Success Mantra
We live in a competitive world. Either we have to prove our mettle in this performance-oriented society or taste the bad fruit of failure. Right from school, the students are preparing for a variety of entrance exams and giving their best efforts for success. In order to shine in the academics and secure admission in some prestigious institutions or do a professional course like Medicine, Law or Engineering, young students spare no effort. Whereas the available seats in top colleges/ Institutions are limited, the number of aspirants is increasing year-by-year thus necessitating a certain approach, strategy, mentorship, coaching, practice and even study skills.
The board exams are taken by students of a specific geographical region while the National level Exams are taken by students from different parts of India. The quality of questions and the demands of the entrance exam are something very high such that a complacent attitude will be of no help. Considering the rising quality and complexity of the entrance exams like JEE or NEET, it is quite prudent to have a proper schedule, Reference material, coach and environment. Students might have scored so high in state Board’s exams but that doesn’t really lead one to success in tough entrance exams like JEE, NEET or CLAT.
Academic Exams are entirely different from the competitive exams in that the syllabus of many competitive exams like IBPS, RRB, LIC, SSC CGL, RBI, CDS, police, Defence isn’t known to the students when they are still in graduation. Whereas the syllabus for academic exams like Graduation or Post Graduation in any discipline is specific common syllabus for Government jobs would include English, General Knowledge, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude including computer awareness or financial awareness.
It is the quantum of competition and the level of competition that makes any exam tougher than regular degree exams. Out of some thousands of people who compete for a job, finally it is the hundred few who would grab a job of their choice.
Unlike a university exam, in any competitive exam every single mark count and counts towards the selection. There are time limits and even negative marks for wrong answers as such a casual approach or piecemeal strategy doesn’t take you to success.
Each segment in an exam poses specific challenges and the questions are tricky, puzzle like that it is not just awareness but application of the knowledge that matters the most. For instance, reading Comprehension is a common exam area in any type of competitive exam. Students usually do not have such a skill training in the college and are never tested for this core competency in the college exams. In tough exams like SSC CGl, students are expected to read an unknown passage in a speedy manner and then comprehend the whole subject before beginning to answer the questions. The questions are aimed at testing linguistic awareness, vocabulary, contextual details, grammatical aspects and the ability to rightly interpret, judge and analyze some lines in the unknown text.
In Quants segment, students are expected to know short cuts and try the questions. There is a certain method and manner in which the strategists take the questions and for it regular, systematic practice is the key. Students are expected to make faster calculations and count in mind to answer the questions.
Reasoning section is a totally grey area as either principles of logic aren’t taught to anyone in college or its right application. In verbal Reasoning section, the difficulty level is more since the questions are complex and linked to many aspects of language, structure, theme and strategy.
For the post of officers In Defense forces, SSB interviews are conducted which are held for five days in centers like Bangalore, Baranasi and Bhopal. This if followed by Medical Examinations and finally the merit list is announced.
In Police jobs or defense jobs there will be a physical Fitness test that includes long jump, Running, High Jump, Obstacle race etc.
Success doesn’t happen in a day or with little effort. One who wants to be successful, need to learn the fundamentals very well and know all the micro-aspects of a segment in the syllabus.
Perseverance—the quality of withstanding all academic, emotional stress and steadfastness.
Hard work—this is sacrosanct and no compromise. Spend maximum hours in knowing all the contents and knowing each part of the syllabi well.
Smart Approach-- All are writing the same exam and all have a strategy or other. For definite success, we need to have out of box thinking. This is smart approach and is reflects in reading, understanding, answering any question.
Focus-- Some students are strong in some of the subject areas but never bother to improve their weak areas that it becomes the Achilles heel. Success is knowing the weakness and working on it till you don’t feel that it’s an issue.
Adequacy-- Right preparation alone doesn’t suffice but complete preparation does. Prioritization of subject, specific skill in mastering it and sustained practice with possible questions will be supportive.
In some examinations, there will be tests to check the candidate’s ability to write well, argue and analyze. For this purpose, linguistic competence and good vocabulary form the two wheels and it is advised that students take some sample topics, practice under exam conditions before the actual test. There are some good websites like www.writeandimprove.com using which they can practice well
Aspirants should take professional help for success in this last event so as to make the journey complete. It is not just communication and body language that are checked but your spontaneous ability, judgmental ability, forethought, sagacity, wit and reaction etc are all completely checked against the set standards.
Personality development is another important aspect here!