Education blog by Pearson India

"You don't understand anything until you learn it more than one way." a quote by Marvin Minksy, explores how different approaches aid and strengthen the knowledge a learner acquires. While their academic knowledge may be limited to the classroom, learning in other forms transpires every second of their day. Therefore, the school as a whole can serve as a source of learning itself, broadening their scope of wisdom and intellect.

This learning begins at a very young age. Babies have been found to identify humour as early as in the third month of their life. It boosts self-confidence, builds resilience, and develops critical analytic skills. Celebrating "International Joke Day" on 1st July, one must attempt to bring humour into the school life of students, constructing a positive atmosphere for learning. Not only does it improve memory retention, but also increases trustworthiness and dependability. While education is a serious matter, a balance between enjoyment and instruction results in a much more conducive environment for the learner.

Another consequence of encouraging humour is the management of stress and anger issues, preventing them from manifesting into severe conditions. Hosting a funny day wearing mismatched socks, sharing personal anecdotes, encouraging witty literature, or creating a bulletin board for students' jokes and comics are simple ways of incorporating humour into school life.

Bringing learning further outside classrooms, students can be trained to manage waste responsibly and care for the environment, everywhere they go. In India, the month of July is welcomed with the celebration of "Van Mahotsav", the forest festival. Students should not only uphold the tree-planting tradition but also be made aware of the current climatic conditions and the carbon footprint that their actions leave behind.

Exploring the Japanese practice of Shinrin-Yoku, i.e., forest bathing, simply spending time in nature also provides a soothing effect on our wellbeing. It involves immersing oneself in natural surroundings that appeal to all the human senses. This lowers blood pressure, negative hormones like the stress-causing cortisol, and increases happiness and gratitude. The key to a successful session is mindfulness, which when introduced in early childhood would help effectively monitor emotions in adolescent and adult life. They would be more adept at facing challenges and solving problems without being irrationally driven by their emotions, they would gain self- control and show decreased anxiety and disruptive behavior. Being one with nature has several beneficial effects at any stage of life, and initiating it early on would only have exponential results.

Coincidentally, "International Plastic Bag Free Day" also passes in the first week, on 3rd July. Following simple measures, schools can manage waste in efficient ways, starting small yet creating an enormous impact on the coming generation.

The first step to putting this plan into action is to try not to produce waste at all. Refilling printer cartridges rather than purchasing new ones, reusing old envelopes, creating vermicomposting bins, etc. are ideas we are widely familiar with, however, fail to employ. Other things that often go unnoticed include the containers food is served in or students' lunch boxes. If non-toxic materials like bamboo, glass, etc. are not viable options, materials like bioplastic, made of corn

rather than petroleum are acceptable biodegradable alternatives to plastic. The more widespread their usage can be made, the less harm to the environment we will be leaving behind.

Furthermore, sensitivity to nature and sustainable living also has an immense impact on the learners' cognitive development. Practice minimalism makes them more conscious of their consumerist nature. This reduces the chances of depressive episodes and promotes a stress-free life, facilitating a purposeful journey ahead. Once the learners are familiar with waste management practices, they would employ them in their homes as well, giving the school a greater purpose to fulfil.

The learning that students acquire during their years at school thus secures the foundation for their life ahead. To ensure that the knowledge they obtain is functional throughout their lives, one must ensure that it is not only relevant but also holistic. As the 15th of July approaches, on "Youth Skills Day", schools must examine their policy toward vocational education, technical and entrepreneurial skills, and equipping the learners with the know-how to aid in future employment. This is something that the National Education Policy 2020 also touches upon, for the all-around development and nurturing of the generations to come.

India is rich in its culture of arts and handicrafts, something that is gradually being lost with the advent of technology. In order to acknowledge the dignity of labour and preserve the grace of traditional artisanship, vocational schooling must be incorporated into mainstream education. If exposure is provided at a younger age, students would be used to hands-on work and would secure a base of employment, in a rapidly uncertain world.

In addition to serving as a source of income, vocational training also provides a sense of self- sustainability and independence, giving the learner a renewed sense of self-worth. It would encourage creativity, which is essential to progress and grow in today's world.

However, this does not imply that technical skills are not essential as well. Rather than technology being the evil, we must be capable enough to use it as a resource, than it using us. To prevent misapplication of it, students must be taught at a young age, ways to benefit from its usage. Only if technology acts as an asset to them, can they be an asset to society. Technology may just be the answer to saving our heritage, in terms of accessibility of raw materials for artisans, direct connections to the market, awareness of consumers' needs, etc.

Yet, learning is not something that should be limited to nurturing oneself and one's own future only. The learner must experience the joy of giving from within, as an empathetic response rather than from the mindset of doing someone a favour. This way, they would voluntarily support the underprivileged later in life as well, creating a larger impact. However, one must understand that there are multiple ways of providing this support. Well-known methods include taking part in outreach programmes, engaging in community service, participating in fundraisers and volunteering with NGOs. However, students must also realise the impact they can have on a person in distress, by actively listening and simply sharing time with them.

Therefore, the ultimate goal of education is to make students productive, functional and contributive members of the society and environment. To mobilize such a generation, one must

take all measures to ensure the holistic development of the learner. Schools are an impactful ecosystem in their lives and possess the power to mould their impressionable minds. If tapped into, there is no doubt that the world can be made a better place.

Dr. Geetanjali Kumar

read more

The face of higher education in India has changed drastically in the past two decades. Privatization has increased the cost of education, reduced job opportunities while increased competition in the sector. This is one of the many reasons why the education sector is looking back at its functions and systems in order to bring about the necessary changes and align with the advancements that are happening in the sector. The evolution of higher education and the gap between Traditional education and modern education is creating a contrast of opinions. On one hand, students and parents are looking at education as an investment and something that will give them a decent return on their investment. On the other hand, the job market is doubting the quality of “product” that Higher education is producing, as they are not “industry ready”.

In order to understand the evolution of the Higher education sector in India, let's take a look at the traditional approach and modern approach to higher education in India.

Traditional approach:

Traditional education is also known as customary education or conventional education. According to the 2009 Right to Education Act, schooling is free and compulsory for all children from the ages of 6 to 14. However, refinements are slowly being executed and underprivileged groups may still not have adequate access to education.

Following are the stages of Traditional education:

Primary school to High school:

1st to 4th standard (for six- to ten-year-olds) is called Primary school, then 5th to 8th standard (for 11- to 14-year-olds) is middle school, 9th, and 10th standard (for 14- to 16-year-olds) are a secondary school, 11th, and 12th standard (for 16- to 17-year-olds) are called Higher secondary or pre-university at this level the students choose an academic area to focus on. Most Indian schools have a primary focus on academic subjects, with very little scope for creative pursuit and few or no extra-curricular activities. Traditional schooling techniques lean more toward learning and memorisation, rather than nurturing independent or creative thinking. There is a strong focus on examinations from an early age, making the atmosphere of Indian schools competitive. 

Undergraduate: 

Undergraduate degrees vary from 3 years to 5 years depending on the course and specialisation. Degrees like Business, arts, are shorter than courses such as medicine, engineering, and law, which can be longer. 

Postgraduate: 

A postgraduate degree or course is typically a two-year degree. A postgraduate diploma, postgraduate degree or master’s degree offers the students an advanced level of education in their preferred area of study. The course is often designed to build on the knowledge obtained during the undergraduate or bachelor’s degree education. Mostly the course is practical in nature in order to better prepare the student with the skills they will need in the workplace. Completing postgraduate studies helps students further their career prospects and exacerbate their understanding of their area of study.

India has been one of the largest technical manpower in the world. However, it is not significant compared to the population, which gives rise to the tremendous scope of improvement in this area. The traditional approach to higher education has been a good career starter for millions of students, but the demanding and challenging job market in the new era of advanced technology is on the lookout for a more skilled workforce and demands more than just a traditional educational background. Which has given rise to skill-based education and vocational learning. 

Vocational and skill-based learning: 

Technical and Vocational education is vital for human resource development in India. It creates skilled manpower, enhances industrial productivity, and improves the quality of life. Skill-based learning is about planning, executing, and analysing skills gained through knowledge-based learning methods. Students have a motivation to think logically, analyse concepts and apply their understandings. The idea behind this innovative and most in-demand learning process is to develop students into independent thinkers and prepare them for the challenges in the future.

Skill-based courses:

Skill-based courses help students to enhance the ideas and skills they already possess in order to their future a boost. Various skills help students learn something new to facilitate them to acquire more knowledge and enlighten their future.

For students to make informed career choices, they need to focus on learning new skills to make them future-ready in order to help them stay pertinent in the current job scene. Some top skilled-based courses that are the demand of the future are - Digital Marketing, Financial Modelling, 3D Animation and VFX, Big data and Hadoop, User Interface Design, Graphic design, eSports, Sports management, Cloud computing etc.

The new age of learning is constantly changing, from classroom learning to Virtual learning, adapting new skills and new tools. All the evolution in higher education is leaning towards increasing the skilled workforce to face the new age challenges in the world, creating new opportunities and avenues of employment. 

Pearson recognises the need and value of different types of emerging skills and workforce development in India. Pearson BTEC courses prepare learners for a successful career in their chosen industry with hands-on practical learning. BTEC opens doors to a variety of career opportunities for learners and provides them with real-life skills to meet industry demands. Click here to know more about Pearson BTECs globally recognised qualifications and courses.

Return to blog page

read more

How important is it for a student to be able to fluently converse in English? This is a question as valid as asking how important oxygen is to human lives. English speaking skills are the fundamentals of a student's academic life. It is a global language, and hence, it is important to inculcate at least some basic English speaking skills. That’s just the start. Moving ahead in school or university, students must aim to develop exemplary speaking skills in this language.

English speaking is essential for students as it affects all areas of their lives. It is not limited to the classrooms, however; it is a great place to begin with. Remarkable communication skills help students cope with other academic subjects, ace their homework and projects, and also shape their personality.

A good command of communication skills boosts one's self-esteem. It is the medium that enables people to project their thoughts and perceive others’. English speaking for students is not just an academic skill. It is a life skill that is best acquired at the beginning stages of life.

Here’s how students can improve their English speaking skills while acing at school.

1. Identify the areas of progress

Students often know how to communicate in English. But they are not necessarily good at oral communication. Or even if they are, there is always scope for development. To improve English speaking skills for students, they must lay down their areas of progress and define their learning journey accordingly. Some of them include:

• Having a hard time looking for words.
• Unable to get the right pronunciation of certain words.
• Lethologica, or the tip of the tongue phenomenon,
• Unable to comprehend what others are saying.
• Grammatical errors
• Inability to hold a conversation in English

If students face issues with any of these matters or anything similar, they must particularly work on these areas to achieve the right results.

2. Go beyond the academic syllabus

The academic curriculum is extremely helpful in learning English speaking and its application as well. But when it comes to learning, the sky's the limit. Looking for resources beyond the school curriculum is a type of blended learning that is interesting and effective. Aside from educational resources, students can refer to English movies, documentaries, series, and podcasts too. This introduces them to the comprehensive as well as colloquial use of the language.

3. Build a personal dictionary

What is the best way to develop your English vocabulary? Ideally, there are innumerable ways to do this. But let’s look at this less explored but foolproof way of learning and enhancing the English vocabulary. Students can create their own library of words and note their meanings. This helps keep a record of the new words that they have learnt, and they can use it as a reference for their school homework as well. A personal dictionary is a customized learning method that helps students learn new words with their meanings and applications.

4. Use creative learning methods

Speaking of personalized learning methods, there are many ways for students to improve their English speaking. One can channel their interests into upgrading their communication skills. For instance, students can use the brain-sketching technique to better remember the new words that they learn. They can also indulge in creative writing, speech shadowing, or join a book club. Using learning methods that students are comfortable with can improve the quality of learning and help them build better recall.

5. Indulge in communicative activities

Learning is effective as long as it is simultaneously put into practice. To improve their English speaking skills, students can join online discussion forums. This makes for an effective digital learning experience that is productive and helps students explore subjects of their own preference. The topics of discussion do not necessarily have to be educational. Besides that, they must also actively give school presentations. Now that schools and universities encourage children to learn through digital learning and experiential methods like giving presentations individually or even in groups, students can make the most of this opportunity to improve their English communication skills.

6. Retell a story

Students can tell or even retell a story in English that they know in their native language. They can do that in the privacy of their own space or find an audience amongst their peers, friends, and family. Storytelling is interactive and actively helps students improve their speaking skills in a fun way.

7. Use online resources

The benefit of using online resources to learn or improve English speaking skills is that they are innumerable. This could also be a downside, as students might get overwhelmed with the number of options available. Pearson’s ActiveApp can be the right companion for students on their journey to improve their English speaking. It encompasses blended learning that ensures students have a wholesome and valued learning experience. It has multiple learning styles that are suitable for students with varied backgrounds.

These productive and diverse tips can help students improve their English speaking skills. Furthermore, the digital resources let students learn at their own pace and time without compromising their academics.

Pearson's ActiveApp 2.0 is designed for students to comply with Pearson textbooks and it ensures that students can study at any time and anywhere. With its unique, interactive, contextual, and learner-centric approach, ActiveApp uses supplementary videos, audios and more.

Return to blog page

read more

Listening skills should be inculcated in students right from the very first day of school. In fact, it's ideal if it begins at home. One might argue that it is a skill that one possesses by default. That may be a subjective argument. But to know if one has good listening skills, here are some characteristics to consider that define its excellence.

• Actively paying attention
• Ability to comprehend another person’s speech
• Letting the speaker finish
• Responding with appropriate body language and gestures

Listening skills for students encourage a healthy exchange of words, inculcate the quality of multitasking, and help develop patience. Furthermore, improved listening skills will boost the student’s confidence to succeed in the class. It is important to indulge in active listening and not passive listening. It is a common trait among students that could be a result of disinterest in classrooms or exhaustion.

English listening skills hold value in both the academic and professional worlds. Hence, it’s important to develop listening skills for this global language that is a gateway to many opportunities in life.

With these simple practices you can improve your listening skills gradually and effectively.

1. Focus on pronunciations

Pronunciation can be the first hurdle that you might want to cross. English as a language is spoken in different ways and with different accents. The key is to be aware of those and, at the same time, learn the appropriate native pronunciation. There are two fundamental ways to put this English listening skill into practice.

• Pay close attention to what people are saying.
• Use Google to learn the accurate pronunciation and say it out loud.

Learning pronunciation also means discovering new words and enhancing your vocabulary.

2. Listen to audiobooks

Digital learning now makes it possible for students to get their hands on diverse audiobooks. These audiobooks can be based on any topic of your preference. You can listen to audiobooks while indulging in other tasks. However, you must use this factor to enhance your multitasking skills. Being able to actively listen and write or read is a skill that students can benefit from in their classrooms. Besides, due to a lack of visuals, audiobooks also encourage imagination and creative thinking.

 3. Take notes while listening

This strategy is very simple, practical, and highly effective. Watch video clips or listen to short audio clips. Take notes on the content that you are listening to at the same time. It does not have to be complete sentences, as the goal here is to capture the subject of the audio content. You can use words and acronyms of your own choice. You can write down some significant keywords or stick to simple phrases. This helps with English listening skills for students as it pushes them to actively listen. This is a goal-oriented practice wherein the students have to listen to the audio and take proper notes to define the content.

 4. Watch videos with subtitles

Movies are not only a great source of entertainment, but they also develop better English listening skills for students. The subtitles are extremely helpful for interpreting the language and speech. But don’t be crippled by it. Use it to your advantage. They make it easy to learn English. If you have a hard time catching up with people’s words, then start by watching movies or series with subtitles. You can reduce the playback speed to make this more comfortable. Understanding the language and the speech is essential for improving your English listening skills, and this technique can help you with that.

 5. Opt for blended learning

Combining the offline school curriculum with external online resources helps students gain a wholesome learning experience. Blended learning introduces you to flexible learning without compromising on your academics. Pearson ActiveApp offers one such experience, which also accounts for an exciting learning environment. It uses an interactive learning method that keeps students engaged. It offers a learning model that fits well into a student’s daily routine.

Young minds can develop listening skills that can contribute to a better experience for them on the educational as well as professional fronts in the future. Implementing these techniques will definitely help advance English listening skills in students and benefit them with their overall personality development too.  

Pearson's ActiveApp 2.0 is designed for students to comply with Pearson textbooks and it ensures that students can study at any time and anywhere. With its unique, interactive, contextual, and learner-centric approach, ActiveApp uses supplementary videos, audios and more.

Return to blog page

read more

CLAT 2022 is less than 2 months away which calls for some rigorous last-minute preparations. This centralized national level entrance test for law aspirants opens their gateway to 22 National Law Universities in India. An exam that holds so much value can be intimidating for students to tackle. But not if they know how to prepare for CLAT 2022 within a significant amount of time.

CLAT UG and PG aspirants are aware of the dedication and time this entrance exam demands. They begin their preparation ahead of their time. When they are through with their entire syllabus, ready to appear for the exam head-on, the only thing that remains in question now is how to prepare for CLAT 2022 in these last 40 days to make the most of it.

These 40 days are as important as the rest of the months or years that students invest in their CLAT preparation. The goal in these last few days before the examination is not to mug up the entire syllabus as quick as a flash. Rather, it’s time to analyze and evaluate the preparation more meticulously.

Here is a breakdown of all the dos and don’ts that can help law aspirants add value to their CLAT preparation in these last 40 days.

Dos for CLAT 2022 preparation

1. Learn about the weightage of marks

The most important CLAT 2020 preparation tip that students should take into consideration is to go through the marks distribution. Last-minute preparation must be concise. Students can streamline their CLAT preparation in the last 40 days by understanding the weightage or subject, important topics, and exam trends. Hence, it is important that students learn all about the CLAT UG and PG syllabus.

Below is the subject-wise marks distribution for CLAT UG 2022 

Subjects	Number of Questions	Marks
English Language	28-32	28 - 32
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge	35-39	35 - 39
Legal Reasoning	35-39	35 - 39
Logical Reasoning	28-32	28 - 32
Quantitative Techniques	13-17	13 - 17
Total	150	150

CLAT PG comprises mandatory subjects of the undergraduate program and include 120 objective-type questions carrying 1 mark each. There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. 

2. Have an objective 40-day strategy

 The students must prepare an extensive and objective schedule for the last 40 days before the CLAT exam. They should focus on dedicating a few hours to each subject. This strategy can be prepared on the basis of students’ preferences, strengths, weaknesses, or personalized goals.

 3. Focus on well-rounded preparation

 Each subject needs to be covered meticulously in the last 40 days before the CLAT exam. For instance, if the students are preparing for the English Language subject, then they must focus on aspects like improving grammar, vocabulary development, comprehension, etc. This can be achieved by reading newspapers, online articles, thesis, etc. Students must focus on practical learning along with revising the entire syllabus for a well-rounded preparation.

 4. Appear for mock tests

 Mock tests are built to help students put their knowledge into practice. They can appear for online mock tests that give a synthesised CLAT examination environment. Aside from that, they should also solve previous years' papers. Investing more time in solving papers and appearing for practice or mock tests can be a productive way to revise the entire CLAT syllabus in the last 40 days.

Donts for CLAT 2022 preparation

 1. Don’t skip the schedule

Since students are preparing an extensive 40-day schedule for the last-minute CLAT preparation, it is mandatory to not skip it. Time is of the essence, and as the exam date gets closer, students feel overwhelmed. To avoid that, it’s best for them to create a schedule that they can keep up with.

 2. Don’t leave doubts unsolved

The 40-day CLAT preparation strategy can be a success when students focus on their strengths and weaknesses. Often, students avoid doubt-solving during the last few days before the exam. On the contrary, students should set aside dedicated time in their schedule to solve their doubts and work on subjects or topics that they struggle with.

 3. Don’t forget to self-evaluate

Solving mock tests alone will not help students improve their performance. That is only part one of the entire drill. The latter half of this strategy compromises self-evaluation. Aspirants should score their performance as the quantitative results of the mock tests can help them predict their official CLAT 2022 score.

4. Don’t be overwhelmed by study materials

There is an array of CLAT books out there, but students must carefully choose them. They should select books that offer insightful and simplified explanations that are easy for students to grasp, irrespective of their educational background. One such CLAT book that law aspirants can refer to is Legal Awareness and Legal Reasoning for 2022 by Pearson. This is an ideal choice for any law entrance exam aspirant.

These small but significant CLAT tips can come in handy for all law aspirants. The last-minute preparations are a reflection of their upcoming final performance. Hence, it’s wise to consider it as important as the overall preparation.

Return to blog page

read more

UGC NET exam is conducted in two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2) each consisting of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Both these papers intend to test the candidate’s aptitude in terms of teaching/academic research and their specialization in any subject. Paper 1 holds a weightage of 100 marks for 50 questions, and Paper 2 holds 200 marks for 100 questions.

The paper pattern of the UGC NET exam gives the candidates a fair idea that Paper 2 holds more weightage. This observation also leads to the idea that Paper 2 can be relatively tougher than Paper 1. However, this is a matter of perception. The candidates may have an added advantage in terms of UGC NET Paper 2 as they get to select a subject of their choice.

Paper 1 can be taken to test the generic knowledge of the aspirants. All the subjects are compulsory. But in the case of Paper 2, the candidates are offered a total of 101 subjects and they have the opportunity to choose any one subject. Depending on the subject of their post-graduation, they select any of these 101 subjects.

These 101 subjects comprise fields like Political Science, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Science and Application, Electronic Science, etc. The candidates can also choose their specialization in Indian languages like Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Singhi, Bodo, etc. Furthermore, they also have the option of choosing foreign languages like Chinese, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, etc. The subjects are diverse, but candidates must choose the one that they have pursued their post-graduation.

Candidates who have previously studied or taught in that subject may have an advantage in performing well in UGC NET Paper 2. But there is still scope for better preparation. Paper 2 comprises data-driven, practical, and concept-based questions.

Here’s the UGC NET Paper 2 preparation strategy that the aspirants can refer to tackle these types of questions.

1. Analyze the syllabus

Analyzing the syllabus should be one of the top steps in the UGC NET Paper 2 preparation. However, this should not be a quick glance through it or a skim through the syllabus. Before the aspirants dive into studying their chosen subject, they need to do a deep analysis of the syllabus. This will help them come across the topics that they have covered in their post-graduation. Simultaneously, they will also be aware of the new topics that they will cover. This brief time spent going through the syllabus helps the students plan the next few months of their UGC NET preparation.

2. Pick high-value topics

What is the key to efficient preparation? Being smart about what to study. To score their best in UGC NET Paper 2, candidates do not necessarily need to mug up every bit of the syllabus. There is no hard and fast rule that says one has to cover the entire syllabus. But there is something called "high-value topics," which are nothing but topics with higher mark weightage. One can analyze these topics by going through the previous years’ question papers. These topics should be prioritized first, and the rest of the syllabus can be covered later.

3. Make personalized notes

There are two prime benefits of making personalized notes. Firstly, the candidates can quickly refer back to them when they need to. They are easy to spot when highlighted using coloured pens or underlined. Second, important notes can be written down on paper or digitally. These come in handy at the time of last-minute revisions. However, the students should be precise about what to highlight in their UGC NET books for Paper 2. Key concepts, definitions, formulas, significant dates, statistics, etc. are some of the aspects that they must make note of.

4. Solve previous years’ question papers

The previous years’ question papers are not only helpful for analyzing the high-value topics but also serve as a source of practice tests. The best way for candidates to prepare themselves for the exam is to solve these papers. It helps them get into the exam mode and finish their paper within the given time frame. Furthermore, this strategy helps in active learning.

5. Get reliable study materials

No matter which preparation strategy or subject the candidate chooses, the study materials play a huge role in their success. They should obtain UGC NET Paper 2 books that aid in their overall preparation. Pearson offers a range of UGC NET Paper 1 and 2 books authored by top authors that candidates can rely on from the beginning of their preparation. The Paper 2 books include:

• NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF: Paper 2 – Commerce by KVS Madaan
• NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF: Paper 2 – Management by Mahak Mahajan
• NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF: Paper 2 – English by Vineet Pandey
• NTA UGC NET/SET/JRF: Paper 2- Hindi by Chandan Dubey

Every UGC NET candidate seeks study materials that are designed to offer fundamental guidelines, test papers, an overview, summarized notes, etc. Pearson UGC NET books offer all of it and more that help the aspirants in rigorous preparation.

Return to blog page

read more

UPSC Prelims are dated for June 5th, 2022, and the aspirants can give a good month for revisions leaving some buffer days in their hands. The pressure now is more than the entire preparation that must have lasted for months or even years for some. This last lap is the one that decides the win, and all the students are pumped up to cover the entire syllabus over and over again in the last 30 days. That is the right goal to set for the last-minute UPSC Prelims preparation. But what is the correct way to pursue it so that the students can efficiently use this handful of time before the exam? A reliable, systematic 30-day strategy!

Here’s a 30-day UPSC Prelims strategy that the aspirants can use as a guideline for their revisions.

1. Prioritize high-value subjects or topics

Every student must aim at revising the syllabus end-to-end. But where to begin? Students can start with high-value subjects or topics. For this, they need to study the paper pattern carefully. After that, they must find out the weightage of each subject, topic, or micro-topic. This UPSC Prelims preparation strategy will also allow the students to go through the previous years’ question papers and trace the exam trends.

Another way to go about this is to use online sources to find an exclusive, updated list of important subjects or topics. By aiming to revise these topics first, the aspirants will be able to cover a major chunk of the entire syllabus. Revising high-value topics can help the students score better with optimum effort.

2. Aim at comfortably scoring the cut-off

UPSC Prelims I have a new cut-off each year. Hence, the students must keep an eye on the released IAS cut-off. They should aim to comfortably score slightly above the cut-off, i.e., aim for the passing marks with their preparation strategy. This gives the candidates a chance to analyze which subjects lie within their strengths and weaknesses.

This is one of the top UPSC Prelims tips as it gives the candidates the chance to speculate on the number of questions they need to attempt correctly or attempt at all to qualify for the UPSC Prelims. Since there is a ⅓ negative marking, the candidates have to be careful and attempt the right number of questions to score above the cut-off marks.

In the case of UPSC Prelims GS-II, the candidates have a cut-off score of 33%. Candidates must at the very least aim for passing marks and work hard to achieve their personal best.

3. Give 2-3 days to each subject

On average, you should aim to finish the revision of each subject of UPSC Prelims in 2-3 days. Subjects with similar topics can be merged, or you can cover two different subjects simultaneously in one day. The candidates can prepare a timetable before beginning their 30-day UPSC Prelims preparation to segregate the amount of time they may require to revise each subject.

4. Go through the notes

We cannot stress enough the importance of preparing personalized notes throughout the UPSC Prelims preparation. The candidates must be mindful of highlighting important topics, historical movements, significant names, dates, facts, etc. in their UPSC books. The 30-strategy preparation will become coherent by multifold if the candidates have these notes handy. They are a real time-saver and help with concise revisions without beating around the bush.

5. Practice mock tests every day

UPSC aspirants must take mock tests every day as it is an active revision strategy. They should take at least one mock test each day for 30 days. As the exam date gets closer, they can solve 2 or even 4 mock tests regularly. To make the most of these tests, the candidates must start by solving the test in parts and rectifying their answers. If they see they are doing well, it will boost their confidence.

But if they are struggling to attempt the answers correctly, they can gradually indulge in doubt-solving and simultaneously proceed with the mock test. After a few days or a week, when the students are familiar with the exam mode, they can attempt the whole mock test at once and score their performance by self-evaluation.

6. Avoid referring to other USPC books

During the last few days before the UPSC Prelims exams, it is common for candidates to have the urge to learn from new study materials. But it is best to avoid that. Instead, they must invest in reliable study materials right from the beginning and continue to refer to them till their exams end. Studying various books during last-minute preparation will only make it more difficult for candidates to complete revisions on time.

The syllabus is vast, but with the right books, the concepts can be cleared meticulously, which makes this 30-day revision strategy much easier. It is ideal to refer to books that are easy to comprehend. Pearson’s UPSC Prelims books check all the boxes. These books have conveniently broken down each concept with the help of practical examples and are written in a feasible language. The books are updated and come with previous years' question papers that candidates can solve. These books can be a befitting choice for UPSC aspirants from day 1.

Return to blog page

read more

Cloud computing is now joining the league of tech innovations of this century. Although it has been around since the mid-2000s, it is only now that, aside from Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services, the Big 3 of cloud computing, we have seen the emergence of other competitors in the global market. Even though you may never have heard of this nomenclature, it is possible that you use cloud computing services on a daily basis. It is an ideal online solution valid for multiple personal as well as commercial purposes.

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of multiple services offered by servers on the internet. The services can include storage, sharing, infrastructure, analysis, development, etc. In simple terms, it is an online IT infrastructure that is available to conduct many services online with ease, convenience, and speed that were otherwise conducted online using a lot of manual labour, physical infrastructure, and days-long time or even more.

Cloud computing is used by all business and industrial sectors in the world. With cloud computing, you can carry your work, data, and information along with you at all times. You just need a web browser or cloud computing software to access it using your unique credentials. By using cloud computing, you can ditch investing in multiple hard drives or sharing one at your workspace.All the backend functions of cloud computing are carried out by the central server that functions on the given protocols. They maintain seamless connectivity between the devices linked to cloud computing.

What are the types of cloud computing?

● Public Cloud

Public clouds are run by third-party providers who offer computing services on the internet via a browser or app. This type of cloud can be used by the government to give access to citizens to online government portals or services. One of the most recent examples of public cloud computing in India happens to be the Arogya Setu app which gives access to citizens to update their COVID-19 information and upload it on the cloud. Some other examples also include CoWin, Aarogya Setu, MyGov Saathi, Curfew ePass and COVID-19 Data Repository.

● Private Cloud

As the name suggests, private clouds are operated by single business organizations. They use them to carry out their commercial services with the clients as well as the employees. This can include facilities like online storage, sharing, calling services, software, hardware, etc. There is no third-party ownership in this private cloud.

● Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud lets you merge both public and private clouds. This lets you share your data across both types of clouds. This lets organisations use multiple public clouds along with their on-premises data center.

What are the types of cloud services or models?

1. IaaS (Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

This model of cloud computing offers an online infrastructure. In simple terms, you can rent an IT space online that offers you networks, servers, virtual machines, etc.

2. PaaS (Platform as a service (PaaS)

PaaS is a cloud computing model that makes the end-to-end process of developing, testing, and managing software or applications possible without having to lay down a fundamental infrastructure of servers, networks, or data. It is a platform that lets you create and share software in the most convenient way.

3. Serverless computing

Using serverless computing, you can build software by renting fixed units of server space. This makes it possible to develop software or apps without using physical hardware to operate a server. In fact, you can purchase a fixed number of servers as per your bandwidth requirement.

4. Software as a service (SaaS)

This model of cloud computing delivers software that you can download onto your system or provides access to applications through web portals. The backend maintenance, including solving bugs and updating software, is all taken care of by the cloud provider.

What is the future of cloud computing in India?

Cloud computing growth in India has been tremendous in terms of service as well as technical skills. Yet, one can say that this is just the beginning. The national market is rooting to employ more tech-skilled candidates to pace up the usage of cloud computing. It is a highly economical, agile, and convenient online solution that offers a platform for businesses to not just carry out their operations, store their data, or analyse their development. But it also gives them an opportunity to excel at a multifold rate.

As of 2021, SaaS has globally acquired the market segment with a 39% share. In the coming years, Paas and Iaas are expected to grow exponentially too. The future of cloud computing in India is going to peak in the coming years along with the growing demand for skilful technologists in this sector.

Cloud computing is going to play a major role in technological advancement. It’s best to start adapting now so you can reap the benefits in the future.

Click here to know more about Pearson BTECs globally recognised qualifications and courses.

Return to blog page

read more

The sports industry continues to grow and diversify, reaching a value of nearly $488.5bn in 2018, with an expected growth to nearly $614.1bn by 2022*. Not only is there growth in the value, but most importantly there is growth in the diversity of opportunity within...

The sports industry continues to grow and diversify, reaching a value of nearly $488.5bn in 2018, with an expected growth to nearly $614.1bn by 2022*. Not only is there growth in the value, but most importantly there is growth in the diversity of opportunity within the sector, with the rising availability and consumption of sports content available through a broadening of the availability of the internet. Evidencing this change, the sports audience for Indian TV increased by 7% during 2017, creating 46 billion online impressions in 2018**.

Liverpool FC, in partnership with the world’s learning company, Pearson, are offering international sports industry qualifications designed to provide pathways to careers in sport, fitness and physical activity for young people and adults.

Through its LFC International Academy programme, the club has worked with Pearson to create co-branded BTEC sport, fitness and physical activity sector qualifications, available to overseas learners since September 2020 in Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Bermuda, India, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Ghana, Kenya Malawi, Mauritius, Tanzania, Uganda, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain.

As an increasing number of people seek vocational learning opportunities to best prepare them for a career in sport, the new qualifications developed using the LFC International Academy’s expertise and experience of delivering an authentic club coaching programme to young people around the world, with Pearson’s global expertise in developing high quality qualifications that meet the needs of the industry and employers around the world.

read more

The pathway to receiving a successful position in the teaching profession as a lecturer or researcher is to appear for the NET (National Eligibility Test) conducted by the National Educational Testing Bureau of University Grants Commission (UGC). The UGC NET exam is one of the most coveted exams pursued by aspirants all across India.

During the last few days of the UGC NET preparation, the candidates must actively indulge in practicing previous years’ papers. After the completion of the entire syllabus, students must focus on revising it multiple times before the exam day arrives. However, one must choose relevant practice methods like solving UGC NET previous years’ question papers instead of mindlessly mugging up the entire syllabus.

To make the most of solving the question papers, students should understand the paper pattern and learn about the updated syllabus. Here’s a summary of the UGC NET paper pattern that can help students stay goal-oriented while practicing previous years’ question papers.

• The exam is divided into two papers (papers 1 and 2), each of which comprises multiple-choice questions (MCQs).
• Students have to complete the UGC NET Paper 1 and Paper 2 both within the span of 3 hours.
• The exam will be conducted in online CBT (Computer Based Test) mode.
• There is no negative marking in the UGC NET exam. Hence, the students can attempt all the questions. 

This brief idea about the exam pattern can support and accelerate students' UGC NET preparation. Besides that, this can also be used as a reference to practice UGC NET previous years’ question papers and reap the below benefits.

1. Clarity of concepts

Solving UGC NET old question papers can introduce students to concepts or topics that they must have missed out on. They also discover various question patterns covering different concepts. The students must also get their hands on the UGC NET solved papers to learn the answers or concepts that they were unfamiliar with.

2. Learning from problem-solving

Problem-solving is an excellent learning method, and it pushes students to think and use their full potential. It helps with memorization and builds recall memory. By solving previous years’ question papers, the candidates are about to analyze problems and brainstorm solutions using the information they have covered in the syllabus.

3. Active revision method

By solving question papers, the candidates are indulging themselves in applying their knowledge to find answers. This is another exemplary learning as well as revision method that requires students to actively think. During the last few days before the examination, one must choose to solve question papers in order to cover their revisions. This is more productive than skimming through the syllabus in a rush.

4. Doubt solutions

When students solve multiple question papers, they are bound to encounter doubts and/or obstacles of various kinds. By attempting these papers, the students become aware of their weaknesses and can work on them before the exam.

5. Time management

The students have to clear 2 papers in one sitting of 3 hours. This can be challenging if they are not habitual about appearing for time-bound exams. By attempting to solve UGC NET previous years’ question papers, the students can strategize their time allocation and define their own methods to solve the entire paper within the given time span.

6. Level of preparation

Paper-solving gives the students an opportunity to gauge their potential as they get a gist of the level of preparation they have achieved. They can access a new level of preparation with each question paper that they solve. Keeping the UGC NET solved papers handy can also give the students a chance to self-evaluate and score their performance.

7. Familiarity with the exam

It is important to be familiar with the exam and have an idea of what the real-time UGC NET examination will be like. It helps boost confidence and prepares the students for every possible challenge that they may face. The mere thought of appearing for an exam can be nerve-wracking, but when students practice UGC NET question papers, the level of fear comes down.

In addition to the question papers, students must also get their hands on quality UGC NET books that they must refer to throughout their preparation. Pearson’s UGC NET courseware is one of the most reliable study materials that students can refer to. It has comprehensive explanations that help students get clarity on concepts. It offers an ideal learning solution for all the candidates. The books are designed based on the updated syllabus, which makes it possible for students to stay on their A-game throughout the preparation.

Return to blog page

read more