Online Test v. Pen and Paper Test

There are indications from different quarters that the Common Law Admission Test 2015 (conducted by the National Law Universities for admission to their 5 year integrated undergraduate program in Law) may go online.

Now the fact of the matter will only come to light after an official notification is issued by the CLAT convenor for 2015. However, supposing the exam does go online, what does it mean for the students who have been preparing for the same?

Well, honestly speaking, I don't see any major changes that students may be required to make in their preparation pattern.

And I speak from experience.

I happened to give the pen and paper version of the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET) in 2006 and the online version of the same exam in 2009.

Now, although different institutes have different formats for conducting an exam online, here are some of my 'educated' guesses about the pros and cons of an online test vis-a-vis a pen-and-paper one.

1. Online test display the questions on the computer screen and you have to use the mouse to click the correct answer option. However, bit of blank papers are generally provided for the student (if required) to perform calculations and draw diagrams to work out the solution. So, there is no difference in the way a problem is 'solved'.

2. Before the online test begins, there is generally a demonstration for the students to get familiar with the system. One need not be familiar with computers and technology to be able to attempt the paper. Absolute novices face no real disadvantage when attempting a paper online as compared to tech-savvy students.

3. In the pen and paper version of the test, where you are required to mark the OMR sheet with a pencil/pen, there is the chance of solving the question correctly but marking the answer incorrectly on the OMR. In an online test, as each question is individually seen on the screen with the options for just that question, the possibility of marking the wrong question number is virtually eliminated.

4. In case the OMR sheet (of the pen and paper version) is to be marked with a pen, one cannot correct an incorrectly marked answer. Does not happen in the online version. It's very easy to change your answer option.

5. In case more than one answer is marked for the same question (on an OMR) with a pen, there is no way of rectifying the error. Not possible in the online version, where only ONE answer can be marked

6. Online tests generally have the system of 'FLAGGING' a question for later inspection. Not easy to do the same in a pen and paper test.

7. Online tests generally have timers on the screen. Gives you a constant reminder of amount of time left.

8. In pen and paper tests, the exam supervisor starts the time for everyone together. One is dependent on the supervisor's time keeping skills to end the exam on time. There have been instances, where the supervisor has given a few minutes less than the actual time allotted. In case of online tests, the time starts at the student's discretion and the precise amount of allotted time is available to the student,

9. No worries about the pencil point breaking off in the middle of a test, no need to 'borrow' erasers in the middle of a test...

All in all, students need not fear if a pen-and-paper test is modified to go online. It is all for the good of the student.

It does not matter whether the test is on paper or on a screen. It does not change the way you prepare for the same.

Remember, it's all about your fundamentals and mental attitude.

Cheers!

Learning - the teaching method

Students often come to me with their grievances about different subject.

Sir, I can't understand the concept of Simple and Compound Interest!
Sir, it is difficult to remember so much GK and Current Affairs!
Sir, how to solve this puzzle? I just can't understand reasoning!

Well, as they say, there is a solution for every problem. Here's an innovative method of learning. I've seen this method being used in the past by some of my friends (well, I have used this technique myself... and believe me, it works!)

Teach the topic that you can't seem to learn.

Huh! Are you crazy? My complain is that I can't learn the topic... and you are asking to TEACH the same to others?

Well, here's how this system works for me.

A group of friends sit and divide the entire syllabus among themselves. Each individual takes a certain amount of responsibility for teaching certain topics to others. It does not matter whether you are good at that topic or not. In fact, if you are weak in certain areas, all the more reason to take up the responsibility of teaching the same.

Now, fix a schedule for teaching/discussing those topics in the group.

The person who has taken the onus of 'teaching' a certain topic must not only teach the fundamentals of the topic to others, but also solve most - if not all - the problems in the corresponding exercise.

Once you know that others are depending upon you to 'learn' something, you will try your best to understand the topic from its roots. As you start explaining the topic to others, you discover that the topic is not all that hard as it seemed before. When responsibility of 'teaching' a topic rests on your shoulders, you are more involved in the subject which leads to better conceptual clarity.

Consciously or otherwise, you start discovering new methods of solving problems and gain confidence in the same.

The reason why many teachers are good at solving questions that you find tough is not just their intelligence, but also the repetition that they do in explaining the concepts and problems to more than one student.

Try it. It works!

GK - Current Affairs (As on 29 Oct 2014)

State                                 Chief Minister

Andhra Pradesh               N. Chandrababu Naidu

Arunachal Pradesh          Nabam Tuki

Assam                              Tarun Gogoi

Bihar                                Jitan Ram Manjhi

Chhattisgarh                    Raman Singh

Delhi                               Vacant  (President's rule)

Goa                                 Manohar Parrikar

Gujarat                            Anandiben Patel (when Narendra Modi became PM)

Haryana                          Manohar Lal Khattar (BJP's victory)

Himachal Pradesh          Virbhadra Singh

Jammu and Kashmir       Omar Abdullah

Jharkhand                         Hemant Soren

Karnataka                         Siddaramaiah

Kerala                               Oommen Chandy

Madhya Pradesh              Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Maharashtra                      Devendra Fadnavis (BJP's victory)

Manipur                            Okram Ibobi Singh

Meghalaya                        Mukul Sangma

Mizoram                           Lal Thanhawla

Nagaland                          T. R. Zeliang

Odisha                              Naveen Patnaik

Puducherry[b]                  N. Rangaswamy

Punjab                              Parkash Singh Badal

Rajasthan                         Vasundhara Raje

Sikkim                             Pawan Kumar Chamling

Tamil Nadu                      O. Panneerselvam (after J. Jayalalitha's sentencing)

Telangana                        K. Chandrashekar Rao

Tripura                             Manik Sarkar

Uttar Pradesh                   Akhilesh Yadav

Uttarakhand                      Harish Rawat

West Bengal                     Mamata Banerjee

Champions

We all know such people around us who have achieved great levels of success in their lives. It could be that class topper who was always cited as an example to the other poor lesser mortals in his class... or the athlete in school who always seemed to excel in any physical endeavor, it could be the girl next door who did well in her entrance exams and got admission to a coveted institute, or that batch-mate who bagged a plum position with a much sought after company.

While it becomes repetitive - and oft annoying - to be compared with them, there is that rare moment when one does tend to ponder on what helps these people achieve what they have achieved? What can I do to achieve the same?

While there is no single answer - no magic mantra - that can help the masses, there are certain common traits that I've observed in such people over the years.

Now I know, the things that I am about to mention below, may sound cliched and oft-repeated. But then, the truth is never something extraordinary. It is the little ordinary things that sums up to create extraordinary achievements.

1. Focus
2. Discipline
3. Hard work
4. Never say die - attitude
5. The willingness / openness to learn
6. The ability to self-introspect and constantly raise the bar
7. The determination to accept nothing but the best
8. The ability to manage time well

School students who have achieved great feats during this school years often tend to be those who are tagged with the label 'all rounder'. Apart from academics, these students tend to be good at one or more extra curricular activities. The epithet of 'dumb-jock' is more often than not negated by good athletes as they are well above average in their academics as well.

College students who go on to achieve great things in life are the ones who have scored well on their test papers and have participated a lot in other activities as well.

Bottom-line... being a well rounded personality, with the ability to manage one's own time may emerge as one of the key mantras for overall success.

Cheers.

GK - Current Affairs - 13 Oct. 2014

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana.
The Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, would have three distinct features - it would be
(a) demand driven
(b) inspired by society
(c) based on people's participation

The Nobel Peace Prize 2014 was awarded jointly to Kailash Satyarthi and Malala Yousafzay "for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education"

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2014 was awarded to Patrick Modiano "for the art of memory with which he has evoked the most ungraspable human destinies and uncovered the life-world of the occupation".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 2nd October launched the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign, a cleanliness drive across India, on Gandhi Jayanti.

The Time to Start

As teachers who prepare students for various post-std 12 entrance exams, we're often asked different variations of the same questions:

'What is the right time to start preparing for entrance exams?'
'How much time is required to prepare for an entrance exam?'

There is no simple answer to this question.

I've tried to list some factors which you might consider before making a choice.

1. Which entrance exam are we talking about?
Some exams (like the Engineering or Medical kind) are very technical in nature. On the other hand, entrance exams for fields like Law, Hotel Management or Business Management, are general in nature. General aptitude tests examine your basic aptitude for language (primarily English), numbers and logic.

2. What is your aptitude level?
Some students have a natural aptitude for language and/or numbers. The education imparted at School level is often adequate for them. As their fundamentals are in place, they find it very easy to crack aptitude tests without any extra preparation. On the other hand, some students either fail to get adequate fundamental knowledge at school level. The reason for this could be a fault in either the school system or the student's ability/interest in learning. Such students may require additional coaching if they are serious about cracking entrance exams.

3. How much time do you take to grasp concepts?
Some students require a longer period of time to learn, understand and internalize basic concepts. Some students feel a time crunch when it comes to striking a balance between preparation for entrance tests and school board exams. Such students can start their preparations well over an year in advance. Those students who can manage their time for entrance test preparation and board exam preparations can afford to start preparing for entrance tests at the same time that their Std. 12 begins. Those who do not feel comfortable in devoting time for entrance test preparation along with board exam preparations; but are confident that they can grasp concepts in a short time; can opt to start intensive preparations for entrance tests in the 4-6 weeks that may normally be available between the end of boards and the entrance exam date.

All in all, it's a matter of personal ability. Students (and their parents) must analyze their strengths and weaknesses and then make the choice of selecting the appropriate preparation time period.

As usual, one must NOT blindly follow FRIENDS or TRENDS.

All the best!

Open Letter to students who have started their College Life

To all my Students who are about to enter college,

You are about to enter into a new phase of your life, a phase which is full of exciting new possibilities, new avenues, new friends and new growth.

You are stepping out of the rigid school system and stepping into college life. You will have tremendous opportunities to learn and explore new things, both good and bad.

Remember! You always have a choice at every step. It is in your hands to select the path that you wish to tread. Peer pressure, the desire to look cool, to enjoy life ('yeh zindagi na milegi dobara', YOLO) will present you with many moral and ethical dilemmas.

Remember! Always follow your head and your heart. Before making any choice, just ask yourself, 5 years down the line, when I graduate and step into my career, would I be proud of what I am about to do or will I strive to hide it? The answer will make your choice an easy one to make.

The temptation to bunk classes, to hang out with friends at Kitlees and Gallas, to spend all your waking hours watching movies and playing games and squander all your precious time will be immense. By no means be a nerd and a bookworm, but make sure your judiciously divide your time between work and pleasure.

It is so easy to blame teachers, administration and the system for our failures. But remember, it is the same set of teachers, administration and the system that also gives rise to the toppers and achievers in your class.

The school system is all about teacher giving students knowledge. In college, it is up to the student to extract all that (s)he can from the teachers.

Make optimum utilization of the time and resources that you get at your institution.

Make us proud.

Wish you all the very best!

The importance of Std. XII

For students who are currently in their Std. 12 of school, it is probably the most important year of their life. This is the time when they are on the verge of completing their basic education and are preparing to step towards a more focused education towards achieving their career goals.

While many students plan to choose their college based on their 12th standard board exam results, others opt to appear for various entrance exams (like IIT JEE, AIPMT, CLAT, IHM-JEE, SET...) and compete at a national level.

This post is intended for the students opting for the later route.

Over the years, I've observed that many students started preparing for various entrance exams and tend to neglect the preparation for their school board exams. The rationale behind their decision is, they are anyway preparing for professional courses. The eligibility criteria for such courses (as far as the 12th standard marks go) is a mere pass class or 60% (for example). So why waste time on preparing for school exams.

However, this is not the right attitude.

What students fail to realize is the entrance tests are not a done deal. While there are a few hundred seats in each course, there are literally thousands (if not lakhs) of aspirants competing for them. If the student is not able to clear the entrance test, they will have to fall back upon their 12th standard marks to be eligible for other colleges.

The wise thing would be to be serious in preparing for both. A good grade in 12th std. exams along with a good performance in the entrance tests is not all that difficult. In fact experience tells me that students who are good at one, invariably manage to be good at the other too.

Additionally, while 12th std. marks may not have much weightage in some of the under-graduate selection procedures, they are often considered vital during post-graduate and job-selection processes.

Moral of the story: learn to manage time; do well in all aspects of education!

Quick Calculations

OK.. So I am not sure that the fear of numbers is called 'Numberophobia'. But then, this is not a post on English and Etymology, is it?

Many students fear mathematics. Their fear and/or disdain for the subject is uniform for all aspects of this subject: arithmetic - algebra - geometry - calculus - You name it, we hate it!

Now I can't claim to have a liking for stuff like calculus and statistics. But then, who requires calculus and statistics to clear the kind of entrance exams that we are preparing for, eh?

So here are a few tips and tricks on how to hone your quick calculation skills.

Now, before we understand the tricks to do quick calculations, we must have a few thing ready before hand. Then include, a working knowledge of multiplication tables.... (it's ok if you remember the tables for only single digit numbers, it's ok if you remember the tables for only 1, 2, 5 and 10!)

You should be able to add and subtract reasonably well.

If you are OK with this, then proceed!

So, you are given 13 x 25
There are many ways in which we can orally calculate the answer:

1. 25 x 13 = 25 x (10+3) = (25x10)+(25x3) = 250 + 75 = 325

2. 13 x 25 = (13 x 100/4) = 1300/4 = 650/2 = 325

3. 13 x 25 = 13 x (10 + 10 + 5) = 130 + 130 + 65 = 325

Easy eh?

Remember these tricks:

To multiply a number with 2, just double it
Multiplication by 4 = Double of Double
Multiplication by 5 = Half of 10 times the number
Multiplication by 6 = (Multliplication by 5) + 1 times the number
Multiplication by 9 = 10 times the number minus 1 time the number

25 = 100/4
45 = 50 - 5
27 = 25 + 2 = (100/4) + 2
 and so on...

Regular practice and you will soon be competent to multiply any two 2-digit numbers orally!

Here's a little game that can help you practice....

On the road, you get to see many vehicles with number plates. Make it a regular habit of adding up all the digits on the plate and also finding their product.

Regular practice will soon make you a calculation champ!

The Joy of Reading

Reading is such an essential skill for any student who plans to appear for any entrance examination.

Developing the habit of reading develops certain essential skills such as speed reading, vocabulary and grammar. While there are many technical ways of improving your speed reading skills, the best way remains general reading.

If students start developing the habit of reading good books, they will not only develop essential skills but also find a great way to relax and de-stress.

For beginners, I would recommend simple books by authors like Chetan Bhagat (5 point someone, 3 mistakes of my life, 2 states, ...), Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer etc.

Advanced readers can progress to authors like Robin Cook (Genre: medical thrillers), John Grisham (genre: legal thrillers), Frederick Forsythe, Ken Follett etc. Ayn Rand and George Orwell are recommended for prolific readers who don’t mind some serious, thought-provoking material

Classics such as the Mahabharata and the Odyssey are always welcome.

All in all, learn to enjoy reading books and you’ll have picked up one activity that combines fun with skill-development.

On writing essays...

An essay is usually a platform to express one's opinions and thoughts on a particular subject.

Essays can be of various kinds. 

1. Narrative essays - e.g. Autobiographies

2. Descriptive essay - e.g. Importance of education in society

3. Explanatory essay

4. Reflective essay

5. Imaginative essay - e.g. If I were a supreme court judge...

6. Proverbial essay

7. Argumentative essay - e.g. Should co-curricular ectivities be given as much importance as academics?

An essay is considered a complete composition. The essentials of essay writing would be the format (framework, structure), information (content, substance), language (expression, presentation), and logic (analysis and information).

The introduction is the opening part of the essay and should be confined to a paragraph, especially since, unlike a book, the introduction of an essay is not captioned. The introductory paragraph is expected to introduce the topic, and wherever necessary, explain the central theme or idea, basic or core concepts, and definitional criteria. The introduction should arouse interest and generate curiosity in the mind of the reader, be it an examiner.

The main text of an essay, after the introductory part is over, essentially is a systematic organisation of information based on a consistent methodology. It deals with the topic and related issues to be addressed, the correlation of facts, figures, ideas, views, concepts; an in-depth, systematic, coherent analysis based on the topic leading to logical inferences; as well as making (if it is required) plausible projections and providing with (if necessary) viable solutions. The text of the composition must develop, support and explain the main ideas stated in your introduction or thesis paragraph.

As the text draws close to the conclusion, the essay should have reached the stage of 'critical mass', a sort of a climax. The conclusion, a summary, should express the essence of the essay. It should not contain any fresh evidence, facts or figures.

An essay is expected to be a topical text that is self-explanatory and comprehensive, concise, composite and unambiguous, informative and logical.

Sources:

www.margadarshan.com/essays.asp

civilserviceindia.com

October 2014 - Some Current Affairs

Tamil Nadu CM (ex now) J. Jayalalitha convicted by Bangalore court in disproportionate assets case.
Click here for ToI coverage

Indian PM Narendra Modi visits USA. 
Click here for ToI coverage

17th Asian Games conducted at Incheon
Click here for ToI coverage

Uproar over live coverage of RSS chief's coverage on Doordarshan
Click here for The Hindu coverage

PM reaches out to masses through All India Radio
Click here for The Hindu coverage

US Government confirms first case of Ebola
Click here for The Hindu Coverage

Gandhi, Morality and Political Legitimacy - an Opinion piece in The Hindu

Numberophobia!

Multiply 125 with 63. How much is 15% of 4500? If a person borrows Rs. 1000 for a period of 3 years at 7.5% simple interest, how much should he return?

Such questions tend to give nightmares to students. In a nutshell, students FEAR Mathematics. English, logic or General Knowledge do not give as much pain to test takers as simple numbers tend to do.

The honest truth is that Maths is not as bad as it seems to be.

Let's take a minute to get certain facts straight.

English first: Is there any way of confirming which word is the correct synonyms for 'Flagrant'? How do you confirm that a certain order of sentences is the correct one in Jumbled Passages? Why are 'but' and 'cut' pronounced a certain way and 'put' in another way?

Logic: Is there a sure way to confirm the correct 'Assumption' or 'Conclusion' for a given passage?

G.K.: Is there a formula to calculate the name of the current U.N. Secretary General?

The answer is a resounding NO!

On the other hand, mathematics is full of formula which can tell you the EXACT answer to a question. Once you know the method, there is no need to memorize anything. In fact, you can use the answer options to fit in the given question.

All it takes is getting the fundamentals right. 2 + 2 will always add up to 4. 12.5% of 1600 will always be 200. And the answer to the question of simple interest is always Rs. 1225. (SI = PNR/100)

Stop fearing maths. It is the easiest section in any entrance test. And the one where you can always be confident of the right answer. All it takes is getting over the fear of numbers, understanding the fundamentals and developing the confidence that solving math problems is the one thing that EVERYONE can excel at!