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How to prepare for TISSNET and TISSMAT

TISSNET (TISS National Entrance Test) 2020 is university-level examination conducted for admission in 53 master’s programmes across all the TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) campuses in the country I.e. TISS Mumbai, TISS Tuljapur, TISS Hyderabad, TISS Chennai and TISS Guwahati to name a few. TISSNET scores are evaluated during the second stage of TISS admission process comprising of entrance exam scores, availability of seats and different cut-offs for different courses. TISSMAT is a course-specific entrance test conducted on the same day as that of TISSNET. TISSNET and TISSMAT go hand in hand. A candidate can secure admission in the univesity based on TISSNET scores alone but the same does not stand true for TISSMAT. Also, only those candidates who have appeared for TISSNET stand eligible to appear for TISSMAT. Both these papers are conducted in an online CBT (Computer Based) mode. To know how to prepare for TISSNET and TISSMAT, aspirant should acknowledge all the important details related to them for e.g exam pattern, eligibility, syllabus etc

 

What is TISSMAT?

Announced in 2019, TISSMAT (TISS Management Aptitude Test) is a part of the TISS admission process and conducted just after TISSNET. Candidates who are specifically looking for admission into management programs like Master of Arts (HRM & LR) and MA Organization Development, Change and Leadership (ODCL) take this additional exam of 30 minutes and 45 total marks. The TISSMAT score is considered to in the second stage of the admission process. If you are unable to clear TISSNET then your TISSMAT scores will be discarded automatically. Given below is the weightage provided to the TISSMAT score and other selection components important for the second stage

  • TISS-MAT: 30%
  • Pre-Interview Test (PIT): 40%
  • Personal Interview (PI): 30%
  • Scores of all the above-mentioned individual selection rounds will contribute towards evaluating the final composite score of the candidate.

 

TISSNET 2021 Exam Registration

Both the examinations are administered by TISS Mumbai, which is also the oldest of all TISS branches in the country.The registration for TISSNET will begin on 15th of October 2020 in an online mode and will go on until December. Candidates can apply for the programme by registering on the official website. Candidates can choose to go for at most three courses and two campuses of TISS. The merit list will be prepared based on the preference of the students in the TISSNET registration form. Know more

 

The merit list containing all selected candidates for the batch of 2020-22 is expected to go live by 20th July 2020. Know more

 

TISSNET and TISSMAT 2021: Important Exam Information

The registration form needs to be submitted online on the official website of TISS. Candidates who wish to apply offline need to request TISS Mumbai for a printed copy of the application form through speed post with application fee addressed to the following address:

Assistant Registrar (Academic), Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar Mumbai, 400088 Candidates who are applying in an online mode can remit the application fee through credit/debit card or net banking. The application fee would be Rs 1030 for one programme and plus the same amount for every program added further during registration.

Candidates applying offline need to visit an SBI Branch using prescribed challan. Know more

Here are some key parameters to understand before appearing for TISSNET and TISSMAT 2021

 

How to prepare for TISSNET and TISSMAT 2021

Although TISSNET and TISSMAT are cited to be simpler than other exams like CAT and XAT, it stands out of all the management entrances in terms of test pattern. TISS is one of the oldest and most renowned institutions of the country, hence getting into this would not be as simple as it looks like. Going a little further into the test pattern, the examination is divided into 3 major segments – Language skills, quantitative ability and logical reasoning and General Awareness. As per the previous years’ observed trends, a score of 80/100 (for open candidates) are deemed safe for admission into the flagship course I.e MA (LRM and HR). The cut off differs for all the programs and across social categories. To know how to prepare in and out for TISSNET 2021, keep the following points in mind:

  • Have a thorough understanding of the TISSNET 2021 syllabus before you start preparing for it. Put a “plan of action” in place and implement it accordingly
  • Attempt past three years’ test papers that you will easily find over the internet using a stopwatch. This will give you a clarity on your current knowledge base across all the three sections and your speed of solving questions.
  • General Knowledge is the make and break section of TISSNET which can consume a lot of your time and energy. The syllabus for GK is vast and difficult to grasp all at once. Make sure you fine tune your reading skills as per the standard of TISS’s expectations.
  • Pay undivided attention to editorial section of The Hindu, The Tribune etc , Modern History and news related to Art and Culture, Awards and Achievements, Sports, International column etc every day to develop your comprehension skills, vocab skills and GK all in one go. Note it, Static and Dynamic sections of GK have equal weightage in the examination.
  • Take mocks every week to gain confidence over your preparation technique. You should be touching an average score of 75-80 by the end of your preparation process.
  • Shift your attention towards weak topics. Note it, TISSNET and TISSMAT are both strictly aptitude screening examination. Devote more time to the subject which you are not up to the mark with. Concentrate on lengthy but simple questions.

 

English Proficiency

English proficiency is the first and the easiest section of the paper. The section comprises of 30 questions. The questions will be multiple choice-based and designed specifically to test the student’s command over grammar and written English. Those with an appropriate knowledge of grammar ace this section with ease. Also, this section has no negative marking and the score ranges from 0 to 30.

How to prepare for Language Proficiency?

Given below are some quick tips on how to improve accuracy in the language proficiency section:

  • Enhance your reading skills by reading simple novels and newspapers
  • Switch to online vocabulary enhancers or consult a dictionary to grasp the meaning and usage of a difficult word.
  • Learn idioms and phrases.
  • Work on your grammatical skills including tenses, sentence correction, para jumbles etc
  • Refer 8-10th CBSE English books in order to understand the comprehensive passages.
  • Refer Collins/Oxford Advance Learner’s dictionary to learn the meanings of new words.
  • Refer “Word Power Made Easy” – By Norman Lewis to sharpen your vocabulary skills.

For the Vocabulary part of TISS preparation, refer to the following books:

  • 1. "Word Power Made Easy” – By Norman Lewis
  • 2. “All About Words” --- By Rosenblum, Nurnberg

 

Quantitative Ability and Logical Reasoning

TISSNET QA and LR section comprises of easy questions related to arithemetics, number systems, Permutations and Combinations, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Direction, Clocks & Calendars, Series, Arrangements, DI Sets, Graphs, Charts, tables etc. This is the second section of the paper and can prove to be a bit more challenging than the verbal section. The questions are framed in a way which evaluates candidate’s analytical skills reasoning skills. Also, the marking scheme of QA-LR is like the verbal section. The questions are multiple choice type. This section has no negative marking and the score ranges from 0 to 30.

  • Brush on the fundamentals related to 8-10th NCERT mathematics.
  • Revise all the topics, with special preference to the above-stated topics
  • During revision of the reasoning section, try to eliminate the irrelevant options. This is known as the process of elimination.
  • Before solving the question, look at the answer choices. Sometimes, the questions are so easy that the right answer clicks in the mind of the student.
  • It is a great idea to draw a rough diagram for logical reasoning questions. A picture is worth a thousand words!

 

General Awareness

General awareness section is the major section of the TISSNET, with an overall weightage of 40%. TISSNET GK section comprises static and dynamic general awareness questions. This section also holds the sectional cut-off of 35%. This means, a candidate needs to score a minimum of 14 marks in GK to qualify TISSNET. In case a candidate is unable to achieve that, he/she is disqualified. If a candidate does not fare well in other sections but manages to top the GK section, he/she will receive a call from TISS.

  • Let us look at the significance of TISS GK section given below:
  • Out of 100 questions asked in the exam, 40 questions are asked from the GA section. This section can make or break your TISSNET score
  • The questions help students to improve their accuracy. A candidate does not need to solve these questions. Also, due to the absence of negative marking, aspirants can also guess the solution rationally.
  • The questions can be solved in few seconds. Candidates can get done with this section first, and then turn their attention to more time-consuming sections.

 

How to prepare for General Awareness?

  • Read newspapers (more along the lines of the Hindu, Statesman, ET, TOI) journals and periodicals to curate your own GK question bank.
  • Refer to Books like Lucent GK, GK Compendiums, Manorama Yearbook for static GK topics preparation
  • For static GK (History), refer to General Knowledge Digest - Mani Ram Aggarwal.
  • Practice TISSNET mocks and sample papers.
  • Cover the topics focused on cultural and social issues.
  • Get in touch with day-to-day current affairs.

 

How to prepare for TISSMAT?

TISSMAT is an extra addition to TISSNET and is applicable to candidates interested in HRM/ODCL course(s). For any other program apart from this, student only needs to appear for TISSNET. In the first shortlisting round, TISSNET scores of a candidate are evaluated. Only the number of candidates who have managed to crack TISSNET will be allowed to appear for TISSMAT. In the second shortlisting round, only TISSMAT scores are considered for admission.

 

How to prepare for TISSMAT Comprehension

This is the first section of TISSMAT and is very similar to the RC section of other management entrance exams. There will be a total of 15 questions from this section and each question will carry I mark. For every incorrect attempt, a deduction of 0.25 marks would be performed. There is no sectional cut off for this section. Here are some tips which will come in handy during preparation of this section:

  • Practice RC passages related specifically to business and management.
  • Read on latest business articles, news, management theories and entrepreneur biographies.
  • You can expect 2-3 passages on topics based on emerging economies, globalization, monetization, business policies, labor laws so make sure you read all the necessary information on them available on the internet.
  • Spend some time reading periodicals/weeklies/magazines to know more about the evaluation of the financial sector.
  • As most of the questions will be based on inference, Mine out the actual meaning of the passage by trying to visualize what you read.

 

How to prepare for TISSMAT Data Interpretation

This is the second section of TISSMAT and is very similar to the typical data interpretation section of other management entrance exams. There will be a total of 15 questions from this section and each question will carry I mark. Rest of the pattern will be like the comprehension section. Here are some tips which will come in handy during preparation of this section:

  • Practice Business and Management Oriented Data Interpretation Case Studies. You will find many of them online
  • Practice interpreting graphs, charts, and data based on profit, loss, sales, distribution, manufacturing, shares and debentures etc
  • Understand concepts related to average growth, increase decrease in revenue/sales/budget
  • Any standard DI book/booklet will be sufficient

 

How to prepare for TISSMAT Business Awareness

This is the last section of the TISSMAT exam paper and was introduced to evaluate the business knowledge of the candidate. The pattern of the section is like the first two sections of TISSMAT. Here are some tips which will come in handy during preparation of this section:

  • Read about corporate restructuring and major M&A’s in the world, newly sprung up business veterans, important personalities etc.
  • Browse more about CEOs/Founders/Inventors/Directors/Brand Ambassadors of world’s biggest MNCs, preferably Indians.
  • Read articles related to business economy, business summits, Human resource basics and labour studies basics
  • Check on information related to business stalwarts like Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra and Laxmi Mittal
  • Stay up-to date with information related to current marketplaces and Advertising companies and their key stakeholders.

 

Why do candidates choose TISSNET over other entrance exams?

Each year approximately, 40000-50000 candidates appear for TISSNET. However, the candidates are provided admission only after they clear all the three shortlisting rounds I.e, online entrance examination (TISSNET 2021), Pre-Interview Test and Personal Interview (PIT/PI).

TISSNET can be taken without any difficulty as it is comparatively easier than other B-school exams like CAT, XAT etc. and those with a good understanding of General Knowledge can score very well. Generally, after admission, a pre-interview test and personal interview is held for selection of candidates based on their preferences and seat availability. Given below is a set of compiled information regarding TISSNET and TISSMAT