The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Time for TNPCEE exams

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 18, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Time for TNPCEE exams

K. Ramachandran

The TNPCEE requires methodical preparation. Count less on luck and more on solid work, Count less on luck and more on methodical preparation

DO'S: Read the directions carefully
Look for hints in the question itself
DON'Ts: Don't select an alternative just because you remember it

Don't be wowed by fancy or impressive terms in the question!

CHENNAI: This weekend several students will take the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination. This crucial test decides the entry prospects for all students who want to join most professional courses in the State.

Every year's TNPCEE is a crucial value addition for the next batch. With right preparation, you can maximise your chances of doing well.

What to do

Get all specimen and previous (solved) papers. Be sure of the examination format and kind of questions, and parts of the curriculum that can help you safely answer enough questions.

Make flexible preparation plans so as to spend extra time on `harder topics', review and if needed catch up where needed.

Reduce the bulk of your notes down to key ideas or information.

Formulate questions and answer them.

Make questions banks and summarise.

Re-visit topics you do not understand.

Assess you own answers.

To develop memory, use even silly techniques such as revision diagrams, pasting `post-it' stickers at convenient places. Take decent breaks. End every session with a quick memory test.

The State Board theory examinations were easy. Obviously, the TNPCEE 2005 will be a little tougher than normal in physical sciences. Mathematics will continue to be the toughest paper, says Jayaprakash Gandhi of Turning Point, Salem.

Last year, of the 1.49 lakh students, only 282 got 45 out of 50 in Mathematics, while 3,940 got 45 plus in Physical Sciences, and 8,900 similar scores in Biology.

Obviously physical sciences are bound to be tougher. For example, in the Chemistry section, 10 out of 60 questions are from inorganic, 19 from Physical Chemistry and 31 from Organic Chemistry. Therefore, be sure of concepts in organic.

In Mathematics, 15-16 questions out of 90 are from Differential Calculus. Each of these 15 questions would take 1 min and 45 seconds (plus 15 seconds for shading).

So don't start with this part. Keep it for the last. In Physics, all chapters except `The universe', Spectra and Optical instruments are allotted 6 - 8 questions each. Do not leave out the chapter on electronics and electricity (as many do in the Plus-Two theory paper).

In essence, expect more problem-based rather than concept-based papers in Physical Sciences.

Last year, there were legal problems due to two `close or similar' answers. This time do not expect such options. It will hopefully be clearer. Another physics expert, M. Dakshinamoorthy of Aspire says that unlike the Board examinations, the TNPCEE provides each unit in the subject an appropriate weightage and questions are asked from the entire book.

Mathematics expert Padma says students have to prepare for the entrance examinations more effectively without any loss of time. So time management is crucial.

Identifying right answer

Instead of working out the problems in detail, it is always important to check the parameters wherever possible to identify the right answers. Wherever feasible, apply logical elimination of wrong answers. Only the remaining answer choices will have to be verified and checked.

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