TISSNET is one of the major entrance exams conducted in the month of January for entry into various M.A. programmes offered across its campuses.
With the exam approximately a month away, it is important to prepare well so as to ace the exam by understanding the structure of the exam, identifying your areas of strengths and weaknesses, and devising a strategy.
Know Your Paper
The paper is divided into three sections as tabulated below:
|
Sections
|
No. of Questions
|
Maximum Marks
|
|
Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension
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30
|
30
|
|
Quantitative Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
|
30
|
30
|
|
General Knowledge
|
40
|
40
|
Time duration – 100 minutes
No negative marking.
With structure being described above, it is significant to have a deeper understanding of individual sections.
Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension:
This forms an integral component of the paper. With 30% being allocated to this section, it is extremely important to have your basics in place so that you can capitalize on it to score well in this section.
While Reading comprehension is usually factual in nature, interesting to read and not verbose, questions can be inference based or fact based. Thus, it is important to read the passage carefully and analyze it critically so that you are able to answer questions correctly.
Verbal Ability encapsulates a range of questions that can be based on synonyms, antonyms, jumbled sentences, spot the error, fill in the blanks, idioms etc.
Quantitative Reasoning, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation:
For some this section may be an area of strength and for others this section may be their worst nightmare.
Quantitative Reasoning may include Arithmetic, Algebra, Numbers, Geometry, Probability, Statistics etc. Logical Reasoning can have questions on blood relationship, circular arrangements, linear arrangements, syllogisms etc.
Data Interpretation may include data given in the form of charts and graphs, and you will be required to make sense of raw data and answer the question.
While this section may seem to be a bit complicated, it is important to realise the fact that it has a blend of easy, medium and difficult level questions. Thus, the right approach would be to initially solve easy and medium level questions and then, if time permits, move on to difficult questions.
General Knowledge:
General Knowledge, the most dreaded section, forms the biggest chunk of the paper. Hence, it is really important to do well in this section in order to get into your ‘dream course’.
Here, questions can be expected from both current affairs and static GK.
While current affairs can be tackled by regular newspaper reading, static GK can include topics like History, Geography, Books & Authors, Social Movements, Important Laws etc.
Safe Score/Cut-Off?
Aspirants often ponder over the fact that “How much should I score?” or “ What can be a safe score”.
Personally, these questions are irrelevant and unnecessary. At this stage, you should focus on doing well in the exam and giving your best shot.
What To Do?
Since exam is one month away, your focus should be on solving mock tests and analyzing them. This would not only help you in identifying your areas of strength and weakness, but also help in formulating a strategy for
‘T’-Day.
It is also important to realise that in a paper like TISSNET one needs to keep a track of time and not get stuck on a particular question. You can always come back to that question at a later stage if you have time in your hand.
Thus, while solving mock tests set a time limit for each of the question type and section so that you are able to carry forward the same strategy in the actual exam.
Wishing you all the best for TISSNET 2018.
Have more doubts and wondering how to prepare well for TISSNET 2018? Join this live chat today conducted by TISS Mumbai students from 10 pm to 11 pm,
here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ayush Khazanchi is a student of Human Resources Management and Labour Relations at Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. Prior to joining TISS, he worked with Tata Consultancy Services. In his free time, he loves reading books, watching documentaries and playing pin bowling.