. For practice at home, try solving questions of a topic immediately after reading theory

6. Practice with as many model and sample question papers as possible

Strategy in the examination hall:

1. Read all the instructions carefully

2. In the examination hall, for section 1, you should solve Mercantile Law questions first

3. Next, solve Accounts questions

4. Competition is tough, try solving the maximum number of questions

5. Even if you are confident that the first option in the question is correct, read all the options before answering the question

6. Even if you are confident that the first option in the question is 100% correct, check if “all of the above” option is given below or not

7. If the question asks about which one is NOT CORRECT, check if “none of the above” option is given below or not

8. Be extra careful on very easy and easy questions. Sometimes, these questions are tricky. Many students mark wrong answers for easy questions and regret later

9. Use elimination method for those questions whose answers you don’t know directly. Eliminate those options which can’t be right, and then choose your answer from the remaining options

10. Leave those questions about which you are not confident at all, remember there is negative marking. Don’t bring your score down by attempting questions whose answers you don’t know at all

11. Where in doubt, always consider your first guess or the answer that came in your mind first as the right answer

12. Always recheck your answers after attempting all the questions

How to Pass NDA 2013 Written Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:58:00 +0000

NDA & NA exam has now come up as the dream exam of all who are studying or have passed their class 12th exam. This exam is held twice in a year in the month of April & August. Every sixth months, almost 3 lakh aspirants gears up for the most competitive exams these days.

Education eligibility: 12th passed or appearing with Physics & Mathematics as compulsory subjects(Air Force & Navy) or 12th passed or appearing(Army) both exams conducted by State Education Board or University.

Age Limit: 16 ½ to 19 on the 1st January or 1st July of the year succeeding the year of exam. The candidate must me an unmarried male.

Phases of Selection:

Clearing written exam
Clearing respective SSB or AFSB interview
Being medically fit for the respective service
Clearing the All India Merit
Joining NDA or NA

Written exam course:

Mathematics: Syllabus of 10th, 11th & 12th NCERT Based
English: Test of Grammar & Usage, Vocabulary, Comprehension & Cohesion
Physics: Up to 12th NCERT Course
Chemistry: Up to 12th NCERT Course
Biology: Up to class 10th
Geography: Up to Class 10th
History: Up to Class 10th
Political Science: Up to Class 10th
Economics: Up to Class 10th
Current Affairs : General News shown On TV & Newspaper

Marks Division of the exam:

Mathematics: 300 Marks
General Ability Test: 600 Marks

Tips for NDA Written:

As the course is large, everyday 2-3 hours study is necessary on regular basis. Course may be divided in small chapters & proper study plan will bring sure success.
Previous years question papers can be used to know the exam pattern & the important topics to shorten the course.
For the Social Science (History, Geography, etc) part, class 6, 7, 8 must be given just a rough reading; class 9th & 10th books will cover all the aspects with additional information to those of class 6th, 7th & 8th.
Reading monthly magazine of 2-3 months prior to the date of exam will be helpful.
Science (Physics & Chemistry) will be easy for those having these subjects, but just a revision of their NCERT will do it all.
English can fetch you really good marks. So its study along with other subjects is required. Thorough understanding of PARTS OF SPEECH will help you do well in error finding.
Mathematics questions take time to be solved, therefore, time management must be kept in mind because its general scenario that candidates are unable to finish the questions those are so easy. So, while writing the exam, be aware of these easy questions, so that you can solve more questions.
The All India Merit will include the marks of your written exam also, so studying hard & getting good marks is the only way for you to get good merit rank.
There is negative marking, avoid giving wrong responses, only tick the option when you are sure. I will say if you avoid guesses, it will help you.
Keep wrist watch with yourself to keep pace with the time, avoid stress, keep calm. In the last five minutes of the exam, tick all your responses in one go in the OMR Sheet. Be conscious for leaving the space if you have not solved that question.

Best Preparation Books:

Arihant’s Pathfinder NDA & NA
Lucent’s General Science
Monthly Magazines i.e., Pratiyogita Darpan, Competition Success Review etc.

Preparation Tips for Written Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:54:00 +0000

If you are preparing for written exam of any competitive exam/entrance exam or applying for any job, then you are at the right place. Here we are suggesting you important tips which every candidate must apply during his/her preparation. Consider these tips strongly these will definitely benefit you in getting success in your exam.

1) Preparation Materiel - The aspirants must study from latest and update study materiel. The preparation books must cover the latest exam pattern and exam syllabus. Preparation books plays a major role in any candidate success.

2) Exam pattern - For every exam, there is a specific exam pattern like number of questions in the exam, number of sections, exam duration, provision of negative marking or not, nature of exam (subjective, objective or both). The candidate must considered all these factors in mind during his preparation and during giving the exam. Preparing yourself according to the exam pattern not according to the books will help you in fetching more marks.

3) Time- Table - A dedicated preparation time table will definitely increase the probability of success in any exam. Students should follow a pre planned time table and divide their study hours in different subjects and accordingly cover all the subjects and topics.

4) Importance of Revision - Revision of concepts/chapters/formulas and definition is very much important. generally students must keep revising their chapters with in every 2 months during their preparation.

5) Self - preparatory notes- Self preparatory notes increases your confidence and build your fundamentals more clear and strong. This will definitely increase your success in your exam

6) Expert guidance - expert guidance is must for any exam preparation, along with the expert guidance students must solve previous year papers and do some mock test papers also.

DURING THE EXAM TIME

Carefully read and follow all the instruction given in the exam paper.
Don't overestimate and don't underestimate the exam paper, always remember that every candidate get the same exam paper. If the exam paper is easy then it is easy for everyone and if it is difficult then it is difficult for everyone.
Don't stuck to any question for long period of time. If you became confused and stuck in between then leave that question and jump to another question.
Always attempt your strongest section or the type of question in which you are strong.
Always believe in your preparation and yourself and have faith that you can crack the paper.

The concept of Group Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 10:51:00 +0000

The concept of Group Discussion has not been a part of the regular academic curriculum in Colleges and Universities. So, students usually face a lot of problem in this area of the Selection Process. Let us first understand why Group Discussion is conducted.

Most institutes today are very clear about the skills and knowledge that they look for in a student while screening. This was not the case a couple of years ago. Group Discussion has been a part of the Selection process for admission into most of the top Business Schools.

The skills that are usually assessed in a Group Discussion are:

Communication Skills
Interpersonal Skills
Leadership Skills
Motivational Skills
Team Building Skills
Tolerance
Clarity over Ambiguity
Divergent Thinking
Listening skills
Presentation Skills
Analytical / Logical skills

So, it's important to assess your current strengths in all these areas and accordingly put efforts to strengthen your weaknesses.

GDs are used to assess certain group skills that cannot be evaluated in an interview. These include reasoning ability, leadership ability, Inspiring ability, flexibility, creativity/out-of-the-box thinking, social skills, listening and articulation skills, situational handling ability, interpersonal ability to function as a team player, body language and attitude. These are the skills which are very much required to become a successful professional which in turn works as an asset for the institutes at time of campus placements.

Another important reason for institutes to keep GD as an elimination round is because of the crowd factor. At the peak time of admissions, an institute has to deal with 1000s of aspiring students. In a GD, they can analyze upto 15 aspirants in 10 minutes.

Most of the institutes use Group Discussions as the next step in the selection process after written examination. That is the reason why Group Discussion has become so very important criteria for selection and rejection of candidates in institutes as well as during campus placements. GD is basically a methodology used by an institution to gauge whether a candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its students. Normally, the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss it among themselves for some time. Topics can be from a wide range of issues. It could be a topic on current events, business news, sports or anything very general. The wider your reading interests, the better prepared you will be to face the group discussion. A Group discussion tests how you function as a part of a team.

Here are some tips for effective participation in a GD:

Understand - Understand the topic before attempting to contribute.
Speak - Try and get a chance to speak. If you can't get a chance to speak make your chance.
Initiate - Take the initiative to begin the discussion, if possible.
Structure - Structure arguments logically - justify your stand.
Summaries- Summaries the discussion effectively
Involve- Take active part throughout the GD.
Assert- Be assertive.
Articulate- Work continuously towards articulating your ideas into meaningful sentences to make the best impact. Be clear in your speech.
Emphasize.-Use non-verbal communication to emphasize points.
Listen- Be an attentive listener.
Quality, not quantity matters- it's not 'how much' you say, but 'what' you say that's important.

To prepare for a group discussion, keep track of happenings around the world. Being aware of current affairs and issues and happenings, which affect our lives, however remotely, shows a well-rounded personality. Make a habit of reading newspapers and magazines, watch interesting documentaries and profiles on television to get a wider perspective on issues. As an individual, your intelligence, general knowledge and core competencies are measured through the aptitude test. As a team player, your ability to lead and play in team is measured in the GD.

You will have to pursue the following points if you want to be successful in a group discussion. The points are as follows:

Make sure that you read as much news as possible. Generally the topic is chosen from some of the current happenings. Hence you should make sure that you have a look at all of them.
Make sure that you speak loudly and clearly. This is one of the most important things and you could find yourself in difficulty if you do not speak loudly and clearly in a GD.
You should know that you are not really bounded to think in one way. You are free to think on your own and put forward some new ideas. It is good for your chances and also for the GD since new ideas will definitely make it interesting.
You should know what the topic is really about. If you have some confusion then you should wait for some time and let the other speak at first. When the matter is quiet clear and the GD is in midst then you should start speaking with new ideas in mind.

Traits institutes are looking for in an MBA aspirant:

Knowledge:

Knowledge about the subject can never be replaced in a GD. No matter how good you might be communicating, but if your sentences don't reflect that you are knowledge bank then it's probably not going to work out. You are required to talk in a GD but inputs that don't contain any substantial value will not help in any way. One has to keep himself updated by knowing what all is happening around the globe. Alertness and presence of mind:

In a GD you are required to carefully listen to the other person's thoughts and keep an argument, example or a supportive statement, fact, example ready to participate in the discussion. This shows how alert you are, how much importance you give to when someone is putting his or her point forward. This also shows how good listener you are, at time, things turn up to be a mess when you feel that what is being said is not making sense. Don't get irritated. Remember that you need to be calm and composed. Many times after a mess happening in a GD, candidates who are calm are selected.

Out of the box thinking:

Yes! This the something that can help you get further selected because this reflects that you have a different way of looking at things. You need to be creative and have to put points that might amaze the panel. Remember, while working there are times when we need to find out solutions to the problem in a better way, thinking out of the box helps you finding smart and good solutions at times.

Tips for Group Discussion DO's and Don'ts

Group strength is usually 8 to 12 members
When the group discussion topic is announced and if you do not get the topic properly, just request to repeat the topic. Do not show surprises.
Correctly saying what you want to say- speaking effectively and efficiently is very important.
General Principles
- Be a good listener
- Do not use high vocabulary
- Never use technical language while speaking
- Not knowing is not a problem , do not try to bluff
Things to avoid
- Do not criticize on religion
- Do not get personal with anyone
- Do not criticize foreign policy of India
- Never ever try to bluff

Tips for Personality / Interview Test - Do’s and Don’ts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:36:00 +0000

The board members are usually very senior and learned people, so give utmost respect to the board.
Don’t go by any stories/rumours spread by others. Avoid unnecessary details.
Don’t ask the previous candidate about his/her interview.
The board has no biases towards anyone.
Never make any sweeping statements/generalized descriptions.
Accept your mistakes boldly.
Speak honestly, truthfully and modestly.
Do not give a hasty reply.
Answer in an orderly and logical fashion and always maintain eye contact with the Board members while answering.
Be polite and courteous.
Don’t try to be too argumentative.
Be consistent in your views. Don’t change your views just because the Board differs in its opinion from your opinion.
Never make an attempt to present a made-up appearance or politically correct answers.
If you are taking an extreme view, you should also be able to justify the same.
Take tea or coffee, if any member offers the same to you. This will show you are relaxed and it will also help in lightening and relaxing further proceedings and give them an informal touch.
Avoid chewing gums and other munching items as it gives a negative and a careless image.
Try holding mock interviews in front of a mirror. Look out for unwarranted actions/emotions and try to rectify any shortcomings. If possible record your own answers and play them again for finding out errors.
Don’t criticize any government policies or even individuals.
Take a good night’s sleep. A good, sound sleep will keep you refreshed, cheerful and relaxed. Otherwise you will have a fuzzy head and you will betray a confused personality. You will neither be able to grasp questions correctly, nor be able to think clearly.
Do not speak rapidly. Speak slowly and clearly so that the Board members grasp what you are saying and do not have to interrupt you or ask you to repeat your views.
The Board will check you for certain traits – such as honest and integrity, logical exposition, balance of opinion, leadership skills, mental alertness, variety and depth of interest, social cohesion, moral integrity, acumen, your response to a peculiar situation, your views on varied topics.
At times, the Board members might pile pressure upon you. Do not panic – it is a strategy aimed at gauging the point till which you can maintain your cool under pressure and can think originally even in pressure cooker situations. Try to resemble tealeaves – show your true colours when in hot waters.
Form your views on a subjects in a logical and rational manner supported by data whenever necessary.
To be in touch with the latest happenings/events – nationally and internationally, candidates should read magazines and newspapers (at least two for interview), watch current affairs-based television programmes.
Assume that all questions are asked with a good reason and answer them accordingly.
Keep a file/folder to keep your certificates and documents in an organized manner. They are verified before you enter the interview room. (You don’t have to carry file/folder inside board room)

Tips for Personality / Interview Test - During Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:34:00 +0000

In a personality test, what is of importance is how you say what you say. It is the style of presentation that matters.
Your personality is, on an average, assessed in 25-30 minutes, it is your responsibility to bring out your very best in front of the board.
Be attentive and listen to each question carefully. Try not to jump into an answer before the complete question has been posed as you will end up wasting time on answering a question that you were not actually asked. If you are not sure of what was asked, you can always politely seek a clarification.
Do not try to answer the question as soon as it is posed. Think over the question, take your time and organize the broad outline of the answer before airing it. Pause a while before answering, even if you know the answer.
At times, you will be given situations wherein you will be required to take a decision. In such situations, the board is testing your ability to comprehend issues and use reason and good judgment logically, precisely and arrive at a balanced decision.
Your replies should be crisp and to the point. Do not beat around the bush.
Maintain a gentle smile off and on during the Personality Test without overdoing it. It displays a sense of ease and confidence. Wherever possible use your sense of humour judiciously.

Tips for Personality / Interview Test - Entry

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:33:00 +0000

Arrive 20-30 minutes early. Prepare a route map and arrive well in time. This will give you enough time to relax
While waiting for your turn in the waiting area, read a newspaper or a magazine and try to remain focused without thinking too much of what will happen in the interview. Try not to presuppose situations.
Do not get nervous when you are waiting for your turn for the Personality Test. When waiting for your turn, try relaxing with closed eyes and practice deep breathing. It really relaxes you. Do not try to pre-suppose situations in the Personality Test.
Take a final, deep breath before entering the boardroom.
Do not forget to knock at the door before entering, as it indicates basic courtesy.
On entering the room, greet all the members cordially and do not sit down on the seat without being asked to.
If there is a lady member in the interview board, greet her first.
Be conscious of your body language when you are seated.
Men should keep the feet flat on the floor during the interview, knees at waist level, and hands on your thighs and place your elbows on the armchair. Avoid locking hands.
Women, cross your ankles or legs, but keep the bottom leg straight down and do not swing it over the top leg and keep your elbows positioned on the arms of the chair.
When the Board members thank you at the end of the Personality test, do not forget to thank the members one last time and keep your body posture straight at the time of leaving the room.
Remember that interview is a two-way process.
Be cool. Be yourself during the Interview.
Your aim should be to make the board members feel comfortable in your presence.
Be truthful, transparent and Predictable.
The object of the interview is to assess the suitability of the aspirant/candidate for a career in public service.
Most of the questions posed in the Personality Test are opinion-based.
Don’t expect any expression on the faces of board members, even if your answer is very good.

Tips for Personality / Interview Test - Dressing up

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:31:00 +0000

Dress sense is of crucial importance. The choice of dress should be according to the weather conditions. Try not to wear newly stitched clothes, as they might make you uneasy. Light colours should be preferred. White colour is a good choice.
Wear comfortable clothes. Men need to wear light coloured shirt and a dark trouser with a tie (if weather permits). Women appear best in a saree or salwar/kameez.
Pay attention to the details, ironed dress, polished shoes, hair accessories, trimmed nails etc. Polish your footwear meticulously. Use convenient footwear like black or brown leather shoes.
Women candidates should take care to avoid the hair falling over the face as it could annoy both – you and the interviewer.
Do not wear anything that connects you with a religious or political group.
Do not use heavy perfume/deodorants.
In case you have a running nose or have caught a cold, carry a handkerchief, or sufficient stock of tissue paper. Tissue paper is preferable.
Some candidates take medicine to relax on the previous night of the interview; this should be avoided as the effect of medicine may decrease your alertness during the interview.
What and how you eat is also important. Have a light meal on the day of the Personality Test. Do not go for the interview on an empty stomach. However, also avoid over-eating, or having a heavy meal.
First impression is often the best impression. So create a positive, good impression within the first few minutes of the interview.

Tips for Personality / Interview Test - Mock & Practice

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:29:00 +0000

One should form a group of 4-5 people, as the preparation for Personality Test cannot be done in isolation. Try holding as many mock interviews as possible.
No training institute can develop/transform your personality in a few days. However, some of the tips may help in ironing out some weaknesses/grey areas and can provide an avenue for a well-planned preparation and group discussions.
Take mock interviews. In the mock interview, ask your friends to grill you so that you can face pressure from the Board easily.
Discuss a lot with your friends. This not only helps in you assimilating different points of view, but also enhances knowledge levels.

Tips for Personality / Interview Test - General

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:27:00 +0000

Personality / Interview test Tips for Civil Services as well as for other Exams

The interview is nowadays known as a Personality Test. The reason being that it is not a test of knowledge, but of the overall personality of the candidate/aspirant.
Interview is more of a psychological test that is just content-based. Along with good communicative skills and self-confidence, good knowledge base no doubt gives you an upper hand. However, it has to be borne in mind that nearly all the aspirants/candidates in the Personality Test start more or less as equals in the sphere of knowledge base.
The most important thing to know about an interview is that it is not always a question-answer session and that the Board members are looking for different aspects of one’s personality.
One is not expected to know everything under the sun. If you do not know the answer to a particular question, do not hesitate to say – I don’t know, Sir/Ma’m. However, even “I don’t know Sir/Ma’m” should be said confidently and with a reasonable amount of cheerfulness. Remember – your knowledge levels have been thoroughly checked during the earlier stages of the CSE – viz Prelims and Mains.
Always remember that the interview is not a cross examination, but a natural, purposeful conversation.
Personality is a life-long asset and a thing, which evolves and changes every day.
Preparation
Keep a photocopy of the form filled for the Mains examination handy. Most of the initial questions – viz the meaning of your name, educational background, professional experience, hobbies etc will be based on this form only. Try to prepare on your bio-data; roughly 70% questions are based on bio-data, 20% questions are based on your subject and 10% are based on current affairs.
Aspirants to CSE should take an intelligent interest not only in areas of their specialization, but also in what is happening around them – both within and outside the country.
Be well informed about your interests and hobbies as there will be a few questions probing your levels of knowledge as regards your hobbies and interests.
Prepare thoroughly about your hometown & home state. If you hail from a place of historical importance or tourist interest, prepare well on it.
Know yourself. Prepare brief answers to choice of your subjects, family background, meaning of your name. You should try to take the lead by answering questions based on your bio-data.
One of the secrets of success is to prepare for the Personality Test along with the written test.
If a person gives the impression of being a bookworm, the chances of his/her selection are reduced. The candidate must exhibit an all-round personality, which indicates that the aspirant possesses a complete personality.

Exam Strategy - Indian Civil Services Exam ( UPSC)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:19:00 +0000

Strategy is most personalized & dynamic aspect of civil services exam preparations.
No single strategic plan is applicable to all the students and at all the time. However, It is possible to plan out certain steps (during preparations) which are strategically important. Smart decisions/mistakes at these steps decide destiny of the candidate.

1. Choosing Civil Services as a career goal:
Assess your potential, interests, circumstances, time resources & financial sustainability so that you can reach a firm, determined & practicable decision.

2. Selection of Optional Subjects:
This is door to selection. First shortlist the optionals on the basis of your academic background, syllabus, past your Question papers and marking Trend.
Then, use any self evaluation facility preferably section wise general studies tests (if applicable in case of optionals (shortlisted) or college level subject tests to know your general level of knowledge as well as inclination towards shortlisted optionals. Do not make a hurry. It's a vital decision.

3. Selection of medium of exam-Select the medium you can best express yourself with an eye on availability of standard books & study material.

4. Importance of General Studies-"No doubt, optinals decide your selection. But it is General studies that determines your Rank." G. S. with its contribution to Essay & Interview encompasses a spam of nearly 50% of total marks of mains examination.

5. Taking Your First Attempt-Do not hurry in taking your first attempt. Take it when you feel well prepared because once you are Trapped in vicious circle of examinations, little time remains available for improvisation.

6. Taking Your Further Attempts-If you have done well at Ist attempt, it is betterl to maintain the tempo. But, If you have not performed well or some sort of imbalance is diagnosed (though overall performance was good) then it is better to quit one or two attempts to buy time for improvisation.

7. There is nothing more powerful than an Idea whose time has come- Study, learn, think, write and speak with the ethos of the time.
It is very important to use advanced technology & thoughts to make a difference.

8. The biggest mistake was made by he who did nothing because he could do only little-
Don't quit when things go wrong, as they sometimes will. You can never tell how close you are to success. It may be near when it seems so far.

9. Mirror Yourself (Key for decision making)-Regular self evaluation is your best guide. Self evaluate yourself with some independent, free & standard platform.
Bigger the sample the lesses is the error." So choose the platform which provides you larger comparison sample (i.e. All India Rank/Comparison)

10. In the Real battlefield-This is where circumstances change every seconds : Any well knitted plan/strategy may be garbaged here within minutes.
Time management & appropriate selection of questions is key to success. This can be achieved by self evaluating yourself regularly in virtual examination conditions

The first and foremost thing to decide while aspiring for Civil Services is the judicious choice of subjects for the Preliminary and the Mains examinations. The selection of subjects should be done most carefully, if it goes wrong, everything will go wrong.
Normally students have the advantage of selecting one of the optionals, which they are familiar with, or have at least studied till graduate level. If you are not comfortable with the subject, you should not select the subject as an optional. Example: One who studied Medicine in his/her graduation may have to refer many books for one topic. On such occasions it is better to take a subject of one's interest.

The aspirants should opt for a subject of their interest - technical subjects like engineering, medicine, veterinary sciences. Students from science background may find it difficult to understanding economics and vice-versa. Agriculture or Veterinary Sciences will be opted by the students who have studied it at their college level. Hence, the competition is among the people who have opted for the same subject. One should top in his/her subject to succeed in the examination.

One should analyse the syllabus of previous years and the question papers. The comfort levels with the subject opted for and the past trends should be analysed. While going through the questions of previous years, one can judge himself/herself about the knowledge base and comfort level with the subject. After a detailed analysis one should decide the subject for the first optional. One can get some feedback/advice from seniors and fellow students who are well versed in the subject. To avoid confusion at advanced stages of the examination, one should have some consultation with experienced/senior colleagues. They can guide you better than any coaching class.

Preparation:
Preparation for General studies should be hand in hand, along with the preparation for optional papers. Good mix of study hours for General Studies and the Optional makes studies enjoyable and it becomes easy to sustain the momentum for longer hours, without boredom setting in and without losing interest and enthusiasm. The most important aspect for the preparation for GS (Prelims) is to identify the loopholes and plug them urgently. Because each question in optional carries 2.5 marks most would feel that input-output ratio in optional is much better than that in General Studies. However, never sacrifice the time of General Studies for optional, take a balanced approch.

Always go in for a planned and systematic study. Work out your own study schedules in a manner suited to your style and stick to it.
One should read a leading daily regularly and also a magazine that will give an insight into the writing skills and observe how facts are presented clearly and succinctly. Also watch news & current affairs programmes on a good TV channel. The latest trend has been a shift towards the current issues; hence a thorough awareness of recent happenings is mandatory. In-depth knowledge of such events is most important, as the questions will test the knowledge of details of any given event/happening.

First one should cover the entire syllabus and then one month preceding the Mains, practice with the help of question papers of previous years. Sometimes students may end up studying topics, which are connected to the syllabus, but are practically irrelevant from your preparation point of view. For this, one should always keep a copy of the syllabus handy and keep referring to it time and again to reassess the direction of the preparation. One should also keep question papers of the previous years. Compare them and see what types of questions are repeated every year.

Try to attempt question papers of previous years and General studies papers. This will expose your weaknesses and give you an idea about the extent of your preparation, your knowledge base, your speed and accuracy.

General preparation can be broadly classified as long-term or short-term depending on the available time for preparation. Preparation for Mains examination should begin soon after the Prelims are over, without waiting for the result, as it involves wastage of time.

The generally accepted strategy for CSE is that one must have studied the entire syllabus for the Mains before the Prelims or at least before the result is out. After the Prelims results are announced, all three subjects - two optionals and General Studies should be divided equally in three quarters to revise the subjects. One should read/study daily 10-12 hours per day. Some people say that used to read 18-20 hours. However, don't go by the claims of other persons who say that have studied for more than 18 hours a day. It is humanly impossible. Each person knows one's own capacity, so one should prepare the timetable accordingly and follow the same for the whole period of preparation. The execution of the timetable is of crucial importance.
During the entire period of the examination, take a light diet. One should maintain good health during the preparation and also maintain a hobby, which relaxes you during your preparation. Take adequate amount of sleep, as both - body and mind require it. It is always better to study when the body and mind are fresh. This helps in easy grasping of things as well as in retaining them.

To save time during revision, aspirants may mark/highlight important points during their first or second reading. The aim of the first reading is to reduce the study material to half by eliminating unnecessary points. The second reading is to make it more concise, so that you can revise the entire syllabus within two days before the examination. If the subject is not revised, it is as good as not read because preparation is a continuous process. One might have covered the syllabus long back, but memory detoriates with time.

Information from any source of relevance to your goal should be welcomed, as long as it is from a standard source. Discuss with your friends, talk to them and listen to their views. This will expand your knowledge base and also expose you to different views. (But while discussing be careful and don't waste time on unnecessary details). You should have a guided discussion. It is important to peak at the time of the examination. So, channelise your preparations in such a manner that you don't burn yourself out before the examination commences.

Once you decide that you wish to be a civil servant, as your career has to follow certain steps to be abreast with the latest trends and be ready in the first attempt itself.

Read NCERT books very carefully as they are little encyclopedias and comprehend them carefully.
Listening to morning news bulletins/analysis of All India Radio is a must. They provide invaluable background information and a balanced opinion on major issues. Evening news bulletins of AIR give an overview of the prominent news stories of the day.
Read one national newspaper regularly.
Follow one competitive examination magazine regularly. That will give you the latest trends about civil services and other competitive examinations and also give you important information in capsule form.
Be alert to learn new things. Keep an open mind to learn what is happening around you.
Discuss things/news items with your friends and family members that will give confidence of taking a stand against any issue.
Study India yearbook published by Publication Division, Ministry of I&B. This will give you the base and a bird's eye view about India.
Once you got basic concepts about the subject, you can go through the question papers of the previous years of CSE.