MSc entrance exam prep tips



At the time of appearing for a postgraduate entrance exam, the stress levels among candidates are extremely high because securing admission at a good college is one of the most important factors of building a successful career ahead. With this, the pressure of performing well in the entrance exam increases all the more for candidates.



Handling any exam requires proper studying and it takes a lot of hard work for candidates to clear an entrance exam with flying colours. However, going through some tips and tricks to pass an entrance exam not only benefit the preparation but also reduces stress levels in candidates.



Most of the prestigious MSc (Master of Science) entrance tests in India are conducted between February and July.



Given below are some important tips to crack top MSc entrance exams in India.



Know MSc entrance exam pattern



Before starting with the preparation, it is important that candidates are aware of the general pattern oftop MSc entrance examsin India.



According to Shiksha expert, Ruchika, MSc entrance exam pattern usually includes MCQs that are both aptitude and subject related.



Aspects about the entrance exam that candidates should be aware about before appearing for the test are as listed below:



It is important to have a good analytical approach for each topic that candidates are preparing.



Mode: While most MSc entrance exams are conducted in the offline mode, some important exams such as IIT JAM are conducted as computer-based tests. Therefore, candidates who are especially aiming at clearing exams like IIT JAM must give some online mock tests in order to get a hang of the computer-based entrance tests.



Duration: Duration of most of the top MSc entrance exams such as NEST and TIFR Entrance Exam is typically three hours. However, the duration might change depending on the college/ university policy and/ or the MSc subject a candidate is giving the exam for.



Type of questions: Questions that appear in MSc entrance exams are usually objective-type Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). However, few MSc entrance exams also include numeric questions. For instance, IIT JAM exam contains a different section for numeric questions, called Numerical Answer Type (NAT). Here, the answer for each question is a number.



Marking scheme: Marking scheme for most MSc entrance exams is such that 1  3 marks are awarded for each correct answer and 0.5  1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. Therefore, candidates are recommended to mark their answers carefully. For exams where negative marking exists, candidates are also recommended not to attempt a question if they are unsure of the answer.



Number of questions: Total number of questions usually varies in different MSc entrance exams depending on the pattern a college/ university is following. However, an MSc entrance exam can typically have questions ranging from 60  150.



Total marks: Similar to the total number of questions, total marks that a candidate can score in an MSc entrance exam also vary. However, maximum marks that candidates can score in the entrance exam can range from 100  450.



Know MSc entrance exam syllabus



The syllabus forMScentrance exams is generally released by the organising college/ university well in advance on their official website. Candidates are recommended to prepare each and every topic mentioned in the syllabus thoroughly to perform well in the exam.



It may be noted that the syllabus for most MSc entrance exams includes candidates BSc (Bachelor of Science) course material. Therefore, if candidates are thorough with their BSc syllabus and have a clear understanding of the concepts studied during graduation, there are high chances of clearing an MSc entrance exam with a good score.



Shiksha expert, Ruchika, states, Candidates should be clear on the basics of the MSc specialisation (such as Physics, Mathematics, Biotechnology, etc.) they are applying for. Also, it is important to have a good analytical approach for each topic that candidates are preparing.



Prepare for the interview round (if applicable)



For admissions in reputed Science colleges/ universities, it is important that candidates are prepared even for next stages of MSc entrance exam (if applicable).



The admission process for majority of MSc courses includes appearing for an entrance exam only after which a merit list of qualified candidates is released and they are offered seats in their respective courses. However, there are some colleges/ universities such asTata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)which also conduct an interview round.







Therefore, candidates are recommended to take some time out of their schedule and prepare well in advance to avoid last minute nervousness during the interview round.



Although there is no set pattern of questions that are asked in interview rounds for MSc college admission. Here, candidates are usually tested on their reasoning ability and scientific aptitude.



Other Tips for MSc Entrance Exam Prep



Besides keeping the above-mentioned points in mind, there are also some other tips that candidates can consider in order to perform well in an MSc entrance exam.



Solve previous years question papers: Solving past year question papers is a significant aspect of MSc entrance exam preparation as it gives candidates a clear idea of what to expect in the exam. Also, solving past years question papers helps candidates in attaining speed during the exam.



Use reference books: Reference books are a good buy for MSc entrance exam preparation as they not only cover the complete syllabus but also contain different sample question papers as well as solved papers. There are many good books available in market that candidates can consider buying depending on the MSc specialisati