| Vince Lombardi once said
“Dictionary is the only place
that success comes before work.
Hard work is the price we must
pay for success. I think you can
accomplish anything if you're
willing to
pay the price.”
Success in MBA Entrance Exam
in India is also no cake walk.
You need in-depth knowledge,
analytical mind, sharp memory
and above all, systematic
planning and preparation.
Needless to say that the
candidates cannot and should not
attempt preparation for his MBA
Entrance Test overnight. Since
the competition is amongst the
best available talent from all
disciplines, meticulous and long
term preparation are required to
get admitted to the MBA program.
Although the syllabi in the
admission/entrance test differ
from university to university,
there are certain common aspects
that appear in most of the
entrance test, CAT, XAT, MAT,
XLRI, SNAP and MBA Entrance
Exams conducted by State
Universities in one form or the
other. These aspects include
tests on quantitative aptitude,
reasoning, intelligence,
comprehension, case analysis,
relationships, word power,
synonyms, antonyms, general
knowledge/awareness, etc. It is
therefore, essential that the
candidates start preparing well
in advance on all the above
aspects. If one can get hold of
previous year's papers or at
least the pattern, this would go
a long way in guiding the
candidates to prepare properly
for the test.
Here are some tips to prepare
on important aspects which are
common to most of the MBA
entrance examinations in India:
(1) Quantitative Aptitude: A
candidate seeking admission to
MBA programme is expected to
have aptitude for basic and
elementary accounting as well as
the knack of solving the simple
arithmetic problems. This is one
of the areas in the admission
test which, if properly prepared
and practiced, is likely to put
the candidate ahead of others,
as one can hope to score even
100% marks in this part. There
may be several types of
questions that may form part of
quantitative aptitude test. The
first category could be simple
arithmetic problems including
profit and loss, percentages,
ratio, averages, partnership,
etc. Such problems involve
simple calculations and with a
little practice and basic
aptitude, can be solved
correctly. The second category
of questions could involve
multiplication or divisions in 5
to 6 figures or decimals. It may
be quite time-consuming if the
candidates start actually
attempting the entire
calculations. Since the
candidates are required to work
against time it is not advisable
to waste time on such
calculations. With a little
practice, the candidates can
easily eliminate most of the
choices straightaway to arrive
at the correct answer even
without any calculations. This
can be achieved if the
candidates look at all the
choices carefully before
actually attempting the
calculations. Another category
of questions may be directed at
testing only the intelligence of
the candidate and not his/her
ability to calculate. There may
be some other questions aimed at
testing the common sense of the
candidates. The entire area of
quantitative aptitude,
therefore, needs constant
practice to calculate quickly
with accuracy. More practice is
also essential for the
candidates to gain confidence in
this part of the test. Even if a
candidate does not have the
basic aptitude for figure-work,
he/she can make up for this
deficiency by regular practice
and a lot of hard work. It is
strongly recommended that the
candidates practice and attempt
all the questions on
quantitative.
(b) Logical Reasoning:
Questions on logical reasoning
may be of several types and in
several forms. These could
include a statement on which the
candidates are asked to draw
correct interference out of the
given choices. There could be
questions on series of words and
figures, arrangement of
alphabets, brain teasers or even
such questions as only call for
drawing logical inferences. Just
like quantitative aptitude test,
this portion of admission test
also needs special and detailed
preparations and practice. Most
of the questions under this
category infact test the common
sense and sense of proportion
and reasoning among the
candidates and therefore, must
be attempted with a cool head.
In case of statements, the given
statement as well as choices
given must be read at least
twice before choosing the right
answer. In case there are more
than three questions on
arrangements of alphabets, it is
advisable to write down all the
alphabets on the rough work
sheet. This will facilitate easy
and quick attempt of questions
on alphabets. Similarly, there
could be certain questions on
distances traveled in different
directions. In such questions it
is proper to draw a rough
diagram giving distances
traveled in various directions
to get the correct answer.
Constant practice in the
questions on reasoning would
make the candidates confident to
tackle this particular aspect of
the test. To do well in this
part of the test, the candidates
must therefore, practice hard.
(c) Comprehension Test:
Comprehension test is aimed at
gauging the understanding of
English language by the
candidates. Usually, a paragraph
is given which the candidates
are required to go through
carefully and then answer the
question by choosing the correct
answer. To attempt this part
speedily and correctly, the
candidates must practice reading
with a quick speed and
understanding the entire
passage. Answer to most of the
questions are easily located
within the passage itself. But
there are certain questions,
answers to which are not
directly available in the given
passage. Such questions can only
be answered by those candidates
who can understand the passage
fully. Regular practice would
help the candidates to attempt
the comprehension test in more
effective and appropriate
manner. Tests of English
language given in every issue of
this magazine invariably contain
small comprehension passages.
Practice of such passages may be
of great help to the candidates
for preparing this test.
(d) General Awareness: As the
name suggests, the test of
general awareness aims to judge
the general knowledge of the
candidates. Basic facts about
all aspects of general knowledge
like Science, Geography,
History, Economics, Polity, etc
are essentially required to be
known. A good knowledge of all
branches of general knowledge is
essential which can only be
achieved by reading good books.
Reading Newspapers regularly
will keep you updated in
whatever important is happening
around the world. |