GMAT Examination

About the GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is administered by the Education Testing Service (ETS) and is primarily a multiple-choice test that management schools use for admission of students into their MBA programs. ETS administers the GMAT CAT (computer-adaptive test) on behalf of the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC). The GMAT Program also assists students in their transition to graduate education through a variety of services and publications. The GMAT CAT includes:

• A Quantitative Section: It measures quantitative ability and includes problem solving and data sufficiency questions.
• A Verbal Section: It includes reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction questions.
• An Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA) Section: It measures proficiency in analytical writing and includes two writing tasks of 30 minutes each.

Because of the strong correlation between high GMAT scores and success in graduate school, many schools require that the applicants take the GMAT General Test.

The GMAT Test Structure

The GMAT general test includes three major areas of testing: Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability (Mathematics), and Analytical Writing Ability.

GMAT Verbal Ability
The GMAT verbal section contains three types of questions: Sentence Correction, Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. Your success in this section will depend on your ability to read and fully comprehend written material, reason and evaluate arguments and your familiarity with the stylistic conventions and grammatical rules of written English. Questions vary in difficulty from easy to real tough ones. Typically, the verbal section contains 41 multiple-choice questions. You are allowed a maximum of 75 minutes to complete this section.

GMAT Quantitative Ability (Mathematics)
The GMAT quantitative section is often referred to as the Mathematics section. It tests your basic understanding of arithmetic, algebra and geometry. Knowledge of more advanced mathematics is not required in this section of the GMAT. Most of the questions in the Quantitative Ability section are of high school level and are intended to just show how well you understand elementary mathematics. You are allowed a maximum of 75 minutes to complete this section. Typically, the GMAT quantitative section contains 37 multiple-choice questions from the following types :

The Data Sufficiency section : Questions in the Data sufficiency section consist of a Math problem followed by two statements, which might lead you to the answer of the problem. You need to choose which of the statements (if any) is sufficient to solve the problem. Along with your math knowledge, this section will require a sense of logic.

The Problem Solving section involves traditional computational skills, and includes arithmetic, algebra, and geometry concepts you have learned in school. You will need to know the necessary facts and formulae for this section.

You can expect 17 - 18 questions of each type in this section. Questions of both types appear in random order one after the other.

GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
It tests writing ability through 2 writing assignments - Analysis of an Issue and Analysis of an argument. Watch this space for forthcoming material on preparing for these essays! You are allowed 30 minutes to complete each essay.

The following table should be useful for remembering the GMAT test structure:

Section Number of Questions Time (minutes) Verbal 41 75 Quantitative 37 75 Analytical Writing 2 essays (30 minutes allotted for each one)

All multiple-choice questions in the GMAT have five options following a problem statement. Out of these, only one option is the correct answer.

Study in UK

This section discusses the various issues faced by international students applying to the U.K. for education. We discuss here eligibility criteria for UK colleges, accommodation, health insurance and rules for taking up employment while studying.

Eligibility

Undergraduate (Bachelor Level)

British students undergo thirteen years of pre-university education as compared to twelve years in India. Outstanding marks from one of the two Central Boards (CBSE or ICSE) or their equivalent, or the first year of an Indian degree programme are therefore usually required for direct entry into an undergraduate programme in UK.

For those who do not, as yet, have these qualifications, there is a range of access or foundation courses available. Foundation courses range from four months to a year.

Applicants must satisfy both general and course requirements for admissions :

General Requirements
A specified number of subject passes at both GCE "A" Levels and GCSE at grade C minimum is required for admissions in UK educational system. An equivalent Indian qualification such as a good score in the CBSE and ICSE etc.

Course Requirements
Course requirement details can be obtained from prospectuses of institutions which are available at the Education Counselling Service located in the British Council offices or Libraries.

Post Graduate (Master's & Doctorate level)

Most UK universities accept the Indian graduation system of three years for entry into most postgraduate courses. An Indian bachelor degree like B.A., B.Com. or B.Sc. is equivalent to a British Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree.

However, some courses and universities may require a qualification equivalent to British Bachelor (Honours) Degree, which requires 16 years of formal education, which would mean another year after graduation or a four year degree course like B.E., B.Tech or other such courses.

For most Universities, a good first degree from a leading university in India or its equivalent is essential.

For more details on British Degrees and their Indian equivalent, check out the table below:

British Degree	Indian Equivalent Degree
British Bachelor (Ordinary) Degree	A three-year Indian Graduation Degree like B.A. or B.Sc. and other such courses.
British Bachelor (Honours) Degree	A four-year Indian graduation course like B.E. or B.Tech. or other such courses. OR A post graduate degree, from Indian university, like M.A., M.Sc. or other such courses.
British Master’s Degree	A post graduate degree like M.Tech. or M.E. from I.I.T. or I.I.Sc. and other such colleges

Student Housing & Accomodation

There are various options available for living in UK. Most universities have rooms in their halls of residence where international students can rent a room. But usually if you accept a room in a university, you would be required to sign a binding arrangement to remain in hall for the full academic year. This policy varies with each university.

Alternately, you could also take private accommodation. This could be either with a British family or sharing a flat with other students. Usually universities have an accommodation office, which can help you with this.

Most international students take up independent accommodation close to the university along with other international students. This turns out to be cheaper and convenient.

You need not worry about accommodation in UK. There are several options. You would get a good idea when you join the university. Of course, it always helps to be in touch with students already studying there.

International Student Health Insurance

Britain has a subsidized health service which provides free health care and treatment for people who are resident in Britain.

Students who are enrolled on a programme which will last for more than six months are also entitled to NHS treatment.

If a doctor prescribes any medicines these are subsidized but there will be a charge made for each prescription - currently 5.75 UK Pounds per item.

Dental treatment is subsidized by NHS but everyone has to pay something towards the cost of their treatment.

Part-Time Work & Jobs

U.K. is one of the few countries that allows international students to work even outside the campus. Students can work upto 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during vacations.

Contrary to popular belief, students are able to obtain part-time employment quite easily in bigger cities like London and Birmingham. Students are entitled to work full time during the holidays. There is no permission required for most international students to take part-time and vacation work. Students can take up placements or internship placements, which are part of a ‘sandwich course’.

Usually, most jobs are minimum wage jobs like work in fast food joints and department stores. The higher paid jobs involve working in call centres. You should also explore opportunities available in your university. You can earn approximately around 4 - 5 Pound Sterling per hour.

Please note that You should not plan on earning substantial money from a part-time job to help pay for your studies.

For further details, contact the foreign student adviser at the university, after you are enrolled.

Expenses (In Pound Sterling)


Undergraduate

Courses	Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year	Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months)	Average Total Costs per year
Science	8,130	6,600	14,730
Medicine	15,660	6,600	22,660
Others	6,210	6,600	12,810

Postgraduate

Courses	Average Total Tuition Fees per academic year	Average Living Costs per academic year (9 months)	Average Total Costs per year
Science	8,200	6,600	14,800
Medicine	15,450	6,600	22,050
Others	6,303	6,600	12,903

Further Education

Colleges of further education provide for a wide variety of needs and offer
pre-degree courses, English language courses, vocational and professional training. There are over 600 colleges spread all over UK. The average costs below include Diploma and other vocational courses.

Average Tuition Fees per academic year	Average Living Costs per academic year	Average Total Costs per year
3,432	6,600	10,032

For all the cost data above,

• Fees given are averages
• All costs are given in Pound Sterling
• Living costs include accommodation, Energy bills, food etc.
• Costs are according to 1999 session

IAS examination Syllabus

Prelims syllabus for IAS

General Science.

Current events of national and international importance
History of India and Indian National Movement
Indian and World Geography
Indian Polity and Economy
General Mental Ability

Questions on General Science will cover General appreciation and understanding of science including matters of everyday observation and experience, as may be expected of a well-educated person who has not made a special study of any particular scientific discipline. In current events, knowledge of significant national and international events will be tested. In History of India, emphasis will be on broad general understanding of the subject in its social, economic and political aspects. Questions on the Indian National Movement will relate to the nature and character of the nineteenth century resurgence, growth of nationalism and attainment of Independence. In Geography, emphasis will be on Geography of India. Questions on the Geography of India will relate to physical, social and economic Geography of the country, including the main features of Indian agricultural and natural resources. Questions on Indian Polity and Economy will test knowledge of the country’s political system and Constitution of India, Panchayati Raj, Social Systems and economic developments in India. On general mental ability, the candidates will be tested on reasoning and analytical abilities.

Main syllabus for IAS

General Studies
-

The nature and standard of questions in these papers will be such that a well-educated person will be able to answer them without any specialized study. The questions will be such as to test a candidate's general awareness of a variety of subjects, which will have relevance for a career in Civil Services.

Paper-I

(a) History of Modern India and Indian Culture The History of Modern India will cover history of the Country from about the middle of nineteenth century and would also include questions on important personalities who shaped the Freedom Movement and Social reforms. The part relating to Indian Culture will cover all aspects of Indian Culture from the ancient to modern times.

(b) Geogrphy of India In this part, questions will be on the physical, economic and social geography of India.

(c) Indian Polity This part will include questions on the Constitution of India, Political system and related matters.

(d) Current National issues and topics of social relevance This part is intended to test the Candidate's awareness of current national issues and topics of social relevance in the present-day India, such as the following.

Demography & Human Resource & related issues. Behavioural & Social issues & Social Welfare problems, such as child labour, gender equality, adult literacy, rehabilitation of the handicapped and other deprived segments of the society, drug abuse, public health etc.

Law enforcement issues, human rights, corruption in public life, communal harmony etc. Internal Security and related issues.

Environmental issues, ecological preservation, conservation of natural resources and national heritage.

The role of national institutions, their relevance and need for change.

General Studies
-

Paper-II

(a) India and the World

This part is intended to test candidate's awareness of India's relationship with the world in various spheres, such as the following:-
Foreign Affairs
External Security and related matters
Nuclear Policy
Indians abroad

(b) Indian Economy In this part, questions will be on the planning and economic development in India, economic & trade issues, Foreign Trade, the role and functions of I.M.F., World Bank, W.T.O. etc.

(c) International Affairs & Institutions

This part will include questions on important events in world affairs and on international institutions.

(d) Developments in the field of science & technology, communications and space In this part, questions will test the candidate's awareness of the developments in the field of science & technology, communications and space and also basic ideas of computers.

(e) Statistical analysis, graphs and diagrams

This part will include exercises to test the candidate's ability to draw common sense conclusions from information presented in statistical, graphical or diagrammatical form and to point out deficiencies, limitations or inconsistencies therein.

Career in IAS

What Are You Looking For In A Career?

An average educated person aspires for three things Position, Respect and Security. If you re looking for the same, then the civil Services is the right choice as it assures all these in a relatively short span of time.

Civil Services As A Career:

The Civil Services of India have always conjured up visions of fantasy and glory f or many a youth and numerous parents who keeping entertaining ambitions and dreams of their children blossoming into I.A.S and I.P.S. officers. The Civil Services considered as one of the premier services, offer an attractive and challenging career to the ambitious, the aspiring and the talented, with a wide variety of jobs having relatively greater sphere of authority and power than any other services in India.

What Are the Civil services?

Higher Civil Services under the Central Government are classified into All India services and Central Services. The All India Services comprise the Indian Administrative Service, the Indian Police service and the Indian Forest service. These Services are named so because they are common to both central as well as the state Governments. The Central Services constitute those services which work for the Central Government and comprise services like the Indian foreign Service, Indian Revenue Service, Indian Customs & central Excise Service, Indian Railway services, Indian postal Service, Indian Information Service etc.

Indian Administrative Service (I.A.S):

The Indian Administrative Service is considered to be the premier service in India and offers an attractive, challenging career. The members of the I.A.S. serve the state Governments or the Central Government and assist them in the administration of the country. Members of this service hold various administrative posts like District Collector, Heads of Departments, Heads of Public Enterprises at the state level etc. They can also be posted on deputation to the Central Government to the various posts.

Indian Police Service (I.P.S):

The Indian Police Service is primarily concerned with maintenance of Law and Order in the country. This is the premier uniformed civil service in the country. An I.P.S officer works for both the Central and State Governments. He serves the State Government in various capacities ranging from Assistant Superintendent of Police at the beginning of his career to the Director General of Police (who is the head of the police force in his state) at the stage of retirement. He can also serve the Central Government in various organizations like the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Central Bureau of Investigation, Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) etc.

Indian Foreign Service:

The Indian Foreign Service is a Central Service and the premier diplomatic service of our country. Members of this service, primarily represent the country in the international arena. The service offers immense exposure to different political, social, ethnic and cultural milieu. An I.F.S officer can be posted in 160 odd Indian Embassies and Missions abroad. They can also be deputed to institutions like United Nations, UNESCO, World Bank, SAARC, etc. Back home, they can be posted in various parts of the country as Passport Officers.

Indian Revenue Service (I.R.S):

This service deals with the matters concerning Income Tax. The members of this service, begin their career as Assistant Commissioners of Income Tax and may rise to the level of Chief Commissioners of Income Tax.

Indian Custom and Central Excise Service:

The members of this service man the Customs and the Central Excise Departments. They begin their Career as Assistant Collectors of Customs/Central Excise and may rise up in the hierarchy to the level of Chief Collector of Customs.

Other Services:

There are various other services like the Indian Railway Services, the Indian Postal Service, the Indian Information Service etc., which deal with various functional areas.

How To Achieve These Coveted Positions?

Entry into these services is through a combined, competitive examination held on an All India basis. The allocation of services depends upon the rank achieved by the aspirant and his / her preference. To appear at the Civil Service Examination one has to be a Citizen of India, between the age group of 21-30 years and must hold a degree from any recognized university.

Java Vs C++

Java Vs C++

FEATURES PRESENT IN C++ AND ABSENT IN JAVA:
Pointers – Referencing and Dereferencing arbitrary memory locations
Reference Variable – To explicitly allow both calls by value and reference without use of pointers
Structures and Unions – Packing aggregate data types into named contiguous memory locations
Global Data – To facilitate modular software development using shared data paradigm
Implicit Typecasting – Automatic casting of data to the best fitting compatible data types
Operator Overloading – Syntactic sugar used to modify operator semantics relative to a class
Destructors – To free dynamic memory and finalize an object at its exact time of destruction
Multiple Inheritance – Multiple base classes for a derived class in an inheritance network
Default Arguments – Default values for function arguments if not explicitly specified in a program
FEATURES PRESENT IN JAVA AND ABSENT IN C++:
Unicode support – Allows international character sets to be encoded in a java character or string
Garbage Collection – Automatic Finalization of objects when the Reference Counter hits zero
Packages – To group like classes into a single namespace called a package
>>> – The unsigned right shift operator in addition to other C++ bitwise operators
Documentation Comments – For automatic documentation generation using “javadoc”
Interfaces – A Class prototype with no implementation, to allow flexible inheritance and callbacks
Labeled Break and Continue – To resolve any ambiguity relating to the target of a break/continue
OTHER DIFFERENCES:

JAVA C++
Java has built-in multithreading support in the
form of Thread classes, synchronization
primitives, mutual exclusion etc.

The Boolean Data type cannot be treated as an
integer with 0 or 1 values

Thrown exceptions must have a handler which
either handles the exception’s class or one of
its base classes

All exceptions must be classes derived from a
inheritance network whose root is the
Throwable class


C++
OS dependent external libraries like POSIX
Threads, Win32 Threads have to be used to
implement multithreaded applications

C++ internally represents Booleans as follows
false = 0, true = any non-zero value

Exceptions need not be caught in C++. Such
unhandled exceptions are handled by calling
the “abort” routine to terminate the program

The scope of an access control indicator in a
class is limited to a single variable or function
declaration statement

How to face an interview

A JOB interview can be a nerve-wracking experience if you are not prepared and lack self-confidence.

We present a few tips that will help you to brush up on your interview skills and come out as a winner from your next interview!

1. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early. This will give you ample time to catch your breath, gather your thoughts and make a quick trip to the washroom to give your appearance one final check. To avoid unnecessary stress, choose your interview attire the night before.

2. Greet the interviewer by his or her last name. If you are unsure of the pronunciation, do ask the employer to repeat it. Or better still, check it with the front desk personnel or receptionist before walking into the interview room.

3. Let the interviewer lead the conversation but try to get him/her to describe the position and duties to you early in the interview. This will allow you to apply your background, skills and achievements to the position.

4. When asked: "Tell me about yourself?", focus your answers on your background and a few professional and personal accomplishments.

5. Stress on your achievements. For example: your sales records, the processes you have developed or systems installed, projects that you initiated, etc.

6. Show enthusiasm. This can be demonstrated through verbal and non-verbal cues (for example, appropriate body language like nodding can be used to support your interest). Enthusiastic feedback can enhance your chances of being further considered.

7. Answer questions by speaking in terms of the position. Emphasise what you can do for the company. Mention specific accomplishments that show your abilities and determination to succeed in this job. Your answers describe the position and duties to you early in the interview. This will allow you to apply your background, skills and achievements to the position. should tell the employer why you would be an asset to the company and not why you need a job.

8. Bring an extra copy of your resume.

9. Explain whenever possible; don't answer with a simple "yes" or "no."

Be prepared to answer questions such as:

* Tell me about yourself.
* Tell me about your background and accomplishments.
* What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
* How would you describe your most recent job performance?
* What interests you about our company?

Also, be prepared to ask questions such as:

* What would I be expected to accomplish in this position?
* What are the greatest challenges in this position?
* How do you think I fit the position?

Remember, your lack of questions may be mistaken as lack of interest in the job.

Summary

If you are interested in the position, stress this to the interviewer. If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, do not let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in you may seem to discourage you as a way of testing your reaction. Remember to thank the interviewer for his/her time and end the session with a confident and firm handshake.

Resume Writing

Resume
The first interface you have with your employer
Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the most of this opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your resume into a catching one.
Follow These Basic Standards....
• Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.
• Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
• Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
• Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
• Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to "rag."
• Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
• Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
• Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer.
• Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided
• Print on one side of the paper only.
Avoid Mistakes:
SPELLING MISTAKES:
To avoid spelling mistakes:
• Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.
• Use a dictionary as you write.
• Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
• Carefully read every word in your resume.
• Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.
PUNCTUATION MISTAKES:
Things to look for:
• Periods at the end of all full sentences.
• Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
• Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.
• Avoid using exclamation points.
GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES:
Grammar hang-ups to watch for:
• Do not switch tenses within your resume.
• The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)
• Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote reports).
• Capitalize all proper nouns.
• When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one, five, seven), but
• use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).
• If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service awards won while employed.).
• Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or 11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
• Choose Your Words Carefully:
• Phrase yourself well:
• Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:
• accept (to receive), except (to exclude)
• all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)
• affect (to bring about change), effect (result)
• personal (private), personnel (staff members)
• role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
• Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).
REFERENCES:
In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference. Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothing
STICK TO THE POINT
Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume. Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to describe relevant work experience.
WORDS COUNT
Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written, compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small, digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such as "developed", "managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I". Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say, "managed": that sounds stronger and more active.
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE
Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's efficiency" doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.
HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY
Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your experience and exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.
DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES
Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye. Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman