When you are asked this for God's sake don't tell the panel that you are looking for a "challenging job in a good firm with lots of money, status and glamour". That is the first answer that most candidates think of. Unfortunately it is the last answer that will get you admission. In the answer to a direct question on this subject you must convey to the interview panel that you have made a rational and informed decision about your career choice and your intended course of higher study. There are broadly six areas which your answer could touch upon :
Career Objectives : You could talk about your career objectives and how the two year MBA programme will help you achieve them. This implies that you have a clear idea of what your career objectives are and how you wish to achieve them. For example you may want to be an entrepreneur and wish to set up your independent enterprise after doing your MBA and then working for a few years in a professionally managed company. You could explain to the panel that the MBA programme will provide you with the necessary inputs to help you run your business enterprise better. But then you must be clear about what the inputs you will receive in the MBA programme are.
Value Addition : That brings us to the second area that your answer should touch upon. What is the value you will add to yourself during your two year study of management. Value addition will essentially be in two forms knowledge and skills. Knowledge of the various areas of management e.g. marketing, finance, systems, HRD etc. and skills of analysis and communication. You will find it useful to talk to a few people who are either doing their MBA or have already done it. They will be able to give you a more detailed idea of what they gained from their MBA.
Background : Remember, there must be no inconsistency between your proposed study of management and your past subject of study or your past work experience. If you have studied commerce in college then management is a natural course of higher studies. If you are an engineer this is a tricky area. You must never say that by pursuing a career in management you will be wasting your engineering degree. Try and say that the MBA course and your engineering degree will help you do your job better in the company that you will join. But then you should be able to justify how your engineering qualification will help.
Opportunities and Rewards : You could also at this stage mention the opportunities that are opening up in organizations for management graduates. Highlight with examples. At the end you may mention that while monetary rewards are not everything they are also important and MBAs do get paid well. You must not mention these reasons as your primary motivators even if that may be the case.
Just say that an engg degree gave u a scientific bent of mind, an analytical mind. This helps you in understanding processes and phenomena in a much more logical and result oriented manner. An engg degree gives you a logical and rational perspective on things. You want to further supplement your engg knowledge with management skills, which would aid you in being a complete professional. an mba could greatly increase your knowledge set and provide u with a toolset to meet all kinds of future challenges.
Following is the personal interview experience of Suhas Anand who got calls from all 6 IIM's and converted 5 of them.
IIM Indore
PI !!!
....3 panelists..J1, J2,J3.....
J1 :- Sit DOwn
Me sits down
J1 :- wht is Jaeescooo ?
Me :- ...which language ??
J1 : -its mechanical engg based !!
Me :- ...hunh ?? did u mean gyroscope by any cahnce ???..
J1 :- asks me to write it...i spell it out and he says ..Yea yea !!!
(now normally im able to iunderstand english with any friggin accent..but this was beyond any possible comprehension without lot of permutation & combinations!! )
J1:- function of Jaeescoooo ..
Me: -I DONT KNOW
J1 :- principle behind boomerang
Me :- I DONT KNOW
J1 :- Does Jaescooo make rotational motion translational or somethingelse:-
me :- I already told u i dont know remember anything about Gyroscope which i studied eons back !!
J1 :- Some Q on some type of motion i hadnt ever heard
me: -I DONT KNOW
J1: - Decided its better not to waste further time ont these lines...
Turns over to J2 :-
J2 :- Wht is SARS
Me:-told
J1:-wht is bird flu
me:-told
Affected countries..
Me: -told in both cases
J2: -Asian tiger/currency crisis/98 crisis/speculation
me:-told in details...IMF/SAPs/negatives/floated rate mechanisms/fixed rate/affects of currency specs/downfall of 98
J2:- currencies of the asian tigers...
Me:- told...
J2 now is a bit suprised...mebbe he thought he cud stress me out by asking non engineerin subjects !!HAHAHAHA
J2:- wht is a human is infected with SARS
me:-told
Wht if a human infected with SARS get bird flu ?
Me...here's a youngish kid trying to stress me out !!
I DONT KNOW
j2:- wht is bullock cart power ?
Me:- dont know
J2:- wht is horse power ?
me:-told
J2:- convert it to joules
Me:- i dont remember
J2:- why horsepower famous and not bullock cart power ?
Me:- Soem idiosyncracies of ancient folks who liked horses more thn bullocks !!
J2:- wht is rachet mechanis ?
Me:- I dotn know
J2:- wht is governor ?
Me:- i dont know
Now j1 coems in and says :- J1:- u dont know Bimal jalan ???
Jeeesus...on a wunderful saturday evening a buncha miserable folks are sitting and cracking Pjs in the name of interviews !!!
Me:- i know bimal jalan..but for ur kind information hes aleadyr eplaced by Reddy as the Governor
j1:- functions of governor
me;- i dont know
J2:- whts is "some other nutty mechanism the name of which i havent heard EVER"
me:- i dont know
J2:- a barrage of mechanical engg. Qs from automobile field..
Me:- answered i dont knows around 8 times...the last time even before he asked the question !!
J2: - draw cam mechanism and explain
Me:- drew some thing and spoke a sec about contact leadign to motion etc..
J2:- a bit suprised tht i could answer a QUESTION !!
Finally J3 decides to step in
J3: -OK..ill ask u simple things...only from ur 12th std physics
Me: -thnak you SAAAAAAAAAAAARRR
J3: -wht is weins law ??
I dont know
J3 :- wht is emissive pwoer variation
I dont know
Wht is luminous intensity ?
TOld
Measures of the same
I donjt know
Whts is "some other stopid law"
i dont know
wht is Sensa ?
Me:- bombay stock exchange..short form of sensitive index..
J3: - not tht Sensa the other Sensa whn people come to ur home and take facts..
Me: - u mean Census ..now do you ??
J3: -Yea yea
Me:- told wht is census
J4:- indian literacy accoding to first census
Me:- i dont know
Acording to last ?
I dont know
Whn was first census taken
I dont know
Whn was last census taken
I dont know
Which state has highest litrecy ?
Kerala
Secodn highest
West Bengal
J3 :- r u sure ?
Me:- ofcourse not..i was jus guessing...
U may go now
J2 :- how many calls ?
me: -all six
J1/J2/J3 Smile !!
J2 :- OOh gud luck to you ...(oooh ?? )
Me: -thanks gawd.....pretty pissed off tht i am already late for a horde of mroe interesting things to do on a saturday evening !!!
Conclusion :- i wudnt entirely say the panelists were SAD...mebbe it was supposed to be stress interview !!......thts the only thing i can find in favour of whtever i had to undergo in the name of interview !!
Was planning to think and make a detailed chronology of K’s GD PI>>simply cuz this was one of those PIs in which panel agreed to “Interview” me !!a..(had it waaaay back on 10th in aamchi mumbai!!)
GD:- A tortuous passage strewn around with obtuse GRE terms out of Barrons !! Hehe…
Nywasy the gist was summin like shud artists have self censorship…shud republic/democracy be fettered by the whims & fancies of select group…etc etc…
Very peaceful..only 6 of us…20 minutes…..i came up with MF Hussais painting Saraswati in nude..how it affects religious sentiments….presence of a neutral entity like censor board to look into propriety of creations….how semi nude females dancing rather lasciviously on music videos is neither great artistic creation nor does it help children and others….i jus had a feeling tht I took more air time thn I normally take..but I cudnt avoid it since we were only 6 of us and we finding it tuff to fill the 20 minutes…. …. not the best of my best GDs but def. better thn L!!: )..The group again was a lovely group..thnk god tht in almost all the GDs I have had the company of some great individuals for GD …
PI :- Was last….was feeling sleepy after a “gud Friday” bash !!! :-p….since it was in catering college in dadar, got some nice coffee to keep me awake !!
I enter..asked to sit down…..2 junta..youngish …P1 & P2…
P1 :- So..after spending time in corporate and rising up rather well..why an MBA ??
Me :- mouths all tht preplanned inanities which I so abhor!!! But alas where is the choice…
Hearing bout my plans for PhD
P1: - Which field do u look for for higher studies ??
P2 : -cutting in …Gimme ur file…
Me to P1 after giving the file to P2 :- I’ll be looking at how policy decisions can affect everyday life of common people….application level of eco for dev. Policies
P1 : -pardon..did not hear you ?
Me: - Eco..economics..
P1 : - Have u studied economics before ?
Me: -No..i have worked in world bank project..so knows how developmental policies affect poverty..( wanted to say I’ve seen how world bank and IMF fucks around with the life of ordinary people in third world..but thought if the dude is not anti IMF like me, I’d have a tuff time..so did not explain!!)
P1 :- What do you think bout final quarter results of IT Companies ??!
Me : -was a bit taken aback..Seriously did not expect this one!!!.. (but was pleasantly surprised!!!)
Mouthed about how Mphasis has taken a cut in bottom line and how thy have said it’s mainly cuz of exchange rate infused losses…
P1 :- Ahaaa..(I was like..puhleeez ask me bout rupee appreciation!!)
P1: - So what do you think about rupee appreciation and wht do u think are the reason !!
Me :- ……3-4 minutes covering all aspects of appreciation/reasons/why RBI did not intervene as much/why they wud not nevertheless allow free float etc etc..
I should have stopped there…but the devil in me made me to say “ Moreover since most of the asian central banks have amassed huge reserves and US fiscal deficit is looking dicey ……i expect dollar to depreciate further….aaaarghhh!!!
P2 comes into piucture…face expression a mix of pity/hatred/shock/mock….
“You did not say US fiscal deficit ..now did you ??”
Me :- yes !! (
P2 :- ok…conceptually explain how US fiscal deficit may or may not affect currency rates….
Me :- ….though I should start with increased govt. borrowings et al..but felt wudnt Llead me nywhr…thought for a change tht ill take a beating!!
P1 : -But u did say something about Fiscal deficit didn’t u..go ahead MEBBE your are right !!!(right my foot !!!)
Luckily I did not reply to tht & remembered the gud ol saying…”Once ur In a pile of horse s*** stop turning around…Phew….
P1: - What was the reason for Heath Streak to resign ??
Me :- Financial issue and composition of team….racist undertones..
P1: -Shaking his head..”composition of team ??” R u sure
Me :- No sir…
P1 : -You are wrong…(boy ..thnx for letting me know dude!!! without knowing tht titbit I wudnt have got salvation!!)
P1 :-U’ve studied in REC.kozhikode..now do u prefer to come to IIM Kozhikode ??
Me :- Ofcourse…u’ve a lovely campus..
P1 :- Have u seen it ?
Me :- Yessir..last yr whn I was holidaying in Kerala I had come down to meet my friends..
P1 : - tell me about business culture in Africa…(answered ok)
P2 :- can u trust ur associates ? (some globe again)
P1 :- latest initiatives in ur company
Me : Gave a nice answer…used “comparative advantage”cuz of globalization..(at this P2 had tht “mouthing-inanities-with-superficial-knowledge” look about him…)..
P2 :- but u have nuff projects in India..we’re growing at 10%...u can build more bridges/dams/ what nots!!
Me :- but we’ve surplus in certain market segments and saturation in some of thm..like refineries..moreover powere sector have been in doldrums for long..only now it’s looking a bit up…cement again is in surplus…oil & gas has new investments now & thn..but still global markets are whr the future is for the company,…
P2 :- with a disgusted look “ I don’t think tht alone is the case”
Me :- ….u might not think SIR, but thts the truth..!!!
P1 :- I don’t think I have anything more to ask (thank god!!)
Now the telephone starts ringin in the room and P2 hands over my file and walking over to the telephone quips sarcastically “ You’r VERY unorganized…u’r certificates are all over the place”
Me :- thy are my marklists and not certificates..all the certificates are within the flaps !!!
P2 did give me a disgruntled look but thn started speaking on the phone..
I walked out after smiling and saying thanks to P1…(…..
The panel was Ok….. ……I would give them 8/10!!
--------------------------------------------- Monday, April 12, 2004 IIM Calcutta
I was wundering whether to post gd pi ex. of mine here..since it was a very unique thing tht happened..and dunno if there is some useful take homes for nyone who reads this...
jus thought ill do it..if nothing else mebbe 2 years down the line whn i login to PG i can re read and smile !!
So here goesss...
GD Topic :- Black is beautiful !! ......
Peaceful GD...everyone came up with rather interesting points and multiple perspectives on how black could well be beautiful !! ...I came up with the Indian psyche which treats fair skin as the be all and end all of beauty..also how ads like tht of Fair and Lovely corrupts or is anti thetical to the idea of black is beautiful.....
After the GD the panelists told tht we were supposed to discuss more on Fair & Lovely ad and other connected aspects like empowerment of women etc...welll how were we supposed to know !! (I jus thanked my luck tht I atleast came up once with the F&L thingie.....but sad tht I cudnt force the issue further....)
PI :- Well I did n’t inhave any interview as such !!!!! ....we had nice discussions......
3 of thm P1, P2 and P3 ( an alum of IIM C with HPCL)...
P1 & P2 did most of the "questioning"!!!
P1 :- how wud u rank urself in the group of 9 in the GD ??
Me:- politely..6-7....
A shocked P2 :- u do like being modest....i appreciate tht ......but I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERLY MODEST !!!!!! ....)
Me: - Sir.....errrr....
P1 :- I thought u were the only one who raised the issue of cosmetic industry churning out stereotypes. But even u did not take the lead to empowerment of women....
(I must add..to be fair to other members of the GD..i'm sure thy too thought bout the same..but since I had already broached the subject it's only normal on their parts not to belabour on the ssame issue further on ......but if the panel was looking fwd to only tht aspect wht can someone do..after all u can't rigidly structure an abstract topic in such restricted lines...)
P2 :- So u've proved tht u'r a bad leader (with a smile though)....u can't guide ur team members !!!
Me :- Sir..it being an abstract topic it's only rite tht folks shud come up with creative analogy...I did not see anything wrong in it....
P1: -U did not mebbe...but I was going to stop the GD
P2:- But xyz, can we do tht..i mean is it allowed ???...
P1 & P2 discuss bout how a GD was stopped last year whn P1 and some-arbit-professor who-goes-by-the-name-lmnop thought it prudent to do so .......i cud well understand the surprise and shock of the group if tht were true....
P1 :- So u been working in africa....are u vegetarian ??
Me: -I was till I joined the engg college....geeee.....
P2 :- hahaha...mess in the hostel hunh ??
P1 & P2 discuss bout the mess and food in general...vegetarianism etc...
Soon their discussion veers into the colonialism and Africa...in btwn I too chip in with tit bits like how samoa and Angola still speak French and how some folks speak Spanish as fluently as anybody...I also say I have a working knowledge of Swahili...
P1 & me thn discuss on how information is widely available these days and hence how the work of an academic is shifting from information provider to knowledge channeliser...in btwn I say he shud also read the pulse of the students during a case study...P2 asks me wht exactly do I mean whn I say tht...we discuss a bit on case study pedagogy..
P2: - So if u get A/B/C which are you going to choose ??
Me: -Tried giving some globe.. i-wanna-ask-my seniors-which-has-better-loos fundae....stoppped in btwn and asked to speak truthfully and not diplomatically..
P1: -answer is no way going to affect our decision vis a vis takin u to IIM C or not ..
Me: -if I get A I guess I wont look elsewhere !! (....
P1 & P2 :- stern nods ....and a knowing hmmmm..and smile !!
Me: -btwn C & B I haven't decided....B has CSP group (corporate strat and policy)..and since I will be going for consults hopefully, tht is one plus I see in B....
P2 :- But C has better consults placement historically thn even A and ofcourse B!...
P1: -this year I heard we have better overall thn B..
Me: -yea..i read it..u have had fabulos placement..
P2 & P1 discuss a couple of minutes on placements in A/B/C...
P1 : -u shall have mentors in C who shall guide u properly whichever stream u choose...
Me : - yes sir..me got a lot of friends in C....so I do get the inside info (
Then somehow discussion veers over to cricket....i say in btwn tht I was an opening bat and part time leg spinner....thy thn discuss bout Chandu Borde etc etc..P3 also gleefully joins the cricketic talk....
Further we discussed on how business establishments in mainland east Africa is mostly under gujarati population and hence how fud is not as much an issue vis a vis the hinterlands of African continent.....
Witht tht the session comes to a close.....
The only question I was asked in btwn is "which was your branch in engineering ??"
While I was picking up my files P2 says , " Suhas, u might as well brush up your basic maths in case u come down !!! " since we have some subjects which are rather heavy on quants..(yes he used the slang quant!!!)................
P1: - How gud r u in basic maths..
Me: - I WAS pretty gud sir !!
P!, P2 & P3 smiles at this rather I'm-good-dude-but-wont-let-u-quiz-me-on-maths answer !!)
P2:- Gud luck (for other interviews ???!!! )
After what was prolly my longest "interview??!" session yet, I was allowed to go off ……..Yea btb, they also told me tht results will be out my May 10th............
Someone called me overly modest..for the first time in my life..cheers to that !!!
IIM Lucknow
Phew..thro with L..the only difficult aspect was getting to vashi from borivali......western to central to harbour..the crisscrossing thro the maze of locals was worht it though at the end of the day !! :)
GD :- my worst !!...topic was stooopid...the same ol hackneyed business success and ethics thingie.......made coupla points and sat back and enjoyed the fight !..was as fishy as the western coasts of kerala !! :mg: .....i almost winked at the panelists ...thy smiled back !!! :lol: :lol:.....ofcourse we did not conclude, nor did we make much sense most of the time...belaboured examples from all walks of life...hehehe...i njoyed though..all in all an avoidable one !!!
PI :-
2 guys, P1 and P2 (the one whom i smiled at during the chaotic GD with a "i told u so look"!!! :mg: :mg:
P2 :- GIve me ur certis...went thro the same along with cat hall ticket..
P1 & P2 :- ..so how was your GD ???!!!
Me:- I too laughed....told some of the junta were a bit eager...but all in all all of us made good "valuable" points and we almost were convergent !!! :mg: :mg:
P!:- Do u think ambanis has defined success bereft of ethics ? ( i had told tht though u may criticie relliance fr not being entirely in the white, thy have created shareholder wealth over the yers tht is unprecedented in the indian secondary markets )
P1 :- Work,company,wht u do currently, hows african markets, people in tanzania, quality, 3rd party inspection,quality vs cost, who decides--client or contractors...I told as long as the client pays for the higher quality standards we shudnt mind...
P1:- Why dya wanna do MBA ?? ....dont u get learning frm ur industry ...
Me:- same ol stuff..put in words like structured education, industry exp. of faculty, novel research.....
P2 :- whts ur present job responsibilities now tht u have shifted to india ?
Me :- contracts amangement and commercial aspects of project..
P1 :- wht is contract ? how do u manage contract ?
Me :- answered without much ado
P2 :- Whts happening lately in ur Co. ?
ME :- global mnc , demerger,strategic initiatives....
P2: -Dya think demerger is gud ?
Me :- i cant make a blanket statement..as for us, around 100 of ou top management plus BCG consults including their head in those times, Ralph heuwing were involved ..guess it shud be a prudent decision..
P1 :- Hmmmm
P1 :- which other calls ?
Me: -all six...
P1 :- since uve already done 4 years of btech from K i guess u wud want to go to IIM K
Me< dude...u got some sense of humour mate :roll: :roll: > ...sir i wud prefer a change !! :wink: ...
P1 :- Well thts about it nah ?? nything more (to P2)
P2 :- nothing frm my side..gues thts about it suhas...
10 minutes....P1 is gud..he knows industry pretty well...musta done some consultin with infra industry....asked bout 3rd party inspection, BVQ/LRIS etc...!! :roll: :roll: ..man these profss are real gods...(almost all the profs ive met!!)..thts one thing im really looking fwd to whichever IIM im gonna join!!
If A was cool & B was ICE, this is wht i wud call SOLLID carbon dioxide !!! :mg: :mg:
:mg: :mg: :mg: ..after all its all in the perception !!!
IIM Bangalore
I'm thro with my IIM B..another day of anti climax..:-p
as cool as it could get..if i thought A was cool this was ICE !!
G D :- POpulation of india is nto a problem but an oppurtunity...geeral farting..all came up with points..gud group...decent GD..though we did not summarise still we were more or less convergent on whts to be done ....
PI :-
Q: -whts india's score ?? sehwag hit 300 yet ???
Q:- did we disturb u from the amtch !!!
A:- guess its worth it
Smiles all around....
from then on discussion veered to consultancy, BCG's implementaiton program in our Co., outsourcing, can McK outsource assignments to india fully ? why or why not ? (Told em if client is Indain firm, no issues)...Some fart on confidentiality in outsourcing..Lehmann Brothers taking back the wipro contract,WTO, Free markets ?? GUd or bad ?
Back to my firm...why demerger ?? why divestent ?? whts ROCE ? is divestment decision purely a function of ROCE ? ...
Why dont u directly take FPM (i had written doctorate as long term goals.)..u have such gud acads..guess u shud directly take FPM>>so can we offer u FPM ???
I was like, dude i want some salary in bank... ...
I too was asked "HOW PENCILS ARE MADE ??!!!! (the only Q i cudnt answer!!) ....jus wundering....ofcourse its not by drilling...must be flakes of wud with an internal grove is kept around the lead followed by gluing them together.....hmmm ..sounds OK to me..did nt want to risk it thn !! :)
IIM Ahmedabad
GD was cool
Case study - HR..
Workmen not working properly in a wagon production firm..punching in and thn loafing bout and coming back to punch out.. a bit of trade unionism thrown in
Decent GD..no fights...no fish !!
PI :- 3 member panel...cool lady..2 guys...
Qs :-
1. is this ur first time in A'bad /
a:- no..was in baroda for 6 months on a hydrocarbon project....went on a tour of gujju land !!
2. so u have been in tanzania..how dya find tht place ?
a :- pretty cool :-p
some aaltoo phaltoo farting...
Guy :- So u are a mechanical engg (i was like "i were one... )..how much of mech engg do u know still ??
A :- smiel..broad and charming.. NOT MUCH SIRRRRR
q :- how does a fan rotate without noise ??
q:- how does doors with springs close without bang ?
TOld asn as dampeners for both..
q:- wht type of dampeners >
Dunno..guess its bal bearing in first case and spring in second...
q :- GUESS ??
a ;- smile..YES !!
2nd guy :- talk but work, technical colloboration, managin nlocal workeers in africa,well head strucutre,jackets/piling..types ..engg consultants ? radiographs of welding (jus farting around....nothing specifically technical..jus if ur using it ? do u know something etc etc ?..managed pretty well
q :-wht other interests ?
a :- stocks..
Q:-rumour during ongc IPO..
a:- warren buffet thingie
q:- holding Co. of bufet ?
a:-berkshire hathway
Q:- or hathway berkshire ??
a:-
Q:-whts FII ? rules regarding FII investment in india
a:- farted bout FIIs inesting directly in MFs and equities and not in infra...also reg. with SEBI..
q:-Chief justice of India
a:- DUNNO
q:-president of tanzania
a:-mkapa
q;-previous prez ?
a;- dunno..but do know tht benjamin nyerere was founding father..
q;-is it benjamin
a:-..im 100% sure sir !! :-p (ofcourse i was wrong..its Julius Nyerere !!!..Man these profs seems to know EVERYTHING under the sun !!!
lady :- thts it suhas...nice meeting u..u can take a toffeee
decent panel...as cool as u cud expect..no stress AT ALLLLLLLLLLLL
CAT/ MBA is one of the toughest management entrance examinations in India. This is conducted by SEVEN IIM (Indian Institute of Management). More than 2 Lakhs of students take CAT every year, but only 1700 (approx) get selected in IIMs. They become cream de la cream of the country. They become demigod in business world with passing years. They get Unimaginable Pay packets which a normal mortal can only dream of.
Almost all the careers get affected when recession hits that sector. But an MBA from IIM is something different. It's an evergreen degree, which helps in whatever you do, wherever you do and however you do. Young Students aspire for doing an MBA from IIMs because they get an opportunity to live their dream.
Why CAT is TOUGH?
It is one of the toughest examinations in India. Toughness of CAT lies in the time constraints and the type of problem asked. Normally,IN PAST CAT comprises of 165-175 problems, which is to be solved in 120 minutes (2 hours). If we try to find out the allocated time per question then it comes to roughly 40 seconds. If there is no time constraint then any normal student can solve the paper. The complexity arises when all this is constrained by time. One is required to take care of negative marking and sectional cut-offs as well.
CAT is Tough because it is
Unpredictable
CAT pattern is not predictable. One year there might be four sections while another year there might be three sections only. One year there may be sectional timing restrictions whereas another year there might not be any restrictions at all. One year the Quantitative Aptitude may be very lengthy whereas another year RC might be tough. And in between a year may come when all sections are easy. It's difficult to predict it. Due to this very nature of CAT, students are unable to decide their preparation strategy and choice of coaching Institutes.
Lengthy
CAT paper is normally lengthy. The questions are asked in long paragraphs, the language used cannot be termed simple therefore it is difficult to read and comprehend.
Difficult
CAT is difficult because it does not ask direct questions. The questions are put in such a way that it tests the ability of a student to apply the fundamentals to a given situation. In schools and colleges the students are exposed to direct questions. They are not taught the application of fundamentals. Therefore, most of the students find it difficult.
Sectional Cut-offs
Sectional cut-offs are another hiccup. CAT looks for all round performance. Every student has his strength or weakness. One might be good in one area and so-so in another area. Attempting only sections in which one is strong does not work in CAT. A student is required to show all round performance.
Negative Marks
It's an area of concern. If you are doing blind guessing, you are doomed. You will end up with negative score. No body knows the actual negative marks in CAT but it is assumed to be ¼.
Time Management
Given all the above factors time management becomes a Herculean task.
This means that you cannot sit upon your laurels, instead you need to work upon your weaker sections as well.
This is quite tough- "Doing what you hate doing".
A lot of planning is required if you want to make it to IIMs.
Syllabi:
The CAT (Common Admission Test) has become a mega affair in the field of management entrance examination and can be termed as the mother of all MBA entrance examination. Mainly it tests a student in Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation (DI), Reading Comprehension (RC) and Verbal Ability (VA). I have tried to provide you little more insight in each section.
Quantitative Ability (QA)
This section comprises of questions on Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, higher mathematics and reasoning.
Arithmetic
Number System Profit & Loss Time, Speed & Distance Boats & Stream Ratio Proportion & Variation Pipes & Cistern Allegation of Mixtures Clocks Calendars
Algebra
Set Theory Quadratic Equation Factorization Simultaneous Equation
Geometry
Line Angles Triangles Circle
Higher Math
Probability Permutation & Combination Maxima & Minima Progression Mensuration Height & Distance
Reasoning
• The questions asked are based on application of these concepts. They are designed to stress more on reasoning skills of the candidates rather than on their computational skills. But normally slow calculation & Reading speed of student play havoc.
• The level of difficulty of this section is perceived to be higher because the questions are lengthy to read and at times require more effort in terms of understanding and solving.
Data Interpretation (DI)
• As the name suggests, this section presents data to the candidate in forms such as Tables, Line Graphs, Bar Graphs, Venn Diagram, Pie Diagrams, Case lets etc and questions are set to evaluate the candidate's skill at analyzing the given information without the help of a calculator.
• It requires a lot of computational effort on student's part. He is required to perform addition of rows, addition of columns and find out averages, percentages to arrive at the answer. Like QA section, the questions are not direct.
• Data Sufficiency questions in this section are based on basic mathematics (at times Data Sufficiency is a part of the Quantitative Ability section).
Reading Comprehension (RC)
• CAT usually has 6-8 passages in the RC section, with an overall length of 4500-5500 words and about 50 questions to answer in a span of about 30 minutes. However this too can vary according to the level of difficulty of questions. For example CAT'99 had only 28questions to be answered in this section.
• The type of passages includes scientific, philosophical, historical, fact based etc.
• One passage may contain 4 to 8 questions.
• Te language of the passages is a bee wit difficult and comprehension may require reading and re-reading of the passages.
• Most of the time questions are not direct. Students are required to deduce the inference. Only some times you will get direct questions where it looks for facts.
Verbal Ability (VA)
• This section explores your understanding of the English Language and also tests you on Reasoning Skills.
• Questions on Verbal ability are asked in two formats viz. vocabulary based and grammar based questions.
• Questions on vocabulary would not be straight synonyms or antonyms. The types of questions would be either odd word out, analogies, fill in the blanks or any other innovative type.
• Grammar is tested either through sentence correction, error identification or fill in the blanks.
The interview panel had 3 members and each of them asked questions from a different domain, and in a sequence. First the General Awareness questions, then questions related to Computer Science, and finally questions related to my hobbies.
So, Vyom, you have come all the way from Kanpur.
Yes Sir
So, when did you reach Delhi?
Last evening Sir.
Is it as cold in Kanpur as it is in Delhi?
No Sir, Its a little warmer there.
There's a lot of warming happening all over. Do you know about it?
Global Warming.
Yeah, Global Warming... Something is been done about it. Do you know?
Yes Sir . Kyoto protocol has recently been put in place to ensure that the amount of emissions are kept under a limit.
Who all have signed it and who have not?
It has been ratified by most countries including India. US and Australia have refused to sign it.
Why and from whom is it facing the resistance?
Sir, its facing resistance from some quarters in the industry which think industrial growth would be affected.
Has India signed it?
Yes Sir.
What does India need to do about it?
Basically keep its greenhouse emissions under control and enforce pollution emission control norms. Beyond this, I don't know more about the implementation issues.
So, how do you rate your own performance in GD? On a scale of 5?
I would rate it 2.5
That would be below average?
No Sir, I mean from 0 to 5, making an average of 2.5
What do you attribute it to?
At times, what I wanted to say had just been said by someone else, and I avoided trying to repeat exactly what had been said.
Ok, so you want to be a manager?
Yes Sir, and I find the area where technology meets management more interesting - the management aspect of technology.
"The management of technology"? -- guffaw-- So is there a technology aspect of management as well? Explain what you have said.
Sir, I meant to say, there can be 2 aspects, one hard core research sitting in a laboratory. The other is, that aspect of technology that actually appears in the market and is used by the masses.
But not much of this happens in Computer Science.. isn't it?
No Sir, if there are inventions, then they also directly affect the markets.
"Inventions"?
Sir, I mean, breakthroughs. For example, breakthroughs in algorithms.
Ok, so you are a CS student and you talk of algorithms. Suppose I have a list of all CAT students sorted on their marks, and I want to find out a student with marks say, 75. how will you do it?
Sir, we will try to see the marks of the middle student...
"Middle student"?
Sir, I mean, if there are 'n' students, then the marks of the student ranked n/2.
Do you know how many students appear for the CAT?
Yes Sir, approximately 1.5 lacs.
Hmm. Ok, proceed.
So, we try to see the marks of the 75000th student and compare it and then ... blabber...
How many searches will it take?
Sir, it will take log to the base 2 of 1.5 lacs. which is around 17.
How do you get the log value?
Sir, 1000 is approx 2 raised to 10. and this is 150 thousand, 150 is roughly 2 raised to 7 .
No, no. How does 'log' come into the picture?
Sir, in each step we are reducing the search space by 2. So we are exponentially reducing the search space.
So if there is exponent, you bring in log?
No Sir... blabber..
I still don't get it. Prove.
...Blabber...
Ok Ok.
It seems you like word puzzles and all.
Yes Sir.
Hmm. Ok I am giving you a puzzle. -- A Word Morph -- You have 2 minutes to solve.
( Puzzle --> go from MILK to CURD ) (2 minutes later --)
Ok, lets see how much you have been able to do.
Anyway, why do you think people like to play word puzzles?
I think it is the feeling of being able to overcome an obstacle, especially when one is not initially able to solve a problem and gradually is able to do that, then it gives a satisfaction.
But that is true of any sport. What's special about word games? With all this time limits and all?
I think they also make you think faster, so they hone your skills in that.
But that would be true of quizzes as well?
Yes Sir, but taking the case of crossword puzzles. I regularly come across things that I don't know and then I look up about that in an encyclopedia and learn about it. This way I am able to learn a lot of new things.
Ok. I guess that's it. So you are going back to Kanpur?
No Sir, I am going on a trip to Shimla.
Oh, it must be cold there.
Yes Sir, precisely the reason why we are going.
But you must be having other interviews?
Yes Sir, but they are later in March.
Ok, best of luck for them. You may have your toffee.
Thank You Sir.
PS: I think there might have been a fewer Sirs ( as in Yes Sir, No Sir... ) and I have unconsciously added a few extra ones here. :-)
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IIMB interview :-
The interview panel comprised of one lady professor and one male professor. The male professor seemed to be quite technically inclined while the female professor was quite interested in HR kind of questions.
Vyom, you are from Computer Science and Engineering?
Yes Sir.
Who is your head of department?
Dr S. K. Agarwal
Ok, who are your other star faculty members?
Sir, one professor who was recently quite in news is Dr Maninder Agarwal.
What was he in news for?
Sir, he gave a deterministic algorithm for testing whether a given number is prime or not.
-- lots of discussion on P, NP, a question on whether TSP is P or NP etc.
Ok, so what are your other interests in Computer Science?
Sir, I am interested in Computer Networks, and recently I have also developed interest in Agent-based systems.
See, I am not from a CS background, so I don't really know much. We learn a lot from interviews and this is one selfish reason for us to participate in this process. So tell us, what are agent-based systems?
-- discussion on what are agents, etc.
Are you doing some project on it?
Yes Sir, my B Tech Project is based on this.
What are you doing in your project?
-- lots of discussion on what our BTP is about.
Hmm. You have written in your write-up that your long cherished goal is to open a company of your own. How long have you cherished it and why do you cherish it?
I think since the start of my B Tech days, I have been thinking about it. The idea is so lucrative because I feel that I derive a lot of satisfaction from being able to produce end to end results. The feeling that I can start something from scratch and build a company from it is tremendous. Like, I also like to write poems, and I really like the feeling that I have been able to create something new. So...
But you have written that your brother is your role model, and he is currently an officer in the Income Tax Department. Isn't it?
Yes, but more than asking me to imitate what he has done, he has inspired me to look inside me and ask myself what I really want.
So, who or what else influenced you in your decision?
I have heard of so many people who have been able to build empires from scratch,
People like?
Bill Gates is a very clear example. Then there are a lot of entrepreneurs from IITK itself who have built up big companies from scratch.
Give some examples.
Sir, I forget the name of the company, but there is this person, X Y, who is an IITK Alumnus from mechanical engineering background, who has opened a firm. Its one office is in India and the other is in US. It is a software company in the field of CAD CAM etc. The problem they tried to address in one of their software was, when there is a solid cube of metal and you want to drill holes in it from all faces, I don't remember the technical term for it, if you do the drilling simultaneously, then the tips from drills may touch and get damaged. Now, their software looks at the dependencies and is able to schedule the drilling so that as many drills as possible are going on in parallel, without their causing damage to each other. This has increased the speed of the process manifold and is earning them a lot of money.
Have you thought something about what kind of a firm you would like to open?
Hmm. I haven't made concrete plans but I read about the immense possibilities in the hotel sector. I read that there is an order of magnitude difference in the sizes of hotel industries in India and China. There is a shortage in India, and lots of opportunities for growth exist.
But you have been studying at IIT Kanpur and I am sure you must have learnt a lot of technologies. You won't be using any of those if you do this.
No, that's not necessary. For instance, I could open a complementary tourist information service, which would provide visitors to a hotel complete information about other tourist destinations. So you can plan your travel according to that. That would need networking. One could always use Off The Shelf Components but then, to optimize the operations etc would require some background of CS.
Where did you get this information from?
Sometimes, I also pick up magazines.
Which ones?
Mostly, it is India Today, but sometimes Fortune and if I find something interesting, may be even Business Week.
What do you do when you are not studying?
I like to play crossword puzzles, once in a while I read books...
So, what sort of books do you like to read?
Any book which I find interesting. I mean, I read the introduction, and if I find it interesting, I go ahead.
What was the last book you read?
It was J M Coetzee's 'Disgrace'.
What did you like about it? Was there something you learnt from that book that you can use in your life?
The book is written in a very simple language. No flowery language is used. But still, the author is able to portray the ideas very well. I learnt to understand that people have their own reasons for doing what they are doing. For example, the protagonist of the novel is very distressed by what his daughter is doing. But the author presents the situation very well.
What other non-fiction book that you read influenced you the most in recent times?
It was 'I Dare!' by Kiran Bedi.. I mean its based on Kiran Bedi. Its her biography.
What did you like about the book?
The sheer courage of this woman, the way she handled problems in the North-East, her tenure as traffic chief, her activities at Tihar.. they are all quite inspiring.
What did she do at Tihar?
First thing she did was to bring transparency to the system, then she involved the prisoners in a lot of community activities such as yoga etc to reform them, then she also made sure that the prisoners are not exploited by the lower level staff at the prison.
Ok, that's all. Thank you. All the best for your other tests.
Thank you Sir.
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IIMC interview :-
The interview panel comprised of 2 professors, one bearded and menacing in his demeanor, the other Bengali and calmer. By his mannerisms during the GD and his manner of conducting the whole exercise, it was quite apparent that this would be my first 'stress' interview. The experiences narrated by the people who were interviewed before me only emboldened that perception. When summoned, I went in, repeating to myself that the worst that could happen inside would be that I would be quizzed and lambasted and I would make a mockery of myself. They won't possibly go after me with a dagger in hand!
There's a mistake in the second line of your write-up. (showing me my write-up). Tell me what it is.
(me, a little surprised, then clueless. I thought it might be some logical inconsistency etc. So was thinking in terms of big fundae).
(One professor to the other, in a hugely sarcastic tone) Now you will have to tell him what line it is, what type of mistake it is...
(me still clueless)
Its in the second line.
(unconvincingly) some blah about logical connections between the first and the second sentences.
Its a spelling mistake.
(in a split second) Sir, there is a mistake in the spelling of plunge. The 'e' is missing.
So you do know the spelling. Still, it took you so long. What happened? What took you so much time?
Sir, I was thinking in terms of logical errors.
You do know the spelling, don't you?
Yes Sir, now that you have pointed out that there is a spelling mistake, I am sure. Earlier I was a little confused.
So, what's this about your GD participation? What happened? Why?
Sir, (flabbergasted, but already anticipated that question!) , some blah blah about introversion and public speaking skills and lack of articulateness and inability to compose thoughts.
Is it that you were too conscious of what others might think?
Yeah... I mean... some more blah.
See, you have a good profile, you have got an ABS. You also seem to have other interests apart from studies. But what I see in front of me is not what I read here. You are not able to compose your thoughts, you take so much time to find out such a simple spelling mistake. Is it that you are too nervous? What... what is the reason?
Yes Sir I got a little unnerved... some blah. ( by this time, I was blah blahing so much, I can't recollect all of it :)) )
Ok, so how many calls have you got?
Sir, I got all 6 calls.
So, have you given all your interviews already?
No, Sir I have only given IIMA interview so far. B and L will be later. I and K interview I am not planning to give.
Why not I and K ? Why did you select them in the first place when you were filling your CAT form?
I am not planning to join them.
Then, why select them in the first place?
Sir, if I didn't have a call from the other institutes, then I would have gone for their interviews as well.
Are you always like this? Trying to prioritize your options, keeping your options open...
Yes Sir. I mostly like to weigh my chances and not leave out options beforehand. That could involve too much risk.
So, how was your IIMA interview?
I think it was pretty good.
How do you say that? How do you judge your own performance?
Sir, I was asked questions on General Awareness which I could answer, on Computer Science which I could mostly answer, and one puzzle which I could not answer, but then it was the first time I had played such a puzzle...
How do you rate your performance in this interview so far?
Sir, its a little different. In IIMA interview, I was asked mostly objective kind of questions, and so it is easy to evaluate my performance. Here, the questions have been more subjective and its difficult to evaluate my own performance.
What do you mean subjective? Are you saying that there is 'arbitrariness' in this process?
Sir, it is prone to becoming arbitrary.
Prone? Are you saying it is arbitrary?
It could possibly be.
How do you say evaluate your performance?
Sir, I mean there is a standard against which I can compare my own performance and see the results.
Elaborate. Give example.
If I write an exam and get more marks than someone else, then if that person passes the course, then I should also pass that course, assuming that the exam is a true reflection of what it intends to evaluate.
What is this property called?
I am not sure, but I think it is validity.
Have you read about it?
No Sir.
There's a similar property? Do you know?
No Sir. ( had a hunch, but not taking chances)
Reliability. If I take a test n times within a reasonably small interval, I should score similar marks.
So, you are from a CSE background, and you are good at mathematics, is it that you always like objective things?
No Sir, but yes, objectivity brings in ease of judgment.
I will tell you something. This world is more about.... Gyan...
The United States and India signed on nuclear deal in July 2006. Both sides are bargaining hard as they test each others will to implement the agreement quickly. They are mobilizing their energies both in bilateral talks and through media comments.
The Big Deal
Under the deal, the U.S. has offered a one-time exception for India in the existing global non-proliferation regime so that India can keep its nuclear weapons without signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Meanwhile, India is coming under increasing pressure to demonstrate its loyalty to a larger "strategic partnership".
This deal is one of the full implementation of the commitments in the July 18, 2005 Joint Statement on nuclear cooperation. This agreement also means that the hurdles faced by India in procuring nuclear technology and fuel have been removed for good. Moreover, all other current restrictions on India's access to America's high and dual technologies will also be withdrawn as a result.
This agreement is a win-win situation from the Indian point of view. India will be able to build more nuclear power plants. At present it has 15 functional plants with an additional seven under construction. India stuck to it guns during the course of tough negotiations during the last few months. It did not agree to open all its nuclear facilities to international inspection. Instead, it ingeniously divided its facilities into "civilian" and "military" ones and agreed to open only the former to international inspection.
According to currently available information, India will place 14 out of its 22 plants under the civilian list. Delhi thinks that the nuclear energy is the answer to its ever-growing needs for power. With this deal India will not have to depend totally on foreign oil and gas for its increasing energy needs.
From the American point of view, this deal - a culmination of the Bush-Singh understanding in Washington last July - was not easy and it will be quite hard for President Bush to sell it to the Congress. To start with, India is not a signatory to the NPT. India built its nuclear programme secretly in defiance of international pressures and carried out two nuclear tests (1974 and 1998).
Finally on 16 November 2006 the American Senate has passed the bill to implement civilian nuclear energy cooperation with India. The bill was passed by a majority of 85-12 after a debate of six hours.
Is Nuclear Energy the only option left?
Spending the same money on new, clean energy options will provide energy without increasing the risk that terrorist will get their hands on nuclear arsenals. "Renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, and biomass are far more practical energy options for China and India,” a report said.
"Both countries have vast land areas that contain a large dispersed and diverse portfolio of renewable energy sources that are attracting foreign and domestic investment as well as political interest". The high-cost nuclear power has "limited ability" to meet the energy needs of both India and the US.
Nuclear power is a dying industry, nuclear power provides only 3 per cent of India's electricity today and even if the 30 new nuclear plants the government hopes to build are actually completed over the next two decades-nuclear energy would still provide only 5 per cent of the country's electricity and 2 per cent of its total energy.
Further we can also say that the nuclear construction business has been in decline for more than two decades.
Worldwide, nuclear power is growing at an average rate of less than 1 per cent per year. By contrast, renewable energy-wind, solar and biofuels is on a growth surge, averaging annual expansion rates if 25-35 per cent. Total investment in the world's renewable energy sector reached USD 30 billion in 2004, according to Renewable 2005: Global Status Report.
North Korean Nuclear Test
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea claims to possess nuclear weapons, and it is widely believed to have a substantial arsenal of chemical weapons (deliverable by artillery). North Korea was a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but withdrew in 2003, citing the failure of the United States to fulfill its end of the Agreed Framework, a 1994 agreement between the states to limit North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
On October 9, 2006, the North Korean government issued an announcement that it had successfully conducted a nuclear test for the first time.
Important Nuclear Treaties
NPT or NNPT- The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT or NNPT) is not an international treaty, opened for signature on July 1, 1968 to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. It obligates the five acknowledged nuclear weapon states ( USA, UK, Russia, China and France) not to transfer nuclear weapons, other nuclear explosive devices, or their technology to any non nuclear weapon state. Non Nuclear weapon States Parties undertake not to acquire or produce nuclear weapon. The treaty was proposed by Ireland, and Finland was the first to sign. 188 sovereign states are parties to the treaty.
CTBT-
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) was established in 19 November 1996. This treaty is a cornerstone of the international regime on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Its total ban (bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes) of any nuclear weapon test explosion will constrain the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons and end the development of advanced new types of these weapons.
PTBT
The Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under Water, often abbreviated as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT), Limited Test Ban Treaty (LTBT), or Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (NTBT) (although the latter also refers to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty) is a treaty prohibiting all test detonations of nuclear weapons except underground.
FMCT
It is widely recognised that the next step towards nuclear disarmament is the negotiation of a treaty to ban the further production of fissile materials for use in nuclear weapons - a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, or FMCT. Indeed until this step is achieved it is difficult to see how any further progress on nuclear disarmament can take place. Yet talks within the Conference on Disarmament (CD) - the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community - are slow going and confidence in the future of an FMCT, and the CD making serious progress, is low.
The science of global warming is too uncertain to act on.
FACT:
There is no debate among scientists about the basic facts of global warming.
The most respected scientific bodies have stated unequivocally that global warming is occurring, and people are causing it by burning fossil fuels (like coal, oil and natural gas) and cutting down forests. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, which in 2005 the White House called "the gold standard of objective scientific assessment," issued a joint statement with 10 other National Academies of Science saying "the scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action. It is vital that all nations identify cost-effective steps that they can take now, to contribute to substantial and long-term reduction in net global greenhouse gas emissions." (Joint Statement of Science Academies: Global Response to Climate Change [PDF], 2005)
The only debate in the science community about global warming is about how much and how fast warming will continue as a result of heat-trapping emissions. Scientists have given a clear warning about global warming, and we have more than enough facts — about causes and fixes — to implement solutions right now.
MYTH:
Even if global warming is a problem, addressing it will hurt American industry and workers.
FACT:
A well designed trading program will harness American ingenuity to decrease heat-trapping pollution cost-effectively, jumpstarting a new carbon economy.
Claims that fighting global warming will cripple the economy and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs are unfounded. In fact, companies that are already reducing their heat-trapping emissions have discovered that cutting pollution can save money. The cost of a comprehensive national greenhouse gas reduction program will depend on the precise emissions targets, the timing for the reductions and the means of implementation. An independent MIT study found that a modest cap-and-trade system would cost less than $20 per household annually and have no negative impact on employment.
Experience has shown that properly designed emissions trading programs can reduce compliance costs significantly compared with other regulatory approaches. For example, the U.S. acid rain program reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 30 percent from 1990 levels and cost industry a fraction of what the government originally estimated, according to EPA. Furthermore, a mandatory cap on emissions could spur technological innovation that could create jobs and wealth. Letting global warming continue until we are forced to address it on an emergency basis could disrupt and severely damage our economy. It is far wiser and more cost-effective to act now.
MYTH:
Water vapor is the most important, abundant greenhouse gas. So if we’re going to control a greenhouse gas, why don’t we control it instead of carbon dioxide (CO2)?
FACT:
Although water vapor traps more heat than CO2, because of the relationships among CO2, water vapor and climate, to fight global warming nations must focus on controlling CO2.
Atmospheric levels of CO2 are determined by how much coal, natural gas and oil we burn and how many trees we cut down, as well as by natural processes like plant growth. Atmospheric levels of water vapor, on the other hand, cannot be directly controlled by people; rather, they are determined by temperatures. The warmer the atmosphere, the more water vapor it can hold. As a result, water vapor is part of an amplifying effect. Greenhouse gases like CO2 warm the air, which in turn adds to the stock of water vapor, which in turn traps more heat and accelerates warming. Scientists know this because of satellite measurements documenting a rise in water vapor concentrations as the globe has warmed.
The best way to lower temperature and thus reduce water vapor levels is to reduce CO2 emissions.
MYTH:
Global warming and extra CO2 will actually be beneficial — they reduce cold-related deaths and stimulate crop growth.
FACT:
Any beneficial effects will be far outweighed by damage and disruption.
Even a warming in just the middle range of scientific projections would have devastating impacts on many sectors of the economy. Rising seas would inundate coastal communities, contaminate water supplies with salt and increase the risk of flooding by storm surge, affecting tens of millions of people globally. Moreover, extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and floods, are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity, causing loss of lives and property and throwing agriculture into turmoil.
Even though higher levels of CO2 can act as a plant fertilizer under some conditions, scientists now think that the "CO2 fertilization" effect on crops has been overstated; in natural ecosystems, the fertilization effect can diminish after a few years as plants acclimate. Furthermore, increased CO2 may benefit undesirable, weedy species more than desirable species.
Higher levels of CO2 have already caused ocean acidification, and scientists are warning of potentially devastating effects on marine life and fisheries. Moreover, higher levels of regional ozone (smog), a result of warmer temperatures, could worsen respiratory illnesses. Less developed countries and natural ecosystems may not have the capacity to adapt.
The notion that there will be regional “winners” and “losers” in global warming is based on a world-view from the 1950’s. We live in a global community. Never mind the moral implications — when an environmental catastrophe creates millions of refugees half-way around the world, Americans are affected.
MYTH:
Global warming is just part of a natural cycle. The Arctic has warmed up in the past.
FACT:
The global warming we are experiencing is not natural. People are causing it.
People are causing global warming by burning fossil fuels (like oil, coal and natural gas) and cutting down forests. Scientists have shown that these activities are pumping far more CO2 into the atmosphere than was ever released in hundreds of thousands of years. This buildup of CO2 is the biggest cause of global warming. Since 1895, scientists have known that CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap heat and warm the earth. As the warming has intensified over the past three decades, scientific scrutiny has increased along with it. Scientists have considered and ruled out other, natural explanations such as sunlight, volcanic eruptions and cosmic rays. (IPCC 2001)
Though natural amounts of CO2 have varied from 180 to 300 parts per million (ppm), today's CO2 levels are around 380 ppm. That's 25% more than the highest natural levels over the past 650,000 years. Increased CO2 levels have contributed to periods of higher average temperatures throughout that long record. (Boden, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center)
As for previous Arctic warming, it is true that there were stretches of warm periods over the Arctic earlier in the 20th century. The limited records available for that time period indicate that the warmth did not affect as many areas or persist from year to year as much as the current warmth. But that episode, however warm it was, is not relevant to the issue at hand. Why? For one, a brief regional trend does not discount a longer global phenomenon.
We know that the planet has been warming over the past several decades and Arctic ice has been melting persistently. And unlike the earlier periods of Arctic warmth, there is no expectation that the current upward trend in Arctic temperatures will reverse; the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases will prevent that from happening.
MYTH:
We can adapt to climate change — civilization has survived droughts and temperature shifts before.
FACT:
Although humans as a whole have survived the vagaries of drought, stretches of warmth and cold and more, entire societies have collapsed from dramatic climatic shifts.
The current warming of our climate will bring major hardships and economic dislocations — untold human suffering, especially for our children and grandchildren. We are already seeing significant costs from today's global warming which is caused by greenhouse gas pollution. Climate has changed in the past and human societies have survived, but today six billion people depend on interconnected ecosystems and complex technological infrastructure.
What's more, unless we limit the amount of heat-trapping gases we are putting into the atmosphere, we will face a warming trend unseen since human civilization began 10,000 years ago. (IPCC 2001)
The consequences of continued warming at current rates are likely to be dire. Many densely populated areas, such as low-lying coastal regions, are highly vulnerable to climate shifts. A middle-of-the-range projection is that the homes of 13 to 88 million people around the world would be flooded by the sea each year in the 2080s. Poorer countries and small island nations will have the hardest time adapting. (McLean et al. 2001)
In what appears to be the first forced move resulting from climate change, 100 residents of Tegua island in the Pacific Ocean were evacuated by the government because rising sea levels were flooding their island. Some 2,000 other islanders plan a similar move to escape rising waters. In the United States, the village of Shishmaref in Alaska, which has been inhabited for 400 years, is collapsing from melting permafrost. Relocation plans are in the works.
Scarcity of water and food could lead to major conflicts with broad ripple effects throughout the globe. Even if people find a way to adapt, the wildlife and plants on which we depend may be unable to adapt to rapid climate change. While the world itself will not end, the world as we know it may disappear.
MYTH:
Recent cold winters and cool summers don’t feel like global warming to me.
FACT:
While different pockets of the country have experienced some cold winters here and there, the overall trend is warmer winters.
Measurements show that over the last century the Earth’s climate has warmed overall, in all seasons, and in most regions. Climate skeptics mislead the public when they claim that the winter of 2003–2004 was the coldest ever in the northeastern United States. That winter was only the 33rd coldest in the region since records began in 1896. Furthermore, a single year of cold weather in one region of the globe is not an indication of a trend in the global climate, which refers to a long-term average over the entire planet.
MYTH:
Global warming can’t be happening because some glaciers and ice sheets are growing, not shrinking.
FACT:
In most parts of the world, the retreat of glaciers has been dramatic. The best available scientific data indicate that Greenland's massive ice sheet is shrinking.
Between 1961 and 1997, the world’s glaciers lost 890 cubic miles of ice. The consensus among scientists is that rising air temperatures are the most important factor behind the retreat of glaciers on a global scale over long time periods. Some glaciers in western Norway, Iceland and New Zealand have been expanding during the past few decades. That expansion is a result of regional increases in storm frequency and snowfall rather than colder temperatures — not at all incompatible with a global warming trend.
In Greenland, a NASA satellite that can measure the ice mass over the whole continent has found that although there is variation from month to month, over the longer term, the ice is disappearing. In fact, there are worrisome signs that melting is accelerating: glaciers are moving into the ocean twice as fast as a decade ago, and, over time, more and more glaciers have started to accelerate. What is most alarming is the prediction, based on model calculations and historical evidence, that an approximately 5.4 degree Fahrenheit increase in local Greenland temperatures will lead to irreversible meltdown and a sea-level rise of over 20 feet. Since the Arctic is warming 2-3 times faster than the global average, this tipping point is not far away.
The only study that has shown increasing ice mass in Greenland only looked at the interior of the ice sheet, not at the edges where melting occurs. This is actually in line with climate model predictions that global warming would lead to a short-term accumulation of ice in the cold interior due to heavier snowfall. (Similarly, scientists have predicted that Antarctica overall will gain ice in the near future due to heavier snowfall.) The scientists who published the study were careful to point out that their results should not be used to conclude that Greenland's ice mass as a whole is growing. In addition, their data suggested that the accumulation of snow in the middle of the continent is likely to decrease over time as global warming continues.
MYTH:
Accurate weather predictions a few days in advance are hard to come by. Why on earth should we have confidence in climate projections decades from now?
FACT:
Climate prediction is fundamentally different from weather prediction, just as climate is different from weather.
It is often more difficult to make an accurate weather forecast than a climate prediction. The accuracy of weather forecasting is critically dependent upon being able to exactly and comprehensively characterize the present state of the global atmosphere. Climate prediction relies on other, longer ranging factors. For instance, we might not know if it will be below freezing on a specific December day in New England, but we know from our understanding of the region's climate that the temperatures during the month will generally be low. Similarly, climate tells us that Seattle and London tend to be rainy, Florida and southern California are usually warm, and the Southwest is often dry and hot.
Today’s climate models can now reproduce the observed global average climates over the past century and beyond. Such findings have reinforced scientist’s confidence in the capacity of models to produce reliable projections of future climate. Current climate assessments typically consider the results from a range of models and scenarios for future heat-trapping emissions in order to identify the most likely range for future climatic change.
MYTH:
As the ozone hole shrinks, global warming will no longer be a problem.
FACT:
Global warming and the ozone hole are two different problems.
The ozone hole is a thinning of the stratosphere's ozone layer, which is roughly 9 to 31 miles above the earth's surface. The depletion of the ozone is due to man-made chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A thinner ozone layer lets more harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the earth's surface.
Global warming, on the other hand, is the increase in the earth's average temperature due to the buildup of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from human activities.
• Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.
When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
If you can make a favourable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator!
When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.
Body of the group discussion
• Different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first impression:
i. Quotes
ii. Definition
iii. Question
iv. Shock statement
v. Facts, figures and statistics
vi. Short story
vii. General statement
i. Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.
If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'.
For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wall-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'
ii. Definition
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.
For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?
For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.
iii. Question
Asking a question is an impact way of starting a GD.
It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.
Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged.
Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.
For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'
iv. Shock statement
Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.
If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'
v. Facts, figures and statistics
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.
Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.
For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).
But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).
Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.
For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FID in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."
vi. Short story
Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.
This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'
vii. General statement
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.
For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'
Summarization/ Conclusion
• Most GD do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.
• But every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the group has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.
Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:
1. Avoid raising new points.
2. Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
3. Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
4. Keep it brief and concise.
5. It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.
6. If the examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it means the GD has come to an end.
7. Do not add anything once the GD has been summarized.
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