Aptitude preparation: Study Plan

In my last post (http://asknilesh.blogspot.com/2008/01/aptitude-preparation.html), I provided information about key resources (books, websites etc.). In this post as I promised, I would like to focus on the Study Plan for the aptitude preparation for the campus placement.

Firstly you need to sit down and work out a flexible study plan. Five hours of study per week for six weeks is more than sufficient. In my case, I decided to study at weekends only.

Try to start with verbal section as early as possible. I firstly concentrated on improving my vocabulary. Side by side, I started solving Shakuntala Devi’s “Puzzles to Puzzle You”.

“Barron’s GRE Guide” was perhaps the greatest help. It’s really an amazing tool to hone your problem solving ability and improve your vocabulary. The book not only provides a word list of about 3500 words but also marks out about 350 imp words separately which is an instant help for those with a crash-course kind of attitude. The exercises in this section are of at most Importance because many companies especially TCS picks up questions for their tests based on these exercises. The “KEY FACTs” in the maths and quant section of the book are simply marvelous! As this book caters to the needs of GRE aspirants the difficulty level of questions is a little higher.

I also recommend to study following sections from “Quantitative Aptitude” by R. S. Aggarwal:

1) Problems on ages

2) Ratio and proportion

3) Chain rule

4) Time and work

5) Pipes and Cisterns

6) Time and distance

7) Permutations and combinations

8) Probability

and the entire Data Interpretation section

I also found many useful tricks and tactics in the book “How to Prepare for CAT” by Ahemad Muneer.

You also need to fair well in your exams in order to become strong in your respective area of specialization; e.g. a computer engineer should have a good knowledge of data structures, networking, compilers etc.

Inculcate a habit of reading especially about current issues. This will improve your vocabulary, hone your communication skills and also prepare you for GDs and interviews. I regularly read “Times of India” and “Reader’s Digest”. Especially the “Ascent” supplement that comes with TOI tells you exactly the latest trends in various job sectors and includes useful write-ups for guiding job aspirants.

Besides this I will be providing you company specific study material. You can download it from my e-storehouse

http://www.esnips.com/user/nileshmiskin

You can always google the net for more study material. You may find links to some popular sites for aptitude preparation right here right on the side panel under the title “Adds by Google”.

Aptitude Preparation

These are the must have books for your aptitude preparation. I suggest to straight away buy these:

1) Puzzles to Puzzle You – Shakuntala Devi
2) Barron’s GRE guide
3) Quantitative Aptitude- R. S. Aggarwal

These are a few optional books if you are interested:

1) More Puzzles to Puzzle You – Shakuntala Devi
2) Verbal Ability- R. S. Aggarwal
3) Word Power Made Easy
4) Other books for CAT, GMAT, GRE

Besides this I will be providing you company specific study material. You can download it from my e-storehouse

http://www.esnips.com/user/nileshmiskin

You can always google the net for more study material. You may find links to some popular sites for aptitude preparation right here right on the side panel under the title “Adds by Google”.

In my next post, we will discuss the right study plan for both, early movers and those with a crash course attitude.

Campus placement: A word of caution

If you are at this site, you are right on the expressway to your dream job.

The placement season is nearing and everybody has gone crazy thinking how will I prepare for aptitude test, my verbal is poor, even if I crack the apty, what about GD and interviews… bla bla bla!

Well, if your placements are so near, don’t feel exhausted, face it and give it your best shot. This is not the time to think of what you should have done.
This is the time to just do it. Don’t regret that you spent your valuable time in college canteen or watching movies or doing nothing at all! This is the time to make the best of all the resources available to you.

I will be always there to guide you throughout the process. I will guide you about preparation for the aptitude test, group discussions, interviews, CV writing, your future prospects and everything you want to know about how to get placed. Even for those who are in a hurry, I will be providing crash course tips.

I congratulate to those who have decided to prepare for the placements much earlier. Early players do get an advantage. I will be there with you at every stage of preparation and always ready to address your queries.
All you have to do is just visit my blogsite every now and then to check out the new posts. Your feedback in form of comments will help me provide you exactly what you want.

TCS Recruitment Procedure

This is a brief introduction to how will be your D day!

1) You are required to be present at the centre at 8:00 AM.

2) Get your seat no/exam hall no from the registration counter.
Contact TPO or the right commitee member in case of any query.


3) There will be a formal presentation by the company's recruitment team.
Ask them on the spot if you have any doubts about renumeration, posting,
work environment etc. Feel free to discuss this with the officials.


4) TCS has an online test engine to test your abilities. First section is the general maths i. e. Quantitative section. Then comes the verbal section. If you pass then you are taken to the page of psychometric test. Generally you don't have to face this part of the test. If you reach to this page you are sent for the interview. If you don't make it to the next round, you are taken to the page teasing "Thank you for taking the test".


5) TCS doesn't conduct GDs.


6) There are 2 Interviews: Technical & Personal. For detailed discussion about interviews keep watching this website.


7) The whole procedure takes almost night to complete after which results are declared. So maitain your tempo throughout the procedure.


All the best for your dream job!!


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