Strategies to handle difficult passages in RC

May 21st, 2010

Reading Comprehension is one of the most important sections in almost all the competitive exams and the same holds true for CAT as well. The RC section requires one to analyze and evaluate passages from various topics say Economics, Literature, Philosophy, Science, History, Politics etc. One who is planning to write CAT should start early by extensive reading of such texts. (You can consider various sources: The Hindu, Open page etc.). MBAGuru students have an upper edge as they have access to thousands of such articles selected by Wharton, Chicago, IIMs and ISB.

Please remember while reading that: “Reading is not about words.” Instead, it is about creating a mental framework that helps you process words and ideas. Reading should be followed by RC tests of good quality. However, only taking tests is analogous to “looking at oneself in the mirror, spotting the dirt and complaining again and again – my face is dirty, my face is dirty.” As washing the face is important, similarly analyzing the RC and evaluating the answers is very important!

To attack an RC -

Firstly, while reading, keep some basic questions in mind: What is the objective of the speaker? What is the purpose of using example? Is there a cause-effect relationship? etc. Also, focus on the topic, scope, purpose, main idea and paragraph structure. Pretend that you have a partner or your job is to explain him or yourself what the passage is about in 10 seconds. Whisper it to yourself! This would help you paraphrase because anything that shifts your thoughts from concrete data to abstract notions, such as the main idea or the purpose, will help you.

Secondly, watch out for words that signal author’s opinion, feelings, tones and that trigger cause effect relationship. If the author notes any challenges/doubts about a particular hypothesis or argument, make a mental note.

Thirdly, don’t memorize, don’t get bogged down by details. Note the location of the details.

In case of abstract RCs, don’t worry if all details are not immediately comprehensible because in such a case, what is important is the key idea!

Fourthly, while answering the questions, one can very briefly scan each paper as fast as possible and mentally make bullet points of the main purpose of each paragraph. For example, if there are three paragraphs, there should be three points. Then, questions yourself what is the author trying to do here? Why has he/she presented the information in this order? What is his/her intent?

The idea is to reverse engineer the end point and go back to the moment when the author was just beginning to lay out his ideas on paper. These thoughts will help you think from the author’s perspective and the point of removing your eye from the RC passage is to remove any chance that you would let what is in front of your eye influence your thinking subconsciously.

Finally, elimination of options is very important. For example, you can eliminate options on the following basis: out of scope, incorrect data, redundant information, extreme words etc.

- ASHISH RANA

Ashish is one of the youngest and most passionate CAT trainers at MBAGuru, India’s fastest growing CAT Coaching Institute! And it is these qualities that make him a favorite among MBAGuru students across Delhi centres. Extremely approachable and ever-so-polite, his demeanor proves extremely effective when it comes to helping MBAGuru students learn the nuances of English and communication.

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Is an MBA Degree Worth Pursuing?

May 21st, 2010

MBAs have always been considered sure-fire investments, much like owning a house.  But, now that the United States economy is shifting in a direction it hasn’t seen in a while, the actual worth of an MBA these days is up for debate. If you research the worth of an MBA, you will find that the lines are divided, particularly when it comes to one of the latest buzzwords in the field—ROI.

ROI, or “Return on Investment,” is usually related to gauging the worth of products or services in the business world. But ROI is being applied to MBAs more and more these days, which can make the decision about enrolling in an MBA program exponentially difficult.

Graduate students pursue MBA degrees for a variety of different reasons.

  • Most MBA students enroll at least partially in hopes of advancing in their professional life and, consequently, making more money.
  • Some students earn an MBA at the behest of the company for which they work,
  • Few others enroll in an MBA graduate school in order to start up their own businesses.

These are all valid reasons for pursuing an MBA, and if you’re someone who has his or her sights set on that corner office with the fantastic view, then an MBA is mandatory.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has released its survey, which indicates that MBA degrees continue to lead their holders to increased salaries and that most students express satisfaction with the MBA programs they choose. When it came to being satisfied with the quality of the MBA program they chose, three-fifths of the students surveyed gave the value of their degrees such adjectives as “outstanding” and “excellent.” Full-time MBA students reported that they expected to increase their salary by 54 percent, while part-time students expected a 43 percent salary increase. Executive program students expected to increase their salary by 33 percent after graduation.  And over the course of a career, that’s some pretty astounding ROI, with returns way over the initial cost of investment.

However, many of the benefits of an MBA degree may not be reflected in a huge salary or prestigious job position. There are many less tangible gains to be had as a degree holder when you take into consideration the importance of having the ability to “speak business speak” and thrive in the business culture. Apart from social and business networks, you can also gain adept group communication skills from the MBA experience. At most business schools, the case method and class participation make up an important part of the curriculum. In a business school setting, you learn when to interact, when to keep silent and listen to others, when to be serious, and when to use humor to break the ice. This same group power dynamic exists in many business situations, from board meetings to team projects. Mastering the art of communicating in a group setting is one of the things that distinguish successful people from the rest, and it is learned very powerfully in a B-school.

BOTTOM LINE

To quote the old adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” and so is the worthiness of an MBA.

One should examine the pros and cons of attending an MBA program against his/her long-term goals and the relevance of the MBA in achieving those goals. Often, many lose sight of the real intent of higher education – racing more towards the finish line (and the purported dollar signs) and forget to maximize the experience right in front of them. It is an opportunity to grow professionally and personally. You will likely be tested in ways you never imagined undergoing a tough MBA program. The MBA is worth it if you know what you can gain out of it. It is not an automatic passport to success; it won’t bring you instant fame and fortune. For that, you have to use the grey matter in between your ears. You’ll just have some MBA leverage to help you along, that’s all.

- PAVNEET TANDON

An English (Hon) from the prestigious JMC (DU), Pavneet is an expert English trainer for the CAT and the GMAT and mentors students at MBAGuru, INDIA’s Fastest Growing CAT Coaching Institute across its Delhi centres. Her adaptive style of teaching cuts across backgrounds and learning stages of students and helps them transition to their respective next levels.

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B-school choices: Too few or too many

May 21st, 2010

Every year, over 2 lakh candidates appear in CAT and other allied entrance exams. Few of them get a seat in the top 15-20 colleges, but for the rest of them, the admission to a B-school of their choice remains a perennial dream. At some point, it becomes a Hobson’s choice for some of them. Every business school is a little bit different, and choosing the right one for you can be an in-depth process that requires prospective students to consider a variety of factors. Discussed below are the factors to be considered while choosing a B-school and how to map your expectations against these.

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE CHOOSING A B-SCHOOL

Perhaps, one of the most important things to consider while choosing an MBA program is to understand what you expect to get out of it once you’ve completed the program. Through a drilldown of your intended career map, you can actually figure out whether pursuing an MBA will give you the experience and skills you need to reach your goals you had aimed for or not. After getting a positive answer, you should then consider if you are interested in certain specific sectors, which in turn will depend on your current field of study OR understanding whether a management degree having general functions common to all business segments (Marketing, Finance, HR etc) will be sufficient for you. You should then consider the following factors while looking for a B-school.

  1. Degree: The degree offered by the B-school should match your preference. The various programs available for aspirants are given below:

Two-year full-time programme; 1 year full-time programme; 3-year part-time programme; Full-time Executive programme for working professionals ranging from 15 to 18 months; Short term Executive Development Programme (EDP) lasting anywhere between 7 and 13 weeks; Phd. Programme

The degree has to be recognized by AICTE and the institute has to be approved by UGC and AIU (Association of Indian Universities).

  1. Cost: Cost plays a very important role in your selection of a particular B-school. Please enquire whether the business school has tie-ups with any bank for education loan or not. A tie-up with a nationalized bank would be a better option. In cases of unrecognized institutes, the bank may still provide a loan if the student is able to furnish adequate collateral.
  2. Curriculum: If you are interested in a particular sector, please go through the course structure of that sector. You should also go through colleges, which have good reputation in specific fields. It is important to consider the amount of real world experience you will get through your sectoral preferences. Some offer internships and networking opportunities while others are geared towards those who have already been working. The curriculum is designed accordingly.
  3. Quality of Faculty and students: A vital factor that distinguishes an institute is the quality of the faculty members. Generally, B-Schools have a mix of full-time and part-time faculty members. It is essential for any good institute to have that optimal mix. Almost all institutes have detailed profiles of their faculty members, their educational background, industry links, research and teaching experience on their website. The full-time faculty team provides stabilizing factor that is needed over the two-year period. The part-time faculty team gives students the external exposure and access to live projects. One way of getting to know the quality of the faculty team at these institutes is to speak to those students already studying at the institute. Generally, students give a genuine picture about the quality of the faculty members.

The best B-schools are those where one interacts with the best students. Good students always study in a good institute. A great peer group steepens the learning curve of a student. Much of the learning that takes place at any B-School is on account of the group activities like group work and group projects. Hence, if the students are brighter, the learning experience gets richer. The quality of the selection process adopted by the B-school gives you an idea about the quality of the students it admits. As a general rule, students should generally favour a residential programme rather than commuting each day, to enhance the peer-to-peer interaction.

  1. Placements: All tall claims of 100% placement SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN at face value, but should be scrutinized thoroughly through various information channels, mainly interactive forums on the internet. Most, if not all, of these forums always give an impartial view. You can also enquire about such claims from the students currently studying at these institutes. Most business schools will willingly supply placement statistics to interested applicants. Checking recruiter records and speaking with former graduates of the school will also give you further insight. The kind of salaries offered by institutes will prove to be an important factor. Please don’t consider the average salary but the MEDIAN salary while browsing through the placement records. Also consider this figure across specializations (mainly the ones that you desire) and not only on the overall figure.

An important factor that most students miss is the average number of offers that each student gets at these schools. The IIMs and other top institutes have an average of 2-3 offers per student, which drops to one offer as one goes down through the ratings list. What this parameter indicates is the huge amount of choice that a student typically has in terms of companies and the jobs being offered at top B-Schools.

  1. Reputation: Good B-schools don’t advertise too much, while the lesser ones rely on these channels PROMINENTLY to spread themselves. However, students should not be too unwilling to join the newer institutes, if they are established under the aegis of a very big brand institute. A very relevant example is the newer IIMs. Ultimately brand does matter; hence, too many doubts should not be cast on the quality, which, rest assured, is not compromised at these institutes.
  2. Infrastructure and Location: One of the most essential things for an institute to function satisfactorily is the availability of necessary infrastructure. A student should necessarily give preference to library and Internet facilities while evaluating the institute on infrastructural grounds. They should not get too carried away by the other tertiary facilities offered (Laptops, foreign tours etc). In some cases, the institutes have very good infrastructural facilities but little in terms of other factors. At the end of the day, human resource is the critical differentiating factor that these institutes are unable to meet.

Finally, for those who are thinking whether to do an MBA after having some work experience or not, you have to understand that it is not a simple decision. For freshers having an undergraduate degree from a very good college and with good results have an upper edge in the GP/PI phase of selection. Otherwise, some work experience is desirable, if not mandatory. For those who are working, consider whether or not you would be able to quit your job if the program required you to (necessary for a 2 yr program and but can be optional for 1 yr-program at ISB) and still support yourself financially. It’s going to take up a lot of your time and money, and can have a big impact on your lifestyle. Giving time to both, work and B-school, can have an impact on your family and personal life as well, hence make sure you have explored all your options and weighed the pros and cons before committing to a program or B-school.

Best wishes for this critical decision!

- DIPAK MISHRA

Dipak is an MBA from the prestigious IISWBM, Kolkotta – India’s Oldest B-School founded in 1953, and the home of learning for many a distinguished business leader. A QA faculty at MBAGuru, India’s fastest growing CAT Coaching Institute, Dipak is immensely popular among the students as much for his QA fundae as for his affable nature. At MBAGuru, Delhi, Dipak also is a designated mentor for students seeking help with institute application forms and guidance. 

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The World of Words

April 27th, 2010

First-rate Vocabulary is imperative for a far above the sectional cut off in a CAT score and a necessity for other MBA exams also. Vocabulary is something that is very vast. The more you learn, the more you find to learn. That’s why Vocabulary building is considered a continuous process leading to continuous learning. In both, Sentence Completion Section and Reading comprehension section of the CAT, you will come across many difficult words. Even if you could increase your word power marginally, it could mean many more correct answers and a significantly higher score.
A good vocabulary is inextricably linked to a good memory. To have a deep and wide vocabulary, a student needs a very good reminiscence. But then, not everyone is prodigious. So, what is the solution?

Well, here I have tried to collate certain suggestions that will certainly help and encourage those of you who think that cramming words is not their cup of tea.

Read, Read, Read! There is no short cut to develop an impressive Vocabulary. Most of the words are learned by understanding the context. The more words you’re exposed to, the better vocabulary you will have. Whenever you read, pay close attention to words that you don’t know. First, try to infer meanings from the context in which they have been used. Then, look for the word meanings in the dictionary. Read and listen to challenging material so that you’ll be exposed to many new words. Noting down the words on a paper gives great results as this aids better remembrance. Use these papers as flash cards to revise words that you have learned.

Make up as many associations and connections as possible. Say the word aloud to trigger your auditory memory. Relate the word to words that you already know. For example, the word Behemoth (very large) has a similar meaning to the words gigantic, huge, large, etc. You could make a sequence: small, medium, large, very large, Behemoth.

Focus on word usage, which is more important. Be inquisitive about what each word means when used as a noun, verb etc. Do a search on a word using online dictionaries to get many examples of how the word is actually used. For example, a simple sounding word like hammer can have different meanings.
Hammer -noun

1. a tool consisting of a solid head, usually of metal, set crosswise on a handle, used for beating metals, driving nails, etc.

2. one of the padded levers by which the strings of a piano are struck.

3. Anatomy. the malleus.

Hammer-verb (used with object)

1. to beat or drive (a nail, peg, etc.) with a hammer.

2. to produce with or by force (often fol. by out): to hammer out a tune on the piano; to hammer a home run.

3. to form, construct, or make with or as if with a hammer; build by repeated, vigorous, or strenuous effort (often fol. by out or together): to hammer out an agreement; to hammer together a plot.

Hammer–verb (used without object)

1. to strike blows with or as if with a hammer.

2. to make persistent or laborious attempts to finish or perfect something (sometimes fol. by away): He hammered away at his speech for days.

Idiom

Under the hammer – for sale at public auction: The old estate and all its furnishings went under the hammer.

So, a single word can convey a lot of meanings.

Revise, Revise, Revise! As soon as you learn a new word, start using it. Review your flash cards periodically to see if you have forgotten any of your new words. Keep in mind that Rome was not built in a day.
Use mnemonics (memory tricks). For example, consider the word EGREGIOUS (extremely bad). Think about EGG REACH US – imagine we’ve made a mistake so bad that they are throwing eggs at us and a rotten EGG REACHes US. Egregious means extraordinary in some bad way, glaring, gross. Such funny little word pictures will help you remember what words mean, and they are fun to make up. Also, find out which learning style suits you best. Everyone learns differently!

Play with words. Play Scrabble, Boggle, and do crossword puzzles. These and other word games are available online, so you are not dependent on a partner to play.

Use vocabulary lists. For a serious vocabulary student, there are many books that focus on the words most commonly found in standardized tests. For root words, you can either choose some book or download a list of root words along with their meanings. By the time you complete the book, you will have had a good word bank with you. One great book in regard is “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis.

Take online vocabulary tests. Playing games that test your knowledge will help you learn new words and also let you know how much progress you’re making.

Get excited about words! Come to appreciate subtle differences between words. Do you know the difference between something that denotes something else and something that connotes something else? If not, go look it up. Learn to say what you really mean and discover the joys of being able to express yourself in writing. Your future can depend on how affluent your vocabulary is. It will also determine the quality of your communication. So, be in it for the long pull. Let building your vocabulary be a lifelong proposition. Remember: “In the beginning was the word.” Until you have a word for something, it does not exist for you. Name it, and you have made your reality richer.

Make best use of the available technology. Install Wordweb on your computer to quickly refer to the word meanings. Using online dictionaries is far more convenient than using conventional dictionaries. It saves a lot of effort and energy.

Some suggested online dictionary resources:

Merriam-webstar.com

Dictionary.reference.com

Ask a question.com

Peeplo.com

Moreover, all the MBAGuru students have the privilege of learning Vocabulary through Audio-Visual sessions, which is one of our USPs. This further makes this exigent task a cakewalk.

- PAVNEET TANDON

An English (Hons) from the prestigious JMC (DU), Pavneet is an expert English trainer for the CAT and the GMAT and mentors students at MBAGuru, INDIA’s Fastest Growing CAT Coaching Institute across its Delhi centres. Her adaptive style of teaching cuts across backgrounds and learning stages of students and helps them transition to their respective next levels.

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Start it Right to Get it Right

April 27th, 2010

They say, “Well begun is half done“, and it could not have been more aptly out for CAT aspirants. Though there is no substitute for hardwork, I believe it’s more of smart work that is crucial for your success in CAT. To crack CAT and to become a successful manager, one needs to put in a systematic and planned effort. In my view, there are 2 parts of CAT preparation that you must think through, especially when you start, in order to make the most of your preparation:

First part (written exam preparation)

CAT checks you on clarity of basic fundamentals and application of concepts. So, first of all, gauge your level by taking a diagnostic test (SWOT Analysis) and find out your strengths and weaknesses in all the 3 sections.

1)          Verbal Ability (English)

It is a common observation that people who read a lot are good at this section. So, the first few months should be devoted exclusively to reading and reading “critically and diversely”. For example: Reading editorials (preferably online), start with Novels preferably e-books so that you inculcate the habit of reading online.

Start working on your vocabulary by referring to a dictionary regularly or you can start with “Word power made Easy.” You should go through Guru Fundae books or Wren and Martin to improve your Grammar concepts and the “English usage section.”

2)          Quantitative Analysis (Maths)

Instead of focusing on Tricks and Tips, focus on fundamentals and basic concepts as CAT is about small twists in basic fundas. So, go through the guru fundae books. One should be familiar with numbers and basic formulae. Initially, don’t worry about speed as it will follow with clarity of concepts.

3)          Data Analysis (Reasoning)

I believe mind is like a muscle. As regular exercise is important for our body, similarly, regular practice is important for our mind. Try to solve puzzles, sudoku etc.

One should be familiar with all the different kinds of sets like Venn diagrams, Pie chart, Bar charts etc. Be comfortable and quick with percentages etc.

Second part (broader perspective)

Is your aim only to clear written exam? No. You want to become a good manager. So, what are the skills of a good manager?

i)          Inquisitive Nature/observation

ii)          Analytical skills

iii)         Communication skills

So, do you ever think while taking a Metro – Why it exists? Why do we prefer it? Is it a success or not? If yes, how? What goes behind? How do they make profit? How do they earn by these food joints or advertisements at metro stations? How we can make it more efficient?

Do you participate and listen to debates and group discussions? Have you ever participated in an intellectual debate?

If not, then start Today, inculcate it…..Form a perspective….It will not only help you in clearing GDs and PIs but also help you in the longer run, in life.

- ASHISH RANA

Ashish is one of the youngest and most passionate CAT trainers at MBAGuru, India’s fastest growing CAT Coaching Institute! And it is these qualities that make him a favorite among MBAGuru students across Delhi centres. Extremely approachable and ever-so-polite, his demeanor proves extremely effective when it comes to helping MBAGuru students learn the nuances of English and communication.

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