If we analyse the IIT-JEE2008 physics paper, paper-I has 56 per cent class XI syllabus and 44 per cent class XII syllabus. Paper-II also has the same percentage. This means that the weightage of class XI is more than that of class XII but both class XI and XII syllabus are important.

As per the difficulty level of the IIT-JEE-2008 paper, there were 23 per cent easy questions, 50 per cent moderate questions while only 27 per cent were difficult. The important topics were mechanics, electrostatics, modern physics, fluid mechanics and heat and thermodynamics.

The strategy: In this examination, even the candi dates scoring 30 per cent marks got selected. You can even get selected by leaving difficult ques tions. First analyse the paper and start solving the easy ques tions, then move on to the moderate questions, and finally the difficult questions.

While writing the paper make sure you read the instructions of the question pa per carefully. There are some which have negative markings. Also in matrix-matching type questions, part marking is there. Be extremely careful while solving the questions, especially the ones with negative marking. Solve the questions with full concentration and try to avoid calculation mistakes.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) is one of the most sought after colleges for a management degree after the IIMs. The entrance test for IIFT just got over on November 23 and had a lot of surprises.

There is no doubt in the fact that IIFT entrance is the second most uncertain exam after CAT. IIFT 2008 was characterised by extremely difficult General Awareness and Quant sections followed by Reading Comprehension and mainly calculation based DI section.

The sections that were moderate to easy in their difficulty level were English Usage and Reasoning. The detailed sectional break-up of the test is given below:

A look at IIFT 2008 confirms that the past IIFT 2006 has ultimately set the trend for the future IIFT entrance examinations. This gives a sigh of relief as the test has got more standardised and balanced. However, the test sections would continue to haunt the test takers' minds because of their level of difficulty.

IIFT 2008 - An Overview

• Number of sections: 6

• No of questions: 150 (same as in IIFT 2007)

• All questions had only one correct answer and each incorrect answer carried ¼ negative marks.

• Variation in weightage, as compared to the previous year

From the beginning, set tasks and mutually reach an agreement with the boss to avoid conflicts later. Clarity of goals will help you eliminate any miscommunication and facilitate focus. Identify and request for resources that you require to complete your work.

Justify their importance as well. Discuss reporting schedules with the boss, which could be on a daily or weekly basis. Organise your work nicely, accurately and record every single transaction. Submit a comprehensive report.

Here are some more important tips to develop a cordial working relationship with the boss.

Meet expectations
Execute tasks to satisfy your boss's expectations. Observe his or her style of working and align styles for fruitful results. Complete tasks ahead of assigned time as much as possible. If you have any difficulty in accomplishing a task, approach your boss with apt rationale and buy time well in advance. Do not request for time after the deadline, as it may be considered an excuse.

Students should take their preboards very seriously. A serious attitude towards the pre-boards can help you score high in the boards," says Sonali Sen of Sanskriti School. Once you finish your syllabus before the pre-boards, it is just the revision that you are left with. So, a month or two that you have between your pre-boards and the Boards can be dedicated only to revising and re-revising your chapters, formulae, diagrams and, more importantly, the questions.

It does not pay to turn a deaf ear to teachers and parents who constantly urge you to study. If you think you can go through the entire course in the last few months and pass, you are wrong. You could barely pass, and getting a good score will be next to impossible.

If you have not been studying regularly, it is the time for you to gear up. Certainly, those who have been studying all through the year have an edge over you, but you still have time. It's not late enough to lose hope. "With the new pattern in place from the last year, it will be easier for the students to score well. The questions will be very accurate and the answers are expected to be crisp and to the point," says M C Sharma, Controller of Examinations, CBSE.

One might consider being an expert is quite a mammoth task as far as the Quantitative Ability section of the CAT is concerned. A serious student like demeanour or Ramanujam's grey matter is not mandatory, though it might seem so initially. What is required is the reasoning power to solve mathematics rather than pure mathematics itself. A wellgroomed common sense with a combination of lateral and sequential thinking is what finally pays. There are primarily two facets involved while taking the CAT exam -- "doing" and "being". The "being" refers to one's psychological and physiological make-up, while the "doing" refers to actual actions taken in pursuance of the "being".

Most of us believe that sheer determination and hardwork with a calm and composed mind is a pre-requisite of any CAT taker. But these are tougher in practice than on paper. To tackle such challenges, quick and smart thinking is the best tool, which comes through creativity. The conventional approach requires and stresses on the three Cs (concepts, comprehension and creativity). In spite of their tremendous potential, these are not enough and require to be blended and supplemented by the three Ps (perception, possibilities and practicality). CAT is, thus, all about how well once can tame the cat, with the best possible utilisation of time, it being one of the most pivotal elements.

In a test like CAT, where an augury of the pattern seems unviable, the best one can do is to be prepared for every possible encounter. A continuous journey of exploration and discoveries of fundamentals with practical application smoothens the road to the apex of success. The imagination has to be stretched, while exploring the root of the problem, without complicating it. In this regard, Albert Einstein had truly once said, "Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them." Lateral thinking always precedes logical thinking and lateral thinking alone cannot fetch the answer as it must be backed up or followed by sequential or logical thinking. Calculations must be minimum and there must be maximum smart thinking. Most problems in the Quantitative Ability section can be solved only if you have the right tools, otherwise you keep struggling. I suggest the following tools for empowering your smart thinking and avoiding the conventional way of doing.

• Stretch your imagination.

• Explore the root of the problem.

• Take one reference at a point.

• Reframe the problem and take support of the answer choices.

• Pattern-Induction-Conclusion.

• Assuming convenient values.

• Eliminating the answer choices.

• Try conclusions using visual representation of given and known and supplied by the apt theorem.

• Evaluate exhaustively. In conclusion, it can be mentioned that nothing is a substitute for hardwork. The aforesaid `smart thinking' or intuition is the reward for hardwork and not a substitute for it. So don't just think, think different.

There are some desirable attributes that any recruiter would look for in greater or smaller measure in any prospective employee. In terms of attitude and personality, the following character traits would be both desirable and essential in greater or smaller measure:

Intelligent, hard working, honest and ethical, sincere, flexible, mature, responsible and reliable, a fast learner, a team worker, having leadership skills, stable, a creative thinker, able to work under pressure.

We have all heard of a number of questions asked in interviews and often wondered why they were asked and how they helped the recruiter to decide on the suitability or the lack of it, of a candidate. Let us now look at some of these commonly asked questions and see how they help the interviewer evaluate a candidate.

Tell me something about yourself: This is a commonly asked question, which many candidates dislike since they are unsure of why it is asked and how they should answer it. Well, let's say a candidate in an interview says that she is the eldest among three siblings, was brought up in a small town and her father is a government employee. Does this information give you a brief snapshot of the kind of person she is likely to be?

How you introduce yourself and what your personal background is, is a very good indicator of the kind of person you are. It could give an insight into the kind of character one is likely to have and the values one holds. Though some stereotype is involved in making a character evaluation based on the answer to this question, it is still fairly accurate. The best way to handle this question, is to include some details about the following areas: where you were brought up, did your education, your parent's profession and some details of any siblings you have. If you have done any part of your education from any school or college which is reputed and well known nationally, make sure you mention that, else the details of the names of your school and college may not be required. Make sure that your answer does not exceed the time limit of 1 ½ to 2 minutes. Some students also ask me whether they should mention their hobbies or their strengths, etc., while answering this question. My advice is that if you are really serious about your hobby and it is such that it throws some positive light on your personality, please mention it. If you have achieved something in that area (for e.g., played a game or sport at the district level or beyond), you must let the interviewer know of it. Thus it is important to paraphrase the answer to this question well in your mind, so that you don't miss out on an important detail. Explain any ups and downs in marks in Class X, XII, graduation, etc.: A number of students have issues regarding their academic performance. Many of you would be hoping against hope that the recruiter does not notice the glaring fluctuation in your marks. Unfortunately that will not happen and this question is very likely to crop up in every interview you face.

Marks in examinations are a very good indicator of not how intelligent you are, but more importantly, of how hard working and sincere you are. If, as a student, you were responsible, hence worked hard and were reasonably consistent in your performance, chances are high that you would have the same attitude towards work as well. However, if there are inconsistencies in your performance and sharp ups and downs, then the recruiter would want to know what you owe it to. The best approach would be to be honest about it but put it across in such a way that it minimises or erases any negative opinion that the interviewer may form about you. If you fell seriously ill, or had a compelling family situation which explains why you could not perform well in that particular examination, please explain it to the recruiter. Sometimes it is one particular subject that pulls down the average. If that is the case, explain that and tell him your percentage if that subject is not considered. If it is simply a case of negligence and ignoring your studies, confess it, but make sure you also convince the recruiter that you have learnt your lesson and that you now realise you should have been more serious about your studies. Nobody minds irresponsible behaviour as long as the person has learnt his lesson.
(The writer is managing partner of a training firm engaged in preparing B-school students to face the recruitment process)

Whether the global financial crisis will affect MBA placements is yet to be seen. However, with an additional 50,000 applicants to CAT-2008 and nearly 40 colleges adding their names to the list of colleges that decide admissions on CAT scores, the "management dream" does not seem to be losing it sheen -- at least not for these elite institutions.

Besides being the sole benchmark for clearing the screening round for admission into the seven Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore, Kozhikode, Lucknow and Shillong, this exam is being used as an additional admission criterion for many other institutes, even unofficially.

Time is certainly running out for CAT applicants. With less than three weeks remaining for D-day (CAT-2008 will be held on November 16), The Hindu EducationPlus spoke to experts to compile a list of tips and strategies to help face the exam.

CAT 2008 may spring up some last-minute surprises. Experts advice that the first thing would be to get your nerves in place, and the best way to do this is by solving different papers. In 2006, the CAT pattern was changed to reduce the number of questions from 90 to 75. Doing away with three sections of 30 questions each, the new pattern had three sections of 25 questions each. The differential marking system for the questions followed for the CAT 2004 and 2005 was also given up last year.

Jaideep Chaudhary of Triumphant Institute of Management Education (TIME) points out that the only thing constant about this exam is change. "If I were to go on a limb and make a prediction, I would say that there is a good chance the number of questions in different sections will change this year. The questions have come down from 180 to 75 over the past years. This is likely to change," he explained. The trick is to be open to any surprise.

Students are also worried that from next year the pattern may change entirely, considering the CAT is slated to go online. "This is an irrational fear," Mr. Chaudhary reiterated.
Combinations

His tip to students is to practice different tests and try different combinations (in terms of the sequence of sections attempted). "In the next three weeks you need to start decelerating a bit. The level of difficulty of this exam has grown so much that it is impossible to start from scratch. Just work on your basics and analyse your work patterns," he explains. "Spend 45 minutes on each section...and use the remaining 15 minutes to clear out what is remaining," he added

In the final stages, one must study smart and not hard. If you are aiming for the top-most institutes, remember that there are sectional cut-offs. However, experts advice last-minute crammers to concentrate on their strong points.

Now that the industry has stabilised and the manager has reasonable time for decision-making, he just has to think clearly and understand things better. That is what CAT is testing now. The student has to get to the core of every question and focus on understanding. He has to deliberate among the choices and then arrive at the right one, and not jump to conclusions. So now it's time for making informed decisions.

Reading comprehension
Today, reading speed has taken a backseat. What is more important is comprehension.

You need to read varied types of material, and try to get to the core of what the author is trying to say. The passages are such that they require you to read between the lines as well.

Put on your thinking cap. Apply logic in reading comprehension (RC). So, while the reading habit is important, CAT is not asking you to read at a speed of 500 to 700, but at a decent rate, because otherwise your effectiveness will reduce. Again, CAT is not asking you to attempt all three passages. Attempt one or two but accurately.

Last moment tip: It is assumed that you have focused on understanding the nuances of the language earlier. In the last month, improve concentration and understand whatever you read.

Verbal ability
In this section, you need not worry about too many words.

Para completion tests how much you have read, how easily you can handle the language, and whether you understand the nuances of the language.

Therefore, solve lots of parajumbles, critical reasoning questions, and para completion.

Basic logic
There is a certain boundary within which a choice becomes right and when you attempt a question beyond that boundary, it becomes wrong. So, the right choice these days is closely aligned with the theme, the tone, and also the scope.

Last moment tip: Logic works best in a fresh, calm mind. Do not solve too many things or tire yourself too much in the last week before the test. Do positive things and meet positive people.

Reach the test centre slightly early Calm your mind through .

this technique -- it could be meditation or just observing your breathing.

Some specific last moment tips related to test strategy:

• Tackle the two groups in this section, namely English Usage (sentence correction, paragraph completion, para jumbles etc.) and Reading Comprehension separately.
  
• Next, select and attempt the right questions; a mix of many easy questions with some difficult ones which are unavoidable would be appropriate. As an example, if the cut off (for selection into at least one IIM) for the Verbal Ability Section in 2007 was 25, analysis shows that attempting 13 out of the 25 questions in this section would have been enough. Attempting 13 (i.e. 50 per cent of the total number of questions in the section) would mean trying for 52 marks. To secure 25 marks, a candidate would have needed eight correct and could have afforded five incorrect.
  
• Use your knowledge of common idioms and grammar. Read sentences and try to identify if they read right or not, often using your knowledge of everyday spoken English. This should go a long way in helping you tackle the easier questions in this section.
  
• Apply logic to see what comes first and what later (parajumbles) and which options among the paragraph completion answer choices tie in best with the main topic of the passage (paragraph completion).
  
• For the RC section, choose the easier passages (two out of three, or three out of four) based on your comprehension and quickly grasp the main idea of each passage. Read reasonably in depth, instead of resorting to short cuts. Pay attention to key sentences.
  
• Attempt questions where the answer seems to be easily available in the passage - though these days that is becoming rare.
  
• Re-read the relevant portions of the passage carefully and choose the option that ties in best with these.

In little over a month's time, nearly three lakh students will take the Common Admission Test (CAT) that determines admission to top-notch B-schools, including the coveted Indian Institutes of Management.

While the actual preparation may have begun months or even a few years ahead, the last one month could be vital for candidates, point out trainers.

This year's CAT will be held on November 16. By now, candidates should have finished a fair amount of their preparation. It is a good time to revisit concepts learnt earlier, for familiarity is vital, points out S. Balasubramanian, director, Triumphant Institute of Management Education (T.I.M.E), which trains students for competitive examinations.

"Students would have worked out their fundamental problems and written several mock tests by this time. But it is important to revisit the concepts learnt initially to refresh one's memory.

Students could revise the tricks and techniques to tackle the reasoning and quantitative ability sections," he says.

Candidates should also be careful not to get too worked up about scores in tests, say trainers.

"They should make an objective, dispassionate judgement about their performance and stay cool. They should not be worried at this point. Ultimately, what matters is staying cool while taking the actual test," adds Mr. Balasubramanian.
Strategy

Prioritisation and selection of questions in the test also plays an important role in the candidate's performance, according to S. Faiz Ahmad, general manager (south and east), IMS Learning Resources, another coaching institute.

"With the basic preparation having been completed by now, students need to work out a strategy that best suits them and tackle the question paper accordingly," he adds.

Believe it or not, the art of listening is your passport to success. It may seem difficult to learn, but once learnt, it pays dividends. It is a panacea for almost all human problems. If you really listen to what the other person has to say, you virtually make him feel important. And this is what every human being yearns for!

People feel elevated as you listen to them when they tell how handsome, how smart, how honest, and how intelligent they are.

When you listen to a person's ideas and opinions, you let him feel that he is wanted. Psychologically he feels secure. No one wants to be a non-entity. Even the lowliest of the peon wants to be treated as something useful. True, everyone wants to be treated as somebody.

Listening skill wins you a friend for ever. It lubricates the machinery of all social relationships in general.

The officer who listens to what his employees say becomes the most popular. Most of his problems are amicably solved. The employees who are allowed to give their advice on matters of importance develop their individual identity. And such employees prove much more productive and constructive.