Education blog by Pearson India

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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JEE Main preparation can be one of the most palpable academic phases in the life of an IIT aspirant. To crack this examination takes years and years of practice. If started at the right stage, JEE preparation can take up most of the academic years in a student’s life. There are many strategies and methods that students opt for in order to perform their best on the first attempt itself.

Clearing the JEE Main exam makes the candidates eligible for the JEE Advanced which further opens their gate to the prestigious IITs across the nation. However, passing in JEE Main also gives candidates an opportunity to secure admission to NITs or other renowned state or central engineering colleges.

Irrespective of which college one wants to secure admission to, they have to clear JEE Main to lay the foundation of their education. Hence, JEE Main preparation lies at the core of the entire journey. One of the most efficient ways to study for this entrance exam is to prepare notes.

What is the importance of preparing JEE Main notes?

● Personal reference

It’s wise to make notes throughout the JEE Main preparation as the candidates can always refer back to them in the event of need. The syllabus is vast and one can cover the same in stages over a due course of time. But at the time of the revision, it might not be possible to go through all of it. At this point, the notes come in handy as the candidates can easily refer to any important piece of information they want without skimming through the entire syllabus.

● Reliable learning tool

It is possible for candidates to source JEE Main notes from their peers, seniors, or online sources. But when they prepare it themselves, it is the most reliable learning tool they can possess. The familiarity with the notes helps the candidates track down any information easily.

● Aids in active learning

Writing is one of the most effective and active learning methods that one can opt for. And incorporating it with taking notes is one of the top JEE Main tips that one must consider at the time of their preparation.

How to prepare notes for the JEE Main Exam?

1. Make memory maps

Memory mapping is an effective learning method that uses associative memory. Using memory maps to prepare JEE Main notes gives candidates an opportunity to learn quickly by translating long-form information into organized graphics. This not only helps in making seamless notes but also helps build recall memory.

2. Use highlighter

Notes-taking is not only limited to physically writing them down in separate books. When the candidates are learning from the JEE Main books, they can use a highlighter to mark important statements, formulas, definitions, etc, to quickly refer to them when required.

3. Make separate topic sections

JEE Main notes need to be organized well. It should not be ambiguous as this can cause a frenzy at the time of revisions. It is best to make separate notes based on the topics and subjects. This can further be organized better by segregating difficult topics from the easy ones or by using headlines, subheadlines, and objective notes.

4. Take digital notes

One can use any mode to take down notes. Since JEE aspirants also use online sources to learn, they can simply copy and paste text, reference links, or images in online documents. A combination of online and offline notes can be more effective than choosing only one of them.

5. Mention examples

One of JEE Main tips that the candidates may use throughout the preparation of their notes is to mention examples. These examples can be based on real-life experiences, personal references, or any legitimate learning source. These examples are effective in quickly recalling the concepts.

6. Add page numbers and book names

While making JEE Main notes, one can also note down the page numbers or the names of books that they are referring to. Sometimes certain concepts cannot be summarized in notes. At such times, this method is convenient to revise from the books.

It is crucial that candidates refer to credible JEE Main books for learning and making notes. Pearson JEE Main Series 2022 comprises books that are designed to aid IIT aspirants in erring and top-notch preparation. The books cover the entire JEE Main syllabus, include multiple practice and mock tests, and have a collection of previous years’ question papers. All the preparation for the JEE Main exam can be fulfilled with Pearson JEE Main Series 2022.

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To crack UPSC Prelims, one requires extensive preparation. It can take months or years, depending on the aspirant’s potential and learning strategy. This span of preparation lays down a strong foundation to pass the UPSC Prelims at par with the cut-off. Furthermore, it makes it possible for candidates to invest sufficient time in revision and practice sessions, a few months before the exam.

Things to keep in mind to practice for UPSC GS Paper-I and Paper-II in 90 Days

1. Prepare an exclusive 90-day schedule

These 90 days of preparation will be remotely different from all the previous days of preparation. These last few days should be focused on revisions of all your subjects. The candidates must prepare a 90-day schedule, dedicating time slots for the same. It is crucial that the schedule covers practice sessions, doubt solving, tests, etc. as they all contribute to a well-rounded preparation.

2. Refer to the same set of books

During the last few days of the UPSC Prelims GS Paper I preparation, it’s wise to stick to the same old books that the candidates have been referring to since the beginning. Using any different set of books can be distracting or overwhelming. Hence, it is also important to cautiously choose the right UPSC Prelims books.

3. Solve previous years’ question papers

There are multiple benefits to solving previous years’ UPSC Prelims question papers. One gets familiar with the question pattern, learns time management skills, and is able to indulge in active learning. Candidates can choose to solve 7 to 10 previous years’ question papers. Along with that, it is ideal to get your hands on the solved question papers as it can help verify the answers. This method of practice gives candidates a chance to self-evaluate their performance and get quantitative results.

4. Stay updated with current affairs

Candidates must focus on covering the current affairs since the start of their UPSC Prelims preparation. They can do that by referring to current affairs magazines or by staying on top of the news through newspapers, online news portals, online discussion forums, debates, etc. It’s best to find relevant and reliable sources of news. Just indulging in news watching might not be enough. The candidates should also be able to form arguments and have a welfare-oriented approach based on the possessed information. These skills will be essential in the personal interview after you clear UPSC Prelims and Mains.

5. Prioritize doubt solutions

During this 90-day practice session, the candidates may come across various doubts or a new set of questions that are difficult to comprehend. These doubts should be resolved through practice, learning, tutorials, personal classes, or any other preferred method of doubt resolution. Post-doubt solution candidates must practice those concepts to make sure they have understood them well.

6. Practice with mock tests

One of the most important practice methods that cannot be neglected is taking UPSC GS Paper I mock tests. These tests give real-time examination experience in a simulated environment. Hence, one can learn to finish their exam on time by taking one or two mock tests each day.

To level up your UPSC preparation, one must refer to quality books that cover the entire syllabus. Pearson’s books for UPSC aspirants not only cover the syllabus end-to-end but are designed to indulge aspirants in observational learning. The context of the books is updated and relevant. There are multiple books that UPSC aspirants can refer to in order to cover all the subjects. These books can help with memorization during the UPSC Prelims practise session of 90 days, making your last-minute preparation wholesome.

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Writing is one of the fundamental skills taught in schools. What starts with the introduction of the English language to alphabets and numbers advances to sentence formation, grammar, vocabulary, etc. It is needless to say that writing skills should be acquired by each student. It is a form of communication that is necessary for education as well as for any profession.

Learning English writing skills in school can go a long way for students. This globally acquired form of communication is also an efficient job skill that one must possess. Irrespective of what field one chooses, they are required to use their writing skills to convey their thoughts.

School curriculums are designed in a way that fosters the writing skills of the students. Aside from being a pre-requisite to succeeding in the professional world, the importance of English writing skills for students can be scaled across the following benefits.

● Self-evaluation

Writing is a form of expression and self-evaluation. Poetry, prose, stories, journals, and books are forms and mediums of writing that help individuals reflect upon their most intimate thoughts. Students who are indulged in extensive studies can use writing as a form of hobby or escape to take some time off for themselves. This helps them grasp their thoughts and put them into words. Mastering the art of putting thoughts into words helps students improve their writing skills on a personal level.

● Necessary for academic success

The academic curriculum in today’s time is focused on encouraging students to express their learning and imply it practically. Hence, for students, writing skills are at the core of their education. To support the same, schools and colleges focus on assigning writing activities like research papers, essays, reports, presentations, etc. Each academic year, the curriculum excels and so do the writing skills with these forms of assignments and exams.

● Helps choose a career path

Since writing is so deeply engraved in the academic syllabus, it gives students a chance to reflect on career options based on writing. Students can focus on improving their writing skills in school and prepare themselves for a professional writing career. There are many forms of writing, such as narrative, argumentative, research-based, creative, etc., that students can pursue based on their English writing skills.

● Co-related to reading and writing skills

It is common for students to possess good writing skills but fall short on their speaking skills. In that case, English writing, reading, and speaking skills go hand-in-hand. If students read enough, it stimulates their brains, triggers their imagination and fills them with more knowledge. This gives them more content to write about. When they get into the habit of writing, inspired by their reading, it enhances their ability to put across their thoughts, which is also an important skill when it comes to speaking. Hence, a combination of these three forms of communication evolves students in a wholesome way.

● Helps draft ideas

Writing skills are not only essential when leading to extensive results. It could be simply used to take notes in the middle of a lecture, online workshop, or work meeting, or to draft an outline of the idea that you wish to convey. Writing takes place in many stages. It is as important in the brainstorming and ideation stages as it is in the final stage.

Writing skills also help in excelling at English proficiency tests like PTE Academic, which helps students secure admission to the best colleges across the globe. However, students should acquire writing skills to achieve goals that go beyond just good grades. Some students have a flair for writing, while others don’t. There is no need to stress about it even one bit because it can be acquired with constant practice and definitive study materials.

Students can use Pearson K-12 as their ally in enhancing their English writing skills. It is customized according to the curriculum of CBSE, ICSE, State and International Boards, and includes highly engaging content. So it is possible for students to develop writing skills without deflecting from their academic syllabus. Good writing skills enhance focus and help students develop eloquence. This is a quality that sticks with them for life and hence, it is best to develop it early in school.

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For any student whose first language is anything other than English, it can be a tough row to hoe. Fluency in English speaking, writing, and reading is essential not only for academic success but also for success in the professional world. Each student learns at their own pace. Hence, personalized learning could do wonders for them. However, schools are frequently unable to meet this requirement. So what’s the next option? Internet! The number of resources available can help any student learn English online.

It’s a long journey, but by degrees, it is possible for any student to achieve fluency in English.

Here are the most fundamental tips that one can use to learn English online.

1. Set a goal

One of the most important steps in learning English for students is to decide their goal. Some of the common goals could be to get better at English to perform well in class, for college applications, to clear an English proficiency exam like PTE Academic, etc. Depending on these goals, one can streamline their learning strategy, create a schedule, get reliable resources, etc.

2. Read online

The Internet is a vast pool of information and offers an unimaginable number of reading resources. Aside from reading, one can also choose to listen to podcasts and consume video content. But at the beginning stage, it could be difficult for students to keep up with the pace of audio and video content. It can be overwhelming. Reading, on the other hand, can be done gradually. It’s important that students do not limit themselves to only reading books. There are numerous online reading platforms with a wide variety of subjects to choose from. No matter what reading source a student picks, it’s best to indulge in active reading. One is bound to discover new words and phrases and learn about significant people. So take time to pause and learn about them.

3. Use online grammar tools

One of the ways to learn English is by practicing. It helps students learn about their drawbacks and track their progress. They can use online grammar tools to check the accuracy of their language. These online grammar check tools are useful for personal learning, schoolwork, college essays, etc. If students actively use these tools, their English proficiency can get better on an academic level.

4. Create personal study materials

One must know that the Internet as a whole is a very viable tool for learning English. Simply by searching for the meaning of words, phrases, discovering synonyms, idioms, etc., one can expand their vocabulary knowledge. For a better learning experience, students can note down all this information and create their own personal study or reference material. It can be difficult to remember anything at first glance. But if one has it recorded somewhere, then they will always go back to it.

5. Use Google translate

One of the most efficient ways to learn English online for students is to use Google Translate to convert the information from their first language to English. Furthermore, when reading anything on the Internet in English that is too difficult to understand, students can translate the page to their preferred language. And vice versa. This will help them learn better by keeping their first language as a reference.

6. Play online trivia games

Online trivia games like quizzes, crosswords, or word games like wordle, scrabbles, etc. are highly informational and engaging. These games are one of the ideal English learning tools that you can turn to after being exhausted from active learning. Students can discover a new game for each day and indulge in fun learning.

7. Use online study materials

There is no shortage of English learning tools online. But the goal is to pick the most reliable ones for the best results. For engaging and blended learning, students can use the learning materials from Pearson K-12. It is designed to teach English to students by integrating it with their school curriculum. The 24/7 Active App comprises multiple English learning tools like live sessions, e-books, animations, games, etc. The number of digital resources offered by Pearson K-12 can be the best companions for students to have a wholesome learning experience.

These simple and easily accessible resources make it possible for any student to learn English online. These effective ways to learn English online can help one get off on the right foot.

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Celebrating the talent of the future

The annual BTEC Awards – now in its 12th year – recognises and celebrates the hard work and dedication of BTEC learners, educators, and providers from all around the globe.

BTECs offers learners aged 16 and above the knowledge, understanding and skills that they need to prepare for a career, continue in further education, or progress to higher education.

Nearly a million learners across the globe completed BTEC courses over the past year; the career-focused qualifications are a vital route for those pursuing careers in sectors such as IT, business, the creative industries, healthcare, engineering, construction and future industries. This is especially important in the current context as the world responds to the global pandemic and looks to kickstart projects to speed economic recovery.

Amazing stories – inspiring people

The Awards showcase the BTEC qualification, providing evidence that it is an essential route to build skills and help young people achieve a fulfilling and rewarding career. At its heart, the awards are about celebrating amazing successes and sharing inspiring stories.

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Even medical aspirants in India have to appear for NEET (UG) to pursue an undergraduate degree in any medical field of their choice. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, or NEET (UG), is a national pre-medical entrance exam for students who wish to pursue medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc.) courses in government and private institutions in India. This entrance exam is also valid for students who wish to pursue primary medical qualifications in international institutes.

NEET (UG) holds a lot of weight in determining your future. Hence, you can gauge the amount of dedication and perseverance that is required to excel in it. NEET (UG) preparation accounts for one of the crucial academic phases of your life. It is easy to get overwhelmed by it. But now that you have made up your mind, it’s time that you begin your preparation for NEET (UG) in full swing.

No matter if you are appearing for the exam this year or later, one of the most crucial aspects of your preparation is your study materials. For an exam as competitive as NEET (UG), when it comes to books, one may think the more the merrier. However, too many cooks may spoil the broth. Let’s ditch the aphorisms and get straight to the point. You will require a sufficient number of books throughout your NEET (UG) preparation. But before we dive into that, let’s look at the NEET (UG) exam pattern to help you strategize your preparation better.

NEET exam pattern

Particulars	Details
Mode of Examination	Offline
Duration of Examination	3 hours
Sections	Physics – 45 Questions Chemistry – 45 Questions Biology (Botany and Zoology) – 90 Questions
Total Number of Questions	200 Questions (Candidates need to answer any 180 questions)
Total Marks of Examination	720 Marks
Marking Scheme	For each correct answer, the candidates wi score 4 marks; whereas for every wrong answer, there will be a deduction of 1 mark

The purpose of your books is to not just help you learn but to also help you test yourself. For the same, you can focus on collecting the following NEET (UG) study materials.

1. NCERT books

It goes unsaid that you can rely on NCERT books for your NEET (UG) preparation. They are ideal for beginners and advanced learners. Hence, if you want to learn from the basics or just want to take a detour to your 11th or 12th syllabus to clear your basics, you can refer to NCERT books for all the subjects.

2. Personal notes

As you proceed with your NEET (UG) preparation, you can simultaneously keep making notes. It is essential to keep personal notes because you can always come back to them for revisions. If you prefer, you can also collect notes from your alumni or peers. However, you should build the habit of making your own notes because it is an effective study method. Furthermore, your personal notes are easier to comprehend compared to somebody else’s.

3. Solved question papers

Be it NEET (UG) or your 8th-grade exams, every student has the urge to at least look at the previous years’ question papers to get a glimpse of the official entrance exam. This is not only effective in boosting your confidence, but it adds more value to your NEET (UG) preparation. Pearson’s NEET (UG) 13 Years' Chapter-Wise Solved Papers is one of the best study materials that you can refer to. Instead of trying to source the question papers from different places, you have everything available in one place with accurate answers.

4. Mock tests

For last-minute preparation, one of the best NEET (UG) books you can refer to is 15 Mock Tests for NEET (UG) by Pearson. These mock tests are new and updated. Hence, it makes for very reliable study material for aspirants who are appearing for NEET (UG) 2022. The sets of questions in the mock tests are varied and cover all the topics from all the subjects. They are based on the updated NEET (UG) exam pattern. You can have a near-on-hand experience of the official test if you refer to these mock tests. Plus, you also get access to the solved question paper of NEET (UG) 2020.

5. Pearson NEET (UG) objective series

Pearson’s Objective Series for NEET (UG) includes Physics, Chemistry, and Biology divided into two volumes as per the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11th and 12th. The books are patterned in such a way that they cover all the important topics in a fathomable language. Each topic is explained in the simplest way possible, so they are easy to grasp.

6. Pearson NEET (UG) crash course

Last-minute preparations are as important as your years-long preparations. During this phase of your preparation, the NEET (UG) study material that you can rely on the most is Pearson’s crash course for NEET (UG). They comprise previous years’ question papers, easy-to-understand visuals, mock tests, and sample papers. It has all you need to go over your entire syllabus during the last weeks or days of your NEET (UG) preparation.

Each study material helps you establish certain goals. Hence, you should keep that in mind when you are deciding which study material to refer to at what point in your NEET (UG) preparation. With consistency comes excellence. And these study materials are your gateway to achieving it.

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