Follow the Pattern

Trying for a seat in the famed Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)? If you've got all your information through the JNU website or prospectus, then you know where to begin your preparation for the entrance: the past five-year papers vended by the university. 

The five-year papers cost anything between Rs 10 to 120 by hand at the counter or Rs 25 to 150 by post. Papers for most science programmes have multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The assessment for most science papers includes negative marking, says Prof. K.C. Upadhyaya, director of admissions. The test for undergraduate foreign language degrees carries objective, short answer questions. The papers for M.A in Economics and Geography (regional development) contain both short objective and long questions. 

Prof Upadhyaya says that all papers are “more or less” based on the University Grants Commission (UGC) syllabi.

The M.Sc biotechnology paper also follows the UGC-prescribed syllabus, says Aparna Dixit, Dean, School of Biotechnology. Questions are asked from all offshoots of science. Part A will have MCQs from physics, chemistry maths, and biology of the 10+2 level. You will get to attempt 60 questions of one mark each. Part-B will have Bachelor's-level MCQs from physics, maths, biology (e.g., botany, zoology, biochemistry, microbiology, genetics and molecular biology) and chemistry, requiring thinking and analysis. The candidates will be required to answer 60 questions, each carrying three marks. Physics and chemistry in part A is compulsory while you may choose to attempt 20 questions either from the maths section or from biology (You cannot pick, say, 10 from maths and 10 from biology). This is meant to give a uniform advantage to students of different branches, says Dixit. “ A student should prepare his area of study (at the undergraduate level) well. It will be a balanced paper of knowledge-based and analytical questions.” 

The same goes for options like M.A in politics with specialisation in International Relations or world economy. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, professor of international studies, says aspirants should bone up on their core subject, whatever it’s at the Bachelor's stage. Students should prepare contemporary issues like the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and the global financial meltdown, besides regular topics such as political thought, Gandhi's theory of non-violence and Satyagraha, he suggests. Besides, Prof Chenoy says, rooting for more than one programme (you can apply for up to three) reduces your chances of success. “Focus on only one or a maximum of two.” 

Rahat Bano
Source:www.campus.shine.com