Foundation Course

Semester 4
224

15

INTRODUCTION
TO
COMPETITIVE
EXAMS

Unit Structure
15.0 Objectives
15.1 Introduction
15.2 Exams conducted for entry into professional courses
15.3 Exams conducted for entry into jobs
15.4 Soft Skills required for Competitive Exams
15.5 Summary
15.6 Unit End Questions

15.0 OBJECTIVES

1. To know the pattern of Various Examinations

2. To get the information about the exams conducted for the

entry into jobs

3. To become aware about the various soft skills

4. To use the time effectively

5. To become aware about the goals of life

15.1 INTRODUCTION

Examinations are conducted to evaluate a person of his

knowledge or ability. There are different types of examinations like
qualifying or competitive exams. Qualifying exams are conducted to
evaluate certain kind of knowledge or skills; they are decided as per
the course. After completing a particular course or during the
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course these exams are conducted. Here the number of students

are limited. Competitive exams are conducted either to qualify a
candidate for a particular course or to give entry into the institution.
Competitive exams are also conducted for selecting a person for a
job. Clearing a Competitive exam will help a person to enter into his
Dream College or institution or to pursue his dream job. This
section will help students to get some vital information about those
exams. Some of the major institutions of government conducts
these examinations. To clear these exams dedicated efforts along
with certain soft skills are required. One should have clear
knowledge of one‘s goals, should know how to use time effectively
for getting success in competitive exams.

15.2 EXAMS CONDUCTED FOR ENTRY INTO

PROFESSIONAL COURSES

Competitive exams are considered as an integral part

for the entry into elite institutions to get an admission. They are also
called as entrance exams. There is more number of students and
limited numbers of seats, admission tests are the solution for
selecting deserving students for the specific course. Through these
exams the best talented candidates are selected, entrance exams
mainly evaluate quantitative aptitude,verbal reasoning, logical
reasoning, aptitude, intelligent quotient,lateral thinking etc. Rigorous
training, systematic planning and hard work are the keys to face the
entrance exams. In some of the institutions entrance exams are
followed by group discussion and interview. . Entrance exams in
India are more common to professional courses like MBA. Institutes
and

15.2.1 Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Graduate Record Examination is the basic admission

requirement for many graduate schools for the various academic
programmes (except management) in United States and in some of
the English speaking countries. The exam aims to measure verbal
reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing and critical
thinking skills that have been acquired over a long period of time it
is not related to specific study or subject. The GRE General Test is
offered as a computer-based exam administered by selected
qualified testing centres. To appear for these tests no minimum
qualification as such is prescribed but it is expected that candidate
must be a graduate or must complete graduation within six months.
This exam is conducted by The Educational Testing Service(ETS),
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Princeton, New Jersy. The ETS administered the exam under the
direction of the Graduate Record Examination Board. ETS sets the
questions, conducts the test, and sends each examinee the score
report. For the conduct of the test, ETS has appointed Testing
Agencies in various countries, which act as franchisee for ETS. In
India, this agency is the "Sylvan Testing Services Pvt Ltd" which
administers the test at 9 centres in the country: Ahmedabad,
Allahabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai,
New Delhi, and Trivandrum. GRE do not have same set of
question paper for all candidates. The test is held throughout the
year, an examinee has to choose the day and timing for the
examination.

The computer-based GRE General Test consists of six

sections. The first section is about the analytical writing , there are
two sections on verbal reasoning and two sections on quantitative
reasoning, last section is of experimental or research section.
There is no fixed order of these sections. The entire test duration is
3 hours 45 minut

15.2.2 Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)

The Graduate Management Admission Test is a

standardized, computer-based assessment. More than 5,400
programs offered by more than 1,500 universities and institutions in
83 countries use the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for
their programs site. This exam is for getting admission into the
business schools for the academic programs like M.B.A, Master of
Accountancy and some other programs. This exam is administered
throughout the world round the year with the highest level of
security. It is conducted in selected test centres in more than 110
countries. According to a survey conducted by Kaplan Test Prep,
the GMAT is still the number one choice for MBA aspirants despite
the increasing acceptability of GRE scores.

The GMAT exam measures skills that help graduate

management students to able to face the challenges of the
academicprogramme. This exam tests the Quantitative aptitude,
the verbal reasoning , integrated reasoning and analytical writing.
For testing quantitative and verbal skills multiple choice questions
areasked.Total testing time is three and a half hours, but test
takers should plan for a total time of approximately four hours, with
breaks. The quantitative and verbal sections of the GMAT exam,
both multiple-choice, are administered in the computer-adaptive
format, adjusting to a test taker‘s level. This both shortens the time
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it takes to complete the exam and establishes a higher level of

accuracy than a fixed test. At the start of each multiple-choice
section of the exam, test takers are presented with a question of
medium difficulty. As they answer each question, the computer
scores their answer and uses it—as well as their responses to any
preceding questions—to determine which question to present next.
Correct responses typically prompt questions of increased difficulty.
Incorrect responses generally result in questions of lesser difficulty.
This process continues until test takers complete the section, at
which point the computer will have an accurate assessment of their
ability level in that subject area.

15.2.3 Common Admission Test

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) started these

(CAT) exams for selecting the candidates for their business
administrationprogrammes. One of the IIMs conducts this exam
every year by rotation. According to Asian Survey of examinations
CAT is rated as the third toughest test in Asia, after UPSCs Indian
engineering services at first and IIT-JEE at the second spot.

Some of the other institutes like Indian Institute of

Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Science would also use Cat
as process of their selection of candidates for their management
programmes from the 2012-2013. Passing in the CAT merely short
listing the candidates for the second stage of selection which
includes written ability test (WAT), Group discussion and personal
interviews..

CAT is normally conducted every year during a 20 day

testing window in the month of October and November. The test
score is valid for admission to the forthcoming academic year only.

The current online test has two separate sections, each

consisting 40 questions for which 70 minutes time is given for each
section. These two sections are-

Quarantine ability and data interpretation

Verbal ability and Logical Reasoning

The candidate must hold a Bachelor‘s degree with at least

50% marks or equivalent CGPA. However for Scheduled Castes
(SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) it is 45%. The SAT is a
standardised test for college admission in the United States. The
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SAT is owned, published and developed by the College Board

ancloanisation of United States. It was first introduced in 1926, first
it was called as Scholarship Aptitude test, then it was called as
Scholarship Assessment test. It evaluates mainly verbal and writing
skills needed for academic success in a college. It also measures
analytical and problem solving skills of a candidate. The test
contains 3 hours and 45 minutes of actual timed section, including
breaks and other like orientation, distribution of material etc it may
take four and half hours.
There are different levels of questions including easy,
medium and hard level. Easier questions appear at the beginning
and harder questions appear at the end of the examinations.

15.3 EXAMS CONDUCTED FOR ENTRY INTO JOBS

15.3.1 Union Public Service Commission

The first Public Service Commission was set up on 1st Oct

1926 for the recruitment into its territory. After independence the
need was felt to set up an independent organisation for the
recruitment into Government services. On 26th Jan 1950 the federal
Public Service Commission was given a constitutional status as an
autonomous entity and given the title –Union Public Service
Commission. This has been established under the article 315 of the
constitution of India. Its main duties are recruitment to services and
posts under the Union and the Central Government through
conduct of competitive examinations and interviews.

Civil Services Examination

Under the constitution one of the functions of the

Commission is to conduct examinations for appointment to Civil
Services/Posts of the Union. It conducts their examinations spread
over 42 regular centres throughout the country. The Civil Services
examination is a single and combined examination for recruitment
to Indian Administrative Services (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS),
Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and the other higher Central Services
(i.e. group A and group B).

ELIGIBILTY

A candidate must be a minimum of 21 years and maximum

of 30 years of age, however the upper age limit is relaxable for the
SC/ST candidates by five years. A candidate must hold a degree
from any universities or equivalent, candidates appearing for the
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requisite degree qualification are also eligible, however they are

supposed to give proof of their passing while submitting the
application form for their main examination.

Plan of examination

The exam is conducted at two stages, Preliminary and Main

Exams. The notification for preliminary comes in the month of Nov.
–Dec and it is conducted during May of the next year. It consists of
two papers of General Studies 200 marks each.

Civil services Main written examination is conducted during

October-November. There are total nine papers including Indian
language, English, essay, two papers of General studies and two
papers of first optional subject and two papers of second optional
subject. Total marks are 2000, Interview test is of 300 marks.

Candidates have the option to answer all the question

papers, except the language papers, viz, Paper-I and Paper-II, in
any one of the languages included in the Eighth Schedule to the
Constitution or in English.

In addition to Civil Services Examination UPSC also conduct

examinations for entry to certain Defence Services, through the
National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Naval
Academy, Air force Academy and the Officers Training Academy.
National Defence Academy (NDA)Entrance Exam is held twice a
year, generally in the month of April and September. A candidate
must be an unmarried male. The course of training is for three
years. . NDA awards a Bachelor‘s degree in Arts, Science or
Computer Science on completion of one‘s training .besides these
examination Commission also conducts over a dozen examinations
every year on all India basis, these include Examinations for
recruitment to services/posts in various fields such as Engineering,
Medical and Forest Service etc.

For details please refer to UPSC website

15.3.2 Staff Selection Commission

The Staff Selection Commission is an independent body of

recruitment of large number of workforce required by the various
government departments. It conducts open examinations regularly
for posts for which large number of vacancies from various
departmentsexist, these are : Graduate Level- Assistants,
Auditors/Jr .Accountants/Upper Division Clerks, Divisional
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Accountants, Inspectors of Income Tax/Central Excise, Sub-

Inspectors in Central Police Organisations (CRPF, BSF, CISF,
ITBP and SSB) and the CBI, Section Officer (Commercial) and
Section Officer (Audit). Matric Level- Stenographer Grade `C`,
Stenographer Grade `D`, and Lower Division Clerks.(ii) Direct
interviews are held for some posts, called Selection Posts, after
inviting applications through advertisements, as and when such
vacancies are reported to the Commission. Some of such posts are
Statistical Assistant, Store Keeper, Jr/Sr. Computers, Information
Assistant, etc.

Scheme of examinations conducted by the Staff Selection

Commission.

The Staff Selection Commission conducts Combined

(Graduate Level) Examinations every year for various posts the
qualification for which is graduation, and Combined (Matric Level)
Examinations for posts requiring matriculation or High School.
Those candidates who qualify in the prelims are required to appear
for the Mains. Followed by an Interview (as specified). Those
qualifying in the Matric Level Main Exam are required to pass a Skill
test (typing or stenography). For some exams such as the Section
Officers, Investigators etc. no prelims are held.

The age limits are different for different posts and they are to
be confirmed from the Notice of exam published in the Employment
News / RozgarSamachar. Generally, the age limits are 18 to 27
years on the crucial date. There is a upper age concession for
SCs/STs up to 5 years, for OBCs it is 3 years and for physically
handicapped candidates it is 10 years. For widows, divorced
women and judicially separated women, the age limit is 35 years for
UR category; 40 years for SC/ST women and 38 years for OBC
women.

15.3.3 State Public Service Commission

Each state has its own public service commission with

functions similar to the UPSC. The major function of state public
service commission is to conduct examinations and recruitments for
appointments to the services of state including Civil services and
others. Through state service commission the candidates are
selected for the following categories viz,

a) State civil services-class-I(SCS).

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b) State Police Service, class-I (SPS)

c) Block Development Officer

d) Tehsildar/Talukedar/Asst collector

e) Excise &Taxation Officer

f) District Employment Officer

g) District Treasury Officer

h) District Welfare Officer

i) Asst Registrar Cooperative Societies

j) District Food and Supplies Controller/ Officer

k) Any other Class-I/Class-II service notified as per rules by the

concerned state.

All these services belongs to the middle level administration,

After gaining experience of certain years, the officer of the SCS and
SPs may expect to be nominated to the IAS and IPS respectively,
with some antedate seniority.

For appearing these examination, candidate must be

graduate, and his/her age must be 21 years and the upper age limit
ranges from 28 to 35 years, varying from state to state, there is also
relaxation of upper age limit to candidates belonging to Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Ex-servicemen, physically
challenged etc.

The pattern of the state Civil services examination is similar

to the Civil Services Examination conducted by the UPSC, However
some of the smaller states having smaller number of vacancies do
not conduct preliminary examination where preliminary
examinations are held it in followed by Main examination is followed
by interview(for details regarding the details of examination refer
internet).

15.3.4 Bank and Insurance Examinations.

There are mainly three types of Banks in our country; they

areNationalised banks, Co-operative Banks and Private banks.
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with the development in Indian Economy banking sector is growing

day by day, in near future the growth in this sector will increase the
employment opportunity. . The Banking Industry is recruiting in a
big way. In the next five years , banks will have to recruit almost 7.5
lakh people Generally, the bank examinations are of the following
types :

A) Common Written Examination (CWE) conducted by the

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) as a
prerequisite for the selection of personnel for Probationary
Officer / Management Trainee / Clerk / Specialist Officer
posts in 19 Public Sector banks.

B) Exams conducted by SBI and SBI Associate banks for

recruitment to the posts of Clerks and officers.

C) Exam conducted by Private Sector banks for recruitment to

the posts of Clerks and officers

D) Exams conducted by Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and

Cooperative banks for recruitment to the posts of Clerks and
officers.

Except for SBI, almost all the major Public Sector Banks are
participating in the CWE. The 19 banks which are participating in
the CWE are Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank
of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India,
Corporation Bank, Dena Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank,
Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind
Bank, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India,
UCO Bank and Vijaya Bank.

The Common Written Examination will be conducted 5 times

in a year, twice for Probationary Officer/ Management Trainee,
twice for Clerical Cadre posts and once for Specialist officer posts.

Private sector and co-operative banks conduct their own

exams.The major recruiters in private sector include the ICICI Bank,
HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Federal Bank, Centurion Bank of Punjab,
Indusind Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Yes Bank, ING Vysya Bank,
Bank of Rajasthan, KarurVysya Bank, Karnataka Bank, Jammu &
Kashmir Bank, South Indian Bank, Bharat Overseas Bank, etc.
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Insurance Sector

In India, by and large, Insurance was under Government

Undertaking till the recent years, but after the opening of Indian
Market, now-a-days many of the multinational Insurance companies
have come to offer more job opportunities in the insurance sector in
India. But still the major Indian Government undertaking Insurance
Enterprises namely LIC (Life Insurance Corporation), GIC (General
Insurance Corporation) and Postal Life Insurance are always in the
top place in recruiting the candidates for the placements by giving
secured job to its Competitive Exams. People prefer to serve in
these Establishments in large number.

In the three major Insurance Companies of Indian

Government i.e. Life Insurance, General Insurance and Postal
Insurance, following positions are recruited every year basis:

Officer positions

Agent positions

Insurance surveyor positions

Following are some of the important examinations for entry of the

jobs into insurance sector

a) LIC Officers' Exam

b) LIC Development Officers' Exam

c) GIC Officers' Exam

d) GIC Assistants ' Exam

National and State Eligibility Test (NET/SET)

National Eligibility Test (NET) was introduced by the
University Grants Commission for bringing Uniformity in the
qualification of college teachers and research students. The first
National Eligibility Test (NET) was conducted by University Grants
commission in December 1989 and in March 1990 commonly to
both Lectureship and Junior Research fellowship in two parts.

National Eligibility Test is generally conducted twice a year

in the month of June and December. The UGC-CSIR NET for the
science subjects such as Life sciences, Physical sciences,
Chemical sciences, Mathematical sciences and Earth, Atmospheric,
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Ocean and planetary sciences are conducted by Council of

scientific and industrial Research (CSIR) jointly with UGC.
The notification for the same will be issued separately by Council of
scientific and industrial Research (CSIR).

The eligibility criteria for these exams is a candidate must

have a master‘s degree with minimum 55%. The scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes/ Physically handicapped(PH) who have
secured at least 50% in Master‘s degree examination are eligible
for this test.

Examination Pattern

There are three papers, Paper I is common for all subjects.

The questions are objective based with multiple options. Paper II
and Paper III is subject based

The same pattern is followed in the State Eligibility Test.