Comprehensive TISS Entrance Exam Preparation Guidance and Study Materials

Hello,

I have a couple of queries, and it would be great if you could spare your valuable time on this.

Well, I am giving TISS on the 12th of December. I've not done much preparation for it yet.

Just wanted to know the following:

1) Wanted to know the exact pattern of the paper, and I've heard the paper is quite easy. Now the term "easy" differs with persons, so if you can give me a clue about it!

2) What materials would you suggest for me to prepare from? One, for the test-1 (I'm preparing for CAT, I suppose this would suffice - correct me if I'm wrong). Two, for test-2 what materials and articles should I focus more on? (I've opted for HRM & LR, GL & SW & RD). Three, what other groundwork with respect to these two should I do at this stage?

3) What is the general pattern of giving the test, as in, will all the papers be together? Like, will we be given all the papers together and we can choose which one to start first?

4) In case you have any soft copy of sample paper or materials you can share with me, that would be great!

5) Besides that, please tell me if there is any random suggestion you would want to give while preparing for TISS? (In case I am missing out on an important point in your view, I will be obliged if you can add that to this list).

Awaiting your kind reply, and thank you in advance.

Best Regards,

SHILPA :)

Hey Shilpa!

I'm Neha and I'm preparing for the TISS entrance exam for MA in HR in 2011. Please tell me if you have received any answers to your questions. Kindly share them with me too! Your help would be greatly appreciated. I need to know which books you referred to for the exam.

Thanks,
Neha Jain

Hi Neha,

Good that you are preparing well in advance for TISS. I had started my prep by the end of October, for the test to be held in the 2nd week of December! Now frankly, the test was not all that tough just how seniors at TISS had told me, but then I could clear only MA.SWRD though not HRM & LR, which I presumed I had done well!

Well, let me tell you how it all goes. There are 2 papers when it comes to the written part of it. First, a general one, common for all the streams. Here, you ought to be aware of the day-to-day happenings, current affairs, verbal, quants, logical reasoning, which, trust me, is too easy to tackle. If you're in plans to give your CAT (with serious preparation), trust me, it would be nothing but a cakewalk. It is a very general and simple paper.

Secondly, this is a little subject-oriented one and needs serious preparation. If you're opting for HRM & LR, then "Human Resource Management" by Aswathappa is a very good book (a MUST-READ in my opinion). This section would comprise of applications and general concepts pertaining to HRM, so you'll have to read on that a little.

Overall, the paper was easy. You can opt for a maximum of 3 subjects, but at the end of the day, you can join for only one. Also, keep in mind that once you qualify the writtens, during the interview, the interviewers would expect an explanation over your opting for the 3 subjects, and you must be in a position to justify.

I hope this info helped you. In case of any more info, please do not hesitate to post :)

Regards,
SHILPA

Hey Shilpa!!!

Thanks a ton for replying so promptly to my query! You have helped me greatly in this matter! Most of my friends who are preparing for CAT and know about TISS keep warning me about the entrance of the institute, but now I am so relaxed by your mail that the test would not be that tough! Thanks!

Now, the first thing I will do is purchase the book that you have suggested, and tomorrow I am also going to talk to the TIME coaching center for tuition classes for CAT. To be honest, I have not been that good at Mathematics, and now preparing for the same is no less than a challenge for me! Did you take any coaching for the TISS entrance exam? And secondly, what is this MA.SWRD? Does it mean that I will have to choose any three streams, and then at the end, they will ask me to choose one amongst those three, or will they give me a stream as per my performance? Thanks so much for coping up with my questions :P I really need help! Thanks again! :)

Hey BTW are you from Delhi?

Regards, Neha Jain

Hi Neha,

Hey there, there's nothing wrong in asking what you are doubtful about. I would be pleased if I'm of help. Firstly, I'm not from Delhi; I belong to Hyderabad but am currently staying in Chennai.

Secondly, MA.SWRD refers to MA in Social Work in Rural Development.

So, while you are filling up your forms for TISS, you can apply for a maximum of 3 programs. I had applied for two: 1) HRM&LR and 2) MA.SWRD. I would want you to have a look at the official TISS website as it would be helpful and clear most of your doubts.

No, I had not taken up any coaching class specifically for TISS, but yes, in 2009, I had taken up CAT coaching at TIME. I felt it didn't help me much as I was solely dependent on the classes. I was working then, and my schedule used to be really tight. Well, I think it's good that you are taking up CAT coaching and would advise you to take it seriously with your personal preparation and efforts alongside. Do not solely depend on the classes!

I felt the first paper (where your CAT coaching classes will help) was way too easy. I suggest you download the previous year's question paper from the TISS website or from elsewhere if you're able to manage it. Solve it with no prior preparation, and you'll surely be able to answer around more than 50% of the questions. Just develop time management because while taking up the test on the D-day, time flew away. The paper is lengthy and easy, so this is where you have to concentrate more.

Regarding the second paper, decide which programs you want to opt for and why. Once you have the answers, you can go ahead with your preparation accordingly and seriously.

Best wishes,

SHILPA

Regarding your choice of streams, you can select a maximum of three programs as mentioned in my previous post. If you meet the cut-off scores for all three programs, you will be invited for the GD/PI for each one. Upon successfully meeting the final cut-off for all three, the decision of choosing one program among the three is up to you, as you cannot pursue all three simultaneously. I hope this information is helpful!

Hey Shilpa!!!

Thank you so much for all the help! I was so unclear about the entrance test of TISS prior to our discussion, but now the picture is 90% clear! 😀 Thank you! I am focusing only on HR, and I hope I do not get placed in any other stream! Yes, I have downloaded sample papers from some online source, but could not find any from the Institute's website... I will search again though!

Well, I guess this was it for now... I will definitely write more if I get stuck anywhere... where else will I go 😛

So, thank you so much for your incredible help, Shilpa! Take care!

Regards, Neha Jain

Dear Neha,

I'm glad that I could help you! All the best and happy preparations.

Best Regards,
SHILPA

Hi Shilpa,

Your responses are very good. I'm planning to write the TISS entrance exam for M.A. Social Work in Disability Studies this December. Could you please tell me some good materials/books for preparation? I'm very much interested in the course and looking forward to it. Please tell me about the type of questions that will appear. I searched a lot on their website but couldn't find anything relevant to the paper pattern.

Thanks in advance. Any help is highly appreciated.

Regards,
Anita

Hi Shilpa and Neha!!

If you read this reply, please let me know your current status :) I am writing TISS this year. This thread was highly useful for me.

Thanks to both of you.

Hello Shilpa,

I also want to join TISS for doing my masters in Human Resources. I read this article, and it was quite helpful. I have some more queries if you could please help me out. Is it compulsory to join TIME for CAT? Or can I manage to prepare for the entrance exam on my own? And if I don't join TIME, then what material will I need to refer? I also wanted to know what other materials did you use to prepare for the second half paper. And is there any institute that provides specific coaching for the TISS NET? Please advise.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Safa.