Getting admission in a university after passing the Higher Secondary level is said to be the dream of pursuing higher education. Who does not want to study at Dhaka University after passing Higher Secondary level! That is why millions of students who have completed Higher Secondary level are working tirelessly day and night to achieve this dream. They are busy trying to achieve their dreams and are losing sleep. The admission test at Dhaka University will knock on the door again next year. Many are very well prepared. Many are spending their time studying in a busy way, wondering how to complete the syllabus, while many are in doubt about how to study to ensure 100% preparation.
Taking some guidelines makes it easy to get a chance at Dhaka University, known as the Oxford of the East, and boosts morale. Some such guidelines related to the admission test are presented to the students seeking admission. Bablu, a student of the Accounting and Information Systems Department of DU, has given his advice. The interview is republished—
How was your study pattern after going through the university admission war?
Bablu: Studying for the university admission test and studying for HSC are not the same. Because the syllabus for university preparation is a bit different, the question pattern there is also different and the time available for its preparation is also very less. Therefore, here you have to go beyond the conventional and study in a more smart and strategic way.
The main reason for my confidence was my strong preparation. I was naturally a good student in college and I would consistently finish my studies on time. That is why good results continued. Because of studying in a very organized way, my studies did not pile up. Then I thought to myself what if I put myself forward for the university too. I started moving forward. I bought a question bank and saw that in the C unit admission test, questions were asked from a total of 5 subjects: (a) Bengali, (b) English, (c) Accounting, (d) Business and Management and (e) Finance/Marketing.
One thing I noticed is that although the syllabus for HSC and admission is the same in all subjects, English has the most new things and Bengali has a few new things. In English, these new subjects are basic grammar, vocabulary and prepositions. Many questions come from these two sources every year. That is why I started studying them while I was still in college. By studying a little every day, after completing HSC, I was already much ahead of the university exams.
My daily routine, first of all, I would finish my daily reading every day. I would organize my goals into small targets for a week and move forward accordingly. In this case, I would reward myself for achieving each target, which would motivate me. And I don’t know if there is any fixed rule regarding daily routine. It is natural that everyone’s routine will not be the same because everyone’s preferences are not the same. My advice is to create your own routine by understanding your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities. However, you should remember that you can never stop studying and you cannot move away from your goals.
What is the way to do well in a written exam?
Bablu: The most effective way to do well in a written exam is to practice a lot. The more a student practices, the more his mistakes will be caught and he will get a chance to correct himself. A sentence can be translated in many ways. But the answer that will help to get more marks is the one that uses fewer words and is written in correct grammar. There is no substitute for practice to build this skill. Practicing a sentence correctly for a written exam means qualifying yourself to write a few more sentences correctly. Handwriting is one of the most important factors in a written exam. Therefore, keeping all these factors in mind, if you want to do well in a written exam, you must practice a lot. For sample questions in the written exam, see last year’s question paper.
Is there any easy technique to get a chance in the university?
Bablu: There is no easy or shortcut technique to get a chance in the university. The main difference with HSC is: your results in HSC are not influenced by anyone, but that is not applicable in the university admission exam. That is, if someone else does better than you despite doing well, your chances of getting a chance are getting slimmer. Therefore, the competition here is very intense. Therefore, to ensure a chance, you have to leave your fantasies and start preparing now.
The reading ability of a student varies depending on his/her talent. Even then, how many hours should you study daily?
Bablu: The answer to such questions as how many hours should you study daily is often controversial and unwanted. If a student starts preparing 1 year in advance, then he/she does not need to take more pressure daily. And if another starts later, then he/she will definitely have to give more time than the previous student to survive in the competition. Also, the strengths and weaknesses of every student are not the same. The one who needs more time to master a topic will have to study more time. The one who finishes the reading in less time will have enough even if it is less time. However, in the current context, my advice is that at least 8 hours a day should not be missed.
How important is coaching? How can those who do not have the opportunity to get coaching prepare?
Bablu: Coaching is good for getting a chance in the university; however, it is not mandatory. To do well in the university exam, some techniques such as solving calculations without a calculator, answering before and after from a topic, solving passages, etc. are required. Coaching usually plays a role in providing guidance and time management in all these techniques. However, if someone does not want to do coaching alone, then he must follow the advice of an experienced person. Besides, in terms of preparation, studying in coaching or studying at home is the same.
Guide book or text book – which is more important?
Bablu: Of course, text books are more important. However, since the university syllabus is not specified, one has to rely on guide books from good publications. This makes the preparation smoother and increases the chances of getting common questions.
It is not necessary to read some books. I would like to know the names of some books.
Bablu: HSC text books are sufficient for accounting, management and finance/marketing. Along with this, good guide books can be kept as references. Along with HSC text books for Bengali, one must read Bengali grammar books of class 9-10. For English, grammar books and guide books for the memorization part from good publications are definitely applicable.
How can students who are lagging behind in GPA do well in the admission test?
Bablu: A friend of mine had an ASC and HSC GPA of around 8 points. But he gets a chance in the university. In this case, he has to completely depend on his best effort in the admission test. He gets a chance despite his low GPA because he gets enough marks in the admission test. Therefore, students who are lagging behind in GPA need to prepare more rigorously for the admission test.
What is the advice for those who are preparing for multiple units at the same time?
Bablu: For those who are preparing for multiple units at the same time, English and Bengali are common subjects. Therefore, you should study English and Bengali very well and thoroughly. Apart from that, set preferences for the different subjects in each unit. That is, you should give more time to the unit that is more desirable. You should take care of time management so that all the studies are completed on time. If you ever feel that studying multiple units at once is not possible, then leave the rest and continue preparing for one.
What are the common mistakes that students make while preparing for the entrance exam?
Bablu: Common mistakes include
A. Leaving studies unfinished and having a “not today, but tomorrow” attitude.
B. Misusing or using social media for no reason.
C. Not utilizing time properly.
D. Enrolling in multiple coaching sessions to prepare for the same unit.
E. Starting preparation for multiple units without prior planning.
F. Also, students should be aware of the common mistakes that students make.
Shouldn’t you make any mistakes in the 1 hour/1.5 hour period during the exam?
Bablu: Everything in the entrance exam is decided during this exam itself. All the hard work of 4/5 months goes in vain if this time is not utilized. Therefore, you have to be most careful and patient during this time of the exam. First of all, you have to stabilize your mind as soon as you enter the exam hall. You have to think that everyone who has appeared for the exam like you is more or less anxious. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to calm your mind. Because a calm mind has more thinking power and comprehension. Then, you have to start marking the answers according to the pre-determined plan. First, it is common practice to mark Management, then Finance/Marketing, then Bengali, then Accounting and lastly English. In this case, if the answer to any question is unknown, you should not waste time and go to the next question. When marking English, you must remember the negative marking so that the additional risk does not become a reason for failure.
Fear works more among those who are appearing for the admission test for the first time and as a result, many fail. What can be done to remove this fear?
Bablu: The main way to remove this fear is confidence. That is, if you have worked hard enough, success is yours. You have to appear in the exam hall with a strong morale. After receiving the questions, you cannot get nervous after seeing unusual questions. Rather, you have to move forward patiently. You have to keep a cool head and avoid all worries. Before appearing for the exam, talk openly with your parents and teachers.