What to expect in TISS-NET 2013 exam
Ipsita Sarkar Gupta | shiksha.com
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) will conduct its computer-based National Entrance Test (NET), known as TISS-NET, on December 22, 2013, in 35 centres located across the country. The test is conducted for various MA / MSc / MPH/ MHA courses offered by the institute. Their MA in Human Resource Management & Labour Relations (HRM-LR) is quite a sought after specialisation. Unlike other MBA and PGDM courses, HRM-LR focuses on ‘developing students into professionally competent and socially sensitive management graduates, fully equipped to take on the challenges of the corporate world’.
Paper Pattern
TISS-NET exam comprises three sections – General Knowledge; Analytical Ability, Logical Reasoning; and English Proficiency. The exam contains 100 questions to be attempted in 1 hour 40 minutes. Each question carries one mark. There is no negative marking or sectional cut-off in the exam.
General Knowledge
Since TISS focuses on social sciences, the GK section contains several questions from latest social or NGO-related activities. “GK is the toughest part of the paper. Candidates can expect a variety of questions on world politics, chemical and nuclear weapons, Syrian civil war, Egypt’s ongoing political crisis and so on,” says an expert from Erudite Coaching. There’ll also be questions on static GK.
Analytical Ability, Logical Reasoning
The level of this section is easy when compared to CAT and IIFT. Maths is also fairly easy. Candidates need to brush up basics in Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. In 2012, questions were based on non-verbal reasoning with figures, Time and Work, Volume, Number System, Averages, Area, Series, Profit and Loss, Statement-Conclusion.
English Proficiency
Though there is an emphasis on verbal section, the questions are simple. Candidates can expect reading comprehension, grammar-based questions, analogy question, para jumbling, antonyms, etc. Earlier, there was 40-50% weightage on this section. However, now it has been reduced to 30-35%.
Expert advice
“Speed is king in TISS-NET paper. Candidates have to attempt 100 questions in 160 minutes. There is emphasis on GK and English proficiency. Realistically, if one manages to score 86% or above, can expect a call,” says Ankur Agarwal, Endeavour Careers.
“The hard part is GK,” says the expert from Erudite Coaching. “Research well on current affairs and socio-economic happenings. While the difficulty level of Maths is mediocre, doing well in GK and English is necessary.”
